Atiku Reacts to Farotimi’s Ordeal, Calls for strengthened Human Rights in Nigeria

The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar has condemned the detention of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, saying it is a glaring example of rights violations in the country.

This was contained in a statement made in commemoration of International Human Rights Day, observed annually on December 10 as posted on its X platform on Tuesday.

According to Atiku, Farotimi’s detention underscores a worrying trend of suppressing dissent and using questionable legal tactics to silence opposition voices.

“Dele Farotimi now languishes in prison custody not for any crime but for the supposed ‘crime’ of persistently speaking truth to power.

“His only offense lies in his unflinching commitment to exposing the truths that the government and its collaborators would rather remain hidden.

“This is troubling. He is detained and prosecuted under the guise of a law that does not even exist in Ekiti State. This reflects the impunity that has become all too common in Nigeria,” he added.

Atiku also raised concerns about the misuse of the cyberbullying law, which he said has been weaponized to target dissenting voices, including those in the opposition and the press.

“The weaponization of the cyberbullying law to harass, intimidate, and silence opposition voices and journalists is alarming. It is a blatant attack on freedom of expression and the principles of democracy.

“Let us remind our leaders that the protection and upholding of constitutionally enshrined rights are fundamental to nurturing and strengthening our democracy. This commitment must not waver,” Atiku added.