Emulate Rishi Sunak, Bayo Onanuga tells Atiku over warning to service chiefs
By Jeffrey Agbo
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has condemned a statement made by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, where the latter warned service chiefs about the alleged killing of protesters.
Reports indicate that at least 40 protesters have been killed by security operatives who have been desperate to quell the protest especially in the North. But Nigeria’s security forces have debunked the reports.
Responding to the statement released by Atiku on Tuesday, Onanuga said that as a statesman, the former number two citizen’s warning ought to be to the looting mob in Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, and Jigawa states, who hijacked what was advertised by organisers as a peaceful protest.
He said the security forces had remained professional, and even-handed, and observed every restraint in the face of extreme provocation by the rioters.
Onanuga expressed shock that Atiku was still relying on Section 40 of the constitution (as amended) to justify a protest that, according to him, is now clearly a riot in some parts of the country.
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The presidential aide quoted section 45 of the constitution as saying the right of assembly and the right of freedom of expression are not absolute, as they can be abridged in the interest of public peace, public safety, law, and order.
He said the service chiefs reiterated the rights of Nigerians to protest and gather freely.
“They, however, reinforced their constitutional duty, today, when they said they cannot sit idly by 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 countrym…
“We encourage Alhaji Atiku to borrow a leaf from opposition figures in the United Kingdom, who have rallied behind the government to condemn the ongoing riots in the 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,” Onanuga said.