Atiku Accuses Tinubu Of Using EFCC To Target Opposition After Tambuwal’s Arrest
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of weaponising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to silence opposition figures, following the arrest of former Sokoto State governor and serving senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Tambuwal was taken into EFCC custody on Monday over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals totalling ₦189 billion.
The Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the arrest, describing it as part of a broader plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to intimidate political opponents and weaken resistance to the president.
Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) accused the EFCC of selective investigations, often reopening old cases without new evidence to target opposition politicians.
“Certainly, that is not the objective for which I worked hard during our administration to create the EFCC,” Atiku said in a statement on Tuesday.
“It is as though today, anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations and, it is as though, as soon as they are coerced into the political agenda of President Tinubu, their ‘sins’ are forgiven.
“That, definitely, is not how to build institutions. That, certainly, is not how to fight the monster of corruption. Indeed, such tendencies provide the stimulant for corruption to thrive.”
Atiku, in a post via his verified social media handle, alleged that the EFCC has been used to pressure opposition state governors into joining the ruling party, warning that “the tea party is not about to end anytime soon.”
He called on civil society groups and the international community to condemn what he described as “the objectification” of the anti-corruption fight for political purposes, stressing that the opposition would never bow to any anti-democratic plan to push Nigeria into a one-party state.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
