Von Batten Montague York has called on the United States to stand with Nigerians as political tensions rise over democracy, the rule of law and growing opposition to President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement published on October 1, the organization said Nigeria’s political future should ultimately be decided by Nigerians themselves, while urging the United States to support the Nigerian people in their efforts to protect democracy and the rule of law.
The statement also made serious allegations against President Tinubu, claiming that he is fighting in US courts to prevent the release of alleged FBI and DEA files linked to heroin trafficking. It further alleged that Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies, judiciary and electoral institutions have been weaponized to influence the country’s upcoming presidential election.
Von Batten Montague York said it wished the Nigerian people a happy Independence Day and hoped the day would mark the start of a change that would allow Nigerians to finally receive and enjoy the immense wealth of their country.
The message argued that Nigeria’s wealth has for too long been enjoyed by a small group of people while many Nigerians continue to face hardship. It criticized the repeated promise that better times will come tomorrow, saying that tomorrow never seems to arrive for many Nigerians.
The statement therefore connected Nigeria’s Independence Day with a broader call for political and economic change, placing emphasis on the idea that the country’s resources should benefit its wider population.
It also made serious allegations against President Bola Tinubu, claiming that he is fighting in US courts to prevent the release of alleged FBI and DEA files connected to heroin trafficking.
The statement further alleged that Tinubu has weaponized Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies, judiciary and electoral institutions in an effort to rig the upcoming presidential election.
Von Batten Montague York described the alleged actions as a direct threat to US national security and American interests in Nigeria and the wider region.
The statement compared Nigerians’ struggle for democracy with the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in China and said Nigerians were risking their lives for democracy. It called on the American government to stand with them.
The October 1 statement was also quoting and drawing attention to a report published by NN News Media on September 30 titled “Start arresting all of us: Nigerians declare ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T shirt nationwide, demand immediate release of five arrested in Borno.”
The NN News Media report focused on five men arrested in Maiduguri, Borno State, over T shirts carrying the words “Tinubu Must Go.”
According to the report, the five men were arrested on September 25, 2026, around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri.
They were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44, Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28, Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32, Adam Umar Gubio, 21, and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.
Police reportedly accused the men of working together to print and wear the shirts and of intending to cause a disturbance in the community.
They face charges of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
The five appeared before Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri and pleaded not guilty.
Their lawyer requested bail, with the court reportedly fixing October 6, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application and October 26 for the main trial. The defendants were sent to a correctional facility while awaiting further proceedings.
The arrests have since developed into a wider political issue, with NN News Media reporting that Nigerians across the country began wearing similar “Tinubu Must Go” shirts in solidarity with the five men.
Supporters reportedly adopted the message “start arresting all of us,” challenging the authorities over the treatment of people displaying political opposition through their clothing.
Amnesty International criticized the arrests and argued that peaceful political expression through clothing should not by itself be treated as a criminal offence. The organization called for the five men to be released and for the case against them to be dropped.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also called for their immediate release, arguing that a political demand for change should not be treated as a weapon, threat or crime.
The Borno chapter of the African Democratic Congress also criticized the arrests and described them as an attack on freedom of expression.
Police have maintained that the case involves allegations relating to public order and conduct beyond simply wearing political shirts.
The NN News Media report also mentioned an allegation that Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum directed the arrests. That allegation has not been independently confirmed and should not be treated as established fact.
The five defendants have pleaded not guilty, and the allegations against them remain matters for the court to determine.
The dispute comes as political activity builds toward Nigeria’s 2027 elections, putting renewed attention on freedom of expression, political opposition and the role of state institutions.
For Von Batten Montague York, the arrests form part of a wider concern about Nigeria’s democratic future. Its Independence Day message presented political freedom and economic opportunity as closely connected, arguing that Nigerians should have greater control over both their political future and the wealth generated by their country.
The statement also urged the United States to support democratic principles while recognizing that Nigerians themselves must determine who governs Nigeria.
For the five men in Borno, the immediate issue is their pending bail decision and subsequent trial. For their supporters, the case has become a wider debate over political expression and the right to openly criticize those in power.
As Nigeria marks its Independence Day, the controversy has placed democracy, political freedom, economic inequality and the country’s political future at the center of renewed public debate.
