By Muhammed Shaeed
September 10th, 2024
Obiageli Ezekwesili, the former Minister of Education, has faulted security apparatuses for being pawns in the hand of the government deployed to harass and intimidate Nigerians amid severe economic hardship unleashed on citizens by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The ex-Minister, however, urged the Nigerian government to stop digging further into a hole if it still has any wisdom left at all.
The statement was made on her verified X handle on Tuesday as a reaction to the arrest of Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the visit to the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP by the Department of State Services, DSS in Abuja.
Ezekwesili said: “So as if this severest economic hardship unleashed on citizens by the @nigeriagov of @NGRPresident @officialABAT is not traumatizing enough, the country’s security apparatuses are now daily deployed to harass and intimidate Nigerians.
“I wanted to be certain of the news yesterday that the latest victims of draconian assault on rights are the NLC @NLCHeadquarters and its President @JoeAjaero94024 as @SERAPNigeria.
“So I ask, “What really is motivating this administration of @officialABAT to create this horrible tension in the country for an already badly distressed people?”
“Whatever is driving this repressive onslaught, here are 3 things the @NGRPresident has to do to stop heating up the country:
“The @OfficialDSSNG @PoliceNG must immediately comply with the constitution and laws of the land- release Ajaero, vacate @SERAPNigeria, return their documents, repair damaged property and compensate them for all losses inflicted.
“The @PoliceNG @OfficialDSSNG must release all the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters that are unconstitutionally detained or being prosecuted by the security establishment for no good reason than the intoxication and intolerance of @officialABAT and his crew that seized power through an election that failed all tests of credibility.
“The @NGRPresident and the @nassnigeria should immediately commence plans for a Citizens-led National Conversation and Constitutional process for Nigeria.
“If there is any wisdom left at all, this @NigeriaGov would do well to stop digging further into a hole. Nigerians acting collectively will never again accept any draconian rule.”