Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has
issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, cautioning that the
alleged use of federal institutions to suppress opposition parties could
ultimately lead to the collapse of his presidency.
Speaking to journalists in Birninkudu after his election as
a national delegate for the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
congress, Lamido accused President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) of “weaponizing” government agencies to weaken political rivals
ahead of the 2027 elections.
“If you look at the way people are trooping out of PDP, it
is very, very obnoxious and poses a threat to the country,” Lamido said. “By
destroying opposition using state institutions such as INEC, the Police, DSS,
and EFCC, you are not only destroying your opposition but also yourself.”
The former governor stressed that a vibrant democracy
depends on the existence of a strong opposition, warning that any attempt to
dismantle political plurality would endanger the nation’s democratic
foundations.
“The foundation of democracy is built on freedom, liberty,
and opposition,” he declared. “Tinubu, in his wisdom, believes that by
destroying opposition political parties like PDP, he is enhancing his political
fortune. Unfortunately, he is being too clever by half. Destroying PDP means
destroying Nigeria itself, and everything will eventually collapse on him.”
Lamido expressed optimism that recent defections from the
PDP were temporary setbacks, predicting a wave of returns by the end of the
year.
“Just wait for five or six months, and by the end of this
year, you will see,” he said. “Tinubu is committing political suicide. Those
who are joining him are also committing political suicide. They are on a mission
with the president, but by the end of their journey, they will come back.”
He criticized what he described as the misuse of state
power, insisting that the fight against the PDP was not merely political
rivalry but an orchestrated effort by the federal government itself.
“A political party, no matter what, should be able to defend
itself against opposition,” he argued. “But when the government and the
president are fighting PDP, this is dangerous.”
Lamido further accused the president of instilling fear
among political opponents using anti-corruption agencies, questioning the moral
authority of the administration.
“Those who are following him and joining him are afraid of
EFCC. But why should anyone fear EFCC?” he queried, recalling past allegations
of corruption leveled against Tinubu during the tenure of former EFCC chairman
Nuhu Ribadu. “If he himself was once exposed by the EFCC, why should I be
afraid of him?”
On his election as a national delegate, Lamido explained
that changes to the PDP constitution necessitated his candidacy.
“Before the amendment, all former governors, members of the
BOT, and others were automatic delegates,” he noted. “Now, the number of
delegates has been drastically reduced to less than 800 from about 5,000. That
is why the people of my local government, in their wisdom, asked me to contest
— perhaps to guide them.”
Lamido’s comments come at a time of increasing political
tension, as parties position themselves ahead of the next general elections.
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