Atiku’s show of concern for detained young #EndBadGovernance protesters a facade – APC chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Dunukofia Local Government of Anambra State, Chinedu Klinsmann, says former Vice President Atiku Abubakar showing concern for the young #EndBadGovernance protesters recently arraigned in court is only a facade.

Klinsmann, in a statement, accused Atiku of exploiting the situation for political gain, describing Atiku’s reference to the “wickedness of T-Pain” in criticising the Tinubu administration as immature, unstatesmanlike, and inflammatory.

“Atiku’s expression of ‘horror’ at seeing the children in court was merely a façade,” Klinsmann said. “If he genuinely cared about their plight, he should have used his position as Vice President for eight years and his considerable wealth to address the underlying issues that drive these children to the streets, at least in Adamawa, his home state.”

“Many of these children are in detention today because they were on the streets during the chaotic #EndBadGovernance protest.

“Atiku has no moral ground to criticise others for failures he could have addressed. These young protesters are clearly almajiri children. If Atiku, with all his resources, had established an Almajiri Child Care Home in Adamawa, it could have set a precedent for others and perhaps prevented the region from becoming a hotbed of banditry and insecurity.”

Klinsmann also expressed disappointment over comments made by former Kano State Governor and 2023 NNPP Presidential Candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who suggested that the Federal Government should prioritise tackling banditry, kidnapping, and Boko Haram instead of prosecuting children.

“Kwankwaso must remember that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. His failure to establish an Almajiri Child Care Home during his eight-year tenure as Governor of Kano State has significantly contributed to the high levels of youth violence, banditry, and insurgency in Northern Nigeria.

He stated that the northern political elite must recognize that almajiri children represent a ticking time bomb.

“These children are largely uneducated, disillusioned, and living in desperate conditions with no hope for the future,” he said.

There was outrage over the arraignment of 76 suspects, including 32 minors, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests in August.

The defendants, who have been in detention for three months, were arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states.

They were arraigned by the Inspector General of Police on 10 counts bordering on treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria and inciting to mutiny by calling on the military to take over the government from President Bola Tinubu, among others.

Justice Egwuatu granted the defendants bail in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties in like sum.