ENDSARS campaign: Atiku sends solidarity message to Nigerian youths
- Atiku Abubakar has showered a flurry of encomiums on the #ENDSARS protesters
- The former vice president said protest is part of the fundamental rights of Nigerian youths
- The PDP chieftain also raised an eyebrow at what he termed as "disproportionate use of force on the protesters"
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Atiku Abubakar has lent his voice into the public campaign against the brutality of police officers belonging to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), with the former vice president sending a solidarity message to the Nigerian youths.
In a tweet on Friday, October 9, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain expressed sadness over what he termed as "disproportionate use of force on protesters across the nation."
The former vice president noted that protest is an essential part of democracy which should be seen as a means to channel dialogue among the aggrieved parties.
Source: Twitter
Atiku also commended the demonstrators for their tenacity and further added that protest is their fundamental rights as guaranteed by the constitution.
In his words:
"Protests are an essential part of any democracy as we have seen the world over, and should be seen as an opportunity for dialogue between our people and our leaders.
"Thus, it is essential that the fundamental rights of Nigerians to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression must be protected at all costs.
"I strongly condemn any disproportionate use of force on protesters across the nation. I also call on the relevant authorities to ensure our youths are heard, and all incidents of excessive use of force by security agencies against protesters are investigated.
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Meanwhile, Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment, has also thrown his weight behind the peaceful demonstration embarked upon by the Nigerian youths against the age-long brutality of SARS police.
In a tweet, Keyamo who is a senior human right lawyer, maintained that demonstration is a democratic right of Nigerians.
He stressed that the peaceful protest by the frustrated Nigerian youths is a culture of democracy and they must be allowed to express their anger "without inhibitions."
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Source: Legit.ng
