{"id":100016,"date":"2022-10-05T15:59:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-05T14:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=100016"},"modified":"2022-10-05T15:59:00","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T14:59:00","slug":"villa-denies-peter-obis-silent-arrests-accusation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/villa-denies-peter-obis-silent-arrests-accusation\/","title":{"rendered":"Villa denies Peter Obi’s ‘Silent Arrests’ accusation\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
Accusations made earlier Wednesday on social media by presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, that some of his supporters, known as \u201cObidients\u201d, have been \u201csilently arrested\u201d are without foundation or fact.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
A source in the State House, Aso Rock Villa, who spoke under condition of anonymity said both the Nigeria Police Force, NPF and the Department of State Services, DSS\u00a0 have officially confirmed that no arrests whatsoever \u2013 neither \u201csilent arrests\u201d, nor for that matter \u201copen arrests\u201d – have been made of any of Mr. Obi\u2019s supporters.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0“The democratic process in Nigeria is free and fair and all candidates \u2013 whether those from the established parties or minor ones \u2013 have the absolute constitutional and God-given right to campaign openly and without hindrance,” said the source.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“What is also the case is that anyone who breaks the law \u2013 whether they are a supporter of the government party or opposition \u2013 must be held to account for their actions.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“If, for instance, opposition parties\u2019 supporters damage private property in the course of a campaign, march or rally, should they not be held to account, If, for instance, governing party supporters defame an opposition figure should they not be held to account? Of course they all should.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“What is however known about a Labour Party member who was bailed by the party\u2019s chairman in Lagos State is that on 30\/09\/22, one Joseph Chimezie ONUORAH Passport No: A12553760 who arrived Nigeria aboard Air France, was intercepted about 2230hrs at the E wing of MMIA Lagos by the Nigerian Immigration Service at the instance of the Lagos State Police Investigation Bureau for an investigation that concerned him.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“This also means that politicians from all sides of the political divide have a duty to maintain standards in public debate and refrain from making statements or accusations that could lead to the raising of tensions and make the prospect of aggressive physical behaviour more likely.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“Accusations that individuals have been \u201csilently arrested\u201d \u2013 and no one, frankly, knows what that description is supposed to mean \u2013 is an example of a statement made by a politician without any known foundation with the express intention of raising the temperature in this electoral contest. That cannot be good for democracy that thrives on facts and thinking, not on false statements and fiction.”<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Accusations made earlier Wednesday on social media by presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, that some of his supporters, known as \u201cObidients\u201d, have been \u201csilently arrested\u201d are without foundation or fact. 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