BY ADO IBRAHIM, ABUJA
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government over unresolved questions surrounding the October 2020 Lekki shooting, saying Nigerians, particularly young people, deserve justice, accountability and better economic opportunities.
Atiku, in a statement marking six years since the incident, questioned why Nigerians were still waiting for clear answers about the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including who ordered the military operation against protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
He also recalled comments made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in October 2020, when he questioned the presence and conduct of those who suffered casualties during the incident.
According to Atiku, the comments appeared to focus more on questioning the victims than demanding accountability for the violence against protesters.
He said the anger expressed by Nigerians over the incident was not merely a social media trend but reflected the grief of affected families and the frustration of young people who believed their demands for dignity and accountability had not been adequately addressed.
Atiku argued that, having governed the country for six years since the incident, the APC-led administration should address the outstanding questions surrounding the shooting and demonstrate that the lives of citizens matter.
He also linked the lingering concerns over the Lekki incident to the economic difficulties confronting young Nigerians, particularly the rising cost of transportation, food, education, housing and other essential needs.
According to him, the rising cost of petrol has made it increasingly difficult for many Nigerians to meet their daily expenses, with some workers struggling to retain their jobs because their salaries can no longer cover transportation costs.
To illustrate the situation, Atiku recounted an account shared with him by one of his aides about a young woman who reportedly resigned from her job because the cost of commuting to work had become unsustainable.
He quoted the woman as saying: “The pay no longer covers transport. Everything in Nigeria just dey increase in price. Feels like I’m working for Bolt guys.”
Atiku said the experience highlighted the difficulties faced by workers whose earnings have failed to keep pace with rising living costs, arguing that employment should provide a pathway to economic stability rather than become an additional financial burden.
He maintained that the country’s economic policies should prioritise measures that make life more affordable, create jobs and protect vulnerable households from the effects of rising prices.
The former vice president said his proposed Economic Recovery Plan was designed to address these challenges under the central objective of making Nigeria affordable again.
Among the measures he outlined were linking consumer relief to domestically refined petrol, passing savings on to consumers, increasing local production to generate employment, protecting minimum-wage earners, providing support for students and cutting government waste to fund relief measures rather than introducing additional taxes.
Atiku argued that the government’s promises of economic renewal should be assessed against the daily experiences of Nigerians, particularly young people struggling with declining purchasing power and limited opportunities.
He said tributes to victims of the Lekki shooting could not replace justice, just as campaign promises could not erase the economic difficulties confronting citizens.
Atiku concluded that young Nigerians deserved answers about the Lekki shooting, a government committed to protecting human life and an economy in which hard work could translate into a decent standard of living.
He called attention to the six-year period since the incident, questioning why the demands for accountability and improved economic opportunities remained unresolved.
