Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of undermining Nigeria’s democracy by eroding the separation between state power and personal ambition.
He made the assertion following allegations of desperation leveled against him by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over his position at a national conference organized by the Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development.
Atiku had criticized the APC for what he described as a dangerous monopoly on political power.
His remarks about the ruling party’s actions sparked sharp reactions from the APC, which he claims opted for personal attacks instead of engaging in substantive dialogue.
Atiku alleged that Tinubu has turned the APC into a tool for consolidating personal power, accusing him of deploying insidious strategies to suppress opposition and erode democratic institutions.
“Through his unchecked actions, Tinubu continues to blur the line between state power and personal ambition, magnifying his control over the nation and its institutions,” a statement from the Atiku Media Office on Wednesday signed by his media aide, Paul Ibe, read.
The former vice president warned of authoritarian tendencies within the Tinubu administration, highlighting his earlier warning on plans to appoint APC loyalists to the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He also recalled his warning of conflicts of interest, including the awarding of contracts to companies tied to Tinubu’s family, as evidence of the president’s prioritization of personal gain over public interest.
He stated: “Rather than engage in a substantive dialogue to explore these critical issues, the APC, led by President Bola Tinubu, chose to descend into the depths of petty personal attacks against Atiku Abubakar.
“This was not a mere lapse in decorum, but a repeated symptom of a party gripped by paranoia and struggling under the weight of its own tarnished credibility.
“If there is any political figure in Nigeria who truly embodies the essence of desperation, it is none other than President Tinubu himself. Through his unchecked actions, he continues to blur the line between state power and personal ambition, magnifying his control over both the nation and its institutions.
“The fact that the APC has become a mere extension of Tinubu’s will is a matter of little consequence. What truly alarms political observers — both inside and outside the APC — is the president’s calculated and insidious strategies to systematically cripple any form of social or political opposition. These actions, which Atiku rightfully warns against, are a direct threat to the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
“It is an irony most bitter that a man who once rose to prominence on the back of civil activism and the call for democratic renewal has now found himself in opposition to the very ideals that birthed his political career. This shift from proponent to adversary of multi-party democracy is both tragic and dangerous.”
“These actions threaten the pluralism that is essential to a functioning democracy,” Atiku added.
“The president’s calculated efforts to systematically cripple social and political opposition cast a dark shadow over the future of Nigeria’s democracy.”
The former vice president also pointed to his earlier criticism of the administration’s repressive approach to dissent, pointing to incidents where protesters were charged with treason.
He likened these tactics to those employed by authoritarian regimes, warning that they jeopardize fundamental human rights.
Atiku’s remarks also touched on the irony of Tinubu’s political evolution.
“It is bitterly ironic that a man who once rose to prominence through civil activism has now become a direct threat to the ideals of multi-party democracy that gave him his platform,” he stated.
Atiku urged Nigerians and political observers to remain vigilant, emphasizing the consequences of Tinubu’s actions for the nation’s democratic future.
“The opposition parties have been infiltrated by fifth columnists planted to ensure no party remains independent of the president’s whims. This is not just a PDP problem; it is a Nigerian problem,” he added.
Atiku called on the APC to reflect on its role in undermining democracy, urging the party to “stand before the mirror and gaze upon the true face of desperation.”
