By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last general election in the country, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of fighting the opposition instead of corruption in the country.
Atiku made the accusation in the text of the tweet on his X (formerly Tweeter) handle on Friday.
The former Vice President of Nigeria between 1999 to 2007 stated that it was absurd that while the administration shelters those under investigation, it continues to exploit state institutions to stifle dissent, all under the false pretence of combating corruption.
He further berated the present administration for continuing to use the very machinery of the state to silence its critics, while also weaponizing “pending investigations” to suppress all opposition, using both local and international media.
Atiku, in the tweet, said, “Two days ago, the nation was jolted by the arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf, a fierce and unyielding social critic.
“Though the charges against him have been festering since the previous administration, it is impossible to ignore the strong likelihood that his detention is politically motivated.
“The Tinubu government, despite being riddled with individuals who themselves are embroiled in scandals and investigations by both local and international authorities, continues to use the very machinery of the state to silence its critics. It weaponizes these pending investigations to suppress all opposition.
“It is absurd that while the administration shelters those under investigation, it continues to exploit state institutions to stifle dissent, all under the false pretence of combating corruption.
“Even to the most inattentive, it has become glaringly clear that Tinubu is not waging a war on corruption — he is waging a war on the opposition, manipulating the system for his own political advantage”, the tweet ended.
