September 05, (THEWILL) — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Friday, stated that the recent attack by political thugs on former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the invitation from the Kaduna Police Command to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, signalled a troubling trend towards authoritarianism under President Bola Tinubu.
While the former AGF had alleged that political thugs, belonging to the All Progressive Congress (APC), attacked him in Kebbi State on Monday, the Kaduna Police Command had summoned El-Rufai and seven members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for questioning over allegations of criminal conspiracy, public incitement, mischief, and inflicting grievous harm. The invitation, contained in a letter dated September 4, 2025, was signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (CID), Uzairu Abdullahi. It directed the ADC State Chairman to present El-Rufai and the others before the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) on September 8, 2025, in connection with a petition filed by unnamed complainants.
Speaking in a statement on Friday, Atiku said these incidents and the violent disruption of the Katsina Elders Forum meeting on security reforms were not only condemnable but “signify a coordinated and dangerous assault on dissenting voices, civic freedoms, and the very essence of pluralistic democracy.”
Atiku emphasised that “No government that resorts to intimidation and uses security agencies as weapons against perceived opponents can genuinely uphold democratic principles.
“Without a doubt, Nigeria is dangerously close to slipping into authoritarian rule if these patterns of repression continue unabated. We cannot afford to return to an era marked by fear, silence, and impunity.”
While calling on all Nigerians, including Statesmen, to recognise the urgency of the moment, Atiku said. “Defending our democracy cannot be the sole responsibility of the opposition; it is a collective national duty. Power is transient, but history will harshly judge those who wield it against the people instead of in their service. Nigeria belongs to all of us, not just the ruling party or any single individual.”
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