Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, declaring it more dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy than any past military regime.
Speaking at his Kaduna residence while hosting former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over the weekend, El-Rufai described the current government as “a disgrace to the very principles of democracy.” He accused President Tinubu of steering the country toward authoritarian rule, likening him to Cameroon’s long-serving leader Paul Biya, who has held power since 1982.
Atiku Abubakar was in Kaduna on a solidarity visit to El-Rufai, following the violent disruption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) inauguration in the state. The event, which was stormed by thugs, degenerated into chaos as both El-Rufai and the Kaduna State government traded accusations over who masterminded the attack.
Police authorities have since invited El-Rufai and several ADC chieftains for questioning on the incident. But during Atiku’s visit, the former governor shifted focus to the federal level, warning that Tinubu’s administration is increasingly centralizing power at the expense of Nigeria’s federal structure.
“This government is worse than any military regime we’ve witnessed. It is suffocating democracy, silencing opposition, and concentrating authority in ways that threaten the very foundation of this country,” El-Rufai charged.
His remarks are expected to intensify political debates already surrounding the Tinubu administration, especially as opposition figures continue to rally against what they describe as creeping authoritarianism in Nigeria.