President Bola Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his renewed demand for accountability for the October 2020 Lekki Toll Gate shooting, accusing him of exploiting Nigerians’ grief to advance his presidential ambition.
Olusegun made the remarks in response to Atiku’s statement marking the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, in which the former vice-president called on the Federal Government to provide answers about who authorised the use of force against protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
Atiku had questioned why Nigerians were still waiting for accountability six years after the incident, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the shooting needed to be addressed.
However, Tinubu’s aide questioned why Atiku did not raise the issue during his visits to former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was in office when the shooting occurred.
Olusegun recalled that Atiku visited Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, on June 22, 2024, and again at his retirement residence in Kaduna on April 11, 2025. He argued that the meetings presented opportunities for the former vice-president to seek answers from Buhari.
The presidential aide accused Atiku of raising the issue for political reasons, arguing that his intervention came six years after the incident and was intended to strengthen his ambition to become president in 2027.
Olusegun also defended Tinubu, noting that the President was a private citizen when the #EndSARS protests took place in October 2020.
According to the aide, Tinubu also suffered consequences during the unrest, claiming that his residence on Bourdillon Road in Lagos was nearly razed, forcing him and members of his domestic staff to flee for safety.
He further alleged that Tinubu experienced harassment, insults, curses and online abuse during the period.
Olusegun maintained that Atiku’s renewed demand for accountability was politically motivated, accusing the former vice-president of using the anniversary of the protests to advance his presidential ambition.
The exchange comes as questions surrounding the Lekki Toll Gate shooting remain a subject of public debate, with calls for accountability continuing to feature in discussions about the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
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