15 Civil Society Organisations have embarked on a planned protest to address “two years of misrule, hardship, and insecurity” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Organized by the ‘Take It Back Movement’ and several civil society groups, the protest is part of nationwide demonstrations marking June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
On Thursday morning, security operatives barricaded the National Assembly, in Abuja as protesters gathered at the protest venue both in Lagos and Abuja.
Earlier on the eve of the protest, the Lagos state police had reached an agreement with the protesters to ensure a peaceful protest.
The Lagos protesters agreed and adopted Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota as the only venue for the protest.
Meanwhile, the Abuja protesters had moved the venue to the national assembly, where President Bola Tinubu was expected to address a joint session of the National Assembly to mark the Democracy day, stating, however, that the aim remains the same.
On Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Lagos state police, Benjamin Hundeyin, said;
“All protesting groups agreed to converge on Ikeja Under-Bridge simultaneously and jointly proceed to Gani Fawehinmi Park at Ojota to protest
“It was also agreed that no protest will take place anywhere else except at the only designated place at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota.
Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, on Wednesday, clarified that only the venue for the Abuja protest changed but the aim remained the same.
“That we earlier said the protest would hold at 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.
“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 Nigerians can exercise their constitutional rights. We are encouraging Nigerians to move there in their numbers tomorrow,” he said.
As agreed, so far, at the time of filing this report, it has been a peaceful protest in the chosen venues as protesters were seen flagging placards with different inscriptions including; “Take DisCos and give us NEPA”, etc.
The protesters have been protesting while security operatives and police men remain in every corner to ensure a peaceful protest as agreed.
