Presidency Issues Sharp Rebuttal to Atiku's Military Rule Comparison
The Nigerian Presidency has delivered a forceful response to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following his controversial claim that Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration is worse than military government. The rebuke came on Wednesday, January 28, through Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, who described Atiku's statements as alarming and misleading to the Nigerian public.
Presidency Accuses Atiku of Historical Distortion
In a detailed statement posted on his official X handle, Sunday Dare characterized Atiku Abubakar's persistent inability to distinguish between democratic governance and military dictatorship as more than ironic—it represents what he called an alarming development for a former vice president who served under constitutional democracy. The Presidency specifically highlighted that Atiku's remarks during an African Democratic Congress event were not mere political gaffes but represented what they termed "a willful distortion of history and a further slide into senile dementia."
Contrasting Democratic Freedoms with Military Repression
The Presidency emphasized that Atiku's narrative completely ignores the fundamental liberties Nigerians currently enjoy under democratic rule—freedoms that were systematically extinguished during military regimes. Sunday Dare pointed out the apparent contradiction in Atiku's position, noting that in the same republic he brands as tyrannical, the former vice president moves freely, convenes political meetings, grants media interviews, and regularly criticizes the President while enjoying full constitutional protection.
"These are liberties military regimes extinguished without hesitation," Dare stated, adding that comparing economic reforms under the Tinubu administration to military repression "exposes the truth: his only ideology is unfulfilled ambition."
Atiku Labeled 'Less an Elder Statesman'
In one of the most pointed criticisms, the Presidency described Atiku Abubakar as "less an elder statesman than a cautionary tale," accusing him of having exhausted both ideas and credibility. The statement suggested that the former vice president has descended into what they called inflammatory exaggeration, hoping that political chaos might succeed where voters have repeatedly rejected him at the polls.
The Presidency further reminded Nigerians of the significant sacrifices endured during military rule, calling Atiku's remarks an insult to the memory of those who were jailed, exiled, or killed under past dictatorships. They characterized the former vice president as a "serial electoral loser" whose constant attacks on democratic governance reflect personal frustration rather than principled political critique.
Call for Respect of Democratic Institutions
Sunday Dare concluded the statement by urging all politicians to respect Nigeria's democratic institutions and historical legacy. He posed a challenging question to Atiku, stating: "If he truly longs for the 'order' of military rule, he should explain why he spent decades masquerading as a democrat. Nigeria has moved on. His cognitive dissonance is no longer a national issue—it is a personal implosion unfolding in public."
This sharp response from the Presidency signals their firm stance against what they described as misleading political rhetoric while simultaneously defending the democratic achievements Nigeria has made since the return to civilian rule. The exchange highlights ongoing political tensions as the country navigates complex economic reforms and prepares for future electoral cycles.
