Atiku Accuses APC of Failing to Deliver Justice Six Years After Lekki Shooting
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to provide answers to Nigerians over the October 2020 Lekki shooting, saying young people also deserve better economic opportunities six years after the incident.
Atiku, in a statement marking the sixth anniversary of the shooting, questioned why Nigerians were yet to receive clear answers about who ordered the security operation that resulted in casualties among protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
He also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s response to the incident in October 2020, recalling that the president had questioned the circumstances surrounding the presence of victims at the protest.
According to Atiku, Tinubu had asked: “How were they there? How long were they there? What kind of characters are they?”
The former vice president argued that the response appeared to focus more on questioning the victims than demanding accountability for the violence against protesters.
He said the anger surrounding the incident remained a reflection of unresolved grief, distrust and the continued demand for justice by affected families and young Nigerians.
Atiku maintained that the APC, having governed the country for six years since the incident, could no longer avoid questions about the shooting and the government’s responsibility to protect citizens.
He said a government that failed to assure citizens that their lives mattered had neglected one of its fundamental responsibilities.
The former vice president also linked the lingering grievances over the Lekki shooting to the country’s current economic challenges, particularly the rising cost of living and its impact on young people.
Citing the reported price of petrol at ₦1,405 per litre, Atiku said the rising cost of transportation was making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to afford basic necessities, including food, education and accommodation.
He illustrated the situation with the experience of a young woman who reportedly resigned from her job because her salary could no longer cover the cost of commuting to work.
Atiku 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.”
He described the situation as evidence of an economy in which even employed Nigerians were struggling to sustain their livelihoods because of rising expenses and declining purchasing power.
The former vice president said his proposed Economic Recovery Plan was designed to address these challenges under the objective of making Nigeria affordable again.
He outlined proposed measures, including providing relief linked to fuel refined locally, passing savings to consumers, boosting domestic production to create jobs, protecting minimum-wage earners, supporting students and reducing government waste rather than introducing additional taxes.
Atiku argued that young Nigerians deserved both justice for the Lekki shooting and an economy that offered meaningful opportunities for a better future.
He added that six years after the incident, Nigerians remained entitled to demand answers about the shooting and question the continued lack of economic opportunities.
“No speech about growth can excuse empty pockets. No anniversary tribute can replace justice. No campaign slogan can erase six years of unanswered questions,” he said.
