“A pivotal moment for our collective voice to be heard” -Atiku urges more Nigerians to join #EndBadGovernance protest

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged more Nigerians to support and participate in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests that commenced across the country yesterday.

Nigerians are protesting against bad governance in demonstrations that started on August 1, 2024, across different cities, from the nation’s economic hub, Lagos, to Abuja, the country’s seat of power.

Atiku lauded the majority of protesters for their commendable peaceful conduct. “For the most part, protesters have conducted themselves with admirable peace and must be commended for their restraint and dedication,” he stated.

The protests in some areas, however, have turned violent, with reported cases of death, police tear gas, and looting.

Since yesterday, around 17 people have been reported dead. In Kano, protesters invaded a popular Rufaidah Yoghurt store on Hadejia Road and looted the premises, making off with valuable items such as food products, electronics, and furniture.

However, Atiku, describing those incidents as isolated cases, urged protesters to continue their peaceful stance and encouraged more Nigerians to show solidarity.

“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 said.

Atiku addresses Excessive Use of Force on #EndBadGovernance Protesters

There have been reports of police arresting journalists covering the protest while firing tear gas on demonstrators.

Atiku, in his statement, condemned the use of excessive force and the unwarranted killings of innocent citizens by security agencies.

“The needless 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 asserted.

He further urged security agencies to identify and isolate the minority elements who are engaging in violence and looting, ensuring that the actions of a few do not overshadow the peaceful intentions of the majority.

“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,” Atiku stated.

In his message to the government, Atiku called for a sincere commitment to addressing the demands of the protesters.

“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,” he urged.