Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who also served as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last general election, has recently voiced his support for the upcoming “End Bad Governance” protests planned for August. Taking to his official social media account on X, Abubakar emphasized the constitutional rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest.
In a strongly-worded statement, Abubakar asserted, “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.”
He criticized the government’s attempts to undermine the planned protests by attributing them to purported individuals or groups, stating that such actions are futile. “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,” Abubakar declared.
Highlighting the irony of the current administration’s stance, he recalled how many of those now in power had led protests in 2012. “It is deeply ironic that those who now seek to stifle these rights were themselves leading protests in 2012,” he noted.
Abubakar called on the government to fulfill its duty by ensuring a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights. “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,” he concluded.
As Nigeria braces for the August protests, Abubakar’s endorsement amplifies the call for government accountability and the protection of civil liberties, reinforcing the significance of the movement against bad governance.
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