Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has asked President Bola Tinubu to address the grievances of jailed leader of the Indigeneous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, calling for the rule of law to apply in every case.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the 2027 general election, stated this in his speech on the occasion the country’s 66th independence anniversary.
Atiku also said that the continued detention of Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria and Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai raises issues that government must speak about.
“Our independence also demands political freedom. Nigerians must be free to question their leaders, organize peacefully and demand change.
“Public office belongs to the people. No President owns the voices of citizens.
“On this day, I call for the rule of law to be applied fairly in every case. The continued detention of Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria and Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai raises questions about due process that the authorities must answer.
“Following Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction, his right to lawful appeal must be respected, while the grievances and divisions surrounding his case must be addressed seriously.
I also repeat my call for the release of the five young Nigerians arrested in Borno after wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-shirts.
“The police have made further allegations against them; those allegations must be tested fairly.
“A political slogan on a shirt must never become a reason to imprison a Nigerian,” Atiku said.
The former vice president said, if elected into office, he would stop manipulations in elections.
“And I make this promise to every Nigerian who has stood in line to vote and later wondered whether that vote counted: if elected President, I will work to end election rigging.
“I will respect INEC’s independence, support the prompt publication of results from every polling unit, and insist that anyone caught buying votes or changing results faces the law – even if that person belongs to my party.
“Your vote must count as you cast it. You should not need powerful friends to make it count,” he said.
Atiku said the 2027 general election offers Nigerians an opportunity to choose their leaders freely, and called on citizens to protect their votes.
“The coming election offers us a peaceful way to choose our course. To the young person who wonders whether one vote matters, to the parent who has lost faith in promises, and to the worker who has grown tired of waiting: this country is yours. Listen closely. Question every candidate, including me.
“Demand plans that can be examined and promises that can be measured. Protect your vote and refuse intimidation,” Atiku stated.
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