By Oscar Okhifo, Abuja
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration and security agencies to redirect the intimidation towards violence perpetrators.
Former Vice President in a post on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday also alleged that President Tinubu administration’s level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship.
Recall that President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero was arrested by the Department of State Services on Monday morning at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while heading to the UK for official duties.
The same day, the DSS also raided the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project’s Abuja office.
Ajaero was held in custody throughout the day and was released late Monday night.
In his response, Atiku stated that Ajaero’s arrest exemplifies the current administration’s persistent efforts to allegedly intimidate and suppress organized labor.
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 Nigerian Labour Congress, en route to an official event, epitomizes this regime’s relentless campaign to intimidate and subdue organized labour.”
The former Vice President stated that the DSS raid on SERAP is fundamentally opposed to the principles of freedom and justice.
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.
“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.”