Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has strongly condemned the arrest of social critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to Atiku, the arrest is a blatant abuse of power by the administration of President Bola Tinubu. He expressed his concerns about the growing political repression under Tinubu’s rule.
In a scathing critique, Atiku accused President Tinubu of making the suppression of opposition voices a core aspect of his leadership. He described the government’s actions as shameful, highlighting the increasing crackdown on those who challenge or oppose the administration.
Atiku took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his disapproval, stating that this arrest represents an attack on Nigeria’s democratic values. He emphasized that such actions should be firmly condemned and resisted by all Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation.
VeryDarkMan’s arrest took place on Friday, following an undisclosed charge by the EFCC. Before the arrest, the social critic had planned to visit a GTBank branch in Abuja to complain about an alleged unauthorized deduction from his mother’s bank account. His attempt to address this concern escalated into an arrest by the EFCC.
Reports following his arrest indicate that VeryDarkMan was allegedly mishandled by EFCC operatives. The commission has said that he will be charged in court soon, following several petitions filed against him. However, no formal charges have been laid as of now, raising concerns over the legality of the arrest.
Atiku has also criticized the treatment of VeryDarkMan, noting that his continued detention without clear charges is a serious violation of his constitutional rights. He warned that this is just another sign of the increasingly authoritarian nature of the current government.
This arrest is just the latest in what Atiku sees as a disturbing pattern of systematic attacks on opposition figures and dissenters under the Tinubu administration. According to him, the government has shown a pattern of targeting Nigerians who speak truth to power, while allowing corruption among its own political loyalists to go unpunished.
Atiku further pointed out the hypocrisy within the government, stating that while critics face harsh treatment, political allies with credible allegations of corruption are allowed to walk free. He emphasized that loyalty to the government is often rewarded with immunity from prosecution, regardless of the corruption charges involved.
In conclusion, Atiku has called for resistance against what he views as an authoritarian approach to governance. He labeled the continued crackdown on opposition voices as disgraceful, warning that it poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic principles. Atiku’s statement serves as a reminder that Nigerians must remain vigilant and stand up against the erosion of their democratic rights.
