Former presidential candidate and African Renaissance activist, Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “dictator” and accused his administration of undermining democratic principles in Nigeria.
Ndu, who spoke in an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters, also urged Tinubu to drop his 2027 re-election ambition and support the Southeast’s bid for the presidency.
He argued that the Southeast deserves the same political accommodation he said was previously extended to the Southwest, particularly following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Ndu questioned why arguments about competence were being raised against a Southeast presidential bid, insisting that democracy should be based on fairness, consensus and mass participation.
He said, “Why is it that now that it should be the turn of the Southeast, we start to hear issues of competency, competency, competency?”
The former presidential candidate also accused the Tinubu administration of exerting undue influence over the legislature and judiciary.
According to him, some political leaders in the Southeast have chosen to support Tinubu because they believe their interests are better protected by aligning with the President.
Ndu further described Tinubu as a “dictator” and argued that the support of some Southeast political leaders for the President should not invalidate calls for the region to be given an opportunity to produce the next president.
He maintained that fairness and justice were essential to preserving Nigeria’s unity, arguing that the Southeast had suffered significant political exclusion.
Ndu therefore called on political parties to consider fielding presidential candidates from the Southeast, saying such a move would be fair to the region.
He also criticised Nigeria’s current democratic system, arguing that citizens elect politicians who subsequently make major decisions without sufficient public participation.
Referring to Tinubu’s announcement of the removal of the fuel subsidy during his inauguration, Ndu questioned whether such unilateral policy decisions could be regarded as true democracy.
He called for a return to what he described as “true democracy,” with greater citizen participation and consensus in government decision-making.
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