Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration and security agencies to redirect their intimidation towards perpetrators of violence.
Atiku made this call in a post on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, alleging that the level of oppressive control imposed by Tinubu’s administration surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship.
He cited the arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday as an example of the administration’s efforts to intimidate and suppress organised labour.
“The escalating assault on civil society and the media by the Bola Tinubu administration is profoundly disturbing. The level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship,” Atiku stated.
He added that the DSS raid on the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project’s (SERAP) Abuja office was fundamentally opposed to the principles of freedom and justice.
Atiku expressed concern over the detention of a journalist, which was later claimed to be an error, and noted that the outcome could have been fatal.
He condemned the administration’s actions, stating, “Now, Tinubu’s regime extends its repressive grasp to encroach upon SERAP, an action that stands as a grave affront to our democratic values.”
Atiku emphasized that the siege on SERAP is anathema to the principles of freedom and justice.
He urged Tinubu and his security apparatus to redirect their fervour and intimidation towards terrorists and bandits, who are inflicting immeasurable suffering upon the Nigerian people.
