Paul Ibe, the media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of running a dictatorship, warning that Nigeria’s fallen pro-democracy icons would be horrified by the state of affairs under the present administration.
Speaking during an interview on The African Settings Exchange Show, Ibe lamented that the hard-fought democratic gains secured since 1999 at the cost of human lives were gradually being eroded.
He recalled the sacrifices made by prominent Nigerians, including the late Chief MKO Abiola, Major General Shehu Yar’Adua, and Abiola’s wife, alongside countless activists who lost their lives in the struggle for democracy.
“This democracy that we are practicing since 1999 was bought at a very high price to human rights. Chief MKO Abiola, Major General Shehu Yar’Adua, Abiola’s wife, lots of children, activists were all killed in that process. We paid a heavy price,” he said.
According to Ibe, those late figures “would tremble in their graves seeing what is playing out today.”
He described Nigeria’s current political atmosphere as repressive, alleging that dissenting voices are being deliberately targeted.
“What is playing out is a dictatorship and that is exactly why people like Sowore and so many others are being haunted, harassed, and intimidated,” Ibe said.
He further alleged that the Tinubu administration was deliberately narrowing Nigeria’s democratic space ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The democratic space is being reduced daily. The suspension of the governor and the lawmakers is unconstitutional, it’s illegal and is part of the permutations ahead of 2027 to ensure there is no opposition — whether in the media, independent media, civil society, or political parties,” he added.
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