“Are We Now a Banana Republic?” – Ezekwesili Blasts Tinubu Govt Over Harassment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Former Minister of Education and human rights advocate, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has publicly condemned what she describes as the Nigerian government’s increasing tilt toward authoritarianism under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a strongly-worded post on her official X account (formerly Twitter), Ezekwesili questioned the ongoing harassment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, warning that such acts of political repression pose a grave threat to democracy and civil liberties.

“What exactly is going on, President Tinubu?” she wrote. “Is there a determination by the Nigerian President and the Nigerian Senate to reduce Nigeria to a banana republic—where it’s no longer the rule of law, but the rule of men who destructively rigged our elections to sit in unearned public offices and ruin our country?”

Ezekwesili, a former World Bank Vice President (Africa Region) and co-founder of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, didn’t mince words in her criticism of what she described as a systemic silencing of dissent.

“The persistent repression of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has transformed her into a symbol of millions of Nigerians—daily intimidated, trampled, and crushed into silence by a callous political class.”

Her remarks have added to a growing chorus of concern about the state of governance, freedom of speech, and democratic accountability in Nigeria. Supporters of Akpoti-Uduaghan argue that the coordinated attacks against her reflect a broader intolerance for critical voices in the country.