Atiku to Tinubu: Leave Obi alone, you can’t stop this protest
Maureen Aguta
Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, called out President Bola Tinubu, over attempts to scapegoat some Nigerians in the approaching nationwide protests being planned by a groundswell of Nigerians in August, saying it was not only legitimate but a reflection of the current situation in the country.
Atiku, who did not mention names, was apparently referring to the statement of the Presidency, through Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s spokesman, trying to pin the planned protest on Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), as the mastermind, insisted that Tinubu was quite aware of the source of the anger by Nigerians who were involved.
Warning against any attempt by the government to stifle the right of Nigerians to protest, the former VP, who was Tinubu’s major opponent as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), relied on the provision of the Nigerian Constitution and court affirmations, which he said guaranteed peaceful assembly and association.
Against the massive build-up following the mobilization by the planners of the event and counter plans by supporters of the Federal Government, who are both weighing on the situation caused by the biting hunger in the country as well as the high cost of commodities and social services, Atiku emphasised that the right to protest is enshrined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and that attempting to suppress it is unconstitutional and a threat to democracy.
The former VP, while describing the attempt to suppress the protest as futile, argued that it was ironical that those who led the anti-subsidy protests in 2012 against then President Goodluck Jonathan, were now trying to stifle the same rights of the people to protest against them, arguing that instead of its negative attitude, the government must ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights.
His words: “Chasing shadows and contriving purported persons behind the planned protests is an exercise in futility… 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. A responsible government must respect citizens’ rights to peaceful protest.”