Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday accused President Bola Tinubu of deploying federal institutions to intimidate opposition-controlled states, following the freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Atiku described the action as a “dangerous assault on democracy” and urged the EFCC to immediately lift the restriction, warning that the development could cast doubt on the credibility of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president questioned the timing of the account freeze, saying it raised serious concerns about the neutrality of institutions expected to uphold the rule of law.
According to him, there was no justification for freezing the state’s principal operational account on the eve of a governorship election, arguing that such a move could cripple governance and create an atmosphere of political intimidation.
“It is impossible to ignore the implications of freezing a state’s principal operational account on the eve of a governorship election.
Such an action could disrupt governance, delay salary payments, impede essential public services and create an atmosphere of intimidation that has no place in a democratic society,” Atiku said.
He maintained that while anti-corruption agencies had a constitutional responsibility to investigate allegations of wrongdoing, they must operate within the confines of the law and avoid actions capable of creating the impression that they were being used to influence political outcomes.
“If there are legitimate concerns requiring investigation, the law provides due process.
Anti-corruption agencies must not conduct themselves in a manner that creates the perception that they are being deployed to influence political outcomes or weaken elected governments at critical electoral moments,” he added.
Atiku further alleged that there was a growing pattern of opposition-controlled states being subjected to what he described as coercive actions by the Federal Government.
He cited the earlier dispute over Osun State’s statutory local government allocations, saying the latest account freeze reinforced the perception that federal institutions were being weaponised against political opponents.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the pattern under the Tinubu administration, where opposition-controlled states appear to be the consistent targets of coercive federal actions.
Coming after the prolonged denial of Osun State’s statutory local government allocations, this latest action reinforces the disturbing impression that public institutions are being weaponised to punish political opponents rather than serve the Nigerian people,” he said.
The former vice president warned that the freezing of the account would ultimately affect ordinary residents of Osun State by disrupting salary payments, public services and government operations.
“Freezing the state’s allocation account is not merely an attack on the Osun State Government; it is a direct assault on the people of Osun State, whose salaries, essential public services and daily governance stand to suffer.
The anti-corruption mandate of the EFCC must never be distorted into a political weapon against opposition governments,” Atiku stated.
He also called on all institutions involved in the conduct of the Osun governorship election to remain impartial and uphold constitutional principles, insisting that only the electorate should determine the outcome of the poll.
“The people of Osun State alone must determine the outcome of their election. No external force or institution of government should, by action or omission, cast a shadow over the credibility of that democratic choice,” he said.
Atiku further accused President Tinubu of seeking electoral victories through the misuse of state institutions and called on opposition parties and Nigerians committed to democratic governance to resist what he described as a dangerous trend.
“President Tinubu is leaving no one in doubt that he is determined to win elections at all costs. Democracy cannot coexist with the systematic weaponisation of state institutions against political opponents.
I therefore call on all opposition parties and every Nigerian committed to constitutional democracy to close ranks and resist this dangerous drift before it is too late,” Atiku said.
