The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over what it describes as a deliberate attempt by the Bola Tinubu-led administration to lay the groundwork for a systematic clampdown on opposition leaders, following a controversial tweet by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the president, Bayo Onanuga.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday by the Interim National Publicity Secretary and spokesperson of the opposition coalition, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC condemned Onanuga’s remarks, describing them as a “textbook example of a political dog whistle”.
The tweet in question accused opposition groups of plotting to unseat President Tinubu.
“The haters of Nigeria’s progress are banding together to overthrow an administration that has been the most focused, most transformative in our history,” Onanuga posted on X referencing a prior statement made by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II on the painful but necessary reforms by the Tinubu administration.
Reacting, the ADC said Onanuga’s claim was not just false but appeared to be a step towards silencing dissent.
“The APC-led federal government appears to be constructing a false narrative that is designed to justify potential clampdown on dissent, and to criminalize legitimate opposition activity under the guise of national security” the statement partly reads.
The ADC insisted that it remains committed to democratic principles and has no intention of destabilizing the country.
“We are not soldiers, we are politicians. We don’t have bullets; we only have the ballots. When the time comes, we will only present our solutions and an alternative vision of the future to the Nigerian people and leave them to make their choice. ”
The statement also questioned why the ruling party, which once came to power through democratic opposition, now finds it difficult to tolerate dissent.
“APC is the first opposition party to come to power in Nigeria. It is therefore a great wonder that the same party now appears to find it strange that there is an opposition at all,” it said.
Calling for restraint, the ADC urged President Tinubu to rein in his aides and avoid inflammatory statements that could destabilize the nation’s democracy.
It also appealed to the international community to monitor the political climate and hold the administration accountable for any violations of democratic norms.
“We call on them to hold the Tinubu administration accountable for any actions that undermine democratic freedoms or violate the political rights of Nigerian citizens” the statement added.
