Clark’s home raid: Nigeria turning into police state ― Makarfi

THE immediate past National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has described the recent raid by personnel of the Nigeria Police, on the house of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark as evident of the country turning into abyss authoritarianism and police state.

This was contained in a statement issued to the press in Kaduna on Wednesday and signed by his spokesman, Muktar Sirajo.

Senator Makarfi one of the PDP presidential hopefuls considers this assault on a respected national leader, a former Federal Minister and a nonagenarian as callous and further evidence of the descent of the country into the abyss of authoritarianism and police state.

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‘It was clearly an attempt to intimidate and cow as well as stifle contrary opinion in clear violation of our constitution and international conventions, as we approach the 2019 elections.

He identifies and sympathizes with Elder Clark over this assault on his privacy as well as calls on Nigerians to be vigilant and resist attempts at constricting our democratic space and fundamental human rights, (mis)using agencies of state.

Even though the Police authorities have sought to distance themselves from this show of shame, Senator Makarfi urges that they go beyond ordinary disclaimer by instituting a genuine investigation into this with a view to unravelling the sordid act as well as bringing perpetrators to justice.