A clash between protesters and security operatives looms on Thursday (today) as the Take It Back Movement, the rally organisers, has resolved to carry out a demonstration at the National Assembly, Abuja and 19 other locations across the country during the June 12 celebrations.
President Bola Tinubu addresses a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives today as part of Democracy Day activities, setting the stage for a combustible situation.
Tinubu had cancelled the previously scheduled nationwide broadcast in commemoration of Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day anniversary.
The Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday, attributed the change to the President’s scheduled attendance at a joint session of the National Assembly today.
He added that the President would instead deliver his Democracy Day address directly from the National Assembly chambers.
“Due to President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled attendance at the National Assembly Joint Session, the Presidential National Broadcast on June 12 has been cancelled. President Tinubu will deliver his address from the National Assembly,” Imohiosen said.
On the heels of the planned nationwide rallies, the police and other security agencies have beefed up security across the country.
The protest organisers confirmed to The PUNCH their intention to take their campaign against economic hardship to the political leaders.
The group earlier planned to rally against the tough reforms implemented by the Tinubu administration at Eagle Square, but later announced a change of venue in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday.
The protest, which is expected to draw participants from various civil society groups, is aimed at dragging attention to what the organisers described as “two years of misrule, hardship, and insecurity” under Tinubu’s government.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday, National Coordinator, Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the shift in protest location did not alter the objective of the demonstration.
“That we earlier said the protest would hold at the Eagle Square doesn’t foreclose the fact that Nigerians cannot organise themselves at the National Assembly to protest the two years of misrule under Tinubu,” Sanyaolu said.
“The unprecedented hardship and insecurity we have experienced under his government are alarming. So, Nigerians will be turning out nationwide to protest against this, and the National Assembly is one of those spaces where Nigerians can exercise their constitutional rights. We are encouraging Nigerians to move there in their numbers tomorrow (today).”
Sanyaolu cited rising poverty, rampant insecurity, and lack of democratic accountability as key grievances.
“All Nigerians from different walks of life have been mobilised, Nigerians are coming to the streets tomorrow (today) to demand an end to bad governance.
“Nigerians have nothing to lose. Nigerians have been beaten and battered. We are like people who are on the ground; we should have no fear of falling. It is also their constitutional right to protest.
“They have no reason to fear. The worst has happened, and the only way to stop the escalating level of our sorrow, tears and blood they are witnessing is to actually do something by protesting tomorrow. We have nothing to fear and we have nothing to lose but our chains.”
The activist said despite the attacks on some coordinators in Lagos, Gombe, Bauchi and Edo, among others, the protest would go on as scheduled.
“Presently, there has been a nationwide attack on organisers, but we are not deterred. The Bauchi state executives of TIB are being hounded by the police.
“In Gombe, Cross-River, Edo and Lagos, our coordinators are being hounded. We are convinced the only way to end the era of worse governance is defiance; that is what we are going to be doing fearlessly,” he noted.
Sanyaolu, however, cautioned security agencies, particularly police, against arresting or violating the rights of citizens to protest.
The Director of Mobilisation for the protest in the Federal Capital Territory, Michael Adenola, said the movement had gained momentum among young Nigerians who are angered by the worsening economic conditions and government neglect.
“Preparations are in order. Many Nigerian youths, who have expressed frustration over the spate of killings in the country, mass unemployment, and underfunded education, have shown commitment to participate in the protest.
“Other civil society organisations have also committed to mobilising their members. Expect thousands on the streets of Abuja.”
Adenola also cautioned the security agencies to respect the constitutional rights of protesters and refrain from using force.
“Again and again, men of our security agencies have shown themselves to be uncivilised by attacking protesters unprovoked. Our call to them is to at least pretend they are civilised.
“There is no reason to bring lethal weapons to the protest grounds. Take them to Sambisa or Plateau State to combat the real insecurity, not against protesters who are civilly demanding their rights,” he added.
When asked about the police plan to manage the protest, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, referred our correspondent to the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh.
The Bauchi State Coordinator, TIB Movement, Nuhu Nazif, revealed that the police requested a dialogue with him and his team after he notified them of the protest.
“Now is not the right time for dialogue,” Nazif said. “It is not good to be a friend of the police, especially when organising peaceful conduct.”
The Bauchi State Police Command vowed to address activities threatening public peace during the Democracy Day celebrations.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, all officers assigned for the occasion have been instructed to exercise vigilance, maintain professionalism and demonstrate courtesy in their interactions with residents.
He said a clear directive had been established to address activities threatening public peace.
The statement added that “Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu encourages citizens to reflect on the nation’s progress, honour the contributions of past leaders, and actively promote unity and peaceful coexistence.”
“The command wishes to make it unequivocally clear that any individual or group seeking to instigate disorder or disrupt the peaceful observance of Democracy Day celebrations in the state will face the full extent of the law.”
In readiness for the rallies, the security agencies in Borno, Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ogun, Yobe, Osun, Oyo, Jigawa and other states also deployed scores of personnel across their territories.
The Borno State PPRO, Nahum Daso, disclosed that about 1,500 policemen were mobilised ahead of the protest.
“Currently, we don’t have any threats in the state. Nevertheless, the police EOD team is currently on ground to sweep the area and will continue tomorrow (today) after the programme. It is going to be a hitch-free June 12 Democracy Day celebration,” he assured.
In neigbouring Yobe, the command confirmed it had put in place measures to maintain peace and order within and outside Damaturu, the state capital.
The state PPRO, Dungus Abdulkarim, said, “The police command has equally deployed adequate personnel and equipment to protect key infrastructure and ensure public safety, especially in public places such as markets and shopping centres.”