Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has backed the planned nationwide protests against hunger and widespread hardship in the country, scheduled to begin on August 1.
In a statement, Atiku slammed the government of President Bola Tinubu for attempting to suppress the protesters, saying it is an exercise in futility.
He noted that Nigerians, including supporters of Tinubu and the ruling APC, are affected by the hunger, anger, and hopelessness caused by the government’s incompetence and cluelessness.
Atiku stressed that the right to protest is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and affirmed by the courts. He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.
He described it as ironic that those who now seek to stifle these rights were themselves leading protests in 2012. Atiku called on the government to ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful protest.
He warned that any attempt to suppress these rights is not only unconstitutional but a direct affront to democracy.
Atiku’s statement reads, “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.
“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. Any attempt to suppress these rights is not only unconstitutional but a direct affront to our democracy.”