Atiku Condemns Tambuwal’s Detention, Accuses Tinubu of Using EFCC to Target Opposition

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the detention of ex-Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal by the EFCC, calling it a politically motivated move by the Tinubu administration to suppress opposition voices.

In a strongly-worded statement, Atiku alleged that Tambuwal’s arrest forms part of a systematic pattern of using anti-graft agencies to intimidate political opponents.

“This detention has nothing to do with fighting corruption and everything to do with weakening the opposition,” Atiku asserted.

The 2023 presidential candidate expressed concern over what he described as the weaponization of state institutions, noting that the EFCC – established during his tenure as VP to combat graft – has now become “a political tool to harass opposition figures into joining the ruling party.”

Atiku warned that Nigeria is witnessing dangerous precedents where “anti-corruption efforts are being twisted into a political weapon,” creating a situation where “opposition members face phantom charges while those who switch allegiance magically become clean.”

The former VP particularly criticized what he called the administration’s strategy of “emptying opposition governors into the ruling party through coercion,” stressing that such tactics undermine democracy.

He called on civil society, citizens and the international community to resist these developments.

“Our commitment remains firm – we will not allow Nigeria to slide into a one-party dictatorship through these underhanded tactics,” Atiku declared.

Tambuwal, a former House Speaker who governed Sokoto from 2015-2023 and currently serves as Sokoto South Senator, was reportedly detained by the EFCC, though the commission has not officially commented on the matter.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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