Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu and security agencies, urging them to focus their efforts on combating violence rather than intimidating organised labour and civil society groups.
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Atiku condemned the arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Monday while Ajaero was en route to the UK for official duties. Ajaero was released late that night after being held in custody for several hours.
Atiku also referenced the same-day DSS raid on the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), calling the actions part of a broader pattern of intimidation by the current administration.
“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 said.
He argued that Ajaero’s arrest symbolised the government’s increasing efforts to suppress organised labour, adding that the DSS raid on SERAP was a clear violation of democratic principles.
Atiku further referenced a recent incident where a journalist was detained by security forces in what was later described as a mistake, questioning what the outcome might have been had the error resulted in more serious consequences.
The former Vice President called on President Tinubu’s administration to shift its focus from repressing civil society and labour groups to addressing the real threats facing the country, including terrorists and bandits who continue to cause widespread suffering.
