Precious Nwonu, Enugu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government over the unresolved questions surrounding the October 20, 2020, Lekki shooting and the worsening economic conditions facing Nigerians.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, raised the concerns in a post on his X account on Tuesday, arguing that six years after security operatives opened fire on #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos, Nigerians were still demanding accountability.

“Six years after the Lekki shooting, Nigeria is still waiting for a clear answer to one devastating question: Who gave the order?” he asked.

The former vice president also faulted President Bola Tinubu’s response to the incident in October 2020, saying the focus appeared to have been on questioning the protesters rather than establishing responsibility for the violence.

He said the absence of satisfactory answers had deepened public distrust, particularly among young Nigerians who participated in the protests against police brutality and demanded justice.

According to Atiku, the All Progressives Congress, which has governed the country since 2015, must address the lingering questions surrounding the incident instead of allowing them to remain unresolved.

He argued that protecting citizens’ lives and ensuring accountability were fundamental responsibilities of any government.

Atiku also connected the unresolved Lekki shooting controversy to the economic difficulties confronting young people, pointing to rising petrol prices, declining purchasing power and fewer opportunities for Nigerians to improve their living conditions.

He cited petrol prices of about ₦1,405 per litre, saying the high cost of fuel had made transportation, food, education and housing increasingly difficult to afford.

“The APC promised renewal. For too many Nigerians, the experience has been rising costs, shrinking opportunity and a future pushed further out of reach,” he said.

To illustrate the pressure on workers, Atiku recounted the experience of a young woman who allegedly resigned from her job because her salary could no longer cover the cost of commuting to work.

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 account reflected a situation in which some workers were struggling to meet the expenses associated with keeping their jobs despite being employed.

He used the development to restate his proposed Economic Recovery Plan, which he said would make living and working in Nigeria more affordable.

The proposed measures include support linked to domestically refined fuel, increased local production, protection for minimum-wage earners, assistance for students and reductions in government waste.

Atiku maintained that young Nigerians deserved answers about the Lekki shooting as well as economic policies that would enable them to earn a living and build a secure future.

“Young Nigerians deserve the truth about Lekki. They deserve a government that protects life, and an economy that gives work a chance to lead somewhere,” he said.

He added that citizens had the right to demand accountability over the shooting and question the government’s response to the economic challenges limiting opportunities for young people.