Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has taken issue with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent statement.
Atiku had warned that security agencies could be held accountable for crimes against humanity if they used lethal force against peaceful protesters.
Onanuga, however, believes Atiku’s warning should have been directed towards the rioters who disrupted protests in Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, and Jigawa states.
According to Onanuga, these individuals turned what was intended as a peaceful protest into violent unrest.
He praised the security forces for their professionalism and restraint, noting that they acted with care even under severe provocation from the rioters.
The Presidential aide said,
“We are surprised that Alhaji Atiku is still relying on Section 40 of our constitution (as amended) to justify a protest that is now clearly a riot, a rampage in some parts of the country.
“Section 45 of the constitution says the right of assembly and the right of freedom of expression are not absolute.
“They can be abridged and fettered in the interest of public peace, public safety, law, and order,”
Onanuga said the Service Chiefs reiterated the rights of Nigerians to protest and gather freely.
“We are surprised that Alhaji Atiku is still relying on Section 40 of our constitution (as amended) to justify a protest that is now clearly a riot, a rampage in some parts of the country.
“Section 45 of the constitution says the right of assembly and the right of freedom of expression are not absolute.
“They can be abridged and fettered in the interest of public peace, public safety, law, and order,” i
“They, however, reinforced their constitutional duty, today, when they said they cannot sit by idly and watch hoodlums destroy the country and its democracy.
The Service Chiefs and the officers and men of our security outfits should be commended for their patriotic duty to our country.
As a supporter and enabler of the destructive ‘protests,’ Alhaji Atiku certainly wants the sinister protest to continue i spite of the red signals from the streets.
“We encourage Alhaji Atiku to borrow a leaf from opposition figures in United Kingdom, who have rallied behind the government to condemn the ongoing riots in UK. They called for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the wanton destruction of public and private assets. Such nationalistic temperament as displayed by opposition figures like Rishi Sunak, the immediate-past Prime Minister of UK is expected of Alhaji Atiku,” said Onanuga
