Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has spoken out against attempts to suppress the planned August 1 nationwide protest, stating that any effort to stifle the right to peaceful protest is unconstitutional and an affront to democracy.
Atiku, on Tuesday, emphasized on X that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association, citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.
He criticized the government for trying to identify scapegoats for the planned protests, instead of addressing the widespread hunger, anger, and hopelessness caused by their own incompetence.
Atiku also highlighted the hypocrisy of those who led protests in 2012 but now seek to suppress the rights of others.
He called on the government to ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights to peaceful protest.
“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 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,” the former Vice President wrote.
