The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has commended Nigerians who took to the streets to protest against bad governance.
Nigerians are experiencing economic difficulties, making it challenging for many to afford basic necessities.
In response, some youths began protests on Thursday in some parts of the country, calling for an end to hunger and poor governance in Nigeria.
The former Vice President on Friday praised Nigerians for their bravery in a post on his verified Facebook page, while denouncing the hoodlums who hijacked the protest in some states.
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.
