In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communications to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, condemned the destruction of billboards displaying the message “All Eyes on the Judiciary.” Shaibu argued that this act of vandalism is a clear manifestation of President Bola Tinubu’s authoritarianism and an attack on freedom of speech.
Shaibu’s statement came in response to the directive by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) to remove all billboards carrying the aforementioned message across the country. He pointed out that this incident further emphasizes the need for election cases to be concluded in court before winners of controversial elections are inaugurated.
The presidential aide also criticized ARCON for resembling the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA), which has developed a reputation for suppressing advertisements considered “unfavourable” by the Lagos State Government.
Shaibu highlighted the irony of Tinubu, who used to claim to be a democrat and even boasted of financing the June 12 struggle, showing signs of intolerance and authoritarianism after the election. He deemed it hypocritical for someone championing democracy in Niger to deny the fundamental democratic rights of Nigerians, such as freedom of speech and expression.
“Tinubu has once again revealed his dictatorial tendencies. How has a simple message like ‘All Eyes on the Judiciary’ suddenly become offensive?” questioned Shaibu.
He characterized this incident as an abuse of power and reinforced the argument that court cases should be concluded before inauguration to prevent beneficiaries of fraudulent elections from manipulating the system in their favor.
Shaibu expressed his bewilderment as to how a message like “All Eyes on the Judiciary” could be perceived as a threat to society.
“The essence of social justice lies with the people. The advertisers of these billboards merely followed the norms observed in civilized societies,” Shaibu remarked.
He further asserted that the objection to the message was orchestrated by individuals with vested interests. Shaibu maintained that the principle of justice necessitates that attention be focused on the functioning of the judiciary, as justice must not only be done but also be seen to be done.
“In any case, both Tinubu and the APC are currently before the same court. It is curious how they find this particular message so disturbing. Nonetheless, even if they succeed in removing the billboards, they cannot prevent all eyes from being on the judiciary during this historic period,” concluded Shaibu.
