Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar issued a strong statement titled “A Nation Gripped in the Throes of Fear,” accusing President Bola Tinubu’s government of fostering a “rising wave of repression and intimidation” that is fast turning Nigeria into a “police state.”
He condemned the administration for:
* Muzzling Free Speech: Harassing citizens, journalists, and activists, claiming the regime has surpassed previous governments in its “reckless use of state power to crush public opinion.”
* Weaponizing the Law: Specifically slamming the use of the Cyberstalking Act to target critics, labeling it a “modern tool of tyranny” akin to colonial sedition laws.
* Undermining Democracy: Accusing the government of using state institutions to suppress opposition and persistently disobeying court orders.
* Silencing Checks and Balances: Expressing dismay that key institutions like the legislature and oversight agencies have become “mere rubber stamps,” more willing to praise than to question the executive.
Atiku concluded by framing the 2027 general election as a crucial fight between the “Tinubu hegemony and the will of the Nigerian people,” asserting that no powerful despot can ultimately triumph over a determined populace. This warning comes amidst the recent arrest of activists like Omoyele Sowore over protests.P
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