Falana, others set June 12 for nationwide protests over insecurity, hardship

A coalition of civil society organisations, trade unions, youth groups, community associations, social movements and faith-based groups has declared June 12 a day of nationwide protest and mass action against “worsening insecurity, escalating economic hardship and the continuous deterioration of the living conditions of millions of Nigerians.”

The declaration was contained in a statement on Wednesday, jointly signed by the National Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, Femi Falana (SAN); National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Yinka Folarin; and Hassan Soweto of the Organising Committee of the #EndBadGovernance Movement, Lagos State.

Other signatories include the Organising Secretary of the Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement, Yusha’u Yankuzo; Secretary of Initiative and Mediation, Zauren Tuntuba da Sasanci, Ali Attahiru; and rapper, singer and songwriter, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz.

The statement said the nationwide protest was aimed, among other things, at demanding the immediate release of Nigerians being held captive in Oyo, Borno, Ekiti, Kwara and other states.

According to the coalition, there is nothing to celebrate on June 12 as many Nigerians continue to live in fear of attacks by terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements.

Various states across the country have, in recent times, witnessed a surge in incidents of abductions, killings and other forms of terrorism.

The statement read, “Innocent Nigerians are being killed, abducted, displaced and traumatised while government responses have remained largely inadequate and ineffective.

“For years, the people have been subjected to repeated assurances that insecurity is being defeated. 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.

“The Nigerian people deserve a pro-people government that places the protection of lives and property at the core of governance.”

While lamenting the state of security in the country, the coalition also decried the hardship faced by Nigerians following the policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The activists said the removal of fuel subsidy, repeated increases in fuel prices, currency devaluation, rising electricity tariffs and the commercialisation of essential services had pushed millions deeper into poverty.

“Despite the significant increase in the monthly statutory allocations to the three tiers of government, the people are getting poorer.

“Food prices have skyrocketed. Transportation costs have become unbearable. Small and medium-scale businesses are collapsing under the combined burden of expensive fuel, unstable electricity and declining purchasing power. Workers’ wages remain grossly inadequate while inflation continues to erode incomes,” the statement added.

The coalition urged Nigerians to join the June 12 protest across the country to compel the government to take urgent and meaningful steps to address insecurity and reverse anti-poor economic policies that have plunged millions into misery.

“This protest is about the lives of our children and teachers in captivity. It is about the collective survival of ordinary Nigerians.

“As a result, the coalition calls on civil society organisations and progressive groups to unite and mobilise the collective power of the Nigerian people to demand the release of all captives and oppose the anti-people policies of the Tinubu administration, which have continued to increase poverty in the land,” the statement read.

Other signatories to the statement were the Executive Director of the Moses Oisakede Leadership Foundation, Mike Igaga; President of the Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association, Rufus Olusesan; and Segun Oladunni of the Joint Action Front.

The list of leaders also calling for the protest includes the General Secretary of Socialist Labour, Abiodun Olamosu; Lead of the Calabar Group of Socialists, Jonathan Ugbal; Country Director of Citizens Solution Network, Richard Inoyo; Salako Kayode of the Revolutionary Socialist Movement; Omole Ibukun of the Centre for Creative Change; and National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, Adaramoye Michael.