Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and detention of lawyer and human rights advocate, Dele Farotimi, describing it as part of an insidious agenda to stifle free expression under the current administration.
Atiku expressed his views in a statement shared on his official X account on Wednesday.
Atiku likened the development to the oppressive tactics of past military regimes, saying:
“This serves as a grim reminder of the dark days of military dictatorship when the iron fist of tyranny sought to crush all dissent.”
He criticised the accusation of defamation leveled against Farotimi, noting that such matters should be addressed through the courts, not law enforcement. According to him, involving the Police in a defamation case is an overreach that undermines democratic principles. He stated:
“The Police’s intervention in such matters is nothing less than the use of a sledgehammer to swat a fly, an overreach of unimaginable proportions.”
Atiku further decried what he described as a deliberate attempt by the administration to intimidate and silence its critics, warning that such actions threaten the nation’s democratic foundation.
He said, “This alarming trend, particularly the recent abduction or rather, the arrest of Dele Farotimi, is emblematic of this administration’s insidious agenda to suffocate the fundamental right to free expression. The aim is clear: to intimidate and harass citizens, particularly those who oppose the regime and the press, thus paving the way for the establishment of a one-party state.”
The former vice president emphasized that freedom of speech and association are constitutional rights that should be protected. He urged the administration to adopt democratic avenues for dispute resolution rather than resorting to authoritarian measures. Citing his own experience with defamation in 2019, Atiku explained that he chose to seek justice in court rather than misuse state apparatus for personal grievances.
Concluding his statement, he called for the immediate and unconditional release of Farotimi, saying:
“It is imperative to remind the Tinubu administration that these repeated acts of arrest stand in direct contradiction to the principles of democracy. I, therefore, call for the immediate and unconditional release of Dele Farotimi.”
