A senior aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, has strongly criticised the Presidency over what he described as attempts to silence opposition voices through insults, intimidation, and selective use of state institutions.
Shaibu was reacting to a recent statement credited to Mr. Bayo Onanuga, a presidential spokesman, in which the Presidency accused opposition figures of sabotage and questioned their motives. In a sharply worded response made public on Tuesday, Shaibu said criticism of government policies should not be mistaken for an attack on the state.
Shaibu, who served as Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar during his time as Vice President from 1999 to 2007, said the government’s response to criticism showed a lack of answers to pressing national issues.
According to him, when a government resorts to name-calling and conspiracy theories instead of addressing facts, it suggests that it is struggling to defend its record.
“Criticism is not sabotage, opposition is not treason, and accountability is not an attack on the state,” Shaibu said. “Democracies do not collapse because opposition speaks; they collapse when governments stop listening.”
The exchange comes at a time of heightened political tension in the country, following a wave of defections by politicians from opposition parties to the ruling party. While the Presidency has described the defections as proof of its growing acceptance and performance, opposition figures argue that many of the defections are driven by fear and pressure rather than free choice.
Shaibu said the real issue was not the act of defection itself, but the circumstances surrounding it. He alleged that many politicians face investigations, arrests, or threats shortly before switching allegiance, while those aligned with the ruling party appear to enjoy protection from scrutiny.
“The issue is not that politicians are defecting,” he said. “The issue is why defections now coincide with investigations, arrests, and relentless pressure—while allies of the ruling party enjoy a curious and consistent immunity.”
He argued that freedom of association cannot exist in an atmosphere of fear, adding that people cannot be said to be acting freely when they are under pressure from law enforcement agencies.
The Presidency, through Onanuga, had earlier defended the government’s actions, insisting that anti-corruption agencies are independent and that investigations are based on evidence, not politics. The statement also accused opposition figures of attempting to undermine the government by spreading false narratives.
However, Shaibu dismissed this claim, saying independence cannot be proven by press statements alone. According to him, true independence is shown through fairness, balance, and credibility.
“When investigations consistently move in one political direction, citizens are entitled to ask questions,” he said. “Asking questions does not make anyone a criminal.”
He also criticised what he described as attempts to use old allegations, rumours, and foreign cases to discredit opposition figures in the media. Shaibu said guilt should only be determined by a court of law, not by public statements or media campaigns.
“Dragging up allegations and insinuations only reinforces the fear that intimidation has become a tool of governance,” he added.
In his response, Shaibu warned against using history as an excuse for present actions. He said pointing to the failures or abuses of past administrations does not justify repeating them.
“Invoking history does not excuse present abuse,” he said. “A government elected on the promise of reform should not recycle the worst habits of previous administrations.”
He argued that Nigerians voted for change with the expectation of better governance, stronger institutions, and respect for the rule of law. According to him, repeating old practices under a new government only deepens public disappointment.
Shaibu also commented on Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, an achievement which the government has celebrated as a sign of progress. While welcoming the development, he said economic and technical successes should not be used to ignore democratic concerns.
“Nigeria’s removal from the FATF grey list is welcome,” he said. “But no economic milestone can compensate for democratic backsliding, shrinking civic space, and the growing belief that the rule of law is being bent to serve political power.”
Nigeria was placed on the FATF grey list in 2023 due to concerns over money laundering and terrorist financing. The country’s exit from the list is expected to improve investor confidence and ease some financial transactions. However, civil society groups have continued to raise concerns about human rights, freedom of expression, and political inclusion.
Shaibu’s comments reflect a wider debate in the country about the state of democracy, the role of opposition, and the conduct of security and anti-corruption agencies. Many analysts say strong democracies thrive on open debate and criticism, while attempts to silence dissent often weaken public trust.
In his statement, Shaibu urged the government to respond to criticism with facts rather than insults. He called for transparency, humility, and openness in dealing with opposing views.
“If the government is confident in its record, it should engage with facts, not insults; with transparency, not threats,” he said.
He concluded by saying Nigerians deserve leadership that listens and responds to the people’s concerns, not lectures or attacks on critics.
“Nigeria deserves leadership—not lectures,” Shaibu said.
