Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned against the detention of individuals based solely on their political beliefs or affiliations.
He made this known in a post on his official Facebook page on Monday while reacting to the reported arrest of former Attorney General Abubakar Malami and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, among others.
According to him, such actions pose a significant threat to democratic principles.
The statement came shortly after his return from Umrah (lesser Hajj) in Saudi Arabia, after which he led a delegation on a solidarity visit to Abubakar Malami.
Atiku specifically called for the release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and others he described as political detainees.
He stressed that no one should be detained simply for holding opposing political views or for belonging to a different political platform from the ruling government.
He further emphasised that democracy must be built on tolerance, respect for diverse opinions, and strict adherence to the rule of law, warning that suppressing dissent could erode public confidence in governance.
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