Foremost human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) and a coalition of civil society organisations, labour activists, youth groups, community associations, social movements and concerned Nigerians have declared June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, a day of nationwide protest.
The mass action is against the worsening insecurity, deepening hunger and the economic hardship facing millions of citizens under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by Falana and other prominent activists, labour leaders and civil society figures, the coalition accused the Nigerian Government of failing to protect lives and property while implementing economic policies that have pushed many Nigerians deeper into poverty.
The statement was signed by Falana, musician and activist Falz, activist Hassan Taiwo Soweto, and representatives of organisations, including the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), the Joint Action Front, and several others.
The coalition noted that despite the annual celebration of Democracy Day, millions of Nigerians have little reason to celebrate as communities across the country continue to grapple with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime.
The coalition decried the fact that innocent citizens are being killed, abducted, displaced and traumatised while government responses have remained largely inadequate and ineffective.
The activists and rights advocates expressed solidarity with families affected by insecurity, and demanded immediate action to secure the release of Nigerians currently being held captive by criminal groups in states including Oyo, Borno, Katsina, Kwara, Ekiti, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger.
“The Nigerian people deserve a pro-people government that places the protection of lives and property at the core of governance,” the statement read.
The coalition noted that repeated assurances by government officials that insecurity is being defeated have not translated into safety for ordinary citizens, noting that communities continue to face attacks while farmers, students and travellers remain vulnerable.
“For years, the people have been subjected to repeated assurances that insecurity is being defeated,” the coalition said.
“Yet the killings continue. Communities are attacked, schools are threatened, farmers cannot safely access their farms, highways remain unsafe, and countless families continue to live with the pain of losing loved ones or having relatives in captivity,” they added.
They also slammed the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, blaming the removal of fuel subsidy, currency devaluation, rising electricity tariffs and what it described as the commercialisation of essential services for the worsening living conditions of Nigerians.
According to the coalition, soaring food prices, escalating transportation costs and the collapse of many small and medium-scale businesses have left millions struggling to survive.
The coalition further argued that workers’ wages remain inadequate in the face of persistent inflation, while citizens continue to bear the burden of rising costs despite increased statutory allocations to all levels of government.
The activists and advocates said the June 12 protest would be one of a series of actions aimed at compelling the government to address insecurity and reverse policies it described as anti-poor.
They called on workers, students, traders, artisans, market women, professionals, unemployed youths, religious groups, trade unions and community organisations to begin mobilisation ahead of the planned demonstrations.
“This protest is about the lives of our children and teachers in captivity. It is about the collective survival of ordinary Nigerians,” the coalition stated.
The coalition called for Nigerians to unite in demanding security, economic relief and improved living standards, declaring, “Enough of the killings. Enough of the kidnappings. Enough of the hunger. Enough of the suffering.”
(SaharaReporters)
