Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has encouraged Nigerians to exercise their rights to protest against economic hardship in the country.
Atiku, who contested for Presidency in 2023 under the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stressed that any attempt to suppress the right of Nigerians to go on protest is both unconstitutional and a direct affront to democracy.
In a statement today, July 23, the main opposition leader said that the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) guaranteed citizens the right to protest peacefully.
Atiku Abubakar said that the accusation and threat from the Presidency that some persons were behind the protest is an exercise in futility.
Atiku said: “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 altered) unequivocally guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.
“Chasing shadows and contriving purported persons behind the planned protests is an exercise in futility when it is obvious that Nigerians, including supporters of Tinubu and the ruling APC, are caught up in the hunger, anger, and hopelessness brought about by the incompetence and cluelessness of this government.”
The former vice president recalled that President Tinubu, his supporters and his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) led a protest in 2012 against the government of former president, Goodluck Jonathan.
“It is deeply ironic that those who now seek to stifle these rights were themselves leading protests in 2012. A responsible government must ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful protest.”
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had recently accused former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and his supporters of being responsible for the protest scheduled to commence on August 1.
There have also been other indirect threats from the Presidency to Nigerians concerning the protest tagged: “End bad Governance.”
