Suppressing rights to protest not only unconstitutional but direct affront to our democracy – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, cautioned that any attempt to suppress the rights of citizens to peaceful protest “is not only unconstitutional but a direct affront to our democracy.”

Atiku berated the federal government for chasing shadows and contriving purported persons behind the planned nationwide peaceful protests.

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Atiku recalled that leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led protests in 2012, in the Jonathan administration.

Atiku in a statement declared: @atiku “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.

“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.

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“It is deeply ironic that those who now seek to stifle these rights were themselves leading protests in 2012.

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“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. -AA”