INTRODUCTION
The Take It Back Movement (TIB) is a non-governmental & non-profit organization that was established in 2018 in response to widespread dissatisfaction with Nigerian politics, characterized by corruption, nepotism, and a lack of development. The movement’s founding principles are rooted in promoting good governance, social justice, and economic empowerment for all Nigerians, it aims to galvanize citizens to actively participate in the political process and hold leaders accountable.
The TIB has been a dynamic force for social change in 2024, continuing its mission to advocate for political, social, and economic revolution. From January to June, the movement has undertaken impactful activities that resonated with a diverse audience, galvanizing support and fostering community engagement across various regions. Despite facing political repression and attempts to stifle its activities, the movement’s efforts in the last 6 months have been characterized by a series of impactful campaigns and initiatives to inspire Nigerians to reclaim their country from the corrupt elites and ineffective governance.
This document contains a report on the activities of TIB for the first half of 2024, including the challenges and recommendations on more effective means of engaging the Nigerian political system and status quo in the best interest of the people.
JANUARY
– Take It Back embarked on a protest against the deplorable state of roads and infrastructure in Gwagwalada council of Abuja and demanded urgent actions. The Council chairman and the Nigeria police, in their usual disregard for human rights tried to hunt down some of the TIB activists and residents who participated in the protest.
– The Lagos Island chapter of the TIB joined residents in a peaceful protest against the unaffordable cost of housing. The event was tagged Lagosian Walk for House Rent Relief.
– Organization of a 1-day workshop on the use of social media which was themed “Building Popular Power through the Use of Social Media” and was facilitated by Comrade Omoyele Sowore at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
FEBRUARY
– Solidarity with Comrade Omoyele Sowore in court regarding the charade of five-year persecution and detention within Nigeria by the federal government. Some organizations such as Amnesty International and SERAP lent their voices in solidarity with Sowore. Amnesty International tweeted “Today Amnesty International Nigeria was at the federal high court Abuja in solidarity with human right activist Omoyele Sowore who is also a prisoner of conscience; facing flawed charges and a sham trial for solely exercising his right to freedom of expression”
– The federal government discontinued its charges against Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare. A follow-up motion was moved by Barr Femi Falana SAN at the federal high court Abuja to strike out the treason case against Sowore and Bakare.
The FG vs Sowore/Bakare treason charge was officially discharged, and the DSS was ordered to return the defendant’s properties.
– The TIB movement alongside other organizations participated in a mass demonstration organized by the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC). The protest was tagged #EndHungerProtest. TIB activists stormed the streets to sensitize and mobilize community members to join the protest which was held across various states of the federation.
MARCH
– The TIB organized an online seminar for the commemoration of 2024 International Women’s Day. The topic of discussion was ‘Women’s Political Participation; Capitalism and Its Effects, and was hosted by Omolola Pedro who is the head of the Gender-based violence department. There was a follow-up TIB podcast episode that discussed the Nigerian interpretation of women’s empowerment, including what it means to empower women.
– Delta state coordinator of the TIB movement and child rights activist, Aghogho regained freedom after spending 21 months in prison for demanding a probe of government officials and police for complicity in cases of child trafficking.
Court discharged and acquitted three EndSars detainees (Sunday O, Olumide F, Oluwole Y) after a year of persistent intervention by the TIB movement.
The TIB movement met in Oworonshoki and discussed plans to resist another round of demolition notices that were issued to residents of the waterside communities.
APRIL
– The TIB movement released a press statement to reject the outrageous electricity tariff hike and demanded for an immediate reversal. TIB movement also rejected the University of Ibadan fee increment to N400,000.
– TIB movement Oyo chapter demanded a stop to the Oyo state government’s land grab for a circular road project that puts 360 villages and 5 million people at risk of becoming homeless. The movement described the move by Seyi Makinde as ridiculous and prioritizing personal interest over the needs of the people
TIB held a mass meeting with the demolition victims in Oluyole, Ibadan, and resolved to resist the demolition exercise.
– The TIB movement reacted to a disturbing incident of extortion and power abuse by corrupt Nigerian police officers in Lagos. The victim who was a recent returnee from Cyprus was extorted to the tune of N100,000. The Police eventually refunded the money after the TIB movement raised alarm over the incident, and reached out to the police PRO to complain.
– The TIB movement backed Nurses’ resistance and joined the organized protest as Nigerian nurses demonstrated against NMCN regulations.
– The TIB movement participated in a 3-day workshop organized by ActionAid where the head of media Dawodu Durotimi made a presentation about the movement’s core values. He also encouraged Nigerians to participate in politics by aligning with candidates and political parties that represents their interests, and also to read and understand their policies before voting them into power.
– The TIB movement condemned the arrest and subsequent imprisonment of homeless youths taking refuge around pedestrian bridges. The movement emphasized the need for the government to stop criminalizing poor people who are casualties of a broken system and instead embark on a multifaceted approach that will simultaneously tackle the underlying causes of poverty and homelessness.
