Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has praised Nigerians for taking to the streets to protest against the government of President Bola Tinubu, his main opponent in the last general election.
According to Daily Trust, Atiku, who came second in that election, commended the courage of the protesters while condemning the actions of hoodlums who hijacked the protests in some states.
In a statement on Friday, Atiku urged security operatives to conduct themselves responsibly and to cease the harassment of journalists and reckless shooting. He called on the Tinubu administration to listen to the people’s concerns and to engage in dialogue.
“The commencement of public protests across the country yesterday is noteworthy. These demonstrations have opened a vital channel for the public to express disapproval of government policies, furthering the essential conversation about good governance in our nation,” Atiku said.
He praised the majority of protesters for maintaining peace and urged more Nigerians to support the #EndBadGovernance peaceful protest. He emphasized the importance of maintaining dignity and respect for the law during these demonstrations.
Atiku also called on the police to manage the protests more professionally and to avoid unnecessary violence against citizens. He stressed that the harassment of journalists reporting on the protests is unacceptable and that security agencies should isolate and address the actions of violent and looting minority elements.
To the government, Atiku said, “I admonish you to heed the voices of the people and come down from your high horses. It is time to demonstrate a sincere commitment to addressing the demands of the protesters. The nation cannot afford further days of unrest; let this be the moment where leadership listens and acts with integrity and urgency.”