Former vice president, Mr Atiku Abubakar, has called on protesters on the street to call their fellow Nigerians to come out and join the protest against hunger.
Atiku made the call on Friday on day two of the hunger protests which have rocked the country, paralysing socio-economic activities nationwide.
Some deaths have been recorded as armed police operatives and soldiers went hard on protesters in Niger, Jigawa, Cross River, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kano among others.
There were also dozens of arrests and molestation of protesters and journalists.
Atiku deplored the heavy handedness of the police which only worsens the situation and called for restraints as protest is a legitimate right of the people to express themselves in a democracy.
The former vice president noted that the “commencement of public protests across the country yesterday (Thursday ) is noteworthy as “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.”
He said for the most part, protesters “have conducted themselves with admirable peace and must be commended for their restraint and dedication.”
He however noted that in some isolated instances, “there have been reports of violence, leading to regrettable clashes and brutalities by the police.”
He urged the protesters to maintain their peaceful stance and “call on more Nigerians to show solidarity and support for the #EndBadGovernance peaceful protest.”
He emphasised that it “is a pivotal moment for our collective voice to be heard,” which he said “must be done with dignity and respect for the law.”
He also called on the police to “engage more professionally in managing these protests.”
He deplored the “needless killing of innocent citizens by security agencies” which he said “is unacceptable.”
He warned that “police must refrain from the molestation of journalists who are merely reporting the protest.”
He added that it is imperative that security agencies exercise restraint while enforcing law and order.
“Security agencies,” he said “are encouraged to identify and isolate the minority elements who are resorting to violence and looting,” insisting that they must ensure “that the actions of a few do not tarnish the majority of peaceful protesters.”
To President Bola Tinubu, Atiku admonished him “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,” he said.
He further stressed that the “nation cannot afford further days of unrest; let this be the moment where leadership listens and acts with integrity and urgency.”