Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised serious concerns over what he describes as growing political repression in Nigeria, following the arrest and detention of social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Very Dark Man (VDM).
In a strong statement shared on X, Atiku said VDM’s arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a clear sign that the Tinubu administration is using state power to silence critics. He described VDM’s continued detention without formal charges as not only illegal but also a “chilling reminder of the growing authoritarianism under this government.”
Atiku warned that if Nigerians stay silent, this trend of using security agencies to harass those who speak out could become normal. “We must not allow state-sponsored repression to become the defining character of our democracy,” he said.
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Taking a broader view, Atiku said this case is part of a “disturbing pattern” where critics and opposition voices are targeted, while powerful political allies accused of corruption are left alone. “Political loyalists walk free, trading sycophancy for immunity,” he said.
Atiku ended his statement by urging Nigerians to resist what he called a “systematic crackdown” on freedom of speech and democratic rights.
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