The Take It Back Movement has declared June 12, 2025, a “National Day of Resistance” against what it describes as rising tyranny, repression, and bad governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement released on Sunday, the group’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, accused the federal government of betraying the ideals of democracy for which many Nigerians sacrificed their lives.
“Nigeria stands today not as a democratic nation, but as a country at war with its own people,” the statement read.
The movement cited growing state repression, including:
- Harassment of journalists
- Detention of activists
- Arrests over social media posts
- Suppression of protests under the Cybercrime Act
“Peaceful assembly, a cornerstone of any democratic society, has become synonymous with treasonable felony under Tinubu,” the group lamented.
Beyond civil liberties, the statement also condemned the government’s inaction on widespread violence in Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, and the Middle Belt, accusing the state of complicity by negligence.
“This is not a democracy. This is organised cruelty,” said Sanyaolu.
The group outrightly rejected June 12 Democracy Day celebrations, instead mobilising for protests nationwide. It urged youths, students, workers, artisans, and diaspora Nigerians to join in what it described as a historic stand against oppression.
“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 a corrupt elite.”
The Take It Back Movement is a grassroots political and activist organisation known for its vocal opposition to authoritarianism and social injustice. It has led several demonstrations in Nigeria in recent years, particularly under the current administration.
The upcoming June 12 protest adds to growing discontent amid economic hardship, shrinking civic space, and worsening insecurity across the country.
