Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the arrest and ongoing detention of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He characterized this action as further evidence of the increasing authoritarian tendencies under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed VeryDarkMan’s arrest, citing multiple petitions from individuals regarding cyberstalking allegations.
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In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Atiku accused the government of misusing security agencies to silence dissent and intimidate critics.
“The arrest and continued detention of social media influencer and outspoken critic, Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is yet another blatant abuse of power by the Tinubu administration,” he wrote.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) pointed out the absence of formal charges against Otse, labeling it “a flagrant violation of his constitutional rights and a chilling reminder of the growing authoritarianism under this government.”
Atiku argued that this incident is part of a pattern of “relentless assault on the fundamental freedoms of Nigerians, particularly those who dare to speak truth to power or align with the political opposition.”
He further accused the Tinubu administration of employing double standards in handling corruption allegations, claiming that while opposition members and critics are persecuted, allies facing serious accusations are left unbothered.
“While security agencies are quick to target dissenters and critics, often in complete disregard of due process, political loyalists with credible allegations of corruption walk free, trading sycophancy for immunity,” Atiku said.
He cautioned against accepting “state-sponsored repression” as normal, stating, “We must not allow state-sponsored repression to become the defining character of our democracy.”
Describing the administration’s actions as disgraceful, Atiku concluded, “The Tinubu administration’s systematic crackdown on opposition voices is nothing short of disgraceful. It is an affront to democratic norms and must be fiercely condemned and resisted.”
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