Ex-PDP Presidential Candidate, Abubakar tackles Tinubu’s govt. over arrest, detention of journalists in Nigeria 

Our reporter 

The former Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar has advocated for the immediate release of a journalist, one Daniel Ojukwu of @fijnigeria, that was arrested by security operatives two days after the celebration of World Press Freedom Day in the country.

The former vice president of Nigeria, Abubakar made this known while reacting to the claims by the minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, that no journalist had been incarcerated by this administration.

Abubakar however, tackled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over alleged continuous arrest and detention of journalists who are doing their legitimate work.

He alleged that the arrest and continued detention of Ojukwu, may not be unconnected with the groundbreaking investigative works of the independent Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) that allegedly exposed a high profile smuggler with links to top officials of the present administration.

According to him: “Two days ago, on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, a minister of this administration boasted that no journalist had been incarcerated by this administration. That was before the detention of Daniel Ojukwu of @fijnigeria. 

“The arrest of Ojukwu may not be unconnected with the groundbreaking investigative works of the independent Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) that has exposed alleged high profile smuggler with links to top officials of this administration.

“I wish to also remind of the arrest and detention of Segun Olatunji of First News Newspaper and Chinonso Uba, aka Nonso Ukwa of Oziza FM Radio. It is not only irresponsible to arrest journalists for exposing the ills that abound in this government, it is also a breach of their constitutionally guaranteed Free Press. 

“That the arrest of Ojukwu came barely 48 hours after the observance of the World Press Freedom Day, speaks volumes of the character of the Tinubu administration to freedom of the press. The least that is expected of the relevant authorities is to Free Ojukwu” he stated.