Protest: Atiku condemns killings, govs pledge to address demands

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some state governors have offered varied reactions to the hunger protest that began across the country on Thursday, August 1, and continued yesterday.

Taking to their respective official X (formerly Twitter) handles on Friday, the governors of Adamawa, Delta, Taraba, Lagos, Imo, Kaduna, Edo, and Bayelsa vowed to tackle the stated demands of protesters in their states.

Atiku, however, condemned the killings of some of the protesters and the alleged physical assault meted out on journalists by security operatives during the demonstrations.

At least 17 persons were reported to have been killed during the protests in Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa on Thursday.

In a statement shared on his official X handle on Friday, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party said, “The demonstrations had 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.”

While calling on the police to engage more professionally in managing the protests, Atiku said, “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.

“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 urged the protesters to maintain their peaceful stance, and he admonished the government to heed the voices of the people and demonstrate a sincere commitment to addressing the demands of the protesters.

In a statement shared yesterday on the X handle of the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Gboyega Akosile, the Lagos State government commended the peaceful nature of the protest in the state and reiterated the readiness of the Federal Government to reverse the situations that led to the protests.

The statement read partly, “The Lagos State Government has watched closely today’s protest in some parts of the state and would like to put on record the peaceful conduct of Lagosians.

“The message of the protest – hunger in the land – has also been well noted. It is, however, important to reiterate the fact that the Federal Government is taking steps to reverse the situation.”

Similarly, in a post shared on his verified X handle, the Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, wrote, “As a government, we will continue to do our best regardless of the limited resources available, by prioritising issues that will develop our economy and the younger population. They are the future and we have to secure the future, now.

Meanwhile, the President of the International Human Rights and Dignity Defenders, David Vine, in a phone interview with Saturday PUNCH, blamed the death and destruction that took place in the course of the nationwide protests on the nonchalance of the government.