A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise fixing Nigeria’s worsening economy instead of arresting and allegedly intimidating human rights activists.
Ajadi made the call on Sunday while reacting to the arrest of the 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Mr Omoyele Sowore, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Sowore was reportedly detained on arrival from a foreign trip before being released hours later.
He also referenced the recent arrest and alleged seizure of the international passport of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, describing the development as troubling and unnecessary.
According to Ajadi, such actions risk projecting President Bola Tinubu’s administration in a negative light, both locally and internationally, while diverting attention from urgent economic challenges facing Nigerians.
“Nigerians are battling inflation, unemployment, and rising cost of living. The government should channel its energy into addressing these issues rather than intimidating activists,” he said.
“The brief arrest of Sowore and the detention of the NLC president could damage the image of the Bola Tinubu administration and deepen public discontent.”
