Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has hailed Nigerians who trooped to the streets in protest against the government of his main opponent in the last general election.
Recall that Atiku ran against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in last year’s election but came second.
In a statement on Friday, Atiku commended Nigerians for their courage while condemning the hoodlums who hijacked the protest in some states.
He also asked security operatives to be mindful of how they conduct themselves and cease harassment of journalists and reckless shooting.
The former Vice President asked the Tinubu administration to come down “from its high horse” and listen to the people.
He said; “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.
“I also call on the police to engage more professionally in managing these protests. 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.
“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.”
Atiku had earlier backed nationwide protests against hunger and widespread hardship in the country, which started on August 1 and expected to end on August 10.
The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, also backed the ongoing nationwide protest.