The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has raised serious concerns over the actions of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, claiming that its oppressive measures exceed those seen during Nigeria’s military rule.
Atiku expressed his views in a post on his verified Facebook page, urging the government and security agencies to focus their efforts on those truly responsible for violence, such as terrorists and bandits, instead of intimidating organized labour and civil society.
Atiku’s comments came in the wake of the arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday. Ajaero was detained at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while on his way to the United Kingdom for official duties.
He was held in custody for most of the day and released late that night. The same day, the DSS also conducted a raid on the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a prominent civil society organization.
According to Atiku, the arrest of Ajaero is a clear example of the Tinubu administration’s broader strategy to intimidate and suppress organized labour.
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’s statement emphasized that the DSS raid on SERAP represents a significant threat to freedom and justice, criticizing the administration for targeting organizations that stand for accountability and human rights.
He urged the Tinubu administration to refocus its security efforts on combating the real threats facing the country, including terrorists and bandits, rather than clamping down on civil liberties.
The post read in part, “Just days prior, security forces detained a journalist, only to later claim it was a grievous error. What if the outcome 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.”
