Ahead of the June 12 nationwide protest, human rights lawyer Tope Temokun has formally called on the Ondo State Police Command to provide security and protection for demonstrators in Akure, Ondo State’s capital.
The protest, organised by the Take It Back Movement, is scheduled to begin at Cathedral Junction by 8:00 a.m. on Democracy Day. Temokun, who serves as legal counsel to the movement, made the appeal in a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Police, urging the police to deploy officers to ensure public safety and order during the event.
“We write as the legal representatives and solicitors to Take It Back Movement, under the leadership of Omoyele Sowore, a globally renowned human rights activist and presidential candidate under the aegis of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last general election,” the letter stated.
“We hereby notify your office of the Nationwide Social Justice Protest through peaceful assembly to be organised by our clients and scheduled to hold on the 12th day of June, 2025, in commemoration of the Democracy Day celebration.”
Temokun noted that the protest aims to raise awareness about the public’s democratic rights and to draw attention to issues of poor governance in Nigeria.
“In Akure, the campaign and peaceful assembly will be convened at Cathedral Junction, with takeoff scheduled for 8:00 AM,” he said.
The rights lawyer stressed that the protest is designed to be peaceful, and that the organisers are law-abiding citizens intent on exercising their constitutional freedoms.
He said, “The protest organisers are responsible and law-abiding citizens who seek only to exercise their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as guaranteed under Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
Raising concerns about potential threats to the peaceful protest, Temokun warned of possible disruptions from politically motivated individuals.
“However, in light of growing concerns that some persons with mischievous political motives may attempt to hijack the peaceful assembly to cause disruption, especially owing to the profile of Omoyele Sowore, being an important dignitary to be in Ondo State to address the people, we hereby humbly request the presence of your officers to escort the march from any form of undue harassment or provocation,” he said.
He emphasized that the presence of security personnel is necessary to ensure the safety of protesters and to protect their constitutional rights.
“This request is made in the interest of public peace, safety and the lawful exercise of democratic freedoms,” Temokun stated.
He concluded by urging the police to support the protest through their presence and professional conduct, saying, “We therefore respectfully urge you to use your good offices to maintain public order, protect the participants, and facilitate the peaceful conduct of this democratic exercise.”
The June 12 protest, which marks Nigeria’s Democracy Day, is part of a broader nationwide demonstration expected to take place across several cities, with citizens demanding social justice, good governance, and accountability.
