• Hardship, hunger protests rock June 12 commemoration in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan
• Five arrested in Ibadan over Tinubu-must-go agitation
• Group defies DSS, holds march in Abuja, alleges arrests
• ‘We can’t be silent amid poverty, hardship, unemployment’

Notwithstanding protests that heralded the June 12 commemoration and the hard stance of the labour unions on minimum wage, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, reiterated that the country’s unity cannot be traded, calling for the support of stakeholders in building the nation. Tinubu made this known during the state Banquet Dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to mark this year’s Democracy Day.

According to him, there is a need for investment in national orientation as a means to build the character of citizens to ensure nation-building and enduring value system.

Tinubu, who commenced his speech by shrugging off his slip earlier in the day when he lost his footing momentarily as he was about to step into the vehicle, even as he jokingly referred to the fall as a “swagger” and explained that as a traditional Yoruba boy, he was performing a customary greeting called “dobale” to mark Democracy Day.

“Early this morning, I had a swagger and it’s on the social media. They were confused about whether I was doing Buga or doing babariga, But, it is a day to celebrate democracy while doing “Idobale” for the day. “I am a traditional Yoruba boy and I did my Idobale”.

“I have heard excellent comments and very touching remarks about myself and the past. Thank you. My sincere gratitude to all of you for standing by me. I promise you; I won’t fall. Nigeria is a great country.

“We include in our national anthem, the essence of service. I have seen many governors, both live and on television serving their people. They belong to other parties. Everybody has forgotten the partisanship colour and embraced the green, white, green. The reason we say we will hand over a banner without stain. Is it not true that Nigeria is greater than any one of us? The unity of this country cannot be traded. I saw many criticisms about the National Anthem…Nigeria is blessed. Our complexity, our diversity unending; it is the best road to success.

“We can produce our way out of the history of complaints. We can make Nigeria a tremendously successful country if we gather as we gather tonight, and encourage our children about the value system. Whatever we have to invest in our national orientation, we should do it. We have a lot of work to do about our country, our citizens. Citizenship is not just about the dictionary meaning of it but the actual character in us. Let’s teach this one to our children so that Nigerians, collectively will do the job that we are called upon to do as one family, one nation under God almighty.”

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, led Nigerians to mark Democracy Day, pockets of protests broke out in parts of the country as citizens bemoaned high costs of living, hunger, and seething hardship.

Tinubu, who was accompanied to the Eagle Square venue of the ceremony by the First Lady, Oluremi, at about 10:03 a.m., was received by dignitaries, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

He immediately took the salute from the Commander of the Brigade of Guards, stood for the National Anthem at the saluting dais, and then mounted an open-roofed Land Rover, which conveyed him round the square.

But even as the vehicle cruised slowly across the square, a section of guests could be heard chanting: “Minimum wage! Minimum wage!! Minimum wage!!!” The cries exposed the underbelly of the ceremony, held amid bitter wrangling between the Federal Government and the organised labour for a new minimum wage.

At the square, guests donning colourful attires trooped into the arena to witness the ceremonial activities marking the restoration of democracy in 1999.

Also, troops drawn from the Guards Brigade, joined by personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air force, and elements of the Nigerian Police Force provided a military parade and entertained dignitaries including members of the diplomatic corps.

But elsewhere across the country, Democracy Day scenarios bore no resemblance with the carefully tailored celebration in the nation’s capital. The Oyo State Police Command arrested five protesters wearing ‘Revolution Now’ jackets.

The protesters had gathered at the Mokola roundabout in Ibadan, demanding an end to various socio-economic challenges plaguing Nigeria. Under the aegis of ‘Take It Back Movements’, in collaboration with Concerned Nigerians, the protesters voiced their grievances against hardship, insecurity, police brutality, kidnapping, electricity tariff hikes, and attacks on press freedom.

Expressing discontent with the current administration, some of the protesters said it was time for President Bola Tinubu to be removed from power. The protesters, who lamented that Nigerians can’t feed their families comfortably under Tinubu, bore placards bearing messages such as: We are hungry; Justice cannot be silenced; The power of people is greater than the people in power; United we stand, divided we fall.

The demonstration, planned to coincide with Democracy Day celebrations, commenced peacefully around 9:15 a.m.
However, around 9:30 a.m., police operatives, led by Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebola Hamzat, intervened and arrested the protesters. He queried the officers present at the scene, berating them for allowing the protesters to carry on, despite his repeated warnings and public statements.

Also, some Nigerians held a peaceful protest against “hardship and hunger” at Berger Bridge in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday. This came despite warnings by the Department of State Services (DSS) against protests as Nigeria marked Democracy Day.

The convener and human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who addressed reporters during the protest blamed the poor outing on the alleged arrest of participants, urging Nigerians not to be deterred by threats from security agencies.

“One of our comrades by name Jumoh and others were arrested in Lagos. Here, in Abuja, many of our colleagues were arrested on their way to the protest venue,” he said.

The rights lawyer said: “We felt that we hold them a duty of holding the protest this morning.” Adeyanju urged security agencies to confront bandits, terrorists and kidnappers terrorising Nigerians unchallenged, instead of threatening peaceful protesters.

“We are also here to state that the country has nothing to show for 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, apart from hunger, lack, economic relapse, and corruption,” he added.

Similarly, protesters under the Edo State Civil Society Organisation (EDOSCO) called on the Federal Government to put an end to the suffering of the masses.

They also stressed the need for the government to advance policies that would better the lot of Nigerians. One of the leaders of EDOSCO, Kola Edokpayi, who spoke at the event in Benin, said they came out to vent their frustration over the state of the nation.

He said: “We totally reject this brand of democracy being practised in the country. This democracy is not for the people; it is against the people. We cannot continue to be silent in the midst of poverty, hardship and unemployment.

“The masses are suffocating due to the iron grip of hunger, poverty and economic downturn under President Bola Tinubu. We are saying that this country should be fixed, so that we can avoid agitation for self-determination as witnessed in the South East, with people in that region saying they are not part of Nigeria.”

Edokpayi said pilots of the country’s affairs have failed woefully. He said they travel abroad and see how things work there, but unfortunately they are not able to replicate what they see. He added: “The leaders know the solution. We want them to give us employment and create an enabling environment for investors to come into the country.

“They must halt insecurity and fix power. Why are they increasing tariffs when the power supply is epileptic? The suffering must end so that the masses will stop agitating for their rights.”

In Lagos, protesters, yesterday, avoided the Ojota area, which in past years had hosted popular anti-government agitations. When The Guardian reached out to one of the leaders, Femi Adeyeye of the Take It Back Movement, he did not state any reason why participants were not at the scene.

The protesters said since May 29, 2023, when President Tinubu removed the subsidy on fuel, Nigerians have been plunged into greater suffering. They lamented that the costs of fuel, food, transport, electricity, school fees and other basic amenities have gone up beyond what average Nigerians can afford.