By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A group of anti-government protesters under the aegis of the Take-It-Back Movement on Monday took to the streets across Nigerian states, drawing attention to the state of the West African country’s economy, the declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich Rivers State, among other issues.
The protests came in defiance of an order by police authorities warning against staging demonstrations in Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, among other states.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), in a statement, urged the Movement to shelve the protests, raising concern over the timing, which it described as “ill-conceived and mischievous.”
One of the Movement’s leaders, opposition figure and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, dismissed the concerns raised by the police, rejecting claims that the protest was intended to undermine the National Police Day celebration.
Clad in their signature orange berets, the protesters began their rally in Lagos at the Ikeja Under Bridge, marching through major roads in the state capital while chanting solidarity songs, under the watchful eyes of police officers.
In Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, members of the Take-It-Back Movement held their peaceful demonstration in the capital, Ibadan, with security operatives on standby to ensure no breach of peace.
In Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital where a state of emergency was imposed last month by President Bola Tinubu and the elected governor suspended, police fired teargas at Isaac Boro Park to disperse protesters.
“Nobody can tell us where not to gather. We are Rivers people,” a young demonstrator was quoted as saying to the policemen who warned against the gathering in the city.
Police officers gave the protesters a hot chase and beat up some of them, including journalists reporting the event.
The demonstrators listed some of their grievances to include the repeal of the Cybercrime Act and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara following the state of emergency backed by the Senate and House of Representatives.
Activists and lawyers have criticised the suspension of the governor, who was replaced with a retired military officer, Ibok-Ete Ibas.
“As it is, we have no government. This government in Rivers State is alien to our people; it is unconstitutional. We are here to demand that our governor comes back to office and leads us appropriately. We have a social contract with the governor and not the sole administrator. This is democracy,” the demonstrator said.
Also in Abuja, demonstrators who converged in the Maitama area of the nation’s capital were dispersed with tear gas canisters, which sent many scampering for safety.
The Take-It-Back Movement, which spearheaded the protests, had in a statement last week Friday through its National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the demonstration was to resist what he called the “increasing authoritarianism” of the current administration and to demand urgent relief for Nigerians battling inflation and insecurity.
