Bauchi PDP condemns arraignment of Shekarau, others

AS the country celebrate the 2018 edition of the Democracy Day, Bauchi state chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] has condemned in strongest terms the arraignment of one of its chieftains and former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 24th May 2018 in Kano alleging that it was meant to intimidate the opposition ahead of next year’s general elections.

Speaking with our correspondent on Monday, the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Yayanuwa Zainabari alleged that since the inception of the All Progressives Congress [APC] led government in 2015 at the federal and some states, they have been “witch-hunting opposition members through detentions and arrests with a view to silencing them from constructive criticisms which are essential in democracy.”

He lamented that the ‘persecution’ of the Ex-minister of Education was not only undemocratic but barbaric pointing out that every citizen has the inalienable rights to freedom of expression, association and movement irrespective of their political inclination.

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Yayanuwa Zainabari also accused the present APC administration nationwide of poor performance since their taking over two years ago claiming that the ruling party resorted to the victimization of the members of the opposition in order to stop them from demanding for good governance and mounting pressure on them to deliver their campaign promises.

”Let us tell them that PDP will never be intimidated. Arrests, detentions, arraignments and all forms of persecution cannot deter us from speaking the truth and demanding for good governance. PDP remains the most principled and formidable party in Nigeria that is determined to enlighten the electorates continuously on the happenings in the country. And we are very optimistic that come 2019, we will bounce back because APC government has failed woefully,” he alleged.

The party spokesman, therefore, asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal government to do something in order to end the ‘perpetual victimization of its bigwigs so that the relative peace being enjoyed in the nation would prevail.

”It is, however, worthy to note that if this maltreatment against PDP chieftains continues, the party will not tolerate it. So enough is enough because we are worried about the unfolding events. They should stop that before the situation gets out of hand,” he cautioned.