The appearance of renowned human right activist Femi Falana at the June 12 rally on Friday energised supporters already gathered at the protest ground held under the Ikeja Bridge, Lagos.
Penpushing reports that Falana arrived at the venue alongside his wife, Funmi Falana, and his musician and activist son, Folarin Falana (Falz), explaining that the demonstration was aimed at drawing attention to insecurity in states including Oyo, Zamfara and Kebbi, as well as repeated abductions in parts of the country
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) also criticised worsening hardship and what he described as shrinking civic space, stressing that the demonstration, planned to coincide with the June 12 Democracy Day, was aimed at drawing attention to insecurity as well as repeated abductions in parts of the country.
Penpushing further reports that, tension, however, rose as supporters and counter-protesters occupied the same venue, forcing police intervention to prevent a breakdown of order during Democracy Day commemorations.
The competing interpretations of Nigeria’s democracy, however, played out physically under the Ikeja Bridge, while protesters gathered for the Falana-led demonstration, a separate group identifying itself as “Team Nigeria” arrived in support of President Tinubu, staging a counter-rally at the same location.
Penpushing also reports that both groups set up loudspeakers and music systems, each attempting to dominate the space, leading to a tense stand-off over control of the venue, while a police team led by Akinwumi Oke, a superintendent of police, was deployed to the scene to restore order and prevent the confrontation from escalating.
The counter-rally, however, continued with loud music and chants, further heightening tension at the venue as both sides remained separated by security operatives, and as at the time of filing this report police officers remained on ground maintaining order and preventing further escalation. No injuries or arrests had been confirmed.
Penpushing reports that the protest was part of a nationwide mobilisation declared by a coalition of civil society organisations, trade unions, youth groups, faith-based organisations and social movements, which had earlier announced June 12 as a day of mass action over insecurity and worsening economic hardship in Nigeria.
The coalition include, activist Hassan ‘Soweto’ Taiwo, labour representatives and other civic leaders, and in a statement said the protest was intended to press the government to urgently address insecurity, rising poverty and what it described as harsh economic policies deepening hardship.
Penpushing further reports that the coalition in the statement ahead of the protest, said Nigerians deserve a pro-people government that places the protection of lives and property at the core of governance, warning that insecurity had continued to disrupt farming, education, travel and livelihoods across the country.
The coalition criticised key economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange-rate adjustments, electricity tariff increases and inflationary pressures, arguing that they had worsened living conditions despite rising government revenues.
Penpushing also reports that the planned demonstration coincided with official Democracy Day activities, including President Bola Tinubu’s national address marking 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule since 1999, and in 2018, Nigeria adopted 12 June as the Democracy Day in recognition of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Moshood Abiola.
The election was regarded as the freest and most credible to date, while the law-making 12 June as an official annual public holiday was signed in June 2019, and President Bola Tinubu in his broadcast on Friday, stated that Nigeria’s democracy remained not perfect, but ours, and urged citizens to strengthen democratic institutions while defending his administration’s economic and security reforms.
Penpushing reports that he said insecurity remained a national concern, citing abductions in parts of Oyo, Borno and other states, and added that the government had declared a security emergency, recruited more than 50,000 police officers, and increased defence spending to address threats across the country.
The President on the economy, defended ongoing reforms, including subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalisation, adding that they had stabilised public finances, increased revenue to federal and subnational governments, and improved investor confidence.
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