Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for accountability over the October 2020 Lekki shooting, questioning who ordered the military action against #EndSARS protesters six years after the incident.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, made the remarks in a post on his X account on Tuesday, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of failing to provide satisfactory answers about the incident.
He asked who authorised the shooting, insisting that Nigerians, particularly young people and families affected by the incident, deserved the truth.
The former vice president also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s response to the protests in October 2020, arguing that greater attention was given to questioning the protesters than to seeking accountability for the violence.
According to Atiku, the unresolved questions surrounding the incident have deepened public distrust and left many Nigerians frustrated over the lack of justice.
He said the APC had governed the country for six years without adequately addressing the concerns surrounding the shooting, adding that the government had a responsibility to protect citizens and ensure accountability.
Atiku also linked the lingering concerns over the Lekki shooting to Nigeria’s current economic challenges, citing rising petrol prices and the increasing cost of transportation, food, rent and education.
He recounted the experience of a young woman who reportedly resigned from her job because her salary could no longer cover her transportation expenses, using the example to illustrate the financial pressure facing workers.
The ADC chieftain said his proposed Economic Recovery Plan would focus on reducing the cost of living through increased local production, support for minimum-wage earners and students, and measures to reduce government waste.
He also advocated passing savings from locally refined fuel to consumers and creating more employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Atiku maintained that young people deserved both answers about the Lekki shooting and economic opportunities that would enable them to build a better future.
