‘Blatant abuse of power’: Atiku slams VDM’s detention
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President has publicly criticized the arrest and ongoing detention of social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, commonly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He described the situation as a “blatant abuse of power” by the current administration, pointing to a worrying trend of political repression in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, Abubakar stressed that VDM’s detention without formal charges is a violation of constitutional rights and a troubling indication of the increasing authoritarianism under the current government. He stated, “This latest episode is part of a disturbing pattern: the Tinubu regime’s relentless assault on the fundamental freedoms of Nigerians.”
Abubakar further condemned the government’s actions, warning that “we must not allow state-sponsored repression to become the defining character of our democracy.” He highlighted what he sees as a systematic crackdown on dissenting voices, particularly those who challenge the ruling regime.
The former Vice President also pointed to the discrepancies in the treatment of political loyalists, who often avoid scrutiny despite credible allegations of corruption, saying, “While security agencies are swift to target dissenters and critics, frequently disregarding due process, political loyalists with serious corruption allegations walk free.”
Atiku urged Nigerians to stand against what he termed ‘state-sponsored repression,’ asserting that it poses a significant threat to the foundations of democracy in the country.
Source; Vanguard newspaper
