Nigeria dangerously close to slipping into authoritarian rule under Tinubu’s govt — Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that Nigeria is edging towards authoritarian rule under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.

Atiku, in a statement on X on Friday, said recent developments in Kaduna, Katsina, and other parts of the country point to a troubling slide away from democracy. 

He cited the summons of former Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai and leaders of the ADC, the attack on former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, and the alleged disruption of the Katsina Elders Forum meeting on security reforms as evidence of a coordinated assault on dissenting voices and civic freedoms.

He maintained that dissent is fundamental to democracy and stressed that criminalising opposition, attacking reformist voices, and undermining peaceful civic engagement erode the very foundations of the Republic. 

According to him, any government that uses intimidation and deploys security agencies against perceived opponents cannot genuinely uphold democratic principles.

Atiku further cautioned that Nigeria is dangerously close to slipping into authoritarian rule if the alleged patterns of repression persist. He warned against a return to an era marked by fear, silence, and impunity.

He urged Nigerians, including statesmen and ordinary citizens, to recognise the urgency of the moment, stressing that the defence of democracy is a collective responsibility and not just the duty of the opposition. 

The statement reads, “The recent events in Kaduna, Katsina, and other areas highlight a troubling trend towards authoritarianism under the Tinubu administration. 

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“The summons of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and leaders of the ADC in Kaduna, the brazen attack on former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, and the violent disruption of the Katsina Elders Forum meeting on security reforms are not isolated incidents. Instead, they signify a coordinated and dangerous assault on dissenting voices, civic freedoms, and the very essence of pluralistic democracy.

“It is important to emphasize that dissent is vital to democracy. Criminalizing opposition, attacking reformist voices, and undermining peaceful civic engagement erode the foundations of our Republic. No government that resorts to intimidation and uses security agencies as weapons against perceived opponents can genuinely uphold democratic principles.

“Without a doubt, Nigeria is dangerously close to slipping into authoritarian rule if these patterns of repression continue unabated. We cannot afford to return to an era marked by fear, silence, and impunity.

“I urge all Nigerians, both statesmen and citizens, to recognize the urgency of this moment. Defending our democracy cannot be the sole responsibility of the opposition; it is a collective national duty. Power is transient, but history will harshly judge those who wield it against the people instead of in their service.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us, not just the ruling party or any single individual. We must not allow the principles of liberty, justice, and the rule of law to be undermined by partisan desperation.”

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