Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has come under fire from the Presidency following his remarks regarding the fallout from the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations against poverty and hunger.
This was communicated in a statement late Tuesday by the presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga. The presidency accused Atiku of failing to denounce the looting and devastation that followed Nigeria’s recent countrywide rallies.
Atiku had in a post on his X handle on Tuesday said “I wish to convey a stern caution to the distinguished service chiefs and military commanders of Nigeria’s armed forces that those who authorise the use of lethal force against peaceful civilian protesters will be held responsible for committing crimes against humanity, even in the years following their retirement from service.”
“The constitutional right to protest is firmly established within our supreme law and reinforced by the judiciary. It is the solemn duty of the government and security agencies to ensure a safe and protected environment for individuals exercising their right to peaceful protest.”
However, Onanuga urged Atiku to behave similarly to opposition leaders in the UK “who have rallied behind the government to condemn the ongoing riots in the UK”
“As a statesman, his (Atiku) warning ought to be to the looting mob in Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, Jigawa states, who hijacked what was advertised by organisers as a peaceful protest.
“Our security forces have remained professional, even-handed, and observed every restraint in the face of extreme provocation by the rioters.”
Onanuga stated that although the freedom to protest was protected by Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as modified), Section 45 of the document stated that this right was not unqualified.
“They can be abridged and fettered in the interest of public peace, public safety, law, and order,” he said, commending security agents for being professional.
We encourage Alhaji Atiku to borrow a leaf from opposition figures in the United Kingdom who have rallied behind the government to condemn the ongoing riots in the UK, calling for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the wanton destruction of public and private assets.
“Such nationalistic temperament as displayed by opposition figures like Rishi Sunak, the immediate-past Prime Minister of the UK is expected of Alhaji Atiku,” Onanuga added.
The nation wide protest against bad governance and hunger has reached the 7th day. Despite call by the presidency for protesters to halt, the protesters have said they are not going back.
