Izuchukwu OkosiThousands of people marched through Tunisia’s capital, Tunis on Saturday protesting against an expanding crackdown on opposition voices and a proposed lifting of subsidies for food and other goods.
The action by the Tunisian crowd consisting mainly of Tunisia’s central trade union was geared towards challenging President Kais Saied, whose leadership is prompting growing international concern.
According to local media in Tunisia, since taking office in October 2019, Saied has dismantled the country’s democratic gains and unleashed repression against migrants from elsewhere in Africa.
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Marchers in Tunis chanted slogans against price increases and food shortages, the biggest concern for most Tunisians.
Talks with the International Monetary Fund on an agreement to help finance the government have stalled amid political tensions.
The IMF has called for the lifting of some subsidies and other reforms.
President Saied called the Tunisian General Labour Union’s (UGTT) decision to invite foreign trade union leaders to the protest “unacceptable”.
“Tunisia is not a farm, meadow or a land without a master. Whoever wants to demonstrate is free to do so, but he does not have to invite foreigners to participate,” he said on the eve of Saturday’s march.
UGTT secretary-general Noureddine Taboubi said he would have liked to hear a reassuring and unifying speech from the president, but instead heard only coded insults.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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