Atiku faults Tinubu’s ‘harassment’ as Amaechi warns of power cling

• Condemns Sowore’s prosecution, Yusuf’s arrest
• Incumbent will not easily cede power, says ex-Rivers gov
• Democracy has come to stay, Abdulsalami assures
• INEC boss: Political parties oxygen of Nigeria’s democracy
• Anyim: Political instability rooted in historical issues

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the prosecution of Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, and the arrest of Prof Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Atiku described Sowore’s prosecution and Yusuf’s arrest as acts of “systematic harassment and intimidation” by the government. This came as former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi said President Bola Tinubu would not easily cede power, warning that Nigerian politicians often go to great lengths to secure and retain their positions.

Speaking at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development in Abuja, earlier in the week, Amaechi argued that political leaders are unwilling to relinquish power voluntarily, even when faced with popular demands for change.

Reacting through his official X handle yesterday, Atiku labelled Sowore’s prosecution as baseless, alleging that Tinubu’s government might soon target all critics of the administration.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to dismantle opposition parties to establish a one-party system.

“When I made the clarion call that Tinubu and the APC were devoting their energies to the systematic harassment, intimidation, and dismantling of the opposition, all in service of their grand design for a one-party autocracy, I became the target of vicious attacks,” Atiku said.

“The arrest and baseless prosecution of @YeleSowore is the latest chapter in this unrelenting campaign. Now, they have seen fit to add Professor Usman Yusuf—an outspoken critic of this administration — into their grim roster. At the pace they are going, it seems they may soon find themselves contending with the incarceration of every one of us.”

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Yusuf on Wednesday, January 28, 2025, over allegations of N4 billion fraud, among other charges. Atiku’s statement reinforced his earlier claims that the APC is undermining opposition parties to achieve its alleged one-party agenda.

Meanwhile, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi cited historical events in Nigeria and Ghana as evidence of the lengths politicians go to hold on to power.

“None of you here can defend the votes,” Amaechi said. “If you have complained, complain; Nigerians have been clapping for you. The only way Ibrahim Shekarau became governor was because people lined up.”

He added, “It happened in Ghana before the election of the last president. Two days, many of us were called to intervene. Why? Because the people were ready to die.”

Amaechi stated, “Nobody has power and will give it to you—not even me. If you want a pastor as president, go and get one. The politician in Nigeria is there to steal, maim, and kill to remain in power. If you think Tinubu will give it to you, you are wasting your time.”

Recalling his experience during the 2015 presidential election, Amaechi attributed the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) victory to the party’s determination to defend its mandate. He noted that President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat only because APC was prepared to defend its mandate.

Amaechi urged Nigerians to adopt similar strategies to ensure credible elections and strengthen democracy.
OPTIMISTICALLY, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), maintained that democracy remains Nigeria’s only viable system of governance, asserting that there is no alternative to civil rule.

Speaking through General Abdulrasheed Aliyu yesterday at the launch of the book 100 Years of Political Parties Evolution in Nigeria – The Imperative of Nigeria’s Political Stability: Issues and Solutions, organised by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Abuja, Abdulsalami reaffirmed the resilience of democracy in Nigeria despite past military interventions.

“Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. There is no substitute for a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, which democracy represents, as sovereignty resides with the people,” he said.

The former military ruler’s remarks come amid calls by some Nigerians for military intervention as a solution to the country’s political and economic challenges.

In August 2024, protests against hardship and bad governance in Kaduna, Kano, and other northern states saw demonstrators waving Russian flags and calling for military rule. Subsequently, a viral video showed some Nigerians blocking military vehicles and urging soldiers to take over the current administration. Abdulsalami, who oversaw Nigeria’s transition to democracy in 1999, stressed the need to safeguard democratic institutions.

“I am happy that my government, as the then military Head of State, ushered in this era of democracy when I handed over power to the elected President on 29th May 1999. My government laid this solid foundation for democratic governance,” he said.

