Tinubu’s Aide Slams Atiku Over Campaign To Free Nnamdi Kanu
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that the Presidency on Thursday strongly criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for calling for the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu. It described Atiku’s appeal as “political desperation” and a “disgraceful agenda” unbefitting of a statesman.
The statement, issued by President Bola Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Temitope Ajayi, accused Atiku of aligning with an “anarchist” for political gain while undermining the Nigerian judiciary.
Atiku had earlier condemned Kanu’s continued detention in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), calling it “an open sore on our nation’s conscience and a stain on our belief in the rule of law.”
“Defying court orders that granted him bail is an abuse of power and an assault on justice,” Atiku wrote, urging the government to either release Kanu or ensure a fair trial.
The former Vice President also expressed support for a campaign initiated by activist Omoyele Sowore, who had called on opposition leaders, including Atiku and Peter Obi, to participate in a solidarity march demanding Kanu’s release.
In response, Ajayi described Atiku’s position as “unconscionable” and “mind-numbing,” insisting that Kanu was responsible for the prolonged nature of his own detention.
“If Nnamdi Kanu has remained in detention this long, it is largely due to the legal tactics employed by him and his lawyers to stall the trial process,” Ajayi stated.
He noted that the prosecution had concluded its case and that the court had ordered Kanu to open his defence after dismissing a no-case submission filed by his legal team.
Ajayi further accused Kanu and his followers of instigating violence and unrest across the South East over the past decade, leading to loss of lives and destruction of livelihoods.
“Kanu and his foot soldiers have killed, ruined lives, and destroyed tens of thousands of livelihoods in the South East in the last 10 years. Entire communities have been left desolate due to his hate-driven campaigns,” he said.
Ajayi criticized Atiku for what he described as the “political exploitation of judicial matters,” asserting that no protest or political pressure would obstruct the legal process.
“It is deeply troubling that a former Vice President of Nigeria would advocate for impunity and seek to grant a free pass to someone who must be held accountable under the law—all in the pursuit of selfish political ambition,” he added. “There is a minimum standard expected of someone who has held such a high office, and Atiku has fallen far below it.”
