ABUJA – The Take It Back movement brought its 10-day nationwide protests against escalating economic hardship to a close on Saturday. However, they issued a strong warning that if President Bola Tinubu continues to ignore their demands, they will organize a massive march with the aim of gathering 10 million participants. This march would take place across the entire country, underscoring their determination to be heard and their commitment to fighting for change.
Since the protests began on August 1st, demonstrators have made their way through the streets of Abuja and various other cities, tirelessly advocating for the reversal of the recent removal of the fuel subsidy. They have also called for a reduction in electricity tariffs, highlighting the financial struggles that many Nigerians are currently facing. The overarching message from the movement is one of desperation and a call for immediate action from the government.
During these ten days of protests, the participants expressed their frustration with President Tinubu’s apparent unwillingness to engage with their concerns. Even though they have filled the streets with passionate demonstrations, they feel that their grievances have not yet been acknowledged or addressed adequately by the leadership. They carried placards featuring slogans such as “Bring back corruption-free fuel subsidy,” “Rent must be monthly,” and “Nigerians are tired of bad leaders,” making it clear that they seek significant change in the current political landscape.
Abiodun Sanusi, one of the prominent activists involved in the movement, stated that while the demonstrations would be put on hold for now, it is imperative to warn the Nigerian government that they will be back. Sanusi emphasized that if their demands go unmet, they are resolute in their plans to return to the streets and mobilize an even larger and more determined crowd. “Earlier on, we declared ten days of rage aimed at ending the persistent issues of bad governance in Nigeria. However, it has now become painfully clear that President Bola Tinubu is not prepared to heed the calls of the Nigerian people for change and reform.
“Today marks the final day of our ten days of rage, but we are making it unmistakably clear to the Nigerian government and President Tinubu that we will not relent. We will return to the streets, and this time, our numbers will surpass what we have seen thus far. We will undertake a 10-million-person march that will span all 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), signaling our unwavering commitment to achieving our goals,” Sanusi declared passionately.
It is important to remember that these protests have not been without their troubles. The demonstrations have unfortunately been marred by incidents of violence, with security forces using lethal measures against both protesters and journalists in locations such as Abuja, Kaduna, and other states. This heavy-handed response has been met with significant criticism and has raised concerns about the rights of citizens to peacefully protest.
The situation escalated when the Nigerian Army admitted to mistakenly killing a teenage boy, Ismail Mohammed, during a protest in Zaria. This tragic incident has only intensified public anger and sorrow, further fueling the determination of the protesters to push for justice and reform. As the Take It Back movement takes a temporary pause, the air remains thick with anticipation for their next steps and the potential for a massive resurgence in their protests if their demands continue to be unmet.
