The Media aide to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has accused President Bola Tinubu of running a dictatorship, saying Nigeria’s fallen pro-democracy icons would be horrified by the current state of affairs.

Naijaonpoint reports that Ibe made the remarks during an interview on The African Settings Exchange Show, where he lamented that the democratic gains secured at great human cost were being eroded under the present administration.

The spokesman recalled sacrifices made by notable Nigerians, including the late MKO Abiola, Major General Shehu Yar’Adua, and many activists who lost their lives in the struggle for democracy.

“This democracy that we are practicing since 1999 was bought at a very high price to human rights. Chief MKO Abiola, Major General Shehu Yar’Adua, Abiola’s wife, lots of children, activists were all killed in that process. We paid a heavy price,” Ibe said.

He added that the late figures “would tremble in their graveyards seeing what is playing out.”

Ibe described the current political climate as repressive, alleging that voices of dissent were being systematically targeted.

“What is playing out is a dictatorship and that is exactly why people like Sowore and so many others are being haunted, harassed, and intimidated,” he claimed.

The Atiku aide further alleged that Tinubu’s government was narrowing Nigeria’s democratic space in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

“The democratic space is being reduced daily. The suspension of the governor and the lawmakers is unconstitutional, it’s illegal and is part of the permutations ahead of 2027 to ensure there is no opposition — whether in the media, independent media, civil society, or political parties,” he said.