Sowore’s Arrest Sparks Outcry: Atiku Warns of Tinubu’s Authoritarian Tendencies
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he perceives as a systematic effort to suppress opposition voices in Nigeria. His remarks come in response to the recent arrest and prosecution of activist Omoyele Sowore and the detention of Professor Usman Yusuf, both known critics of the current government.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Atiku expressed concern over these actions, stating:
“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.”
Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, was recently arraigned on a 16-count charge related to alleged cybercrime. He was detained after honoring a police invitation and subsequently granted bail set at ₦10 million. Meanwhile, Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of fraud. His arraignment has been scheduled for February 3, 2025.
