The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee has called
for the unconditional release of the former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule
Lamido, and other political detainees in government custody.
The PDP made the call in a statement issued by Dayo Adeyeye, the national
publicity secretary of the committee on Monday.
The party said its attention has been once again drawn to “unwarranted
arrest and detention” of Lamido by men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF)
in Kano State.
Mr. Adeyeye described the arrest of Mr. Lamido as “outrageous and
anti-democratic” and not based on the frivolous allegation of “inciting
the public” leveled against him.
“The true reason for his arrest, however, has to do with the forthcoming
Local Government elections in Jigawa State,” the party said.
The arrest of former Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue, according to the
party, was also linked to the forthcoming Local Government elections in
the state.
“We are therefore calling on the security agencies in the country to
release unconditionally, Lamido, Suswam, former Governor of Niger State,
Dr Babangida Aliyu, and all other political detainees in their custody,”
the party stated.
Mr. Adeyeye added that PDP was also aware that members of the opposition
would be in for a hard time in the run-up to the 2019 general elections
with more arrests and intimidation of their prominent leaders.
He added that Mr. Lamido merely asked the people to defend their votes
against rigging, saying “how is that a crime?
“If you are not planning to steal the peoples’ votes, why should you be
afraid if the people are advised to defend their votes?
“Of course, no thief would want the owner to guard his house against
burglary.”
The PDP recalled that prior to 2015 general election there were inciting
statement credited to some members of the then opposition party and no
arrest was made.
“It was not a sign of weakness by the PDP led Government. It was in
deference to freedom of speech, democracy and peace,” the party said.
The party accused members of the ruling party of being the ones
instigating the lawlessness in Kogi, Niger, Benue and now Jigawa State.
“If this ugly trend is not stopped forthwith, it may lead to breach of
peace and public disorder,” the party warned.
(NAN)
Activists Urge Buhari To Proceed on Medical Leave
Leaders of various human rights bodies in Nigeria have called on the
President to take a medical leave to enable him attend to his health,
immediately.
These rights activists include Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi
Falana; the Executive Director, SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni; Director, Centre
for Democracy and Development, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim; Executive
Chairman, CACOL, Debo Adeniran; and Country Director, Search for Common
Ground, Chom Bagu.
They made the call in a joint statement issued on Monday, amid growing
concerns about the President’s health.
“As we join the Nigerian people of goodwill to pray for a speedy recovery
of President Buhari, we are compelled to advise him to heed the advice of
his personal physicians by taking a rest to attend to his health without
any further delay,” they wrote.
Those who signed the statement include the Executive Director, SERAP,
Adetokunbo Mumuni; Director, Centre for Democracy and Development,
Professor Jibrin Ibrahim; and Country Director, Search for Common Ground,
Chom Bagu, as well as Executive Chairman, CACOL, Debo Adeniran;
They explained that their call was based on the observation that since the
President returned from his medical vacation in the UK and despite
repeated claims by government officials that there was no cause for alarm
over his health, the President doesn’t seem to have fully recovered.
Recalling that President Buhari, upon his return, had said he had never
been so sick in his life and that he might go back for further treatment,
they suggested that comments by the likes of Kaduna State Governor Nasir
El-Rufai could not be ignored.
The statement read in part, “A few weeks ago, the Governor of Kaduna
State, Mr. Nasir El-Rufai urged Nigerians to give President Buhari time to
recover from his sickness.
“The plea was made after the Governor had visited and presumably assessed
the state of the President at the presidential villa in Abuja.
“However, due to the apparent deterioration in the President’s health
condition, he has neither been seen in public in the last one week nor
attended the last two meetings of the Federal Executive Council.
“His absence at the last Jumat service in the villa has fuelled further
speculations and rumours on President Buhari’s medical condition.”
They added, “But instead of embarking on regular briefing on the actual
state of the health of President Buhari, officials of the federal
government have continued to assure the Nigerian people that the is no
need for apprehension over the matter.”