Atiku also argued that the decision of the EFCC would ultimately hurt ordinary residents of the state by affecting salaries, public services, and day-to-day governance.
By Kehinde Okeowo
African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), warning that such action is detrimental to the survival of democracy.
He made this known on Thursday in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
The former Vice-President made the remark while reacting to the freezing of the state account by the anti-graft agency just days before the state’s governorship election.
Reacting to the development, Atiku questioned the timing of the move and described the action as a dangerous attack on “democracy”.
He said, “Freezing the state’s main operational account just days before the governorship election could disrupt governance and erode public confidence in the credibility of the electoral process.”
The Adamawa State-born politician went on to state that freezing a state’s principal operational account on the eve of a governorship election could disrupt governance, delay the payment of salaries, affect essential public services, and create an atmosphere of intimidation that has no place in a democratic society.
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He maintained that if there were genuine concerns requiring investigation, the law already provides the necessary procedures, and warned anti-corruption agencies against actions that could create the impression of political interference.
“If there are legitimate concerns requiring investigation, the law provides due process. Anti-corruption agencies must not conduct themselves in a manner that creates the perception that they are being deployed to influence political outcomes or weaken elected governments at critical electoral moments,” Atiku added.
The ADC chieftain further stressed that democracy depends not only on free and fair elections, but also on public confidence that government institutions operate independently and professionally.
“The selective and politically convenient deployment of state institutions diminishes public trust and weakens the democratic order. Institutions established to enforce the law must never become instruments for conferring political advantage or creating fear,” he said.
Atiku also linked the development to what he described as a pattern of actions against opposition-controlled states under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, citing the earlier withholding of statutory local government allocations to Osun State.
He called on all institutions involved in the Osun governorship election to remain impartial and uphold the Constitution, while urging opposition parties and Nigerians to defend democracy against what he described as the growing use of state institutions for political purposes.
