Don’t use security agencies to harass opposition - Atiku to Tinubu in defense of Bwala

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 election has cautioned the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government against using the security agencies to harass opposition voices in the country.

Atiku in a series of tweet on his X, formerly Twitter, observed yesterday that affording opposing forces the political space to thrive is never a flaw, but a strength that enriches democracy as “best ideas are then tested and subjected to various viewpoints, leading to refinement and superb execution.”

Atiku explained that he understood the frustration of the younger generation with a country of so many promises.

“The government must avoid the temptation of conceding to the agenda of anti-democratic forces,” he said.

His caution to the new administration comes off the back of claims by David Bwala, a spokesperson for the Atiku/Okowa campaign organisation in the February 25 presidential election that there is a plot President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's government to arrest and detain him.

Bwala, a chieftain of the largest opposition party made this known via a social media post on his X (formerly called Twitter) on Monday, September 18.

According to him, he has gotten reliable intel that some persons at the presidential villa of the plot to use security agencies to arrest and bring him into custody.

He wrote: "Last night I got a credible intelligence that some key people around the seat of power (Presidential Aso Vila) of this government are planning to use security agencie(s) to arrest me and take me into custody on trumped-up allegations in order to rubbish me and silence me. That I am making them and the government uncomfortable.

The praises of the administration in which I served as number two man and chaired several committees and initiatives are well in order and one of our strengths in power was always the ability to listen to divergent opinions – to disagree without being disagreeable.

Through…

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) September 18, 2023