Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential contender, has denounced the claimed use of live ammunition on #EndBadGovernance protestors.
Many Nigerians struggle to afford basic needs while they are having financial problems.
In reaction, some young people started demonstrations on Thursday, then carried on Friday and Saturday in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, and other areas demanding an end to poverty and bad government in Nigeria.
Allegedly on Saturday, masked men fired at journalists and protestors within the Mashood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Atiku answered in a statement on Saturday by characterising the occurrence as abhorrent and evocative of the repressive years of military dictatorship.
“I strongly oppose the horrible act of using live ammunition on people peacefully protesting against bad governance, as seen today in Kano and Abuja,” he said This is completely unacceptable and evocative of the terrible years of military rule.
Reminding the government and security agencies of their first responsibility to guarantee a safe and secure atmosphere where people may exercise their right to demonstrate without fear is absolutely vital.Security personnel open fire on peaceful protestors, so aggravating tensions and turning otherwise orderly demonstrations into anarchy. I find it hard to accept that our officials’ goal is to encourage violence.
“I ask the world community—including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court—to keep a close eye on Nigerian affairs and hold its leadership and security apparatus responsible.”
The former vice president urged President Tinubu to exhibit real leadership by quickly attending to and meeting Nigerian aspirations.
“I repeat my advise to demonstrators to firmly exercise their right to peaceful protest and reject any kind of violence,” he stated.
“Those who plunder and damage public and private property have to be isolated and legally punished. Through such behaviours, they subvert the justified demonstrations and assist those who oppose their right to protest.
