Presidency Slams Atiku Over Military Rule Comparison, Defends Tinubu’s Democratic Reforms

The Presidency has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his remarks comparing governance under the All Progressives Congress (APC) to military dictatorship, describing the statement as misleading and harmful to Nigeria’s democratic progress.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said Atiku’s comments were an exaggeration and a deliberate attempt to undermine democratic institutions following electoral defeat.

Dare was responding to remarks reportedly made by Atiku at a public event in Abuja on Tuesday, where the former Vice President allegedly described the APC-led administration as worse than military rule and the poorest form of governance he had witnessed in almost 40 years of political involvement.

The comments were said to have been made during the launch of a book written by the spokesman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi.

In a statement shared on his verified X account, Dare expressed concern that a former Vice President who served under a constitutional democracy would equate democratic governance with military authoritarianism.

He noted that such comparisons diminish the painful experiences Nigerians suffered under military regimes, when civil liberties were suppressed and opposition voices were often silenced through detention, exile, or worse.

Dare added that the freedom opposition figures currently enjoy to criticise the government, hold meetings, and participate openly in politics clearly distinguishes democracy from dictatorship.

He further accused Atiku of using inflammatory rhetoric to weaken public confidence in democratic institutions whenever election outcomes do not favour him, stressing that disagreements over policy should not be framed as proof of authoritarian rule.

Defending President Tinubu’s administration, Dare maintained that the ongoing reforms, though difficult, are being implemented by a democratically elected government that remains accountable to the Nigerian people.