Atiku Slams Tinubu, Calling His Administration An Anathema To Democracy

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that democracy in Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s administration has become anathema to the general principle of democracy, which is to protect the people from executive excesses.

Atiku also claimed that the National Assembly has become a facilitator of executive recklessness.

In response to the National Assembly’s high-handedness and other anti-people policies implemented by Tinubu’s government, Atiku stated in a statement titled “Tinubu’s Government Exhibiting Despotic Traits” that the health of our democracy is jeopardised by this unholy alliance between the executive and the legislature.

In explaining how democracy should be run, Atiku stated that “in the evolution of systems of government, a major concern for thinkers was a governmental framework that will reduce the highhandedness of the executive arm of government.”

“It was believed, and rightly so, that a participatory approach to governance, in which the government derives its legitimacy from the people, would better serve the interests of the masses.

“To ensure that the executive does not abuse its powers, the legislative branch of government was created to protect the people from the authoritarian tendencies of those wielding state power.

“Regrettably, however, the democracy in Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s administration has become an anathema to the general principle of democracy as the primary protection of the people against executive excesses.

“This ugly tendency is manifested by the constant posturing of our National Assembly, particularly the Senate, of reversing course on its core function and becoming a puppet in the hands of the President.”

Atiku went on to say, “It is uncharitable that whenever members of the Senate stand on the floor of the red chamber to carry out their statutory duty of calling the executive to order, they are immediately reprimanded.”

“When Senator Abdul Ningi brought to the country’s attention an incident of budget padding in the 2024 Appropriation bill, rather than calling for a thorough investigation into the observation, the Senate responded by suspending him. Today, Nigerians are victims of an ambiguous budget framework on which appropriations for the current fiscal year are based, despite the multiplicity of appropriations.

“Only yesterday, Senator Ali Ndume urged the President to recognise his responsibilities and provide assistance to address the country’s severe hunger and poverty. Ironically, in response to his patriotic warning, the @NGRSenate removed him from his primary position as Senate Chief Whip.

“Also, despite persistent requests that the government prioritise cancelling the excruciating hardship in the land and suspending the idea of spending scarce resources on the purchase of new aircraft for the presidential fleet, the Senate took a stand against the people and ignored the voices of altruism by decorating the President with controversial purchases of an aircraft and a yacht amidst the worst material conditions of the average citizen in the history of

The former Vice President also stated, “We are beginning to see a pattern in which the National Assembly has become an enabler of executive recklessness, with people’s concerns at the bottom of the legislature’s priority list.”

“This new reality must cease. This unholy alliance between the executive and the legislature jeopardises the health of our democracy and portends a dictatorship that will worsen people’s lives.