Former Sokoto State governor and current senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Tambuwal, has launched a scathing critique against President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of orchestrating a deliberate campaign to destabilise opposition parties in Nigeria.
Tambuwal also firmly stated that he would support former vice president Atiku Abubakar over Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, if faced with a choice about the nation’s future leadership.
The former governor made this known during an appearance yesterday on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he claimed that the APC and President Tinubu were actively involved in efforts to undermine opposition parties, despite likely denials from the administration.
“When you look at what is happening in various political parties in Nigeria today, you don’t need to be told, no matter the amount of denial by whoever, including President Bola Tinubu, that they are not involved in destabilisation efforts of opposition parties.
“I am not accusing them. I am saying they are involved in efforts aimed at destabilisation of opposition parties,” he said.
When pressed for evidence to substantiate his allegations, Tambuwal remained resolute, insisting, “I am saying, I am not suspecting. They are involved in all of this.”
The former speaker of the House of Representatives also addressed his political loyalties, drawing a clear distinction between personal friendship and leadership principles.
When asked about a hypothetical choice between Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike, Tambuwal did not hesitate.
“When it comes to leadership of this country and leadership of the people, tomorrow, not even today, I would rather support Atiku than Nyesom Wike,” he said.
He clarified that his political decisions were guided strictly by altruism and principles, not personal relationships.
“It is a collaboration; it is not something difficult. Once it is about being altruistic and nothing personal. You have never seen me going against President Bola Tinubu personally, you have never heard of me going against Nyesom Wike personally,” Tambuwal said.
To illustrate his point, the former governor referenced his past disagreement with former President Goodluck Jonathan, which led him to defect from the PDP to the APC.
“We disagreed on principle, the way, and the direction things are going. I had no problem personally with Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, but we disagreed, and I left PDP for APC,” he explained .
He, however, emphasised his ability to maintain cordial relationships across party lines, even offering a personal gesture, “If Atiku Abubakar comes in here and Wike requests my phone, which is personal to me, I will personally give it to Wike as a personal friend.”
Furthermore, Tambuwal weighed in on the recent summons issued by the Kaduna State Police Command to former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The invitation followed an attack on members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by thugs in Kaduna, to which El-Rufai has threatened a legal challenge .
Tambuwal urged El-Rufai to honor the police invitation, stating, “I am a law abiding citizen of this country and whoever is invited by the constituted authority should appear, I will advise my brother and friend, El-Rufai, to attend to the invitation of the police.”
He used the opportunity to critique the police’s frequent use of the Public Order Act to curtail constitutional rights.
“Making reference to the constitution of Nigeria which provides for freedom of expression and Assembly, most of the time the police tries to hide under the Public Order Act which its provisions are inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution to come hard on individuals or groups,” he argued.
He clarified that the purpose of notifying the police is for security provision and logistical guidance, not to seek permission for assembly.
