By Ismaeel Aleem
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of mounting a “coordinated and dangerous assault” on dissenting voices, warning that Nigeria is sliding towards authoritarian rule.
His remarks, released in a statement today, followed a string of controversial incidents in Kaduna, Katsina, and beyond, which he said reflected an erosion of democratic freedoms.
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Atiku cited the summons of former Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai and leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), calling it an attempt to silence critics.
He also condemned the “brazen attack” on former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and the violent disruption of a Katsina Elders Forum meeting on security reforms.
“These are not isolated incidents,” he said. “They signify a troubling trend towards authoritarianism under the Tinubu administration.”
He stressed that dissent is vital in democracy, warning that criminalising opposition and deploying security agencies as “weapons against perceived opponents” undermines the republic.
“No government that resorts to intimidation can genuinely uphold democratic principles,” he said.
Atiku urged Nigerians to see the “urgency of this moment” and defend democracy as a “collective duty” beyond partisan divides.
He warned that the pattern of intimidation evoked memories of military rule.
“We cannot afford to return to an era marked by fear, silence, and impunity,” he declared, adding that history would “harshly judge” leaders who wield power against the people.
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He reiterated that Nigeria “belongs to all of us, not just the ruling party or any single individual,” calling for the preservation of liberty, justice, and the rule of law.
