Former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim accused the Tinubu government of plotting to capture opposition parties and steer the country towards authoritarian rule similar to the Abacha era.
Hashim, a chieftain of the Accord Party, made the allegation while speaking on the state of the nation and what he described as democratic backsliding under the current administration. He said the government was using various tactics to weaken opposition movements and consolidate power in ways reminiscent of Nigeria's darkest political periods.
The former presidential aspirant insisted that despite these challenges, Nigerians and opposition forces would resist and ultimately defeat any such attempts. He called on citizens to remain vigilant and committed to democratic principles, warning that complacency would allow authoritarian tendencies to take root.
Hashim's comments reflect growing tensions between the opposition and the Tinubu administration over governance issues, including the handling of the economy, security challenges, and what critics say is shrinking political space. His invocation of the Abacha regime, which ruled Nigeria between 1993 and 1998 and was marked by human rights abuses and the suppression of dissent, underscores the severity of concerns among some opposition figures.
The Accord Party chieftain did not provide specific details of alleged plots but suggested that the pattern of actions by the government pointed to a deliberate strategy to neutralise opposition voices. He urged opposition parties and civil society organisations to work together to defend democratic institutions and processes.
