Democracy Day tension: Protesters mobilise as Tinubu addresses NASS
A clash between protesters and security operatives looms on Thursday (today) as the Take It Back Movement, the rally organisers, has resolved to carry out a demonstration at the National Assembly, Abuja and 19 other locations across the country during the June 12 celebrations.
President Bola Tinubu addresses a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives today as part of Democracy Day activities, setting the stage for a combustible situation.
Tinubu had cancelled the previously scheduled nationwide broadcast in commemoration of Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day anniversary.
The Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday, attributed the change to the President’s scheduled attendance at a joint session of the National Assembly today.
He added that the President would instead deliver his Democracy Day address directly from the National Assembly chambers.
“Due to President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled attendance at the National Assembly Joint Session, the Presidential National Broadcast on June 12 has been cancelled. President Tinubu will deliver his address from the National Assembly,” Imohiosen said.
On the heels of the planned nationwide rallies, the police and other security agencies have beefed up security across the country.
The protest organisers confirmed that their intention to take their campaign against economic hardship to the political leaders.
The group earlier planned to rally against the tough reforms implemented by the Tinubu administration at Eagle Square, but later announced a change of venue.
The protest, which is expected to draw participants from various civil society groups, is aimed at dragging attention to what the organisers described as “two years of misrule, hardship, and insecurity” under Tinubu’s government.
