Afenifere, a leading Yoruba socio-cultural organization, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government, likening its treatment of dissenting voices to the authoritarian regime of the late General Sani Abacha. The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, expressed grave concerns that the current administration is veering towards fascism, citing the arrest and harassment of critics and protesters as alarming indicators.
Faloye specifically denounced the recent arrests of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero and journalist Adejuwon Soyinka by the Department of State Services (DSS). He argued that these actions, along with the reported detention of underage protesters, mirror the oppressive tactics of the Abacha era. Afenifere further criticized the administration’s performance on human rights, security, and economic issues, branding it a “colossal failure.”
The organization urged President Tinubu to consider warnings about the risks of fascism, emphasizing that the current approach poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy. Afenifere called for the immediate release of individuals detained for participating in protests, stressing that the economic and social hardships facing Nigerians are more pressing concerns than peaceful demonstrations.