Regarding the status of freedom in Nigeria, former Minister of Sport Barrister Solomon Dalung has boldly stated that the lines of battle for the country’s defense of freedom have already been established. This comes after National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu gave well-known politician and social activist Hajia Naja’atu Mohammed a seven-day ultimatum after she shared a TikTok video in which she claimed that Ribadu had previously called President Bola Tinubu a corrupt politician.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Dalung, speaking after visiting the incarcerated Professor Yusuf Usman at the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, condemned the government’s recent actions as a form of civilian dictatorship. Usman, a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last week on allegations of corruption during his tenure. He is currently standing trial before an FCT High Court, which has remanded him in custody pending the resolution of his case.
On Wednesday, Dalung took to his Facebook page to share his reflections following the visit to Professor Usman, writing a post titled “NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER, FREEDOM COME BY STRUGGLE.” In the post, Dalung shared that he and Comrade Mahdi Shehu had visited Usman at the Kuje Correctional facility, where they found him in good health and high spirits. Despite his detention, Usman was more concerned about the country’s deteriorating situation than his personal predicament. Dalung noted that Usman’s character strength was both consoling and inspiring, reinforcing the fight for good governance in Nigeria.
Dalung used the visit as an opportunity to inspect potential accommodations, expressing concern about the ongoing crackdown on voices of dissent in the country. He emphasized that no amount of intimidation or state harassmentwould deter them from continuing their struggle for justice and freedom. Dalung, in his post, directly referenced the recent threats issued by Nuhu Ribadu to Hajia Naja’atu Mohammed, declaring that the battle line for the defense of freedom had now been drawn. He framed the situation as a call to arms for the struggle community to stand firm against what he described as the current wave of civilian dictatorship under President Tinubu’s administration.
He further urged Nigerians to support the ongoing #FreeProfessorUsman campaign, encouraging those who could afford it to attend court sessions to ensure that justice was served. Dalung warned that if justice continued to be elusive, they would take to the streets once more, as they believed that “an injury to one is an injury to all”. He concluded his post by reinforcing his conviction that “every struggle has a price” and expressed his belief that a new Nigeria was attainable, despite the challenges they were facing.
Dalung’s strong words and calls for unity and perseverance reflect the growing tension in Nigeria, as political dissent and opposition voices continue to face increasing threats and persecution under the current government. His stance adds to the mounting pressure on President Tinubu’s administration, which is under scrutiny for its handling of political freedoms and the rights of activists and opposition figures.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
