Atiku Justifies Nationwide Protest Just As Presidency Warns Actors

By Ayodele Oni

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that Nigeria’s constitution and Courts give the right to Nigerians to protest.

In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page, Atiku highlighted Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as altered), which unequivocally guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.

This is just as the Federal Government warned those behind the planned protest that they will meet the strongest resistance of their lives.

Atiku  criticized the irony of the current administration’s attempts to stifle these rights, noting that those in power today were themselves leading protests in 2012.

He argued that a responsible Government must ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful protest.

He warned that any attempt to suppress these rights is not only unconstitutional but a direct affront to democracy.

“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.

The warning by the presidency on Tuesday was made by an Aide of the President, Olusegun Dada on his X account.

He declared that those planning a protest want to burn down the country, and they will meet the strongest resistance of their lives.

The Presidential Media aide stated that they are waiting for those planning the protest, adding that it won’t be a resistance from security agencies, but from those who gave their mandate to President Tinubu via the ballot box.

“Those who want to burn the country down under whatever guise will meet the strongest resistance of their lives.

“Not from security agencies, but from the silent majority that gave their mandate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for four years in the first instance. We are waiting.”

Some Nigerians are  reportedly planning a nationwide protest against economic hardship and harsh government policies driven by the fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the Naira.

The protest is billed to hold in the first week of August.