By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government for the arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the takeover of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
Ajaero was detained early Monday morning at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, while DSS operatives also besieged SERAP’s office on the same day.
In a statement posted on his verified X account on Tuesday, Atiku condemned the actions, stating that the current regime’s level of oppression exceeds even the harshest periods of military rule.
He wrote: “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, as he was heading to an official event, epitomizes this regime’s relentless campaign to intimidate and suppress organized labor.
“Just days earlier, 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 actions to encroach upon @SERAPNigeria, an affront to our democratic values. This siege is contrary to the principles of freedom and justice.”
Atiku urged Tinubu to focus security efforts on combating terrorists and bandits rather than targeting civil society.
“It is crucial that Tinubu and his security apparatus redirect their efforts towards the actual perpetrators of violence — terrorists and bandits — who are causing immense suffering to the Nigerian people.”