Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the current administration’s attempts to suppress citizens’ rights to peaceful protest. He argued that a responsible government should ensure a “safe and secure environment” for citizens to exercise their rights to peaceful assembly, as guaranteed under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.
Atiku emphasized that these rights are “enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and affirmed by our courts,” and criticized the government’s focus on identifying and targeting individuals behind planned protests, calling it an “exercise in futility.” He noted that the widespread discontent among Nigerians transcends political affiliations, including supporters of President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku has continued to critique the economic and socio-political policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, attributing the “hunger, anger, and hopelessness” experienced by Nigerians to the government’s “incompetence and cluelessness.” He highlighted the irony of the situation by recalling how current government officials were once protest leaders themselves in 2012.
He argued that any attempt to suppress these rights is not only unconstitutional but also a direct affront to democracy, underscoring the essential role of peaceful protest in a healthy democratic society. Atiku’s remarks come at a time of heightened tension and increasing public dissatisfaction with the government’s performance, highlighting the crucial need for protecting democratic freedoms in Nigeria.