Atiku backs planned nationwide protest, slams FG’s attempt to suppress citizens’ rights
Story from Uji A. ILIYASU
Former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, said he supported the planned nationwide protests against hunger and widespread hardship in the country, billed to start on 1 August.
A statement signed by the former vice president on Tuesday slammed the Federal Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for attempting to suppress the protesters, warning that it would be a futile attempt.
Atiku noted that Nigerians, including supporters of Tinubu and the ruling APC, are all affected by the hunger, anger, and hopelessness caused by the government’s incompetence and leadership that has no clue on the way to grow the economy for the benefit of Nigerians.
He therefore, stressed that the right to protest is enshrined in the Federal Constitution and affirmed by the courts, citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.
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Atiku said it is ironic that those who now seek to stifle the rights of citizens to protest were themselves leading protests in the past, and called on the government to ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful protest.
Note that agrieved Nigerian youths are planning to stage a nationwide hunger and hardship protest scheduled to take place between 1 August and 10 August 2024.
The aim of the protest is to draw the attention of the federal and state governments to the worsening plight of citizens.
The federal government said it is aware of the planned protest and is taking necessary actions to prevent any possible hijacking of it by hoodlums during the days the protest will last.
Proofreading, editing by Uji A Iliyasu, Editor at Neptune Prime