He added, “It also shows that when leaders are patriotic, passionate, resolute, and unwavering in building strong democratic structures and institutions, democracy could flourish and yield its dividends to citizens. We should therefore keep watering and nurturing the tree of democracy as there is no alternative to civil rule.”

Abdulsalami acknowledged that Nigeria’s democracy has faced significant challenges but noted that its survival is a testament to the citizens’ belief in representative governance. He highlighted the need to prioritise political party development to consolidate democracy and foster political stability. He urged Nigerians to embrace ongoing constitutional and electoral reforms to strengthen democratic ideals and ensure sustainable development, saying, “As we continue the ongoing Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments to correct obvious flaws in the electoral process and imbibe democratic ideals, ethics, and values, the nation will yet again witness sustainable democracy and development.”

Also, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, described political parties as the foundation of Nigeria’s political system, stressing their critical role in the country’s electoral process. Yakubu was represented at the event by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Sam Olumekun.

“Political parties are the oxygen of Nigeria’s political system. No Nigerian can participate in any election unless they are a member of a political party and are sponsored by that party,” Yakubu said.

He called for urgent electoral reforms and stressed the importance of internal democracy within political parties. He lamented that the absence of internal democracy often leads to disputes, litigation, and disruptions in the electoral process. “Political parties must ensure that their processes reflect the will of their members,” he noted.

Highlighting the role of political parties in shaping credible electoral outcomes, Yakubu said, “One of the key responsibilities of political parties is the conduct of credible primary elections.

Internal party democracy is the foundation upon which credible general elections are built. Effective leadership recruitment is made possible only when eligible persons with capacity are selected through duly conducted party primaries and put up for elections.”

He further noted that when political parties uphold democratic principles in their internal processes, it boosts public confidence in the electoral system and strengthens democratic governance.

“As we move towards future elections, I urge all political parties to strengthen their internal governance mechanisms and ensure that their processes reflect the will of their members,” he added.

FOR his part, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim attributed Nigeria’s prolonged struggle with political stability to unresolved historical issues, particularly mutual suspicion among its diverse ethnic and regional groups.

Delivering the keynote address at the event, Anyim traced the roots of the nation’s challenges to the early days of its amalgamation, noting that differences in culture, religion, and language created inter-group suspicions among the country’s founding fathers.

“From the beginning, inter-group suspicions existed among the founding fathers. Given the differences in culture, religion, and language, this was not unexpected,” he said. “However, what is unfortunate is that these suspicions have morphed into deep-seated distrust and spite, which, instead of abating, have grown over the years, overshadowing national interest.”

Anyim stressed the need for Nigeria to rise above ethnic and regional divisions, emphasising that progress and stability depend on managing diversity and fostering national consciousness.

“No nation has progressed on a foundation of mutual suspicion or a crisis of confidence among its component units. We must overcome distrust to collectively build a nation where governance structures inspire a sense of belonging, patriotism, and pride,” he said.

Reflecting on the nation’s history, Anyim described Nigeria’s journey toward nationhood as a continuous struggle to create a system that offers confidence and accommodation to all groups. He pointed out that failures of past constitutional conferences under military rule raise concerns about the sincerity of those in power in addressing these issues. He called for a national dialogue to address lingering instability challenges, arguing that Nigeria’s growth and unity depend on consensus-building.

“Understanding past efforts to address these challenges is key to forging a more united and stable nation,” he added. Also, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, described the newly launched book as a critical record of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

During the event, Dantalle emphasised the need for collective efforts to preserve and promote democratic values in the country. He announced an upcoming documentary titled Unbroken: Two and a Half Decades, chronicling 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria from 1999 to 2023. According to Dantalle, the project aims to highlight the nation’s democratic journey on global platforms such as CNN, Al Jazeera, Netflix, and Amazon.

“The project aims to showcase Nigeria’s democratic journey on global platforms, celebrating the milestones and progress made since 1999,” he said. Dantalle also called on patriotic Nigerians to partner with IPAC in its mandate to deepen democracy through innovative programmes. He noted that such efforts would bridge generational gaps in democratic leadership, honour the country’s history, and inspire hope for the future.