AdminNigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday night condemned what he described as “the heinous act of using live ammunition on citizens peacefully protesting against bad governance”, as witnessed in Kano and Abuja.
According to Atiku, “This is utterly intolerable and reminiscent of the dark days of military dictatorship.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelH said it would be crucial to remind the Tinubu government and security agencies of their paramount duty to ensure a safe and secure environment where citizens can exercise their right to protest without fear.
“When security forces open fire on innocent protesters, they do nothing but exacerbate tensions, transforming peaceful demonstrations into chaos. I refuse to believe that inciting violence is the intention of our authorities,” he said.
Atiku’s reacction came just as President Tinubu gave an indication that he would be addressing the protesting youths and the entire nation on Sunday morning (August 4, 2024) at 7.am.
Primebusiness.africa reports that the president will be promising to address the concerns of the youths and end unemployment with provision of at least 300, 000 jobs in the short term while each state would be made to employ 7,000 youths.
But Atiku, a leading opposition politician who came second to Blla Tinubu in the 2023 Presidential election, according to the results released by Nigeria’s national electoral body, INEC, urged the international community, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, to closely monitor the situation in Nigeria and hold Tinubu and his security apparatus accountable.
“I reaffirm my counsel to protesters to steadfastly exercise their right to peaceful protest and reject any form of violence,” Atiku said.
“Those engaging in looting and the destruction of public and private property must be isolated and prosecuted according to the law. By indulging in such acts, they undermine the legitimate protests and play into the hands of those who oppose their right to protest.”
According to Atiku, “President Tinubu must demonstrate true leadership by immediately addressing and implementing the demands of the Nigerian people.
