#EndBadGovernance protest: Atiku Abubakar praise protesters, urges Tinubu to listen to citizens

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential contender for 2023, has applauded Nigerians who demonstrated in the streets against corrupt government.

Many Nigerians are finding it difficult to afford basic essentials due to the country’s economic challenges.

In response, several young people in Nigeria started protesting on Thursday in various regions of the nation, demanding an end to hunger and bad government.

On Friday, the former vice president condemned the thugs who took over the demonstration in several areas while applauding Nigerians for their bravery in a post on his verified Facebook page.

He wrote, “To the government, 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.

“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.

“For the most part, protesters have conducted themselves with admirable peace and must be commended for their restraint and dedication. However, in some isolated instances, there have been reports of violence, leading to regrettable clashes and brutalities by the police.

“I urge the protesters to maintain their peaceful stance and call on more Nigerians to show solidarity and support for the #EndBadGovernance peaceful protest. This is a pivotal moment for our collective voice to be heard, and it must be done with dignity and respect for the law.”

He also called on the police to engage more professionally in managing the protests, adding that killing of innocent citizens by security agencies is unacceptable.

“The police must refrain from the molestation of journalists who are merely reporting the protest. It is imperative that security agencies exercise restraint while enforcing law and order,” he added.

Atiku emphasised that it is time to show genuine commitment to addressing the protesters’ demands.

“Security agencies are encouraged to identify and isolate the minority elements who are resorting to violence and looting, ensuring that the actions of a few do not tarnish the majority of peaceful protesters,” he concluded.