Renowned academic and democracy advocate, Professor Khalifa Dikwa, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu to safeguard democratic freedoms and prevent the country from sliding into a police state.

In a statement released today, Dikwa urged the President to recall his own struggles for democracy during the military rule of General Abacha and to ensure that his lieutenants do not undermine the country’s hard-won democratic gains.

Dikwa expressed concern over alleged persecution of citizens for exercising their constitutional rights to free speech and warned that such actions could lead to heightened tension, anger, and potentially dangerous consequences.

He emphasized that even former President Muhammadu Buhari, a military general, tolerated dissent and advised President Tinubu to reverse harmful policies, as he had done with the cyber tax.

The professor cautioned security operatives against spying, harassing, and intimidating citizens, including senators, representatives, academics, and intellectuals, stressing that such actions would not end well. He urged the President, governors, top government officials, and their loyalists to desist from actions that could precipitate a backlash and instead allow Nigerians to express their grievances peacefully.

Dikwa’s statement comes as many Nigerians are growing increasingly concerned about the government’s handling of dissenting voices. His call for the protection of democratic freedoms and the reversal of harmful policies has resonated with many who fear the country may be drifting towards authoritarianism.