Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of harassing residents and opposing voices, together with Dele Farotimi, with the intention to create a one-party-state.

Atiku Abubakar stated the arrest of the human rights lawyer, Farotimi, was a reminder of the times of army dictatorship.

In a press release on Wednesday, Atiku said that the usage of police to abduct Farotimi in an alleged defamation case was an abuse of energy.

“The arrest and detention of lawyer and human rights advocate, Dele Farotimi, is unequivocally condemned. It serves as a grim reminder of the darkish days of army dictatorship when the iron fist of tyranny sought to crush all dissent.

“I’m made conscious that Dele is being accused of defamation — an offense that, beneath regular circumstances, shouldn’t warrant the involvement of regulation enforcement. The Police’s intervention in such issues is nothing lower than the usage of a sledgehammer to swat a fly, an overreach of unimaginable proportions,” Atiku stated.

The previous presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Get together (PDP) informed President Tinubu that continued arrests of dissenting voices by his administration undermine the rules of democracy.

“This alarming pattern, notably the latest abduction — or somewhat, the arrest — of Dele Farotimi, is emblematic of this administration’s insidious agenda to suffocate the elemental proper to free expression.

“The goal is obvious: to intimidate and harass residents, notably those that oppose the regime and the press, thus paving the best way for the institution of a one-party state. It’s crucial to remind the Tinubu administration that these repeated acts of arrest stand in direct contradiction to the rules of democracy,” he said.

He emphasised that freedom of speech remained a constitutional proper. Atiku highlighted that defamation is a civil matter that needs to be addressed within the courts, stressing that he had been abused, however resorted to the courtroom.

The previous Vice President referred to as for the instant launch of the human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

“Freedom of speech and affiliation usually are not privileges however constitutionally enshrined rights. If anybody feels wronged by defamatory phrases, they’re free to hunt redress within the courts, not by the hands of the state’s enforcers.

“It’s an appalling abuse of energy to make use of the Police as a software for private vendettas. In 2019, I used to be defamed. I didn’t contain the Police to flex muscle tissue and intimidate the defaming citizen, however I took the case to courtroom the place I’m presently looking for reliefs for the accidents to my title and integrity. Due to this fact, I name for the instant and unconditional launch of Dele Farotimi,” Atiku added.