Tinubu blurring line between state power, personal ambition, says Atiku
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.
Atiku made the assertion, following allegations of desperation against him by the All Progressives Congress (APC) over his position at a national conference organised by the Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD).
Meanwhile, the Joint Action on Democracy (JAD) has called on the Federal Government to place former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on a security watchlist.
Atiku had criticised 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.
The former VP alleged that Tinubu 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, yesterday, signed by his media aide, Paul Ibe, reads.
Warning of authoritarian tendencies within the Tinubu administration, Atiku highlighted his earlier warning on plans to appoint APC loyalists into 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 prioritisation of personal gain over the public interest.
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, emphasising the consequences of Tinubu’s actions for the nation’s democratic future.JAD, which said security agencies must take firm action against any attempt to destabilise the country, raised concerns over the politicians’ recent activities and statements, which it said pose threats to national stability.
The group also raised the alarm over a purported meeting attended by prominent politicians, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Tambuwal, Nasir el-Rufai and Abubakar Malami.
In a statement signed by its President, Moses Oriri, yesterday, JAD asserted: “Individuals are threatening Nigeria’s democracy and should be held accountable for any harm caused to the country.”
It noted that the anger directed towards Tinubu’s administration by his prominent political opponents was because the President bravely initiated reforms that were already showing results.
