Mr. Aye Dee

Africa & Middle East Public Policy & Security Expert. ΑΦΑ

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

I congratulate all APC members who won yesterday's House of Representatives primaries. You have our full support as we march toward 2027.

To those who contested but did not prevail: the struggle continues. Our party needs your loyalty, your experience, and your grassroots strength now more than ever.

Let's unite, mobilize our structures, and deliver a resounding victory for the APC at all levels next year.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

In the blue corner, representing the "Unknown Alliance" and riding the unstoppable wave of the 'Obidient' movement, is the former Governor of Anambra State, the businessman known for his prudent management and a man who has captured the imagination of Nigeria's youth: Peter Obi!

His supporters believe he represents a new path forward, a departure from the established political order. His strategy is clear: mobilization, accountability, and a promise of economic revitalization. He's not just running a campaign; he's leading a crusade for change.

And in the red corner, the incumbent, the seasoned veteran, the Giant Killer, the 'Jagaban' of Borgu, and the man who has spent decades building alliances and consolidating power within the All Progressives Congress (APC): President Bola Ahmed Tinubu! A political titan of immense timber and unlimited caliber who has navigated the complex terrain of Nigerian politics with unparalleled skill, he is the master strategist, the Kingmaker turned King. His campaign is built on experience, on the strength of a national machine, and on the promise of renewed hope and continued development. He's not just defending a presidency; he's securing a legacy.

This is more than just a vote; it's a monumental collision of political ideologies, a clash of generational visions for the future of Africa's largest democracy. It's 'The Main Event: Decision 2027', and it will determine the fate of 200 million people! Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 16, 2027. This isn't just a contest; it's Nigeria's defining moment, and the world is watching.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@Mr_JAGs If he likes he can tackle whomever, there still won't be a vacancy for him in the Villa come 2027.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@ejavwarevwo Shehu Musa Yar'Adua who was arrested, imprisoned and murdered in detention, was from where?

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

This is a statement that is very emotionally powerful to people who chose to be obedient to you (or whatever term they use), but in reality is cho cho cho.

In any case, if this is an issue now, why wasn't Abacha's lack of democratic credentials an issue when you chose to work with him as part of the Task Force on Port Decongestion starting April 1996? Speaking of 1996, Kudirat Abiola was murdered in June of 1996, nothing indicates you immediately resigned your position based on democratic principles.

Let's get back to why we are here. Since you seem to have forgotten history, here are 5 ways Abacha was fundamentally worse than President Tinubu in pursuing his presidential ambition:

1) Self-succession through manufactured consensus Abacha orchestrated all five registered political parties to simultaneously adopt him as their sole presidential candidate, eliminating any pretense of competitive elections or voter choice. Maybe I haven't been paying attention, but I am positive President Tinubu has not made any attempt to be the candidate of the PDP, LP, ADC, NNPP, PRP and the other parties. He is the candidate of the APC and the APC only, rest of the parties can field any qualified Nigerian of their choice.
Democratic Advantage: Bola Tinubu

2) Systematic elimination of opposition
Abacha's regime imprisoned, exiled, or killed political opponents and activists, including the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine, the prison murder of Gen. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, the assassination of Kudirat Abiola, Alfred Rewane and a host of others. Of course Gen Obasanjo was in jail, so were many other 'outspoken' voices. Who has this administration imprisoned, exiled or killed for opposing Bola Tinubu. Please take your time and name a few.
Democratic Advantage: Bola Tinubu

3) State terror and media suppression
Abacha's government brutally cracked down on press freedom, killing journalists like Bagauda Kaltho, shutting down media houses, and using security forces to intimidate any dissent. Instead President Tinubu has brought in leading media voices into his administration , people like @SundayDareSD and @aonanuga1956 to name a few. Anybody can write anything, and instead of detention, exile or murder, they either get ignored or might actually get a response.
Democratic Advantage: Bola Tinubu

4) Rigged constitutional conference
Abacha convened a Constitutional Conference (1994-1995) that was heavily manipulated, with handpicked delegates who ultimately recommended he could contest as a sitting military head of state - violating basic principles of civilian-military separation and paving the way for a civilian dictatorship. What has President Tinubu done? He has used the office of the President to devolve power, LGAs now control their statutory allocations, State Police is loading and so on and so forth.
Democratic Advantage: Bola Tinubu

5) Destruction of civil society
Abacha's regime systematically dismantled labor unions, professional associations, and civil society groups that could organize opposition, including violently suppressing strikes and protests by groups like ASUU and the petroleum workers' unions. What has President Tinubu done? He's allowed any Union that desires to strike to do so without stressing, but because he is fair and just, ASUU which is usually a hot bed of agitation has not gone on strike a single time during his administration
Democratic Advantage: Bola Tinubu

I could go on and on but I'll stop here.

