Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, discusses with AYOOLA OLASUPO the inspirations fueling the organization's demonstrations, their key requests, and the future aspirations guiding their fight.
What inspired the most recent demonstration organized by the Take-It-Back Movement?
Our requests are simple and direct: we seek the abolition of the Cybercrime Act. The act has commonly been employed by law enforcement, governmental bodies, and influential figures to curb freedom of speech and public discourse. Those most affected by this statute include activists, reporters, and social media participants.
We are urging for an end to the unlawful emergency rule established by the President in Rivers State, characterizing it as the enforcement of martial law. By doing so, the President has essentially halted all democratic operations within the state and appointed a previous admiral to oversee the residents of Rivers State. We find this intolerable and completely oppose it, insisting on prompt revocation.
Fundamentally, our initiative aims at advocating for effective leadership. Under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which began almost two years ago, the government has become more autocratic. His policies have exacerbated economic challenges, leading to increased hardship for many citizens. Currently, over 129 million Nigerians live beneath the poverty threshold, with this figure expected to rise as the nation’s financial situation continues to deteriorate.
After just more than a year in office, approximately 20,000 individuals are believed to have lost their lives due to instability, abductions, and criminal activities. Recently, there were accounts of violence in Plateau State occurring both over the weekend and throughout the week. The nation is slipping towards becoming one governed by kidnap gangs, outlaws, and aggressive lawbreakers—a situation that cannot be tolerated.
Here are the genuine concerns that call for an official state of emergency. In Nigeria, over 18.5 million children have been pushed out of education. Additionally, more than 30 million people lack stable housing. Furthermore, the nation’s health sector is facing total breakdown. Despite this, the authorities haven’t declared a state of emergency in any of these crucial sectors.
Some people believe that the President should have announced a state of emergency in areas plagued by widespread insecurity instead of in Rivers State because of a political dispute. What’s your take on this?
Certainly. The President appears to have little real commitment to effective governance. All his moves seem driven purely by politics, aimed at preparing for the upcoming 2027 elections. This declared state of emergency in Rivers State does not address the fundamental problems plaguing Nigerians.
If President Tinubu truly cared about the wellbeing of Nigerians, he would have declared a state of emergency in sectors like health, which he himself acknowledges is in crisis. His refusal to seek treatment in Nigerian hospitals – preferring France – is evidence of this. His predecessor did the same by seeking medical care in the UK.
These leaders have no interest in advancing the nation's development.
Has the government provided any feedback so far?
No, we have not yet received any reply. However, I want to assure the government that should there be no progress soon, we will reconvene with even stronger participation than before. The upcoming demonstration will see an increased turnout and intensity compared to our previous notice act. This renewed effort will occur according to our schedule.
The demonstration in Rivers State was halted when police used tear gas on protesters in Port Harcourt. How do you feel about this situation?
Indeed, in Rivers State, law enforcement dispersed our demonstration using tear gas and projectiles. Our organizer based in Kwara State received an injury, as did the president of the Niger Delta Congress. They both have been transported to the hospital for medical attention.
This performance was utterly shameful, highlighting the dictatorial character of the present government. This system does not qualify as a democracy. In Abuja, two demonstrators were apprehended and severely mistreated, whereas in Yobe State, authorities took into custody four of our fellow activists. These incidents reflect an ongoing pattern of suppression.
This government is unjustly prosecuting young Nigerians for treason merely because they protested against poor leadership. They have gone so far as to charge teenagers. We are now governed under what feels like a dictatorship, potentially more tyrannical than the previous administration led by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
What makes it worse is the hypocrisy. When President Tinubu was governor of Lagos State, he opposed a similar federal intervention by President Obasanjo. Now, he is imposing even worse authoritarian policies on the country. Nigerians must reject this.
A lot of Nigerians are feeling despair when it comes to the prospect of genuine change. What maintains your optimism?
We’ve had enough of political dictatorship. The people must bring an end to it. Nigerians may feel disillusioned, but history shows that when people unite in purpose, change becomes inevitable.
Consider what transpired in Kenya the previous year. Once citizens protested against a suggested tax amendment, the government had to abandon the plan, resulting in numerous officials losing their roles. When Nigerians firmly reach the point where they say 'enough,' the current state of affairs will crumble.
What can you say about the economic strategies implemented by President Bola Tinubu?
Most of them are poverty-inducing policies. Electricity has worsened, even as prices rise. The national grid continues to collapse. The only beneficiaries of these policies are Tinubu and his associates, who profit from the flawed privatisation of the electricity sector.
They were involved in the elimination of the fuel subsidy, an action that has worsened the economic downturn. More than 129 million people in Nigeria have slipped below the poverty line, approximately 18.5 million children have left schools, and instability has increased.
More than 30 million Nigerians find themselves without homes, with evictions still taking place. The general population endures unprecedented hardships as the privileged class indulges in opulence. President Tinubu flies aboard his personal aircraft, legislators cruise around in brand-new sport utility vehicles, and they persist in receiving substantial perks. In contrast, common citizens grapple with an unending spiral of destitution and struggle.
When do you intend to start the subsequent national demonstration?
In 2020, we held a nationwide protest on October 1, following a cancelled Nigeria Labour Congress strike. It was a major action that paved the way for the #EndSARS movement.
In last year’s calendar, a cautionary demonstration was staged on June 12, sparking an extensive sequence of protests in August 2024 that reverberated across the nation and garnered global focus.
Now, we are again in the warning stage, but very soon, it will evolve into a mass mobilisation. Last year’s protest lasted 10 days – this time, it will be longer. President Tinubu should address our demands immediately.
In what ways has your advocacy work impacted your private life?
This has only reinforced my determination.
How much assistance have you gotten from civil society groups, both within your locality and overseas?
We've garnered substantial backing from civil society organizations, labor unions, and global entities. While ethical encouragement has played a crucial role, the critical form of support required is for Nigerians to embrace the fight for their own freedom.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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