Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest of five men in Borno State for allegedly wearing T-shirts with the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go”, demanding their immediate release.
Atiku, who is the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate for the 2027 election, made the call through a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
The development followed a report by Amnesty International on Tuesday that five men had been arrested and detained by operatives of the Borno State Police Command in Maiduguri.
The rights organisation identified the men as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed.
Reacting to the report, Atiku said the alleged arrests raised concerns about the protection of freedom of expression and political opinion in Nigeria.
He questioned whether wearing a T-shirt carrying a political message constituted an offence.
“‘Tinubu Must Go’ is a demand for political change. It is not a weapon, a threat or a crime,” he said.
“President Tinubu can disagree with those words. He can campaign against them. He cannot make people disappear into custody for wearing them.”
The former vice-president urged the authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the five men and ensure that they had access to their families and legal representatives.
Atiku also criticised the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, recalling the President’s opposition to the fuel-pricing policies of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Tinubu opposed Jonathan’s fuel policy in the streets. Nigerians are living with the consequences of Tinubu’s fuel policy in their homes,” he said.
According to him, the current economic situation had placed additional pressure on households and workers.
“Parents are cutting meals. Workers can scarcely afford the journey to work. Families are being crushed by bills that rise faster than their income,” he said.
Atiku further questioned the reported response of the authorities to citizens expressing dissatisfaction with government policies.
“And when citizens put their anger on a T-shirt, the response is reportedly an arrest. What kind of democracy grants its President the right to protest, then takes that right away from everyone else?” he asked.
He maintained that Nigerians should have the same freedom to criticise the Tinubu administration that the President enjoyed when he opposed policies of the Jonathan government.
“Tinubu was free to tell Jonathan that his policies were hurting Nigerians. Nigerians must be free to tell Tinubu that his policies are hurting them. Release these five citizens now,” Atiku added.
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