Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denounced efforts by the federal government and security agencies to thwart nationwide protests scheduled to begin on August 1st.
The protests aim to address widespread concerns over bad governance and the current economic hardship affecting the nation.
In a statement on his verified Facebook page, Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), expressed alarm that even supporters of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are feeling the brunt of the economic crisis. He questioned why President Tinubu and other key figures, who were actively involved in protests against the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2012, are now attempting to suppress similar demonstrations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the rights of citizens to protest are enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and affirmed by our courts. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) unequivocally guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association,” Atiku stated.
He criticized the government’s efforts to identify and target those behind the planned protests, describing it as futile and misplaced. He emphasized that the widespread hunger, anger, and hopelessness felt by Nigerians, including Tinubu’s supporters, stem from the government’s incompetence and lack of direction.
“It is deeply ironic that those who now seek to stifle these rights were themselves leading protests in 2012,” Atiku noted. He urged the government to create a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful protest, warning that any attempts to suppress these rights would be unconstitutional and a direct affront to democracy.
