Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government over the recent arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the takeover of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
In a statement shared on his verified X account on Tuesday, Atiku condemned the actions of the Tinubu administration, comparing the current level of oppression to even the most repressive military regimes.
Atiku wrote: “The increasing attacks on civil society and the media by the Bola Tinubu administration are deeply troubling. The level of control now exercised exceeds even the harshest days of military dictatorship.”
He continued, “The arrest of Mr. Joe Ajaero, while he was en route to an official event, is a stark example of this regime’s relentless effort to intimidate and subdue organized labor.”
Atiku also highlighted the recent detention of a journalist by security forces, which was later described as a serious mistake, questioning the potential consequences if the outcome had been fatal.
The former vice president denounced the regime’s action against SERAP, calling it a serious violation of democratic principles. “This siege on SERAP is a grave attack on the principles of freedom and justice,” he said.
Atiku urged President Tinubu to refocus security efforts on combating terrorists and bandits, rather than targeting civil society. “It is crucial that Tinubu and his security forces redirect their efforts towards the true perpetrators of violence—terrorists and bandits—who are causing immense suffering for the Nigerian people,” Atiku concluded.
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