The More Reason Why Tinubu Must Go

The More Reason Why Tinubu Must Go

By Abba Hikima, Esq.

You see, this“Must Go” expression is not peculiar to Nigeria. Across the world, citizens have used precisely the same language to express political opposition and demand changes in leadership. “Jacob Zuma Must Go” was displayed prominently during protests in South Africa; “Trump Must Go” has repeatedly appeared in demonstrations in the United States; and similar messages have been directed at political leaders in Israel, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. The accompanying photographs provide striking examples of this long-established form of political expression.

“Tinubu Must Go” did not originate with me, my friend Hamza, or indeed any contemporary Nigerian. The expression “Must Go” has a long history in Nigeria’s political and social vocabulary.

There was “Ali Must Go” in 1978, one of the defining slogans of Nigerian student activism. There was “Ghana Must Go” in 1983, arising from the mass expulsion of undocumented West African migrants. Decades later came “Buhari Must Go.”

And the Buhari experience is particularly instructive.

In July 2021, five Nigerians were arrested after wearing “Buhari Must Go” T-shirts at Dunamis Church in Abuja. They approached the Federal High Court to enforce their fundamental rights, relying, among other provisions, on Sections 35 and 39 of the Constitution—the rights to personal liberty and freedom of expression. The Federal High Court subsequently ordered their release.

Now we have “Tinubu Must Go.”

The simple thing I did was to give flesh to it. I created the logo with the prohibition sign across Tinubu, selected the distinctive silhouette with his characteristic cap and glasses, popularised the abbreviation TMG, added the phrase “A Common Front to Defeat Tinubu and Salvage Nigeria,” and helped give the expression a more organised identity.

So, the tradition is much older than us.

But what makes the present moment even more troubling is the attempt to repress political expression around it. In Borno State, five Nigerians have been arrested and arraigned after allegedly printing and wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts. The police allege criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery.

And Borno is not occurring in isolation. In Kaduna State, there have recently been serious disputes over the treatment of opposition political activity. During an ADC solidarity walk, the party accused the APC-led state government and security agencies of deploying security personnel and alleged thugs to disrupt the gathering.

So, my concern is becoming bigger than the slogan itself.

Ali Must Go.

Ghana Must Go.

Buhari Must Go.

Now, Tinubu Must Go.

If peacefully saying that a President “Must Go” through the ballot becomes something for which citizens are arrested, detained or prosecuted, then the issue is no longer merely whether Nigerians agree with the slogan. It becomes a question about the democratic space itself.

And for me, every attempt to suppress peaceful political expression only adds another reason to insist that Nigerians must be free to decide their leadership through the ballot.

That is the more reason why Tinubu must go.

#TMG