Atiku Abubakar Supports Nationwide Protest Against Hardship, Criticizes Tinubu’s Government

In a recent development, Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has endorsed the forthcoming nationwide protests scheduled to commence on August 1. These demonstrations are aimed at addressing the prevalent hunger and widespread hardship across Nigeria.

In a statement issued, Atiku sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its attempts to stifle the protests. He described these efforts as futile and emphasized that Nigerians, including those who support Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), are struggling due to the government’s perceived incompetence.

Atiku underlined that the right to protest is constitutionally protected under Section 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. He argued that any actions taken to suppress these protests would not only be unconstitutional but also a blatant attack on democratic principles.

He remarked, “The rights of citizens to protest are enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and affirmed by our courts. Any effort to thwart these protests is not only a denial of these rights but also an affront to our democracy. It is ironic that those now opposing peaceful protests were themselves participants in similar demonstrations in 2012.”

Atiku’s statements reflect his stance on the necessity of allowing citizens to exercise their constitutional rights freely and without intimidation.