Atiku Urges Nigerians to Resist Authoritarian Tendencies Ahead of 2027 Elections.
Atiku Urges Nigerians to Resist Authoritarian Tendencies Ahead of 2027 Elections.
In 2027, former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar voiced serious concerns about the escalating repression under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. In a statement titled “A Nation Gripped in the Throes of Fear,” Atiku condemned what he described as a dangerous slide toward authoritarianism, warning that Nigeria was increasingly becoming a police state. He highlighted the government’s use of oppressive tactics, including the Cyberstalking Act, which he criticized as a modern tool of tyranny reminiscent of colonial sedition laws. Atiku emphasized that no government, regardless of its power, is above the will of the people.
He accused Tinubu’s regime of weaponizing state institutions to suppress opposition voices and of disregarding court orders, actions that undermine democracy and the rule of law, especially ahead of the 2027 general elections. He lamented the silence of legislative and oversight bodies, which he said have become more eager to praise than scrutinize the executive, further eroding democratic principles.
Atiku expressed concern that this pattern of repression risks turning the government into a bully, silencing journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens who dare to dissent. He pointed to recent arrests of outspoken critics, including #EndBadGovernance protesters, and noted that organizations like Amnesty International and the Nigeria Union of Journalists have condemned the regime’s heavy-handedness.
He warned that the administration’s behavior suggests a belief in absolute sovereignty over the people, with opposition silenced and dissent stifled. As Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, Atiku sees this as a defining moment— a battle between Tinubu’s hegemony and the collective will of Nigerians. He concluded that history shows no despot can triumph over a unified, determined populace, emphasizing the importance of resisting tyranny. Recent protests and arrests, including those of activist Omoyele Sowore, underscore the troubling trend of repression under Tinubu’s government.
