Sowore: Atiku Again Slams Tinubu Govt’s Distaste For Dissent, ‘May Soon Imprison Every Opposing Voice’

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has again slammed the government of President Bola Tinubu distaste for dissent, saying there is a systematic dismantling of the opposition by in Nigeria

In a post on his X handle, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, said that the recent arrest and “baseless prosecution” of Omoyele Sowore and Usman Yusuf is the latest in the harassment of opposition figures.

“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.

“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.”

Activist Sowore is currently being prosecuted with taxpayers’ money for calling the The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun an “illegal IGP”.

The police had as a result filed a 16-count charge of cybercrime against him.

On Thursday, the federal high court Abuja granted Sowore bail to the tune of ₦10 million and one surety in like sum.

While former Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, another critic of the Tinubu administration was arrested on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of fraud.

He was to be arraigned on Friday (today), but the arraignment was moved to Monday to allow for amendment of the charges, a statement by the EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said.

Though defence counsel, Isah Dokto Haruna, who held brief for the lead defence counsel, O.I.Habeeb, SAN, made an application for bail, it was turned down  by the court on account of the defendant’s deferred arraignment.

Justice Nwecheonwu adjourned the matter till February 3, 2025, for arraignment and ruled that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Commission.