Tambuwal’s Detention: Atiku accuses Tinubu of using EFCC to harass opposition
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has leveled serious allegations against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, claiming it is using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass and intimidate opposition leaders.
This criticism comes in the wake of the EFCC’s detention of former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who is a member of the opposition Coalition.
“The reality unfolding before us today is that the Tinubu administration, as with other aspects, has objectified the fight against corruption as a political tool to coerce opposition leaders into the ruling party,” Atiku stated. He believes the detention of Tambuwal is part of a broader agenda by the Tinubu-led administration to decimate the opposition.
Atiku emphasized that anyone who associates with the opposition is now a target for phantom corruption allegations, and once they are coerced into the ruling party’s agenda, their past “sins” are seemingly forgiven.
“It is as though today, anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations and, it is as though, as soon as they are coerced into the political agenda of President Bola Tinubu, their ‘sins’ are forgiven,” he said.
This approach, Atiku argues, is detrimental to building strong institutions and fighting corruption. “That, definitely, is not how to build institutions. That, certainly, is not how to fight the monster of corruption,” he stressed. He points to instances where the EFCC has been used to pressure opposition state governors into joining the ruling party, suggesting that this trend is likely to continue.
Atiku emphasized that the Coalition will not succumb to these anti-democratic tactics aimed at establishing a one-party dictatorship.
“Our assurance to Nigerians is that we would never succumb to this anti-democratic machinations of railroading our people into a one-party dictatorship,” he declared.
He called on civil society and the international community to condemn the politicization of anti-corruption efforts, stressing that the genuine fight against corruption requires the support of all Nigerians.
“While the genuine fight against corruption is a matter that requires the total support of all Nigerians, the objectification of it as a political agenda should be roundly condemned by all in civil society spaces and friends of Nigeria in the international community,” Atiku urged.
The development has raised concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions in Nigeria and the potential for further political repression. As the situation unfolds, many are watching closely to see how the government responds to these allegations and whether the EFCC will continue to be used as a tool for political coercion.
