To mark the 26th anniversary of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the Federal Government announced the cancellation of both the traditional military parade at Eagle Square and the anticipated nationwide broadcast by President Bola Tinubu. Despite this move, the #EndBadGovernance Movement reaffirmed its call for mass protests across the country.
According to a statement issued by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), the cancellation of the presidential broadcast is tied to Tinubu’s appearance at a joint session of the National Assembly scheduled for noon.
“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 said.
Rather than celebrating, the Take It Back (TIB) movement used the occasion to express deep concerns about the state of the nation.
In a statement from its Osun State chapter, the group lamented worsening poverty levels, insecurity, and economic instability.
It declared that more citizens are living in “monumental poverty.”
Representatives of the #EndBadGovernance Movement in Lagos, Hassan Taiwo ‘Soweto’ and Oloye Adeniji-Adegboyega, emphasized that the planned demonstration in Ikeja would proceed as scheduled.
“As we have informed earlier, the take-off point of the protest in Lagos is Ikeja Underbridge by 7.30 am.”
“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,” they said.
The group also addressed law enforcement, urging that protesters’ rights be respected.
“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,” the organizers explained.
Victor Lijofi, the TIB’s national coordinator, voiced his frustration in a separate statement. He argued that the ruling class had failed to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians.
“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,” he stated.
“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.”
“This is because we have leadership, both at the federal and states, who prioritise their greed over the interest of the country.”
Among the group’s key demands are immediate reforms across multiple sectors.
They called for “an end to terrorism, banditry, and insecurity in Nigeria, better funding of education, reversal of all fees in public schools across the country and replace student loans with grants.”
Despite the government’s efforts to tone down the Democracy Day celebrations, the protests reflect growing national dissatisfaction and a deepening rift between citizens and the leadership.
