Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of using state institutions to suppress dissent and silence its critics.
Reacting to the recent arrest of former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf, Atiku described the development as politically motivated.
Yusuf was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday after his home in Abuja was raided.
Reports indicate that the professor of haematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation was taken into custody around 4:46 p.m. in the presence of his wife and children, with the reason for his arrest still undisclosed. Witnesses said he was driven to an unknown location following his detention.
Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 presidential election, criticized the government for allegedly shielding certain individuals under investigation while targeting opponents. He condemned what he described as an attempt to stifle opposition voices through the misuse of state institutions.
Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) Atiku had this to say:
“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 political advantage,”
