The Take-It-Back Movement, led by prominent activist Omoyele Sowore, has firmly declared its intention to proceed with its planned June 12 national protest despite growing opposition. The group aims to demonstrate against what it describes as widespread killings and undemocratic practices by those in power.

In a statement released by the movement's National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, the group rejected the "hollow ceremonies and official pageantry" that typically mark the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations, instead calling for nationwide resistance against what they term as "undemocratic elements in power."

Rejecting Ceremonial Celebrations

"We will not participate in the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom where none exists. Instead, we declare this day a national day of resistance, a day to stand against tyranny and bad governance," the statement emphasized.

The group pointed to what it perceives as alarming signs of democratic collapse across Nigeria, lamenting that the democracy won through "struggle, sweat, and blood" has been systematically dismantled by "the very forces that once promised change."

Concerns Over Freedom of Expression

According to the Take-It-Back Movement, freedom of speech is under severe attack in Nigeria, with journalists facing harassment, activists being detained, and citizens arrested for social media posts. The statement highlighted the alleged weaponization of the Cybercrime Act, claiming government agents are monitoring digital activities of dissenters to silence criticism and criminalize free expression.

"While the voices in the streets are silenced, the cries from rural communities echo unheard," the statement continued, referencing ongoing violence in Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, and across the Middle Belt, where the group claims "mass killings continue with terrifying frequency."

Marching for Multiple Causes

The planned June 12 protest, according to the movement, extends beyond self-interest. "This June 12, we march not just for ourselves, but for the slain in Benue, the displaced in Plateau, the silenced in detention, and the starving masses abandoned by the corrupt elite," the statement declared.

This announcement comes amid a growing trend of planned protests in Nigeria, with another group, the Endbadgovernance Movement, also scheduling nationwide demonstrations for June 12 to protest economic hardship in the country.

June 12 holds significant historical importance in Nigeria's democratic journey, commemorating the annulled presidential election of 1993, widely believed to have been won by business tycoon MKO Abiola. The date was officially declared Democracy Day in 2018, replacing the previous May 29 celebration.