– The movement held a mass meeting with residents and community leaders of Iwerekun, Solu Orunmija, and other coastal communities in Ajah Lagos that faced the threat of an imminent demolition and annihilation of their cultural heritage by the government that could render thousands of them homeless. TIB mobilized and joined the communities to protest the imminent threat of demolition by the state government.
– The TIB movement called out the EFFC over the favorable treatment of the former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello in connection with an alleged case of money laundering to the tune of over N80 billion. The movement highlighted the double standard approach of the EFCC in tackling corruption through the illegal arrests, breach of human rights, and extortion of young Nigerians whom the commission has always labeled as “Yahoo boys” while they turn a blind eye to the corruption and misappropriation of public funds by the elites.
– TIB condemned the tragic death of a Lagos resident who was gunned down by a police officer in a violent altercation that erupted while he was attempting to purchase fuel during the scarcity of petrol. TIB went ahead to demand justice for the victims and blast government negligence and reoccurring police recklessness in safeguarding the lives of Nigerians.
MAY
– The TIB movement lent its voice in demanding the release of an abducted FIJ journalist Daniel Ojukwu, slams the Tinubu regime for repressing journalists and media manipulation. The convener of the TIB movement, Omoyele Sowore called for a protest against the unjust detention of Daniel by the Nigerian police. The protest took place at the police headquarters in Abuja and the detained journalist was eventually released from detention the following day.
– The TIB movement participated in a meeting with AUPCTRE over the issue of water privatization and the arbitrary sack of 391 workers in the sector as part of the neoliberal policies that are being implemented by the incompetent Tinubu regime. TIB joined the amalgamated union of public corporations and other civil organizations to protest against the unjust dismissal and planned privatization.
– TIB slammed the Niger state speaker’s decision to marry off orphans as a constituency project. The movement demanded that the state government prioritize the empowerment and protection of vulnerable girls instead.
– Comrade Femi Adeyeye, Aduwo Gabriel, and two others were arrested at the University of Ibadan, Oyo state, and assaulted by Operation Burst of the Nigerian Army for protesting against school fee hike. The TIB movement condemned this despicable act and identified the location where they were moved to demand their immediate release.
– The TIB movement organized an online interaction forum commemorating the International Day of the Boy Child, the conversation was centered around unlearning, and relearning the myths and facts of being a boy child in the present day.
– Delta state chapter of TIB hosted a physical meeting in Sapele to sensitize and mobilize mass support for the movement in the state.
– The TIB movement organized an online discussion on its twitter platform titled “N48,000 Minimum Wage Amidst Economic Crisis: A mockery, a Lifeline or a Burden for Nigerians?”. The speaker, comrade Francis Nwapa spoke in-depth about the topic and answered presented questions.
– In Akure, Ondo state, the TIB movement intervened in a case of a 78-year-old man who was said to have allegedly defiled a 3-year-old. The movement advocated for the victim by cautioning the police for trying to take sides with the accused because of his influential status, rather than doing its job of helping and getting justice for the victim.
– The TIB movement called out pastor Daniel Olukoya and demanded an investigation into his role in framing former MFM pastor Oluwafemi Jimoh for 9 years of imprisonment. The convener of the movement, Omoyele Sowore released a video as evidence on his social media page and emphasized that the MFM church leadership colludes with the Nigerian police to frame innocent citizens, and this necessitates a reason for a National Police Abuse Commission of Enquiry such that all the people involved are brought to justice.
JUNE
– The TIB movement started the month with both online and offline mass sensitization of Nigerians to organize on the 12th of June against the neoliberal policies of the incompetent Tinubu regime that leaves Nigerians with fewer choices and diminished hope as described by Adeyemi Oluwatosin.
– The Ekiti state chapter of the TIB movement took up the responsibility of advocating and demanding justice for a victim of domestic violence, Dr Adenike O. who narrowly escaped death after she was attacked and physically abused by her husband. The movement condemned the manner and sluggish pace at which justice is being delivered on the case by the court called on Governor Oyebanji to act.
– The TIB movement held a press conference towards the June 12 day of action against the hardship and hunger inflicted on Nigerians by the Tinubu regime. The movement encouraged Nigerians to take to the streets and show the incompetent regime that their voices would not be silenced. In attendance at the conference were other civil and pro-people organizations such as JAF, ERC, SWL, PRP Vanguard, and other notable civil society groups and concerned Nigerians.
– The abduction of the TIB national coordinator, Sanyaolu Juwon by the DSS on the eve of the June 12 protest did not stop the planned nationwide protest against the hardship and incompetence of the Tinubu regime. The protest took place in several states across the country as the Nigerian police in their habit tried to intimidate and clamp down on Nigerians to stop them from exercising their right to protest. The mass demonstrations took place in the following states, Lagos, Bauchi, Adamawa, Edo, Yobe, Oyo, Kaduna, Kano, Delta, Rivers, Gombe, Osun, Ondo, Jigawa, Niger, and Abuja.
– Some other TIB comrades were arrested by the lawless police in Oyo and Kano states in connection to the nationwide protest on June 12. Comrade Kayode and Adisa in Ibadan and Comrade Usman in Kano. TIB in coalition with other human rights organizations persistently demanded the unconditional release of these comrades until they regained their freedom.
