Atiku Demands Release of Five Borno Men Over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, has demanded the immediate release of five Nigerians arrested in Borno State for wearing "Tinubu Must Go" T-shirts. Atiku argues that such a slogan is a legitimate call for political change, drawing parallels to President Tinubu's past protests, and insists citizens must be free to express views on current economic realities.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakarhas called for the immediate release of five men arrested and arraigned in Maiduguri, Borno State, in connection with T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go.” Atiku, speaking through ADC Presidential Campaign Council Director of Strategic Communication Phrank Shaibu, questioned the basis for detaining citizens if the political slogan was the reason for their arrest.
The five men were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abbacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed. Atiku argued that the slogan represents a political demand and should not, in itself, be treated as a criminal act, while recalling President Bola Tinubu’s participation in protests against fuel price increases during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He urged authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the five men, ensure access to their families and lawyers, and release them if the political message on the shirts was the basis for their detention. However, the Borno State Police Command has rejected the claim that the men were arrested simply for wearing the shirts, saying they were apprehended on September 25 during a patrol around Maiduguri’s West End Roundabout.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly faced accusations including inciting disturbance, breach of public peace, thuggery and possession of suspected illicit substances, with officers reporting the recovery of suspected Indian hemp, tablets, a shisha pot, scissors and two “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts.
The command said the case was subsequently taken to court and urged the public to allow the judicial process to determine the facts, while Amnesty International and opposition figures have separately condemned the arrests and called for the men’s release.
Atiku maintained his position in his response, saying, “Tinubu was free to tell Jonathan that his policies were hurting Nigerians. Nigerians must be free to tell Tinubu that his policies are hurting them.”