I understand writing essays for twitter is how you communicate, and you hope to 'shame' President Tinubu into making your electoral chances easier, but that's not how politics work.

If you want the presidency, work for it, instead of rewriting history as if we were all born last night.

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

Yesterday defenders of democracy, today's destroyers, What a shame.

What an irony of history, that the acclaimed defenders of democracy and human rights who claimed to have fought for democracy during the era of General Sani Abacha now find themselves worse than the man they opposed.

Today, General Sani Abacha, once presumed face of oppression, will be remembered as seemingly more democratic and more respectful of human rights than the so-called champions of activism from the NADECO days. Power indeed reveals character.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@agupard_a Under Abacha even the military wore 'Abacha' badges, they did not have to sing it, it was understood.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@jeffphilips1 He gets paid to write, he wrote.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@akintollgate Entire country did not jubilate, the North mourned.

[Rotimi Adeosun (RMA). @adeosunm]

Peter Obi has lost it all and he can only manipulate the children of democracy born from 1999 and those who've chosen to be enemies of Nigeria, for him to ever condemn democratic struggles of NADECO and compare President Tinubu's to late Abacha's holocaust regime.

Aside people like Obi who were in unholy matrimony with and benefiting from the military regime, every adult Nigerian at that time was badly affected one way or the other by the dark age of Abacha's regime. I, for example lost a Commonwealth Scholarship opportunity for an M.Phil (Development Studies) at the University of Cambridge, due to the suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth, as a result of Abacha's draconian regime.

Yet, an anti-democratic character and opportunistic Peter Obi with his hateful and vile supporters have the temerity condemning the patriotic struggles of the heroes - past and living. May Peter Obi's plans to desecrate democratic process, incite crises and anarchy NEVER come to pass, and Peter Obi will NEVER under any circumstance become President of Nigeria. Amen!🙏

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@Naijapainkiller Some in APC use that, that's true. Is that APC or those individuals?

[I LOVE NIGERIA @Nathanieliorts]

@MrAyeDee Welcome

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@Engee24 @adadaplc What has NADECO got to do with today's Nigeria?
NADECO was a SPV designed to get rid of the military and restore Nigeria to democracy.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@MpaEzenwa Do you have challenges understanding the english language? Read what I wrote again.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

Great question. I'll give you an answer. Huge difference, but we have to agree to talk substance not rhetoric.

Tinubu is playing politics within a democratic framework. The parties are independent political entities deciding how to act on their own strategic trajectory.

They retain agency, candidates emerge through processes (flawed though they might be) and ultimately, power is tested at the PU.

Under Abacha, we had orchestration from the villa.
Abacha's parties were state-created and state-controlled structures.

They didn’t independently arrive at him as a candidate through competition or consensus. They were effectively coerced into endorsing him as the sole presidential candidate. That is why they were mockingly coined the “five fingers of a leprous hand” by Bolaji Aluko who was active on Nigeria's social media 1.0 space in those days. There was no real opposition, no real choice, and no credible democratic process.

So trying to draw a parallel involves ignoring key realities:

One is playing politics within democracy.
The other was control under military dictatorship.

We can criticize Tinubu’s political dominance or tactics all you want, that’s perfectly fine. But equating what's happening today to a military regime manufacturing unanimous endorsement is historically inaccurate.

If anything, the real test today is this:
If the electorate disagrees, we still have the power to reject it.
In Abacha’s Nigeria, we never had that option.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@OgbeniDipo Obi and co have lost the game before they even enter the stadium.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@_dinomelaye Cool story, but is Twitter a court of competent jurisdiction, what are we to do with this information?

If ADC likes, they can have 203 congresses, if INEC does not recognize them, anyone who emerges from those events is just wasting his or her time.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

Is Tinubu Dracula who flies around at Night slaughtering people?

He inherited an insurgency, and whether he could do more or not is up for debate, but, the insurgency is not localized, there are external non-state actors at play as well.

So whetever work he puts in, some elements will do all they can to negate it.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@Naijapainkiller Yes love is correct. Why would APC turn Nigeria into Rwanda or Burundi? APC is a national party, 30+ governors are in APC, North, South, East and West all represented within the organization.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@Dattiking1 Waiting for empirical data.

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@Truth_be_told02 Ok

[Mr. Aye Dee @MrAyeDee]

@adadaplc You were in the room when the murder took place I assume?