Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the prosecution of Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters. Atiku condemned the arrest and detention of Prof. Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), calling it part of a “systematic harassment and intimidation” campaign.
Yusuf was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on January 28, 2025, over allegations of a N4 billion fraud, among other charges.
Reacting on his official X handle on January 30, 2025, Atiku described Sowore’s prosecution as unfounded, warning that Tinubu’s government might soon imprison anyone who dares to criticize its actions. The 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed that the ongoing harassment of opposition figures and critics was part of a larger strategy to create a one-party system.
He wrote: “When I warned that Tinubu and the APC were focusing on systematically dismantling the opposition and intimidating critics to establish a one-party autocracy, I became a target of vicious attacks. The arrest and unjust prosecution of @YeleSowore is just the latest in this ongoing campaign. Now, they’ve added Professor Usman Yusuf—another vocal critic—to their grim list. At this rate, they may soon imprison every one of us.”
Atiku’s comments echoed his previous accusations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is working to destroy opposition parties to achieve dominance in the political landscape. He also alleged that the APC bribed opposition parties with N50 million to weaken their leadership in preparation for the 2027 election.
His allegations have prompted reactions from opposition parties, with the Labour Party and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) calling on Atiku to provide evidence to support his claims.
