Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the
People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has strongly condemned the
arrest and detention of lawyer and human rights advocate, Dele Farotimi,
labeling it a calculated attempt by the Tinubu administration to stifle
fundamental rights to free expression.
In a statement issued on Monday, Atiku described Farotimi’s
arrest as a grim throwback to the oppressive era of military rule, where
dissent was systematically crushed. He decried the involvement of law
enforcement in what he termed a civil matter of defamation, calling it an
“overreach of unimaginable proportions.”
“The arrest and detention of Dele Farotimi serve as a grim
reminder of the dark days of military dictatorship, when the iron fist of
tyranny sought to crush all dissent,” Atiku said. “Defamation is not a criminal
offense that should involve law enforcement. This is nothing less than using a
sledgehammer to swat a fly.”
Atiku accused the administration of pursuing an “insidious
agenda” to intimidate critics and silence opposing voices. He warned that such
actions were eroding democratic principles and fostering a one-party state,
urging the government to respect constitutionally enshrined rights to free
speech and association.
“The recent arrest of Dele Farotimi underscores a troubling
trend by this administration to intimidate citizens and the press, particularly
those critical of the regime. These actions are a direct contradiction to the
principles of democracy and serve only to pave the way for authoritarian rule,”
he added.
The former Vice President highlighted his personal
experience as an example of appropriate legal redress, recalling that in 2019,
he pursued a court case against an individual who defamed him rather than
involving the Police to settle scores.
“Freedom of speech and association are not privileges but
rights guaranteed by the Constitution. If anyone feels wronged by defamatory
words, the courts are the proper venue for resolution, not the Police,” he
emphasized.
Calling for Farotimi’s immediate and unconditional release,
Atiku urged the Tinubu administration to refrain from weaponizing law
enforcement agencies for political vendettas.
Farotimi, a vocal critic of the government, was reportedly
arrested on charges of defamation, sparking widespread outrage among activists,
civil society groups, and opposition leaders, who view the action as part of a
broader crackdown on dissent in Nigeria.
Atiku’s statement is the latest in a series of criticisms
against the administration’s perceived disregard for democratic norms and human
rights.
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