Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the Federal Government and its agencies for allegedly attempting to obstruct a planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1.
Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate in the recent elections, pointed out the irony of current leaders who, in 2012, protested against former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, now trying to suppress others’ right to protest.
In a tweet on Tuesday, July 23, Atiku emphasized that the right to protest is constitutionally guaranteed for all Nigerian citizens. He urged the government to focus on ensuring a safe environment for peaceful demonstrations rather than attempting to curtail dissent.
He stated that President Tinubu and the ruling APC are entangled in "hunger, anger, and hopelessness" resulting from what he describes as the government’s incompetence and lack of direction.
Atiku’s tweet read:
“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. -AA”
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