Atiku Abubakar has accused President Tinubu’s government of suppressing opposition voices through arrests and intimidation. Read more on his claims about a potential one-party system in Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar Criticizes Tinubu’s Administration Amidst Alleged Suppression of Critics
Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s administration over what he describes as a systematic crackdown on opposition voices. His remarks came in response to the prosecution of Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, and the recent arrest of Prof. Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Allegations of Intimidation and Harassment
Atiku argues that the arrest and detention of these individuals reflect a growing trend of political intimidation. Prof. Usman Yusuf was taken into custody by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on January 28, 2025, over allegations of a ₦4 billion fraud. However, Atiku sees this as part of a larger strategy to silence critics of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on January 30, 2025, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) warned that if the government continues on this path, “they may soon imprison everyone who speaks against them.”
Atiku Accuses APC of Pushing for One-Party Rule
Atiku reaffirmed his stance that the APC is deliberately working towards dismantling opposition parties to establish a one-party system in Nigeria. He claimed that previous warnings about the ruling party’s suppression tactics were dismissed, but recent developments prove his concerns to be valid.
“When I made the clarion call that Tinubu and the APC were devoting their energies to the systematic harassment, intimidation, and dismantling of the opposition, all in service of their grand design for a one-party autocracy, I became the target of vicious attacks.
The arrest and baseless prosecution of @YeleSowore is the latest chapter in this unrelenting campaign. Now, they have seen fit to add Professor Usman Yusuf— an outspoken critic of this administration— into their grim roster. At the pace they are going, it seems they may soon find themselves contending with the incarceration of every one of us,” he wrote.
Opposition Parties Demand Proof of Allegations
Atiku’s statement aligns with his earlier accusations that the APC is bribing opposition parties to weaken their influence ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at a national conference in Abuja, he alleged that some opposition party leaders had been offered ₦50 million to compromise their leadership and reduce resistance against the ruling party.
This claim has sparked controversy, with opposition parties like the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) challenging Atiku to provide concrete evidence to support his allegations.
Conclusion
The political climate in Nigeria remains tense as opposition figures continue to voice concerns over what they perceive as an authoritarian shift under President Tinubu’s administration. Atiku’s latest outburst adds to the growing criticism of the government’s handling of dissent, fueling debates over the future of democracy in the country.
READ ALSO:
Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp:
Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear:
Kindly Share:
Discover more from LMSINT STORE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