– The Ogun state TIB chapter intervened in a case of child abuse involving a 12-year-old girl who was the victim and got the police to arrest the 25-year-old woman, Temitope Adetanju who was said to have inserted a wood in her private part after she had been accused of stealing biscuits and some other beverages worth N650. The TIB Head of Gender Department, Omolola Pedro commended the swift response of the police in apprehending the alleged perpetrator, she also emphasized the necessity of strong regulatory laws in Nigeria that govern disciplinary measures for child abuse, stating that the absence of such law leaves children vulnerable to abuses.
– The TIB movement intervened in a case of extrajudicial killing of 20-year-old Ahmed Ibrahim by a corrupt police officer over a bribe in Yobe state. The movement described the act as another reminder of the Nigerian police impunity and demanded an impartial investigation into the heinous crime.
– The TIB movement called out the Nigerian Police Force on the misleading report of EndSars detainees and insisted that scores of protesters still languish in detention across the country. The movement went ahead and published a list of remaining innocent EndSars detainees and demanded their immediate and unconditional release.
The TIB movement’s successful advocacy led to the release of 18 EndSars detainees; 9 in Oyo state, 2 in Ondo state, and 7 in Lagos state. However, the movement reaffirmed that there are still many victims who are languishing in prisons across Nigeria and the police must desist from spreading misinformation among the public.
– The movement joined voice with the general public to demand justice for a female student at the University of Benin identified as Adekolore Glory who was allegedly raped to death. Representing the TIB movement, the national president of the student wing, Oguntola Sunday condemned the heinous act and called on the Edo state command of the police force to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
– The movement condemned the “thuggish behavior” of EFCC operatives in the Lagos hotel assault video that went viral and demanded an immediate prosecution. Micheal Olasoji, the head of the Human Rights Department responded to the incident describing it as a barbaric act that must never be tolerated. He went further to blast the EFCC for their ongoing pattern of human rights violations and assaults on innocent Nigerians while the corrupt politicians are allowed to roam free.
– The TIB movement stood in solidarity with the young and working-class people of Kenya as they mobilized a mass action against the Western-inspired neoliberal policies of Williams Ruto. TIB joined good people of conscience on the continent of Africa and from around the world to condemn the killings and abductions of activists in Kenya for protesting against the #FinanceBill2024. The movement emphasized that protest is a fundamental human right and that all arrested protesters must be freed.
EVALUATION & RECOMMENDATIONS
The movement has been involved in several struggles in the last six months, most of which are characterized by resisting the neoliberal policies of this regime that have made life difficult and unbearable for an average Nigerian. The removal of subsidy in particular and the hike in prices of almost all commodities including tariffs, school, and electricity fees have been responsible for most of the hardship Nigerians bear. In its usual pattern of disregard for the people’s welfare, the government has refused to address these unsustainable circumstances. Instead, it has been deceiving the people with empty promises and manipulative declarations.
Surprisingly, Nigerians have remained docile in the face of this incompetence that has led to multidimensional oppression and hardship. Therefore, the movement needs to continue to devise creative means of inspiring the people to organize against this system of exploitation. Some of the recommended means of achieving this include: –
– Enhanced awareness and media coverage of the hardship Nigerians are going through to spark a wave of internal anger and the need for action against the government. This can be achieved through consistent posts on all our social media pages, more interviews on national TV, and collaboration with like-minded human rights organizations.
– Boycotting, and disrupting political events.
The movement must invest in building and mentoring bottom-up leaders who can lead mass actions and inspire people to resist oppression in the communities.
The movement has also been active and vocal about advocating for human rights abuse in some parts of the country. This includes physical, child, and sexual abuse. Some departments that have been instrumental in achieving this include the Gender-based Violence Department, Editorial Department, Media & ICT, and Human Rights Department.
However, there is a need to cover more grounds in addressing human rights issues across the country, especially in the north. The movement can achieve this by identifying some active and genuine human rights groups in the north or other parts of the country and collaborate with them to robustly address human rights abuse and have a nationwide effect while the movement works towards building the organization to have an adequate presence across the country.
The movement must continue to encourage Nigerians, especially the young ones to resist oppressive government agencies like the Police force and EFCC. This can be achieved by continuing to be at the forefront of this resistance and educating Nigerians about their rights, especially in the universities.
There is a potential for an uprising against this current regime due to the hardship Nigerians are enduring. The movement must endeavor to join every mass action against the government as it has always done by leading from the fronts. We must also be ready and strategically positioned to direct the anger of the masses to the right sources. We must be prepared to resist the possibility of a reactionary group taking advantage and hijacking the struggle of the people for their gain.
We must also conscientize Nigerians politically and find a way to convince them that we can only be free from exploitation and oppression by organizing politically against the status quo. To achieve this, a rigorous registration program and adequate follow-up is strongly recommended.
TIB Evaluation & Monitoring Team
01-7-2024
Comrade Akerele S.A
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