Former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar has called President Bola Tinubu a desperate politician.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku stated that Tinubu is no longer the activist that people know because he has abandoned the ideas that launched his political career.
He went on to say that President Tinubu has transformed the All Progressives Congress (APC) into a party incapable of functioning independently of Tinubu’s wishes.
The statement says:
“On January 27th, the Center for Leadership, Strategy, and Development hosted a notable gathering of civil society organizations for a two-day national conference. This event was designed to provide a forum for in-depth and critical discourse on Nigeria’s democracy and the pressing issue of its sustainability.
“It was intended to be a period of intellectual engagement, an opportunity for civil society to work with political leaders to find answers to strengthen and improve Nigeria’s democracy.
Among those asked to participate was Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President, whose reputation for statesmanship and extensive awareness of the political scene made him a significant participant in the discussion.
“During the meetings, Atiku expressed deep concern about the APC’s developing monopoly on power, saying that the party’s activities were progressively destroying the pluralism required for a healthy democracy. He accused the ruling party of weakening opposition factions’ autonomy, putting doubt on Nigeria’s democratic future.
Rather than engage in a genuine debate to address these major challenges, the APC, led by President Bola Tinubu, chose to descend into petty personal assaults on Atiku Abubakar. This was more than just a breakdown in decorum; it was a recurring symptom of a party driven by paranoia and suffering under the weight of its own ruined reputation.
“If there is one political person in Nigeria who truly represents the essence of desperation, it is none other than President Tinubu. Through his unfettered activities, he continues to blur the barrier between state power and personal ambition, increasing his control over both the nation and its institutions.
The fact that the APC has devolved into nothing more than an extension of Tinubu’s will is insignificant. What actually concerns political watchers, both within and outside the APC, are the president’s planned and sinister techniques for methodically crippling any form of social or political opposition. These acts, which Atiku properly warns against, pose a direct threat to the viability of Nigerian democracy.
“It is a sad irony that a guy who rose to prominence via civil activity and the cry for democratic renewal has now found himself opposing the exact values that launched his political career. This transition from supporter to opponent of multi-party democracy is both painful and dangerous.”