Why Abuja Democracy Day Protest Did Not Hold – Organisers
The Democracy Day protest planned by the #TakeItBackMovement in Abuja failed to go on as planned on Thursday, June 12. The organisers alleged government intimidation, police harassment, and fear of violence as major reasons for the low turnout.
Despite days of mobilisation and a nationwide call to action, key protest locations in the Federal Capital Territory, including Eagle Square, Unity Fountain, the National Stadium, and Utako Market, remained calm.
Only a handful of demonstrators appeared at Apo, and the group soon dispersed moments later.
Speaking to THE WHISTLER, one of the mobilisers, Damilare Adenola, explained that fear and government repression were major deterrents.
“It’s very, very obvious that the turnout was low due to the violent character of the government,” Adenola said. “We saw how they deployed officers massively against peaceful protesters…”
He referenced past crackdowns by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government as a warning sign for citizens who might have considered joining the protest.
“Look at the #EndBadGovernance protests, people were killed. They attacked peaceful protesters. Even more recently, there was another protest here in Abuja where the police dispersed and injured people violently,” he said.
According to Adenola, the Nigerian state has adopted ways of intimidating activists ahead of protests.
“The state has found ways to threaten organisers whenever protests are being planned,” he said.
“We’re dealing with a tyrannical government that desires a one-party state—a state where everyone is forced to support the administration. No dissenting opinion is tolerated,” he said. President Tinubu had denied this claim during his address.
Adenola added that the recent wave of political defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is indicative of the coercive tendencies of the government.
He said, “During the #EndBadGovernance protests, people were killed for expressing their dissatisfaction. Yet supporters of this same administration were allowed to gather freely at the same Eagle Square, where anti-Tinubu protesters were denied access.
“We see politicians defecting to the APC, and the government is visibly happy about it. Why is that? It’s because this administration is hostile to the opposition. It hates critical voices and will go to any length to threaten and suppress them,” he said.
He, however, reiterated that the movement remains committed to human rights and peaceful protest.
“We are responsible. We are respecters of human rights. We don’t have a problem with people supporting the administration,” he said. “All we’re saying is: let there be a level playing ground for everyone to express themselves. No preferential treatment.”
When asked if the protest would be rescheduled, Adenola said, “Of course, there will be more. Once the #TakeItBackMovement is still active, the protests will continue,” he said. “This government will not rest until the people make it clear that they deserve a better, livable Nigeria.”
Why Abuja Democracy Day Protest Did Not Hold – Organisers is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
