Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, has strongly condemned the alleged use of live ammunition against #EndBadGovernance protesters.
These protests erupted due to the severe economic difficulties faced by Nigerians, which have made it challenging for many to afford basic necessities.
On Thursday, youths across Nigeria began protesting against hunger and poor governance. The demonstrations continued through Friday and Saturday in various regions, including Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, and Rivers. During the protests on Saturday, masked men reportedly fired at protesters and journalists inside the Mashood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
Atiku Abubakar issued a statement on Saturday, describing the use of live ammunition as intolerable and reminiscent of military dictatorship. He stated, “I vehemently condemn the heinous act of using live ammunition on citizens peacefully protesting against bad governance, as witnessed today in Kano and Abuja. This is utterly intolerable and reminiscent of the dark days of military dictatorship.”
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He emphasized the government’s and security agencies’ duty to ensure a safe environment for peaceful protests. “It is crucial to remind the government and security agencies of their paramount duty to ensure a safe and secure environment where citizens can exercise their right to protest without fear,” Atiku said. He warned that using force against protesters only worsens tensions and transforms peaceful demonstrations into chaos.
Atiku called on the international community, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, to monitor the situation in Nigeria closely and hold its leadership and security forces accountable. He urged President Tinubu to demonstrate genuine leadership by addressing and fulfilling the demands of the Nigerian people promptly.
Additionally, Atiku encouraged protesters to remain peaceful and reject violence. “I reaffirm my counsel to protesters to steadfastly exercise their right to peaceful protest and reject any form of violence,” he said. He also stressed that those engaging in looting and destruction should be isolated and prosecuted, as such acts undermine legitimate protests and aid those opposing their right to protest.