Former Vice President and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration and security agencies to redirect their intimidation towards the perpetrators of violence.
While also alleging that the level of oppressive control imposed by Tinubu’s administration now surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship, Atiku in a post on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, September 10th stated that Ajaero’s arrest exemplifies the current administration’s persistent efforts to intimidate and suppress organized labour.
The News Chronicle recalled that the 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.
On 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.
“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 added.
He lamented that the DSS raid on SERAP was fundamentally opposed to the principles of freedom and justice.
“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.” The post read in part.
