'Tinubu must go': Nigerian government critics under pressure

T-shirts displaying the slogan “Tinubu Must Go” have become the focal point of an intensifying crackdown on political dissent in northern Nigeria. The phrase targets President Bola Tinubu and has drawn severe legal consequences for individuals wearing the garments. Last month, police in the northeastern state of Borno detained five men, ranging in age from 21 to 44, specifically for possessing these shirts. Authorities accused the group of conspiring to manufacture and wear the apparel with the intent to breach public peace. Consequently, prosecutors charged the men with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbing public order, and thuggery. Human rights organizations and activists immediately criticized the arrests. Police officials later clarified that the detentions occurred during a routine patrol. They stated that officers discovered substances believed to be illicit drugs along with other items on the suspects. Law enforcement maintained that the prosecutions were not based on political expression but on the possession of illegal goods. However, tensions escalated two weeks later when police in the northern state of Kano blocked access to a venue where members of the same movement planned to hold a gathering. Citing public safety concerns, authorities prevented the meeting from taking place. These incidents have sparked debate regarding the boundary between legitimate security measures and the suppression of opposing political views. Many observers question whether Nigeria’s democratic framework offers sufficient space for citizens to challenge those in power. Hassana Maina, a lawyer and activist, condemned the police actions as despicable. She argued that creating a system where dissenting voices are silenced constitutes an assault on personal freedom. Maina described the approach as dishonest, stating that insecurity cannot be resolved through fascist methods that force uniformity of thought. Amnesty International identified the five arrested men as supporters of the opposition African Democratic Congress. This organization noted that the current administration is not new to persecuting citizens for critical viewpoints. A notable precedent involves Abubakar Idris, a social media critic known as Dadiyata. Armed men abducted Idris from his residence in Kaduna State in August 2019. He had frequently criticized the then-governor of Kano State, Umar Ganduje. Idris has not been seen since his disappearance. In August 2026, seven years after he vanished, Nigerian media reported that he would be legally presumed dead under national law. Another case highlights the risks faced by younger critics. Hamdiyya Sharif, who was 18 at the time, posted a TikTok video criticizing the Sokoto State governor’s management of security in northwestern Nigeria. In the clip, she detailed how criminal gangs, locally referred to as bandits, were raiding villages and discussed the suffering of displaced women. After the video gained widespread attention, police arrested Sharif on November 9, 2024. Although she was initially released, armed men kidnapped and severely beat her days later. She was subsequently detained again and brought before a Sharia court. Prosecutors charged her with using abusive language against Governor Ahmed Aliyu and inciting disturbance. Media reports in May 2025 indicated further instances of her abduction and mistreatment. The “Tinubu Must Go” movement explicitly opposes the current administration and aims to mobilize voters ahead of the presidential election scheduled for January 2027. While the slogan demands a change in leadership, the underlying grievances reflect broader national struggles. Nigeria is experiencing one of its most severe economic crises in recent history. Food prices have reached levels unseen in over two decades, while high inflation and soaring transportation costs continue to worsen the cost of living. Security conditions remain precarious across the northern regions, particularly in rural areas. For more than a decade, the militant Islamist group Boko Haram and its affiliated factions have waged an armed rebellion against the state. This insurgency has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes. Despite sustained military operations, the conflict continues to disrupt livelihoods and economic activity throughout the region. The combination of economic hardship and persistent violence forms the backdrop for the growing tension surrounding political expression in the country’s north.