Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, September 6, 2025, declared that criminalizing opposition, attacking reformist voices, and undermining peaceful civic engagement erode the foundations of Nigeria’s Republic.
He also warned that any government that resorts to intimidation and uses security agencies as weapons against perceived opponents can not genuinely uphold democratic principles.
The former Vice President warned that Nigerians must not allow the principles of liberty, justice, and the rule of law to be undermined by partisan desperation.
Atiku, who stated these while reacting to recent events in Kaduna, Katsina, and other areas in which members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were prevented from meeting by security agencies, noted that the incidents highlighted a troubling trend towards authoritarianism under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
Atiku particularly noted that 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.
He stressed that the events signified a coordinated and dangerous assault on dissenting voices, civic freedoms, and the very essence of pluralistic democracy.
Atiku noted that it is important to emphasize that dissent is vital to democracy, adding that without a doubt, Nigeria is dangerously close to slipping into authoritarian rule if these patterns of repression continue unabated.
He further said; “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. Power is transient, but history will harshly judge those who wield it against the people instead of in their service.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us, not just the ruling party or any single individual,” he stated.
