Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concern over what he described as a “coordinated and dangerous assault on dissenting voices” in Nigeria.
Atiku’s remarks followed recent incidents, including the police summons of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the attack on former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, and the disruption of a security meeting organised by the Katsina Elders Forum.
In a statement released via his official X handle on Friday, Atiku said the developments point to “a troubling trend towards authoritarianism” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“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,” the statement read in part.
The former vice president stressed that democracy cannot thrive without dissent, warning that the criminalisation of opposition and the use of security agencies against perceived critics could push Nigeria towards authoritarian rule.
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“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,” he cautioned.
Atiku called on Nigerians across political and civic lines to defend democratic principles, insisting that safeguarding liberty, justice, and the rule of law is a collective responsibility.
“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,” he added.
His comments come amid heightened concerns over alleged attempts by security agencies to suppress opposition activity in parts of northern Nigeria. Earlier in the week, El-Rufai accused the police of blocking an ADC meeting in Kaduna despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of association.
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