Since coming into power in 2023, the APC-led administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown a troubling pattern of intolerance toward critics, opposition leaders, and even former allies. Instead of focusing on uniting the country and tackling pressing economic and security issues, the government has been busy using state power to silence dissent and punish perceived enemies.
Among the most prominent targets is Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. His controversial policies especially the Naira redesign before the 2023 elections his failed bid to contest the presidential primaries, and his alleged refusal to fund Tinubu’s campaign, made him a marked man. His arrest and ongoing prosecution are widely seen as political revenge, not a genuine effort at accountability. Emefiele, once viewed as loyal to former President Buhari, seems caught in Tinubu’s wider effort to erase the influence of the past administration.
Another target is Professor Usman Yusuf, a respected Northern intellectual and prominent member of the Arewa Consultative Forum. Known for his fearless criticism of Tinubu’s poor economic policies, lopsided appointments, and failure to curb insecurity, Yusuf has faced state-sponsored media attacks and legal harassment. He was recently arraigned over an eight-year-old case long considered closed aimed at intimidating him.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, once a key figure in the APC, is also under fire. Though pressured to work with Tinubu, he later fell out of favour. He is now accused of mismanaging N423 billion while in office. The investigation, led by the Kaduna State House of Assembly which many believe is acting under federal influence denied him the chance to defend himself, confirming suspicions of a politically motivated witch-hunt.
Abdulrasheed Bawa, the former EFCC Chairman, has also suffered under the current regime. Detained for months without charges, his case highlights a government more interested in silencing insiders than reforming institutions.
What truly worries President Tinubu appears to be the growing movement for a national political coalition. This emerging alliance bringing together disillusioned politicians, technocrats, and civil society actors from both the North and South poses a serious threat to his hold on power. In response, his administration has reportedly been fuelling internal crises within opposition parties to weaken them before the coalition takes shape.
Credible sources reveal that Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister and former Governor of Rivers State, has formally sought to join the APC. Tinubu, however, reportedly declined for now. Instead, he approved Wike’s successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s movement, to allow Wike to complete the task of destroying the PDP. Observers believe this is part of a strategy: Wike is expected first to destroy what remains of the PDP before officially joining the APC, at which point there will no longer be a vibrant opposition that can pose a threat to Tinubu’s 2027 reelection bid.
Nigeria today stands at a crossroads. What the country urgently needs is healing, unity, and a clear economic direction, not political vendettas and the abuse of power. A confident and visionary leader welcomes criticism and builds consensus. But a government obsessed with silencing opponents and digging up old cases only exposes its deep insecurity.
The signs are clear: this is not a government driven by bold ideas or national interest. It is one ruled by fear, fear of opposition, fear of accountability, and fear of the people’s voice.
