Stop intimidating Nigerians, ex-envoy tells Tinubu

An elder statesman and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi,  on Sunday,  called on President Bola Tinubu to stop intimidating those with divergent views and voices against his government.

Farounbi lamented that security forces appeared poised to intimidate anybody with divergent opinions.

The former envoy said what is happening now is contrary to the promise made by the president during his inauguration.

The Yoruba leader, in a chat with The Guardian on the invitation of critics and arrest, particularly that of Omoyele Sowore who was later released on Sunday, said if God and men had been gracious to Tinubu, he must be gracious to Nigerians.

“In his speech, he promised to tolerate divergent opinions. He promised not to intimidate or victimise anyone on the account of holding divergent political opinions,” Farounbi said.

“What is happening now? The security architecture of the country appears poised to intimidate anybody with divergent opinions.

“If those who were in government when he aired and held divergent opinions had intimidated him, he would not have been where he is today.

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“Aside from the late Sanni Abacha, no other past presidents intimidated him. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd) did not intimidate him and his people in the Alliance for Democracy (AD) when they formed the party.

“Former Presidents  Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan did not intimidate him. Former President Muhammadu Buhari didn’t intimidate him, even though they said he didn’t support him. If men and God have been gracious to President Tinubu, I expect him to be gracious to others.”