Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emphasized the constitutional rights of Nigerians to protest, urging the government to respect these freedoms.
In a statement, Abubakar highlighted that the right to peaceful assembly and association is “enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and affirmed by our courts.” He referenced Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as altered), which “unequivocally guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.”
Abubakar criticized the government’s response to the planned protests, stating, “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.”
Reflecting on past events, he pointed out the irony in the current administration’s stance: “It is deeply ironic that those who now seek to stifle these rights were themselves leading protests in 2012.” He called on the government to uphold citizens’ rights, asserting, “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.”
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…
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) July 23, 2024
