Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar Friday deplored what he described as “gradual descent to anarchy’ through attack on opposition voiced by the President Bola Tinubu administration.
In a statement, the former number two citizen noted that “the recent events in Kaduna, Katsina, and other areas highlight a troubling trend towards authoritarianism under the Tinubu administration”.
According to him, “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”.
Atiku emphasised that 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,” he stated.
The former Vice-President who noted that power is transient, emphasised that “history will harshly judge those who wield it against the people instead of in their service”.
He said that Nigeria belongs to all, 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,” he said.
