The Zaria based Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training (CEDDERT) is alleging an attempt at suppressing the public presentation of a new book it has published. It is titled, Tinubu: From Renewed Hope to Despair: A Critical Examination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Government. The event was to have taken place at Arewa House in Kaduna on October 15th, 2026.
The invitation to that effect had been circulated, with the centre describing the new book as offering “a critical and evidence-based examination of the policies, performance and socio-economic consequences of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since its inauguration in May 2023”. According to the invite, the book presentation event was expected to provide an opportunity for critical engagement with issues raised in the book in relation to the direction of governance and democracy in contemporary Nigeria.
However, a different statement which went out to media houses earlier today (11/10/26) disclosed that the centre had received a letter from the management of Arewa House, Ahmadu Bello University, cancelling the booking of the hall for the public presentation of the book. The new statement signed by Dr Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, the Executive Director added that, in anticipation of such possibility, the centre had made efforts to secure an alternative venue in Kaduna but that every other hotel approached told them they have been warned not to accommodate the book presentation event.
“If these reports are accurate, they point to a disturbing attempt to deny citizens their right to assemble, exchange ideas and critically examine the conduct of those entrusted with public office”, the statement said
It informs it is relocating the book presentation to Abuja, determined to proceed even as it does not foreclose further attempts to block the event. But the statement declared the centre would proceed with the presentation in Abuja and announce the new venue and date as soon as the necessary arrangements have been concluded, arguing that “The right to question authority is not a privilege granted by those in power; it is an essential feature of democratic society.” After all, there is nothing in this book that is not already in the public domain, it was also added.
Why the government and governors may want to block the presentation remains unclear to Intervention because stopping a book from circulation is another form of crime against humanity in current international regime to that effect.
Assuming that the regime is not comfortable with the book, why can it secure its own set of ‘intellectual enemies’ of the book and keep the struggle over meaning at that level? And, if the regime is jittery for whatever reasons, must it show it?
