Renowned lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana has joined 16 civil society groups in declaring June 12 a day of nationwide protest over worsening insecurity, economic hardship and declining living standards in Nigeria.
The groups, including trade unions, youth organizations, community associations, social movements, faith-based organizations and other concerned Nigerians, said that as Nigeria marks another “Democracy Day,” millions of citizens have little to celebrate.
June 12 was set aside by the Nigerian government as Democracy Day to honor MKO Abiola, who won the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
In a statement signed by Falana, SAN, in his capacity as National Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB); Hassan Taiwo Soweto of the Organizing Committee of #EndBadGovernance Movement, Lagos State; Yinka Folarin, National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR); and 13 others, the coalition said communities across the country continue to live in fear as terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements operate with impunity.
The statement reads in part: “Innocent Nigerians are being killed, abducted, displaced and traumatized while government responses have remained largely inadequate and ineffective.
“We express solidarity with families of victims of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country. We demand immediate and concrete action to secure the release of all Nigerians held captive by criminal groups in Oyo, Borno, Katsina, Kwara, Ekiti, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and other states where citizens have been abducted.
“The Nigerian people deserve a pro-people government that places protection of lives and property at the core of governance.
“For years, Nigerians have been told insecurity is being defeated. Yet killings continue. Communities are attacked, schools are threatened, farmers cannot safely access their farms, highways remain unsafe, and families continue to live with the pain of losing loved ones or having relatives in captivity.
“At the same time, the economic situation has become unbearable. The neoliberal policies pursued by the All Progressives Congress administration under President Bola Tinubu have resulted in severe hardship for working people and the poor. The removal of fuel subsidy, repeated increases in fuel prices, currency devaluation, rising electricity tariffs and the commercialization of essential services have pushed millions deeper into poverty. Despite a significant increase in monthly statutory allocations to the three tiers of government, Nigerians are getting poorer.
“Food prices have skyrocketed. Transportation costs have become unbearable. Small and medium-scale businesses are collapsing under the burden of expensive fuel, unstable electricity and declining purchasing power. Workers’ wages remain grossly inadequate while inflation continues to erode incomes.
“The nationwide protest on June 12 marks one of a series of actions aimed at compelling government to take urgent steps to address insecurity and reverse anti-poor economic policies that have plunged millions into misery.
“We call on workers, students, traders, artisans, market women, professionals, unemployed youths, community organizations, religious groups, trade unions and all Nigerians to begin immediate mobilization in their communities, campuses, workplaces and neighborhoods.
“This protest is about the lives of our children and teachers in captivity. It is about the collective survival of ordinary Nigerians. The coalition therefore calls on civil society organizations and progressive groups to unite and mobilize the collective power of Nigerians to demand the release of all captives and oppose anti-people policies of the Tinubu administration that continue to increase poverty.
“The time has come for Nigerians to speak with one voice and demand security, dignity and a decent standard of living.
“Enough of the killings. Enough of the kidnappings. Enough of the hunger. Enough of the suffering.”