Obi claimed that the way VDM was taken into custody was quite similar to an abduction.
On Sunday, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, denounced the arrest of Martin Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), claiming that the move was executed in a way that unnerved many Nigerians.
VDM was detained in a way that closely mirrored an abduction, according to a statement from Obi, calling it “a troubling technique that not only generates fear but also could be mimicked by criminal elements.”
According to him, “we will lose a vital layer of national security and accountability” if Nigerians start to have trouble telling the difference between authorized arrests and illegal kidnappings.
It’s not a new trend. We must remember that comparable humiliations have recently been inflicted against even our revered judges, who are the last line of defense for justice. Ordinary folks cannot be expected to feel protected by the law when those who interpret the law are treated with such contempt,” he said.
The LP chief bemoaned how the corporate climate and economy are starting to be impacted by the techniques.
Obi stated, “GTBank’s reputation has suffered greatly as a result of the criticism that has been attributed to the events surrounding Mr. Otse’s imprisonment. We must take every precaution to prevent acts that damage institutions or erode the faith of citizens and the international community at a time when investor confidence is already brittle.
It begs the question: was it impossible to extend an invitation to Mr. Otse in a polite, open, and lawful way? Wouldn’t that have prevented the needless humiliation and losses we currently see for Nigerians, GTBank, and our national image?
Additionally, he said that the purported kidnapping of a NANS president calls into question the autonomy of student leadership and the gradual dwindling of youth voices in democracy.
He emphasized that the suppression of youthful voices, whether via coercion, intimidation, or patronage, is a perilous path that we must not normalize. He stressed that Nigeria’s youth should not feel compelled, silenced, or enmeshed in political agendas that do not reflect their will.
“We have to get back to a Nigeria where justice is served and perceived as such, free from abuse or showmanship. a nation where institutions behave properly, judges can serve with dignity, and young people may express themselves freely. We have to reconstruct Nigeria like that,” he stated.
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