Atiku Demands Release Of Govt Critic, Warns Against Attack On Journalists, Others
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the arrest and detention of a government critic, Abubakar Salim Musa, calling on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to immediately release him and halt what he described as a growing repression of dissent across the country.
Atiku’s reaction followed a report by Amnesty International Nigeria, which on Sunday disclosed details of Musa’s arrest through its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @AmnestyNigeria.
Atiku described the arrest as another troubling sign of intolerance for dissent under the current administration.
“Tinubu’s government must release Abubakar Salim Musa and stop its repression of dissent.”
He noted that Musa’s arrest highlights “yet another stark example of the repressive nature of the President Bola Tinubu administration, which continues to bare its fangs against dissent, whether expressed through public protests or online criticism.”
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According to Atiku, Musa’s detention stems solely from “his consistent and legitimate criticism of the deteriorating security situation in Northern Nigeria and across the country.”
He said,“Rather than address these serious concerns, the government’s response has been to arrest him and subject him to what Amnesty describes as ‘bogus charges and a sham trial.’”
Atiku further stressed that Musa’s case “is not an isolated incident. Numerous Nigerians, including journalists, schoolchildren, entertainers, and even National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have faced arrest, assault, and intimidation by the police and other security agencies simply for criticizing the President or members of his family.”
He warned that, “This dangerous trend undermines the very foundations of democracy, which rest on the protection of fundamental human rights and freedom of expression.”
Atiku argued that, “Nigeria cannot claim to be part of the free world while its citizens are routinely arrested, assaulted, and intimidated for voicing criticism of their government.”
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He added, “As the nation approaches a critical general election, neither the people nor the opposition can operate effectively in an atmosphere of fear and repression.
“I therefore call on the Tinubu administration to immediately and unconditionally release Abubakar Salim Musa and all others detained for exercising their constitutional rights.”
Atiku also urged “the government to halt the ongoing pattern of arbitrary arrests and intimidation targeting critics, journalists, and opposition voices.”
Beyond Nigeria’s borders, Atiku appealed to the international community “particularly countries and organizations that champion democracy and human rights, to hold the Tinubu regime accountable and demand an end to these violations” while calling on Nigerians and civil society organizations to resist any further erosion of civil liberties.
