The Labour Party presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has condemned the pattern with which the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested popular social media influencer and activist Martin Vincent Otse, a.k.a. VeryDarkMan.
Peter Obi made the statement on his social media handle, raising concerns about the direction of democracy when common citizens who choose to speak up are made to suffer at the hands of security agents.
Peter Obi frowned at the manner VDM was arrested, a manner that closely resembled an abduction and which could be copied by criminal elements during their operations.
According to Peter Obi, Nigerians are now left in the struggle of distinguishing between a lawful arrest by real officers of the law and an unlawful abduction by kidnappers.
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“The Recent developments in our nation continue to raise serious concerns about the direction we are headed as a democracy. The tension in the land aggravated by hardship is being needlessly fueled by our attitude to the rule of law and human rights.
“The arrest of Martin Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), though perhaps within the legal rights of security agencies, was carried out in a manner that left many Nigerians unsettled.
“The display of force, lacking in transparency and civility, closely resembled an abduction, a disturbing method that not only creates fear but also risks being mimicked by criminal elements. If Nigerians begin to struggle to distinguish between legitimate arrests and unlawful abductions, we will lose a vital layer of national security and accountability.
“This trend is not new. We must recall that even our esteemed judges, the last line of defence for justice, have suffered similar indignities in recent years. When those who interpret the law are treated with such disregard, it is difficult to expect that ordinary citizens will feel protected under the law,” Peter Obi wrote.
Peter Obi also mentioned the use of a Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) branch to carry out their abduction, citing the current backlash by Nigerians directed at the Bank after VDM’s arrest.
He asked what is wrong with professional handling of suspects in a civil, transparent, and legal manner by invitation, which “would have spared Nigerians, GTBank, and our national image the unnecessary shame and losses we now witness.”
The former Anambra State governor also recalled the allegations surrounding the so-called adoption of the NANS President, saying if true raises critical questions about the independence of student leadership and the subtle erosion of young voices in our democracy.
Peter Obi hoped for a Nigeria where the youths do not feel coerced, silenced, or absorbed into political agendas that do not reflect their will.
“The oppression of young voices, whether through force, patronage, or intimidation, is a dangerous path that we must not normalize.
“We must return to a Nigeria where justice is done and is seen to be done without theatrics or abuse. A country where youth can speak freely, judges can serve with dignity, and institutions act responsibly. That is the Nigeria we must rebuild. A new Nigeria is POssible!” Peter Obi wrote.
