Atiku, el-Rufai accuse FG of weaponising security agencies against opposition
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai have condemned what they described as the use of State institutions to undermine, intimidate and destroy opposition figures,
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai have condemned what they described as the use of State institutions to undermine, intimidate and destroy opposition figures, warning that such actions pose a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and must be resisted.
The remarks followed an attempt by security officials to arrest el-Rufai at the airport on his return from abroad, an incident both men said reflected a wider pattern of abuse of power against opposition voices.
Speaking during a visit to el-Rufai after the airport incident, Atiku denounced the conduct of the authorities, describing the attempt to arrest the former Minister as unlawful.
“There is absolutely no need for you to be or try to be kidnapped, I would say, from the airport. I mean, they would have allowed you to return to your house and then invite you normally. You have held very, very high positions in government in this country.
“You were a Minister, you were a governor and you successfully performed your functions. There was no need for them to try to embarrass you. By embarrassing you, they are embarrassing the entire political class and we condemn it in totality and we will stand by you and we will protect, you know, your interests and the interests of every law-abiding Nigerian,” he said.
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Atiku warned that opposition parties were being systematically targeted, citing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Just as they undermined and sabotaged the Peoples Democratic Party, there are also efforts and plans to undermine the ADC by using the judiciary again. We must be alert and we must stand up against those plans to undermine the opposition.”
Describing the information as credible, he said, “This is very, very credible information, so we should all be at alert and make sure the judiciary is not used to undermine the ADC just as it has been used to undermine and destroy the PDP.”
He called for collective resistance, saying, “We must all unite and stand up against all these anti-democratic forces.”
Responding, el-Rufai thanked Atiku for his support and described the airport incident as unjustified while condemning the airport incident, while alleging that the incident involved multiple security agencies.
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"What happened today at the airport is most unfortunate, totally unnecessary, and probably criminal as well, because agencies have rules of engagement, and all I asked for was a letter of invitation, and I will visit your office.
“It turned out that it was the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that procured the Department of State Services (DSS) to abduct me and hand me over to them.
"The ICPC has never contacted me or sought to invite me up to the point at the airport.”
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had written inviting me, and I was out of the country. My lawyer wrote to them to say that I will be returning, and I will be there on Monday at 10 a.m.
“The ICPC, I never heard anything from them, but we understand that it was the ICPC, not the EFCC, that was responsible for what happened, and the ICPC chairman was acting on the direct orders of Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser.”
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He, however, accused the government of politicising security agencies, while stressing the need to remove the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) from power in 2027.
“We have reduced security agencies to be arms of a political party and a government that knows it is unelectable and wants to remain in power at all costs.
“Your Excellency, I assure you that what has happened today has further reinforced my belief that we must work hard, we must not sleep between now and March 2027 until we remove this tyrant.”
