The former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, expressed deep concern over the increasing suppression of civil society and organized labour by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Atiku’s remarks come in the wake of the arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, and a raid on the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), both carried out by the Department of State Services (DSS).
On Monday, Ajaero was arrested by the DSS at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport as he prepared to travel to the United Kingdom for official duties. He was held in custody for the entire day before being released late at night. That same day, the DSS also conducted a raid on SERAP’s Abuja office, further intensifying concerns over the government’s approach towards civil society groups.
Atiku strongly condemned these actions, describing them as part of a broader pattern of intimidation under Tinubu’s leadership. He argued that the current administration’s approach to civil liberties and media freedom is now more oppressive than even the harshest periods of Nigeria’s military rule.
In his statement, Atiku pointed out that the arrest of Ajaero is symbolic of the administration’s ongoing efforts to stifle organized labour, while the raid on SERAP represents a direct assault on democracy and justice in Nigeria.
“The increasing attack on civil society and the media by the Bola Tinubu administration is highly alarming,” Atiku wrote. “The oppressive control now exerted by this regime exceeds the darkest days of military dictatorship. The arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, as he was en route to an official engagement, reflects the government’s relentless campaign to intimidate and suppress organized labour.”
He further criticized the DSS raid on SERAP, labeling it an act that undermines Nigeria’s democratic foundations. Atiku also referred to a recent incident in which a journalist was detained by security forces, only to later be released with claims that it was a mistake, stressing the potential dangers of such actions.
Atiku urged the Tinubu administration to shift its focus away from intimidating civil society and instead concentrate its efforts on addressing the pressing issues of terrorism and banditry that continue to plague Nigeria, causing widespread suffering among its citizens.
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