Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the arrest of human rights advocate Dele Farotimi.
Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, issued a statement on Wednesday condemning Farotimi’s arrest and incarceration.
The statement read: “It is a dismal reminder of the dark days of military rule when the iron grip of oppression strove to crush all dissent. I’ve learnt that Dele is being charged with defamation, which, in normal circumstances, would not require the attention of law authorities. The police’s intervention in such cases is akin to swatting a fly with a sledgehammer, an unthinkable excess.
“This worrying trend, particularly the recent kidnapping—or rather, arrest—of Dele Farotimi, exemplifies this administration’s nefarious intent to suppress the fundamental right to free expression. The goal is clear: to frighten and harass civilians, particularly those who criticise the regime and the media, preparing the way for the development of a one-party state. It is critical to remind the Tinubu administration that these frequent arrests violate democratic values.”
According to Abubakar, freedom of speech and association are constitutionally protected rights rather than privileges.
“If anyone feels aggrieved by defamatory statements, they have the right to seek restitution in court, not from the state’s enforcers.
It is an abhorrent abuse of power to use the police as a tool for personal vendettas. I was defamed in 2019. I did not use the police to flex my biceps and frighten the defaming citizen but rather brought the case to court, where I am currently pursuing damages for the harm done to my reputation and integrity. As a result, I want Dele Farotimi’s immediate and unconditional release.
Similarly, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, decried Farotimi’s detention.
Obi, in a message released on his X (previously Twitter) page, asked for Farotimi’s quick and unconditional release, emphasising the importance of the police acting with justice and democracy.
“I just learnt of the arrest of @DeleFarotimi, a well-known human rights lawyer and advocate, on charges of defamation. “This action is a gross abuse of police powers and a serious assault on Nigeria’s democratic and justice principles,” Obi stated.
Obi emphasised that defamation is a civil problem that should be settled in court rather than through the use of police force. He emphasised that the Nigerian Police Force should protect citizens’ rights, not oppress them.
“As a private individual and former governor, I have frequently been defamed, humiliated, and lied against. Yet, I’ve never used the police or filed reports to suppress anyone,” Obi stated.
He advised anyone who feels they have been defamed to seek redress through established legal means rather than weaponising state power.
Obi voiced concern about the police’s independence and professionalism, calling the arrest a misuse of power. He urged the police to recognise their duty to the Constitution and the Nigerian people rather than to serve narrow or political objectives.
“The resort to police action in this case reeks of abuse of power and raises serious concerns about the independence and professionalism of the police as a civil force,” Obi pointed out.
The Labour Party presidential candidate reiterated his commitment to a fair and just Nigeria where freedom of expression is respected. “Dele Farotimi’s release should be quick and unconditional. “A new, more just, and fair Nigeria is possible,” he said.
The detention of Farotimi has aroused considerable outrage, with numerous activists and lawyers repeating Obi’s worries and demanding his release.
