Atiku Abubakar: Media and Civil Society Attacks Under Tinubu Worse Than Military Era

[keypoints]

• Former VP Atiku Abubakar criticizes President Tinubu’s administration for media and civil society repression, comparing it to military-era control.
• He highlights incidents such as the arrest of NLC President Joe Ajaero and a raid on SERAP, warning of growing attacks on press freedom.
• Abubakar urges the government to focus on combating terrorists and bandits rather than stifling democratic rights and free speech.

[/keypoints]

Atiku Abubakar: Media and Civil Society Attacks Under Tinubu Worse Than Military Era

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed deep concern over what he describes as a heightened level of repression and attacks on the media and civil society organisations (CSOs) under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He claims that these actions surpass the harsh control seen during Nigeria’s military regimes.

Abubakar’s comments followed the arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and an alleged raid on the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by the Department of State Services (DSS).

In recent months, security forces have reportedly intensified their actions against journalists and whistleblowers, a trend that has raised alarm among press freedom advocates. The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has detained several journalists, allegedly due to petitions filed against them.

On Tuesday, Abubakar took to social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter), to voice his displeasure with the current state of affairs, particularly in relation to media freedom.

“The escalating assault on civil society and the media by the Bola Tinubu administration is profoundly disturbing. The level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship,” Abubakar wrote.

He referred specifically to the recent arrest of Joe Ajaero, who was detained while on his way to an official event, as an example of the government’s effort to intimidate organised labour.

“This regime’s relentless campaign to intimidate and subdue organized labor is epitomized by the arrest of Mr. Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress,” Abubakar added.

He also cited a recent incident involving the detention of a journalist, which security forces later dismissed as an error, but not before the damage was done. Abubakar questioned what would have happened had the mistake led to fatal consequences.

“What if the outcome had been fatal? Now, Tinubu’s regime extends its repressive grasp to encroach upon @SERAPNigeria, an action that stands as a grave affront to our democratic values,” he wrote.

According to Abubakar, these actions signal an alarming turn towards oppression, which contradicts the democratic values that Nigeria has worked hard to establish since transitioning from military rule in 1999.

He emphasised that freedom of the press and civil society is critical to the health of democracy and condemned the government’s actions as a violation of fundamental human rights.

“This siege is anathema to the principles of freedom and justice,” he said, urging the current administration to shift its focus from journalists and CSOs to the real threats facing the country, such as terrorists and bandits.

“It is imperative that Tinubu and his security apparatus redirect their fervour and intimidation towards the actual perpetrators of violence — terrorists and bandits — who are inflicting immeasurable suffering upon the Nigerian people.”

Abubakar’s remarks come amid growing concerns over the state of press freedom and human rights under the Tinubu administration.

Civil society groups and media organisations have repeatedly raised the alarm over the increasing frequency of arrests, intimidation, and harassment of journalists, labour leaders, and activists.

During Nigeria’s military regimes—spanning from 1966 to 1979 and then from 1983 to 1999—the country was marked by intense repression.

The military governments, known for their authoritarian nature, regularly targeted media houses, journalists, and activists who dared to criticise the regime.

These attacks ranged from arrests and detentions to, in some cases, the killings of prominent figures in the press and civil society.

Abubakar’s comparison of Tinubu’s administration to the military era reflects the growing frustration and fear that Nigeria may be returning to an era where free speech and dissent were stifled.

For many Nigerians, the military years remain a painful period in the country’s history, during which fundamental human rights were often disregarded, and opposition to the government was met with severe punishment.

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However, Abubakar’s statements have also sparked a broader debate about the direction of the country under President Tinubu. Some argue that the government is simply taking necessary measures to maintain national security in the face of mounting challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and economic hardship.

They point to the need for strong leadership to tackle these issues, even if it means cracking down on perceived threats to stability.

On the other hand, critics insist that silencing journalists and CSOs only serves to weaken Nigeria’s democracy. They argue that open criticism and accountability are essential for any functioning democracy and that the government’s actions are setting a dangerous precedent.

Abubakar’s call for a focus on tackling terrorism and banditry rather than repressing the media and civil society is shared by many within the country.

The northern region of Nigeria, in particular, has been ravaged by the activities of Boko Haram and other insurgent groups for more than a decade, leading to the displacement of millions of people and the deaths of thousands.

Banditry has also become a major issue, with armed groups frequently carrying out kidnappings, killings, and attacks on rural communities.

The government has made efforts to address these challenges, but many Nigerians feel that more needs to be done to protect vulnerable communities and restore peace to the affected regions.

The focus on cracking down on media and civil society, they argue, diverts attention and resources away from the real threats to national security.

As the Tinubu administration continues to navigate these complex challenges, the balance between maintaining security and upholding democratic values will remain a critical issue.

For Abubakar and other critics, ensuring that the government remains accountable to its citizens and respects the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution will be key to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic future.

With rising tensions between the government and various sectors of society, it remains to be seen how the situation will evolve. Will the administration heed the calls for restraint and refocus its efforts on combating the nation’s true enemies, or will the crackdowns on dissent continue to escalate?

For now, the words of Abubakar and others like him serve as a reminder of the fragile nature of democracy and the importance of protecting the freedoms that so many have fought to achieve. In a time of growing uncertainty, the need for open dialogue, transparency, and accountability has never been greater.