Despite the Federal Government’s cancellation of the traditional Democracy Day military parade at Eagle Square and the nationwide presidential broadcast, several civil movements have called on Nigerians to mark the occasion with peaceful protests demanding real democracy, economic justice, and an end to widespread suffering.
The cancellation of the Democracy Day broadcast was confirmed in a statement released on Tuesday evening by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). According to him, the change in schedule was necessitated by President Bola Tinubu’s planned address at a joint session of the National Assembly.
“Due to President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled attendance at the National Assembly Joint Session, the Presidential National Broadcast on June 12 has been cancelled,” Imohiosen stated.
Instead of the usual public ceremonies, the President is expected to speak at noon on the theme “Consolidating on the Gains of Nigeria’s Democracy: Necessity of Enduring Reforms” during the National Assembly session in Abuja.
Meanwhile, activist groups under the banners of the #EndBadGovernance Movement and the Take It Back (TIB) Movement have urged Nigerians to hit the streets in peaceful protest to register their displeasure over what they described as deepening hardship, hunger, and inequality under the current administration.
In Lagos, organisers of the #EndBadGovernance rally insisted that plans for a mass demonstration in Ikeja would go ahead. Hassan Taiwo ‘Soweto’ and Oloye Adeniji-Adegboyega, speaking for the organising committee, confirmed that the protest would begin at 7:30 a.m. under the Ikeja Bridge.
They said, “As we have informed earlier, the take-off point of the protest in Lagos is Ikeja Underbridge by 7.30 a.m. We urge workers, artisans, youth, students, market men and women, commercial motorcyclists, the unemployed and all oppressed Nigerians to come out on that day and join us for the peaceful procession.”
The organisers also appealed to the Lagos State Police Command to respect citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
“We say this due to the unfolding development from the office of the CP in Lagos. Last week, we wrote to notify the CP. However, police invited the organisers of the June 12 action to a security meeting/interactive session with the CP on Tuesday morning at the Police State Command, Ikeja Lagos,” they disclosed.
In Osun State, the TIB Movement issued a strongly worded statement calling attention to the deteriorating living conditions of Nigerians, and accusing government officials at both federal and state levels of prioritising self-interest over national development.
Victor Lijofi, TIB’s state coordinator, declared: “The present state of the country is nothing to write home about, as the promise of a renewed hope by President Tinubu has now turned to renewed hopelessness. As a matter of fact, 100 million people have been pushed below the poverty line due to poor healthcare, education, unemployment, insecurity, and a poor standard of living.”
He continued: “This is because we have leadership, both at the federal and states, who prioritise their greed over the interest of the country.”
The TIB and #EndBadGovernance coalitions are demanding urgent policy shifts, including an end to insecurity, reversal of school fees in public institutions, and the replacement of student loans with grants. They are also calling for improved funding for education, better healthcare delivery, and social safety nets to cushion the effects of economic reforms.
June 12, officially recognised as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, commemorates the annulled 1993 presidential election believed to have been won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.