Former senator and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Dino Melaye, has blamed President Bola Tinubu for the rising wave of violence against opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 elections.
Naija News reports that Melaye, who spoke in an interview with DCL on Tuesday, said the President’s reported comments that “all is fair in politics” and that power should be grabbed sent the wrong signal.
The former lawmaker said the remark implied that every tactic, including rigging, was acceptable.
Melaye said, “When you say ‘all’, there is no exclusion. We are all English students.
“Which democrat talks like that? So he’s the one who ignited violence in our politics.”
He linked the President’s comments to recent attacks on opposition figures, including the shooting at vehicles in the convoy of ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Kebbi State.
“That’s why Atiku’s car was shot at in Kebbi. That’s why six vehicles were shot at in Kebbi. That’s why we have people with gun wounds,” he alleged.
He also referred to incidents involving Adams Oshiomhole in Ekiti and Peter Obi in Benue.
The former senator warned that the country could slide into crisis if political tensions were not managed, citing the break-up of Yugoslavia and conflicts in Bosnia, Somalia, Sudan and Ukraine.
“With an estimated 250 million people, no country in the world can take our refugees. So Tinubu will have to be very, very careful,” he said.
He urged the President to act as a statesman, as advised by former minister, Prof Jerry Gana.
While insisting he was not asking the President to quit the race, Melaye argued that Tinubu did not meet the constitutional standards of physical and mental fitness.
“He is a spent force, and there are physical manifestations to show that he is not physically fit to be president,” he claimed.
Pressed on whether he had seen the President’s medical records, Melaye dared him to subject himself to a medical examination.
“I challenged President Tinubu to release himself for medical examination to prove me wrong,” he said.
