Atiku Condemns Tinubu’s Administration for Harassment as Amaechi Warns Against Power Retention
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has firmly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for prosecuting Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, and arresting Prof. Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Atiku called these actions “systematic harassment and intimidation.”
Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi echoed this sentiment, warning that Tinubu is unlikely to easily relinquish power and that Nigerian politicians will go to great lengths to retain their positions. Speaking at a national democracy conference in Abuja, Amaechi asserted that political leaders often resist popular demands for change.
Atiku condemned Sowore’s prosecution as baseless, arguing that Tinubu’s government may target all critics next. He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of dismantling opposition parties to create a one-party state. “The arrest of Sowore is just the latest chapter in this relentless campaign,” he stated.
On January 28, 2025, Yusuf was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of fraud. Meanwhile, Amaechi cited historical examples from Nigeria and Ghana to illustrate how far politicians go to cling to power, urging Nigerians to remain vocal and united.
General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.) also emphasized that democracy is Nigeria’s only viable governance system. At the launch of a book on political stability, he asserted, “Democracy has firmly established itself in Nigeria; there is no substitute for government by the people.” Abdulsalami, who oversaw Nigeria’s transition to democracy in 1999, stressed the importance of protecting democratic institutions.
In summary, both Atiku and Amaechi call for vigilance against power retention tactics by political leaders, while Abdulsalami reaffirms the significance of sustaining democracy in Nigeria.
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