Atiku launches scathing attacks on Tinubu over Ajaero’s detention, others
Tinubu and Atiku
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of imposing a level of control that exceeds even the harshest days of military dictatorship.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Atiku expressed deep concern over what he described as an escalating crackdown on civil society and the media by the Tinubu administration.
“The level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship,” Atiku said.
He pointed to the recent arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), as a prime example of the administration’s efforts to suppress organised labour.
“The arrest of Mr. Joe Ajaero, en route to an official event, epitomises this regime’s relentless campaign to intimidate and subdue organized labour,” he noted.
Atiku also highlighted the recent detention of a journalist by security forces, which was later described as a “grievous error.”
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He questioned the potential consequences of such errors, stating, “What if the outcome had been fatal?”
The former vice president further criticised the government’s actions against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), calling it a direct attack on democratic values.
“Tinubu’s regime has extended its repressive grasp to encroach upon SERAP, an action that stands as a grave affront to our democratic values,” he said.
“This siege is anathema to the principles of freedom and justice,” Atiku added.
In his statement, Atiku urged the Tinubu administration to shift its focus from suppressing civil society and the media to addressing the real threats facing Nigeria.
“It is imperative that Tinubu and his security apparatus redirect their fervour and intimidation towards the true perpetrators of violence—terrorists and bandits—who are inflicting immeasurable suffering upon the Nigerian people,” he stated.
