Just in: Take-It-Back movement plans nationwide protest against Tinubu

DDM News

The Take-It-Back Movement has announced a nationwide protest scheduled for Monday, April 7, 2025.

Diaspora digital media (DDM) gathered that the protest aims to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s emergency governance in Rivers State and the abuse of Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act.

Organisers are calling the demonstration a stand against bad governance and the suppression of freedom of expression.

The main protest location will be the National Assembly complex in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

However, organisers have confirmed that demonstrations will occur simultaneously in multiple cities across the country.

Juwon Sanyaolu, National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, spoke to The PUNCH in a recent interview.

He stated that the core demand is the repeal of the Cybercrime Act, which he described as dangerous and oppressive.

According to Sanyaolu, the law is now being weaponised by police and state agents to silence criticism.

He noted that journalists, activists, and social media users have increasingly become targets under this law.

“This law has transformed into a tool of suppression,” Sanyaolu said.

He explained that influencers like SeaKing have been arrested and harassed for expressing their views online.

Sanyaolu stated that the broader concern includes the dismantling of democracy in Rivers State.

He said the protest would also challenge what the group describes as unconstitutional emergency rule imposed by the Tinubu administration.

In late 2024, a political crisis erupted in Rivers State between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the state legislature.

This crisis led to an alleged intervention by the federal government, resulting in the suspension of state institutions.

The Take-It-Back Movement claims this federal action amounted to an unlawful imposition of emergency rule.

President Tinubu’s administration reportedly deployed federal forces and assumed control over the state’s democratic structures.

The Nigerian Constitution allows emergency declarations only with National Assembly approval, which critics say never occurred.

Legal experts and civil society organisations have condemned the federal government’s actions as unconstitutional and authoritarian.

Sanyaolu said the Rivers crisis sets a dangerous precedent for other Nigerian states.

“This could happen anywhere. Today it’s Rivers, tomorrow it could be another state,” he warned.

He added that restoring democratic order in Rivers is essential to preserving Nigeria’s federal structure.

In addition to Rivers State, the protest addresses a growing list of national grievances.

High among them is the Cybercrime Act, passed in 2015, initially meant to tackle cyber fraud and online criminal activity.

The law has since become controversial, with claims that it is now misused against dissenters.

Critics argue that vague provisions allow authorities to prosecute individuals for online comments deemed “offensive” or “insulting.”

Several high-profile arrests have brought attention to the act’s alleged misuse.

In March 2024, Segun Olatunji, former editor of First News, was abducted by security agents over a news report.

Daniel Ojukwu, a reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, was arrested for publishing a corruption investigation.

Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director at the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, also faced threats.

Nurudeen Akewushola, another investigative journalist, reported being harassed by authorities for his work.

Human rights groups have condemned these arrests and labelled them attacks on press freedom and democracy.

The Committee to Protect Journalists and Amnesty International have both raised alarms over Nigeria’s shrinking civic space.

Sanyaolu said that any law weaponised against free speech must be repealed or fundamentally reformed.

“Journalism is not a crime. Speaking online is not a crime,” he stated.

He also criticised the Nigerian police for arresting people without warrants or due process.

According to the movement, the protest is not just about individual cases but a systemic erosion of civil liberties.

Sanyaolu said the protest would be peaceful but resolute in its demands.

Flyers have been distributed online listing Abuja as the primary protest location.

Other cities like Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and Kano are expected to participate in parallel actions.

Organisers have urged supporters to mobilise peacefully and avoid confrontations with law enforcement.

The protest also comes amid worsening economic hardship affecting millions of Nigerians.

Since the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023, prices of goods and services have continued to rise.

Food prices have more than doubled in many states, hitting low-income households hardest.

The naira has depreciated against foreign currencies, leading to higher import costs.

Inflation has surged, leaving many Nigerians unable to afford basic needs like food, fuel, and electricity.

Transportation costs have increased, while public sector workers in some states remain unpaid.

Despite promises of economic growth, the Tinubu administration has faced heavy criticism for worsening living conditions.

Young Nigerians, in particular, face unemployment, unstable education, and bleak job prospects

Power supply remains unreliable, forcing homes and businesses to rely on costly alternatives.

Insecurity continues to plague the country, especially in the North and Middle Belt regions.

Cases of banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence remain frequent and unresolved.

Citizens have used social media to express anger and frustration over these economic and political challenges.

“The country is collapsing,” said Halima, a student in Kaduna. “We can’t study, eat, or speak freely.”

A trader in Ibadan said, “We’re being choked on all sides. This protest is our last hope.”

Organisers say the movement represents a new phase in Nigerian civic resistance.

Sanyaolu said the people are no longer afraid to hold leaders accountable.

He said Tinubu’s policies have caused more harm than good for ordinary Nigerians.

“We need real governance, not hardship and intimidation,” he stated.

The movement’s demands include immediate reinstatement of Rivers State’s executive and legislative bodies.

They are also calling for unconditional release of all detained activists and journalists.

They want an end to arbitrary arrests and harassment of citizens using social media.

TIB is demanding a full repeal or amendment of the Cybercrime Act to protect digital rights.

They also insist the government must improve living conditions and address rising poverty and inflation.

The group emphasised the protest is not politically motivated but driven by national interest.

“This is about people’s rights. It’s about democracy,” Sanyaolu stated.

He said Nigerians cannot continue to suffer in silence while their freedoms are taken away.

Security agencies have not officially commented on the planned protest.

However, previous protests by activist groups have often faced police resistance and heavy-handed crackdowns.

The 2020 #EndSARS protests were dispersed with force, leaving several casualties and detentions.

Observers are concerned about how the authorities will respond to Monday’s protest.

Human rights organisations have urged the government to allow peaceful demonstrations and avoid unnecessary violence.

The Nigerian Police Force has not yet issued a public advisory about the protest.

Nevertheless, TIB says the protest will go on regardless of threats or intimidation.

“This is just the beginning,” Sanyaolu said. “We will continue until justice is served.”

He urged Nigerians not to give up on democracy or civil rights.

“We must defend our future. This is not about politics. It’s about survival,” he added.

As the protest date approaches, citizens, observers, and the international community are watching closely.

Will the government listen or respond with force? That remains to be seen.

But one thing is certain: the people are speaking, and they demand to be heard.

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