Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party‘s 2023 presidential contender, has asked President Bola Tinubu’s administration and security forces to redirect their intimidating efforts towards the perpetrators of violent acts.
In a post on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, the former Vice President also claimed that the level of coercive control enforced by Tinubu’s administration had surpassed even the toughest days of military rule.
Recall that the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, was arrested by the Department of State Services on Monday morning at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on his way to the United Kingdom for official activities.
The same day, the DSS searched the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project’s Abuja office.
Ajaero was held in prison all day before being released late Monday night.
In response, Atiku remarked that Ajaero’s arrest typifies the current administration’s ongoing efforts to frighten and suppress organised workers.
He stated,
“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.
“The recent arrest of Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, en route to an official event, epitomises this regime’s relentless campaign to intimidate and subdue organised labour.”
Atiku further stated that the DSS raid on SERAP was profoundly antithetical to the values of freedom and justice.
The post said in part,
“Just days previously, security personnel detained a journalist, only to subsequently say it was a terrible mistake. What if the results had been fatal?
“Now, Tinubu’s regime extends its repressive grasp to encroach upon SERAP, an action that stands as a grave affront to our democratic values. This siege is anathema to the principles of freedom and justice.
“Tinubu and his security apparatus must redirect their fervour and intimidation towards the true perpetrators of violence — terrorists and bandits — who are inflicting immeasurable suffering upon the Nigerian people.”