By Sunday Ani
Former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said attacks on media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under President Bola Tinubu’s administration are worse than what occurred during the military era.
He was reacting to the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Joe Ajaero and the reported invasion of the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by the Department of State Services (DSS)
In a post on X handle, Atiku described the attacks on the media as profoundly disturbing. “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 Nigerian Labour Congress, en route to an official event, epitomises this regime’s relentless campaign to intimidate and subdue organised labour.
“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 @SERAPNigeria, an action that stands as a grave affront to our democratic values.
“This siege is anathema to the principles of freedom and justice. It is imperative that Tinubu and his security apparatus redirect their fervour and intimidation towards the actual perpetrators of violence, terrorists and bandits who are inflicting immeasurable suffering upon the Nigerian people.”
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, also condemned the invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS.
Reacting in his official X handle, @Pres_Adebayo said Nigeria cannot return to the days of former military ruler, General Sani Abacha, and make it a new doctrine even as he demanded an explanation from the government for such an invasion.
Adebayo wrote: “I am for law enforcement and the rule of law as a matter of instinct. The invasion of the offices of @SERAPNigeria by agents of the @OfficialDSSNG under the administration of @officialABAT calls for immediate and clear explanation. What would Abacha do, cannot be the new doctrine.”
Human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana also added his voice, saying, “We condemn the invasion of SERAP’s office. The Tinubu government must urgently fish out the officers who carried out the invasion of SERAP’s office in the name of the government. Anyone found to be responsible for the invasion must be prosecuted. The government must allow human rights defenders to freely carry out their work, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution.”
Former Kaduna senator and human rights advocate, Shehu Sani in his reaction, condemned the invasion, saying it was concerning. He said on his official X handle, @ShehuSani: “The reported invasion of the SERAP office is concerning. Security agencies must respect the fundamental rights of the organisation, its officials and members as guaranteed by the constitution of the country.”
