The administration of Arewa House, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), has withdrawn its approval for the presentation of a book stated to be crucial of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing operational issues.
However, the writer of the book has alleged makes an attempt to frustrate the occasion by the authorities.
Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training (CEDDERT), disclosed this in an announcement issued on Sunday, following the receipt of a cancellation letter from Arewa House on Saturday, October 10.
The book presentation, initially scheduled for Thursday, October 15, at 10am, was to happen at Arewa House, a analysis and historic documentation centre of the ABU, Zaria, positioned in Kaduna.
In the letter sighted by Daily Trust, the administration stated the power wouldn’t be accessible as a result of of “post-examination inspection, maintenance and general preparations following an ongoing examination exercise.”
The letter, dated October 8 and signed by Dalhatu Mahmoud, Administrative Secretary, for the Director, Professor Aliyu Yahaya, stated the approval beforehand granted for the use of the power was not in impact.
“The Management acknowledges the preparations your organisation may have made towards the proposed event and regrets any inconvenience this development may cause,” the letter said.
Daily Trust contacted Professor Yahaya by means of a textual content message in search of his response to the event, however he didn’t reply.
A phone name to his quantity additionally went unanswered as of the time of submitting this report. Mohammed, nonetheless, alleged that the cancellation was an try to frustrate the book presentation and prohibit public dialogue of the insurance policies of the Tinubu administration.
He stated the organisers had anticipated doable challenges after invites have been despatched out, including that some folks had expressed fears that efforts may be made to stop the occasion from holding. The CEDDERT government director additional alleged that efforts to safe another venue in Kaduna had been unsuccessful, claiming that some resorts approached by the organisers stated that they had been warned towards accommodating the occasion.
He stated the organisers had consequently determined to relocate the presentation to Abuja, the place a brand new venue and date can be introduced after the required preparations had been concluded.
The book, titled Tinubu: From Renewed Hope to Despair: A Critical Examination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Government, examines the administration’s insurance policies and their implications for Nigeria’s financial system, safety, nationwide unity and democratic growth.
Mohammed expressed concern over what he described as stress on ABU to withdraw the use of Arewa House, arguing that tutorial and analysis establishments ought to encourage mental freedom and open debate.
“A university of ABU’s standing should be a defender of intellectual freedom, independent inquiry and open debate,” he stated.
He maintained that the book was supposed to contribute to public understanding of the administration’s efficiency and stimulate dialogue about its insurance policies.
According to him, those that disagree with the book’s findings ought to problem them with proof and reasoned arguments fairly than search to stop its presentation.
“If those in power disagree with our analysis or conclusions, they are free to challenge them with evidence, reasoned arguments and alternative explanations,” he stated.
Mohammed added that successful an election didn’t give public workplace holders the precise to silence criticism, stressing that elected leaders had a accountability to account for his or her insurance policies and selections.
Also, Amnesty International has condemned the cancellation, describing the event as an assault on freedom of expression.
The human rights organisation, in a press launch dated October 11, 2026 posted on its verified Facebook web page, accused the authorities of ABU, Zaria, of succumbing to political stress by cancelling the reserving of Arewa House, Kaduna, for the occasion.
Amnesty International additionally expressed concern over alleged makes an attempt to stop the organisers from securing another venue in Kaduna.
The organisation described the event as half of what it referred to as an escalating sample of political repression and intolerance of dissenting opinions in the nation.
According to Amnesty International, the book’s examination of authorities insurance policies and their implications for Nigerians constitutes reliable mental engagement and doesn’t pose a risk to public peace.
“The Nigerian authorities must end these undemocratic patterns of attack on freedom of expression,” the assertion stated.
It argued that stopping the presentation of a book already in the general public area raised considerations in regards to the potential of residents to precise crucial views of authorities insurance policies with out worry of intimidation.
The organisation warned that such developments might create a local weather of worry in which expressing dissenting opinions turns into more and more troublesome.
Amnesty International referred to as on the authorities of Ahmadu Bello University to uphold freedom of expression and affiliation, urging them to right away and unconditionally reverse the cancellation of the Arewa House reserving.
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