Citizens’ rights not absolute, Presidency replies Atiku

The Presidency has told former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the rights of assembly and freedom of expression guaranteed to citizens in the constitution are not absolute.

It said the rights can be abridged in the interest of public peace.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said this in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to a post, Atiku made on X.com earlier.

Atiku had, in the post on, cautioned security agencies against using lethal force against peaceful civilian protesters who are demonstrating against bad governance and the hardship in the country.

But Onanuga said Atiku’s warning should have been directed at the protesters who have turned peaceful protests into violence in states like Kaduna and Kano.

The statement read, “Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, this evening, tweeted the absurd: he warned security agencies against using lethal force against looters and arsonists who masqueraded as protesters.

“As a statesman, his 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.

“Our security forces have remained professional, and even-handed, and observed every restraint in the face of extreme provocation by the rioters. We are surprised that Alhaji Atiku is still relying on Section 40 of our constitution (as amended) to justify a protest that is now clearly a riot, a rampage in some parts of the country. Section 45 of the constitution says the right of assembly and the right of freedom of expression are not absolute.

“They can be abridged and fettered in the interest of public peace, public safety, law, and order. The Service Chiefs reiterated the rights of Nigerians to protest and gather freely.

“They, however, reinforced their constitutional duty, today, when they said they can not sit by idly 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 country.”