PRESS STATEMENT BY AREWA YOUTH FOR PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT CONDEMNATION OF THE WITCH-HUNT AND HARASSMENT OF POLITICAL OPPONENTS BY THE BUHARI ADMINISTRATION
Our organization has viewed with great concern, the spate of unwaranted witch-hunt, bully and harassment of political opponents under the guise of the fight against corruption by the Buhari administration, using the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Service (DSS).
It is quite unfortunate, worrisome and sad that since the advent of the current government, its trade in stock has been the intimidation and harassment of members of the opposition, anyone who holds contrary opinion against that of the government or the ruling party.
These were evident in the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal case, where the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gesila Khan, INEC officials and witnesses were at several times arrested or intimidated in other to give false evidences, the ransacking of the Akwa Ibom State Government House, Uyo, the trump up trial of Sen. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the President of the Senate, the harassment of the minority leader of the senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the arrest and trial of His Excellency, Alh. Sule Lamido, the former governor of Jigawa State, the recent assassination attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekwerenmadu, the arrest and intimidation of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, despite Court pronouncement against such, just to mention but a few.
The recent invitation and subsequent detention of high Chief Raymond Dokpesi, His Excellency, Alh. Attahiru Bafarawa, former Governor of Sokoto State, Alh. Bashir Yuguda, the former Minister for Finance and others are clear cases of witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation; growing level of impunity; abuse of the rule of law and gross violation of human right which are becoming very alarming and call for great concern by all patriotic, civil society organizations, the media and the international community.
We categorically and unequivocally condemn these acts in their entirety, these have apparently shown that the administration of president Buhari and the ruling party are on a vendetta mission of witch-hunt, molestation, blackmail and persecution of the opposition or any dissenting voice.
In this regard, it has become obvious that our nation is gradually drifting towards dictatorship and anarchy. Dissenting voices and vocal Nigerians are being muzzled, and gagged to submission and silence, while members of the ruling party and those in the good books of the government are allowed to walk freely and are rewarded with cabinet appointments, despite the barrage of petitions on corruption before the anti-corruption agencies against them.
We are not in anyway against the fight against corruption by the present administration or any other administration, but we are totally against the way and manner it is being carried out, hence, we insist that is should be done unbiased, justly, transparent and in strict compliance with the rule of law.
Information reaching us has it that, over 200 high-ranking members of the main opposition political party have been penciled down for such arrest, harassment, intimidation, terrorization and persecution.
The current tactics of this government is in total negation of the campaign promise of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (A P C) and the statement of Mr. President during his visit to United State of America, where he said that his fight against corruption shall not be selective.
In line with this, we call on all well meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy across the world, Civil society Organizations, the Media and the International community to rise up to the occasion and speak up against this style of impunity in governance and be watchful of the way and manner the so called fight against corruption is done by this administration, before it is too late.
Signed
Comrade Danjuma Sarki Comrade Usman Abdulhmid
President Secretary
