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Former Kogi West senator accuses President Tinubu of making inflammatory statements capable of encouraging electoral malpractice and political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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ADC chieftain links alleged attacks on opposition figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s convoy in Kebbi, to growing political hostility.
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Melaye warns that a breakdown of peace in Nigeria could trigger a refugee crisis involving millions of people, insisting that no country can accommodate the country’s estimated 250 million population.
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Former lawmaker urges Tinubu to demonstrate statesmanship and challenges him to undergo an independent medical examination over allegations concerning his physical and mental fitness.
November 13, (THEWILL) – Former Kogi West Senator and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Dino Melaye, has accused President Bola Tinubu of fanning the flames of political violence through his public statements, warning that escalating political tensions could threaten Nigeria’s unity and trigger a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions.
Melaye said the President’s reported remarks that “all is fair in politics” and “take it, grab it, and run away with it” could be interpreted as an endorsement of electoral malpractice and other undemocratic practices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former lawmaker made the allegations during an interview with DCL on Tuesday, November 10, while expressing concern over the increasingly hostile political atmosphere and the exchanges between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties.
Interpreting the President’s reported remarks “all is fair in politics”, Melaye argued that the statement left no room for excluding electoral malpractice, including rigging, from the political practices being described as acceptable.
“What you are saying is that rigging is fair politics. No, that is exactly what he said. When you say ‘all’, there is no exclusion. We are all English students: all, all, subordinate, adjectival clause, all,” he said.
Questioning Tinubu’s democratic credentials, Melaye accused the President of contributing to the hostility in the country’s political environment through his public pronouncements.
“Which democrat talks like that? So he’s the one who ignited violence in our politics,” the former senator said.
Melaye Links Attacks on Opposition Figures to Political Tensions
The ADC chieftain also accused the APC of encouraging attacks against opposition politicians, citing reported incidents involving prominent political figures in different parts of the country.
He referenced incidents involving an APC chieftain and former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in Ekiti State; Labour Party chieftain Peter Obi in Benue State; and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in Kebbi State.
Melaye specifically alleged that gunmen attacked vehicles in Atiku’s convoy in Kebbi, claiming that six vehicles were shot at and that some people sustained gunshot injuries.
He attributed the alleged attack to the increasingly hostile political atmosphere, insisting that statements from those occupying positions of authority could heighten tensions and encourage violence among political supporters.
“That’s why Atiku’s car was shot at in Kebbi. That’s why six vehicles were shot at in Kebbi. That’s why we have people with gun wounds, because the President has made pronouncements that ignite violence,” he alleged.
The former senator maintained that political leaders must exercise restraint in their public statements, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
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Warns of Refugee Crisis, Cites Yugoslavia, Sudan
Melaye warned that Nigeria’s unity should not be taken for granted, drawing attention to countries that had experienced disintegration, prolonged conflicts and massive displacement of their populations.
He cited the former Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Somalia and Sudan, as well as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, as examples of the devastating consequences of political and territorial crises.
Expressing concern about the potential humanitarian consequences of a breakdown of peace in Nigeria, Melaye said the country’s estimated population of 250 million would make the displacement of large numbers of Nigerians particularly difficult for other countries to accommodate.
He argued that the international community might struggle to absorb the number of refugees that could emerge from a major crisis in Nigeria.
“My pain is that with an estimated 250 million people, no country in the world can take our refugees. So Tinubu will have to be very, very careful,” he said.
The ADC chieftain urged Tinubu to rise above partisan considerations and demonstrate statesmanship by prioritising national unity and democratic stability.
He recalled advice reportedly given to the President by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, urging him to embrace the broader responsibilities of national leadership rather than concentrate solely on partisan political interests
“I adhere to the advice of Professor Jerry Gana, that he should not just be a president; he should be a statesman,” Melaye added.
Melaye Challenges Tinubu to Medical Examination
The former senator also questioned Tinubu’s physical and mental fitness to occupy the presidency, alleging that the President did not meet the constitutional requirements for the office.
However, when asked whether his criticism amounted to a call for Tinubu to abandon his 2027 re-election ambition, Melaye clarified that he was not asking the President to withdraw from the race.
He argued that anyone seeking the presidency must satisfy the constitutional requirements relating to physical and mental fitness.
“I’m not saying he should not contest. But if you go by the constitution of the Republic of Nigeria, you must be physically fit to be president. You must be mentally fit to be president,” he said.
Melaye went further to allege that Tinubu was deficient in both areas, describing him as a spent force and claiming that his physical condition raised questions about his fitness for the office.
“Tinubu is deficient in both. He is a spent force, and there are physical manifestations to show that he is not physically fit to be president,” he alleged.
Asked whether he had access to the President’s medical records to substantiate his claims, the ADC chieftain challenged Tinubu to submit himself for an independent medical examination.
“I challenged President Tinubu to submit himself for medical examination to prove me wrong,” he said.
Melaye’s comments come amid intensifying political exchanges between the APC and opposition parties as political alignments and preparations gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.