Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday chided President Bola Tinubu over the prosecution of #EndBadGovernance protesters, among whom are minors.
Atiku also lamented the fact that the President, who was once an agitator and leader of protests, could treat others demanding a better Nigeria poorly.
News About Nigeria reports that the PDP chieftain made the remarks following the collapse of a minor #EndBadGovernance protester during arraignment at the Federal High Court, Abuja, today (Friday).
The minor who collapsed is part of the 75 protesters arrested between August 1 and 10, among whom were 28 minors.
Also, photos and videos circulating online from today’s proceedings showed how malnourished and unkempt the minors, in particular, have become.
Reacting to this, the former Vice President lamented the pitiable sight of the children in the courtroom.
He further noted that the ill treatment is against Section 11 of the Child Rights Act, which guarantees the dignity of every child.
Atiku’s statement, shared on his official X account, partly reads, “A disturbing video of malnourished children being arraigned before a Federal High Court on the orders of the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has been brought to my notice.
“The horrible scene, reminiscent of a Nazi concentration camp, once again reflects the low premium the current government places on the lives of the vulnerable, especially children. The children are being prosecuted for their alleged role in the #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place between August 1 and August 10, 2024.
“If they are just being arraigned three months later, one can only imagine the sort of dehumanizing conditions they have been subjected to and have been detained all this while. I find it reprehensible that a man who claims to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy and led protests now demonizes those who choose to demonstrate against the effects of his harsh and draconian policies. Children, who are the most affected by these policies, have every right to protest peacefully, as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Child Rights Act.”
