Arewa House cancels venue of anti-Tinubu book launch in Kaduna

The management of Arewa House, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), has withdrawn its approval for the presentation of a book said to be critical of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing operational considerations.

However, the author of the book has alleged attempts to frustrate the event by the authorities.

Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training (CEDDERT), disclosed this in a statement 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 take place at Arewa House, a research and historical documentation centre of the ABU, Zaria, located in Kaduna.

In the letter sighted by Daily Trust, the management said the facility would not be available because 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for the Director, Professor Aliyu Yahaya, said the approval previously granted for the use of the facility was no longer in effect.

“The Management acknowledges the preparations your organisation may have made towards the proposed event and regrets any inconvenience this development may cause,” the letter stated.

Daily Trust contacted Professor Yahaya through a text message seeking his reaction to the development, but he did not respond.

A telephone call to his number also went unanswered as of the time of filing this report. Mohammed, however, alleged that the cancellation was an attempt to frustrate the book presentation and restrict public discussion of the policies of the Tinubu administration.

He said the organisers had anticipated possible challenges after invitations were sent out, adding that some people had expressed fears that efforts might be made to prevent the event from holding. The CEDDERT executive director further alleged that efforts to secure an alternative venue in Kaduna had been unsuccessful, claiming that some hotels approached by the organisers said they had been warned against accommodating the event.

He said the organisers had consequently decided to relocate the presentation to Abuja, where a new venue and date would be announced after the necessary arrangements 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 policies and their implications for Nigeria’s economy, security, national unity and democratic development.

Mohammed expressed concern over what he described as pressure on ABU to withdraw the use of Arewa House, arguing that academic and research institutions should encourage intellectual freedom and open debate.

“A university of ABU’s standing should be a defender of intellectual freedom, independent inquiry and open debate,” he said.

He maintained that the book was intended to contribute to public understanding of the administration’s performance and stimulate discussion about its policies.

According to him, those who disagree with the book’s findings should challenge them with evidence and reasoned arguments rather than seek to prevent 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 said.

Mohammed added that winning an election did not give public office holders the right to silence criticism, stressing that elected leaders had a responsibility to account for their policies and decisions.

Also, Amnesty International has condemned the cancellation, describing the development as an attack on freedom of expression.

The human rights organisation, in a press release dated October 11, 2026 posted on its verified Facebook page, accused the authorities of ABU, Zaria, of succumbing to political pressure by cancelling the booking of Arewa House, Kaduna, for the event.

Amnesty International also expressed concern over alleged attempts to prevent the organisers from securing an alternative venue in Kaduna.

The organisation described the development as part of what it called an escalating pattern of political repression and intolerance of dissenting opinions in the country.

According to Amnesty International, the book’s examination of government policies and their implications for Nigerians constitutes legitimate intellectual engagement and does not pose a threat to public peace.

“The Nigerian authorities must end these undemocratic patterns of attack on freedom of expression,” the statement said.

It argued that preventing the presentation of a book already in the public domain raised concerns about the ability of citizens to express critical views of government policies without fear of intimidation.

The organisation warned that such developments could create a climate of fear in which expressing dissenting opinions becomes increasingly difficult.

Amnesty International called on the authorities of Ahmadu Bello University to uphold freedom of expression and association, urging them to immediately and unconditionally reverse the cancellation of the Arewa House booking.