Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has stated that President Bola Tinubu is using state machinery to wage war against the opposition.

Atiku mentioned that instead of fighting corruption, the Tinubu administration is manipulating the system to his benefit.

The former vice president made these statements while criticising the arrest of a Northern critic of Tinubu’s administration, Prof. Usman Yusuf, by security agents.

In a post on his social media page, Atiku wrote: “Two days ago, the nation was jolted by the arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf, a fierce and unyielding social critic.

“Though the charges against him have been festering since the previous administration, it is impossible to ignore the strong likelihood that his detention is politically motivated.

“The Tinubu government, despite being riddled with individuals who themselves are embroiled in scandals and investigations by both local and international authorities, continues to use the very machinery of the state to silence its critics. It weaponizes these pending investigations to suppress all opposition.

“It is absurd that while the administration shelters those under investigation, it continues to exploit state institutions to stifle dissent, all under the false pretence of combating corruption.

“Even to the most inattentive, it has become glaringly clear that Tinubu is not waging a war on corruption — he is waging a war on the opposition, manipulating the system for his own political advantage.”