Why I resigned from Tinubu's government - Audu

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Public Affairs, Aliyu Audu, has tendered his resignation letter.

He is the second person within a space of about three months to quit from the Tinubu's administration after the Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Hakeem Baba Ahmed left the office. 

In a one-page letter dated June 8 and sent through the Office of the President’s Chief of Staff, Audu wrote, “I write to formally tender my resignation… effective immediately.

I thanked the President for the opportunity to serve my fatherland under your visionary leadership.”

He also praised former presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, whose recommendation led to his nomination on August 26, 2023.

“It has been an honour to contribute to the public communication efforts of this administration,” the letter continued, Audu also said “Please accept the assurances of my highest esteem and continued prayers for the success of your leadership and the progress of our beloved nation.”

At the time of filing this report, the presidency was yet to respond to Audu’s resignation letter.

 In a follow-up public statement, Audu clarified that his resignation was not an act of rebellion, but a matter of principle and conscience. He expressed unease with what he described as a growing effort to stifle political opposition in Nigeria.

“Though I do not align with the PDP, I refuse to be used directly or indirectly as an instrument to reduce Nigeria to a one-party state,” he wrote. “That would be a betrayal of both divine favour and democratic principle.”

Audu criticised the current administration’s approach to dissent, warning against authoritarian tendencies reminiscent of past regimes. “If we now begin to silence or crush opposition simply because we have the upper hand, then we are no different from the very system we once criticised under Obasanjo in 2003,” he said.

Audu emphasised that democracy must be anchored in ideological diversity rather than political dominance, calling the suppression of opposition voices “politically reckless” and “spiritually dangerous.”

While Audu acknowledged and expressed support for some of President Tinubu’s economic reforms, he made it clear that he could no longer align himself with the administration’s political direction.

He specifically pointed to what he called the “unholy alliance” between President Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike as emblematic of a broader departure from progressive values.

“We just differ on political views as I pride myself with being a progressive and a promoter of democratic values, which seems to be lost in the unholy alliance of PBAT with Wike,” he stated.

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