Atiku Demands Release of Five Arrested Over ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts in Borno

 Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate release of five men arrested and arraigned in Borno State over T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go.”

The five men — Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed — were arrested in Maiduguri and charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery. They pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

According to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department, the incident occurred on September 25 around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri. Police alleged that the men conspired to print and wear the T-shirts with the intention of causing a breach of public peace. 

Reacting to the development in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku questioned the basis for detaining citizens over a political slogan.

“‘Tinubu Must Go’ is a demand for political change. It is not a weapon, a threat or a crime,” Atiku said.

He further called on the authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the five men, grant them access to their families and lawyers, and release them if the slogan was the basis for their arrest.

Atiku also drew a comparison between President Bola Tinubu’s past opposition to fuel-pricing policies under former President Goodluck Jonathan and the current economic situation, arguing that Nigerians are now dealing with higher costs of fuel, food, transportation and electricity.

“Tinubu opposed Jonathan’s fuel policy in the streets. Nigerians are living with the consequences of Tinubu’s fuel policy in their homes,” he said.

The former vice president questioned what he described as a contradiction between Tinubu’s previous participation in protests and the reported detention of citizens expressing opposition to his administration.

“Tinubu was free to tell Jonathan that his policies were hurting Nigerians. Nigerians must be free to tell Tinubu that his policies are hurting them. Release these five citizens now,” Atiku said.

The case has attracted wider reactions, including from Amnesty International, which condemned the arrests and argued that expressing political dissent through clothing should not be criminalised. 

The defendants’ case remains before the court. Their bail application is expected to be ruled on October 6, while the substantive case has been scheduled for October 26. 

Atiku’s comments are his political response to the arrests, while the police allegations against the five men remain matters before the court.