Outrage Over Influencer VeryDarkMan's Controversial Arrest: Peter Obi Speaks Out
The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, on Sunday condemned the arrest of Martin Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), saying the action was carried out in a manner that left many Nigerians unsettled.
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In a statement, Obi claimed that VDM's arrest process was "a disturbing method that not only creates fear but also risks being mimicked by criminal elements" because it closely resembled an abduction.
He emphasized that "we will lose a vital layer of national security and accountability" if Nigerians start to find it difficult to discern between authorized arrests and illegal kidnappings.
"This pattern is not brand-new. It is important to remember that in recent years, even our revered judges—the final line of defense for justice—have endured comparable humiliations. When individuals who interpret the law are treated with such disdain, it is difficult to anticipate that regular citizens will feel protected under the law,” he said.
He emphasized that "we will lose a vital layer of national security and accountability" if Nigerians start to find it difficult to discern between authorized arrests and illegal kidnappings.
"This pattern is not brand-new. It is important to remember that in recent years, even our revered judges—the final line of defense for justice—have endured comparable humiliations. When individuals who interpret the law are treated with such disdain, it is difficult to anticipate that regular citizens will feel protected under the law,” 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?
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 go back to a Nigeria where justice is served and perceived as such, free from abuse or showmanship. A country where youngsters can talk freely, judges can serve with dignity, and institutions operate properly. We have to reconstruct Nigeria like that," he stated.
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 go back to a Nigeria where justice is served and perceived as such, free from abuse or showmanship. A country where youngsters can talk freely, judges can serve with dignity, and institutions operate properly. We have to reconstruct Nigeria like that," he stated.
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