Presidency slams Atiku over ‘military rule’ comparison
Calls Remarks Distortion of Democracy
The Presidency has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over comments comparing governance under the All Progressives Congress (APC) to military dictatorship, describing the remarks as misleading, exaggerated and damaging to Nigeria’s democratic credentials.
Reacting through the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, the Presidency said Atiku’s comments amounted to a misrepresentation of history and a deliberate effort to undermine the legitimacy of democratic outcomes following electoral defeat.
Dare was responding to remarks attributed to Atiku at a public event in Abuja on Tuesday, where the former Vice President reportedly described the APC-led government as worse than military rule and the poorest system of governance he had encountered in nearly four decades of political involvement.
The comments were made at 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 handle on Wednesday, Dare said it was concerning for a former Vice President who served under a constitutional democracy to equate civilian governance with military authoritarianism.
He argued that such comparisons diminish the harsh realities Nigerians faced under military regimes, when civil liberties were routinely suppressed and dissent often punished with detention, exile or worse.
Dare pointed out that the ability of opposition figures to openly criticise the government, organise meetings and participate freely in politics clearly demonstrates the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship.
He further accused Atiku of using inflammatory rhetoric to erode public trust in democratic institutions whenever election results do not go in his favour, insisting that disagreements over policy should not be portrayed as proof of authoritarian rule.
Defending President Bola 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.
