Former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of backing efforts to destabilise opposition parties in Nigeria.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Friday, September 5, Tambuwal said it was becoming increasingly clear that the ruling government had interests that threatened democratic balance.
“When you look at what’s happening in various political parties in Nigeria today, you don’t need to be told, no matter how much denial by whoever, including President Bola Tinubu, that they are not involved in destabilisation efforts of opposition parties. It’s not correct,” Tambuwal said.
Pressed further on whether he was directly accusing the President, Tambuwal clarified, “I am not accusing them. I am saying that they are involved in efforts aimed at destabilisation, but we don’t have facts to prove that.”
When asked if his position was based on suspicion, the former governor replied, “I said, I am saying, I’m not suspecting. That means you have evidence they are involved in all of this.”
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Tambuwal warned that the ruling party’s actions pointed to a worrying drift toward authoritarianism.
“It is clear. The signs are very clear. The signs are very clear that the people in charge today in Nigeria are interested in a one-party state. Well, it may not work. It’s not an interest of democracy, is the interests of Nigeria, but that is the path they are pursuing,” he said.
He went on to express shock over President Tinubu’s current approach to governance, recalling their past collaborations for democratic reforms.
“Well, from my knowledge of him when we collaborated and worked together for democracy, he was a different person.
“If I must say it, the way I see it, I am shocked that under Bola Tinubu’s watch Nigeria is like this,” Tambuwal added.