The Presidency has tackled former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his comments on the aftermath of the #EndBadGovernance protests against hunger and economic challenges.
In a statement late Tuesday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga asked Atiku to act like opposition figures in the United Kingdom “who have rallied behind the government to condemn the ongoing riots in the UK”.
Onanuga blamed Atiku for not condemning the looting and destruction that trailed the nationwide protests in Nigeria in the last week.
Atiku was the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In an X post on Tuesday, Atiku, the lead opposition figure in Nigeria, said, “I wish to convey a stern caution to the distinguished service chiefs and military commanders of Nigeria’s armed forces that those who authorise the use of lethal force against peaceful civilian protesters will be held responsible for committing crimes against humanity, even in the years following their retirement from service.
“The constitutional right to protest is firmly established within our supreme law and reinforced by the judiciary. It is the solemn duty of the government and security agencies to ensure a safe and protected environment for individuals exercising their right to peaceful protest.”
However, Onanuga, in a statement after that, said, “As a statesman, his (Atiku) warning ought to be to the looting mob in Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, Jigawa states, who hijacked what was advertised by organisers as a peaceful protest.
“Our security forces have remained professional, even-handed, and observed every restraint in the face of extreme provocation by the rioters.”
Onanuga said that Section 40 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) guaranteed the right to protest, but Section 45 of the constitution said that the right is not absolute. “They can be abridged and fettered in the interest of public peace, public safety, law, and order,” he said, commending security agents for being professional.
“We encourage Alhaji Atiku to borrow a leaf from opposition figures in the United Kingdom who have rallied behind the government to condemn the ongoing riots in the UK, calling for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the wanton destruction of public and private assets.
“Such nationalistic temperament as displayed by opposition figures like Rishi Sunak, the immediate-past Prime Minister of the UK is expected of Alhaji Atiku,” the presidential spokesman added.
