The aides of former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday traded tackle over the arrest of
human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe said attempts by President Bola
Tinubu’s administration to curtail freedom of speech is a throwback to the
military era of dictatorship.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force from Zone 2 Command in
Lagos, had arrested Farotimi following a defamation petition filed by Tony
Elumelu, the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group.
A day before the incident, Farotimi had raised concerns over
alleged threats to his life by influential figures within Nigerian political
circles.
Reacting, Ibe posted on X: “The arrest of Dele Farotimi
@DeleFarotimi stands condemned. He should be unconditionally released.
“What we are witnessing under this administration, especially
as it relates to efforts at curtailing freedom of speech, is a throwback to the
era of military dictatorship. #ReleaseDeleFarotimi.”
However, Wike’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka condemned Ibe’s
remark, accusing Atiku of ethnicity.
Responding to Ibe’s post, Olayinka wrote: “Coming from
someone whose principal, because of politics and ethnicity, deleted his tweet
condemning the murder of Deborah in Sokoto.”
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