Clement Ekong 
Yola, the Adamawa State Capital and its environs on Thursday experienced uneasy calm even as business and commercial activities were almost paralyzed in some major streets.
However, in a parallel procession that took place, thousands of pro-Tinubu supporters early in the morning took over major streets of Jimeta the administrative capital of Adamawa State in support of what they called the laudable policies and initiatives of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
The protests took place amidst water-tight security as police and personnel of NSCDC were stationed at strategic locations in the state capital to curtail any clandestine move.
The pro-Tinubu elements who held a long procession from the police roundabout to Ribadu Square where they held a rally in support of the president bore supportive placards with various inscriptions like, “we are solidly behind President Tinubu, no to anti-democratic forces, we cannot allow democracy to be hijacked by evil forces, we are women and youths for peace and progress in support of the President.”
Various leaders of the youth, women and people living with disability who addressed the press acknowledged the critical development challenges hobbling the nation saying that it is the result of years of misgovernment.
The leadership of the protesters including, Comfort Ibrahim Ezra, Yakubu Umar, Adamu Ibrahim Pola, Musa Hamma Adama and Anas Bala noted that the president has started on a good footing and has so far established far-reaching reforms including championing LG autonomy, student loan scheme, implementing new minimum wage among other reforms.
They urged the people to adopt the alternative mechanisms of channelling their grievances rather than resorting to protest in consideration of the propensity of President Tinubu for dialogue.
However, in a separate interview with our Correspondent, the leader of the “Take It Back movement”, Ibrahim Bappa Waziri, a former state lawmaker said their reason for staging the protest is to “call on the government to address insecurity, inflation, poverty and food shortages”.
He added that if the President conceded to these critical demands, they would have no reason to remain on the roads urging the president to do the needful so that Nigerians can have some respite.
Waziri urged President Tinibu to return subsidy on petrol, and electricity and reflate the value of the naira and called on Nigerians to continue to resist the bad policies of the government adding that the government has been frightened by agitations noting that if the people persist, the government will be forced to capitulate.
