PDP Accuses APC-led Government of Muzzling Opposition

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi has raised the alarm over the alleged unconstitutional and indiscriminate arrests and detention of its members and supporters nationwide by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government.

It said it had been alerted of plans by the federal government to tap mobile telephone lines and hack other devices of citizens as a way of harassing and intimidating them into silence.
The PDP, which warned that it would no longer tolerate the high handedness of the APC, demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Mr. Austin Usman Okai and all other members held in several detention centres of security agencies across the country.

In a statement issued by the spokesman of the caretaker committee, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye, the main opposition party said it was drawing the attentions of the international community and world leaders to the serious issues of human rights violation in Nigeria since the APC administration took over power in May 29, 2015.

PDP described the alleged actions of the APC-led administration as disheartening and serious threat to democracy.
“These actions of the ruling party, the APC, is absurd, disheartening and a serious threat to our hard- earned democracy. Nigerians cannot and should not be arrested and detained indiscriminately for criticising and holding the government accountable. Constructive criticism is the primary responsibility of opposition in a democracy all over the world, and Nigeria cannot be an exception,” it said.

The statement a catalogue of several cases of unlawful arrests and detention of PDP members across the country, including its chapter Chairman in Jigawa State, Mr. Salisu Mamuda, who was arrested for criticising the Jigawa State Government for allegedly spending the sum of N400,000,000 to entertain defectors from PDP to APC.
It also said its governorship aspirant on the platform of the party in Lagos State, during the 2015 gubernatorial election, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi, was arrested by men of the Department of State Service (DSS) on account of exposing the forex racketeering by the APC-led government at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“Also on March 3, 2017, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, a PDP chieftain in Kogi State was arrested on trump-up charges and detained illegally for criticising the wrong policies, mis-governance and non-performance of Governor Yahaya Bello.
“Just yesterday, April 9, 2017, Mr. Austin Usman Okai, a PDP youth leader and frontline critic of the Bello’s APC-led government in Kogi State, was arrested by men of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squared (SARS) on phantom petitions by some cronies of the governor.

“There are also reports of indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens of this country in Kaduna, Edo, Nasarawa States among others at both the federal and state levels controlled by the ruling APC,” PDP said.
According to the statement, PDP will ensure that the unholy practices of the APC-led administration is resisted by all Nigerians.
“We will mobilise Nigerians at all levels to fight against the use of arms in a democratic system to ridicule and intimidate citizens of this country.”

According to PDP, “We wish to use this medium to inform world leaders on the serious issues of human rights violation in Nigeria since the APC administration took over power in May 29, 2015.
“We call on all civil rights organisation across the country and in the Diaspora to rise to this occasion. Our democracy is in serious danger and the leadership of the APC must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order as a result of this undemocratic behaviour,” it added.