Atiku: Those stifling right to protest in 2024 were leading protesters in 2012

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the federal government should allow Nigerians to exercise their constitutional rights to organise a peaceful protest.

There have been reports that youths are planning a nationwide protest between August 1 and 15 against the rising cost of living and economic hardship in the country.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Abubakar said it is ironic that those stifling rights of Nigerians to protest in 2024 were leading protesters in 2012.

He slammed President Bola Tinubu’s administration for attempting to suppress the protesters, describing it as an “exercise in futility”.

The former vice-president said the government’s incompetence has caused widespread suffering, affecting citizens, including supporters of the ruling party and those of the president.

He added that any attempt to suppress the rights of Nigerians to protest is not only unconstitutional but a direct affront to democracy.

“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,” Atiku wrote.

“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.”

On July 20, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, alleged that supporters of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, are behind the proposed nationwide protest.

The presidential aide alleged that the organisers are the same individuals who hijacked the #ENDSARS protest of 2020.

He said those “instigating” the protest are calling for a “civilian coup”.

On Monday, Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), asked Tinubu to invite the leaders of the planned protest for a dialogue.

Ajaero said millions of Nigerians have had it tough since Tinubu was sworn into office on May 29, 2023.