PDP vows to resist members’ arrest

THE National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to resist what it says is the indiscriminate arrest of its member nationwide on flimsy excuses, calling the action of the All Progressive Congress (APC) administration disheartening and a threat to democracy.

A statement issued by the spokesman of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led NCC, Dayo Adeyeye, in Abuja on Monday, alerted on “the untoward, unconstitutional and indiscriminate arrest and detention of PDP members and supporters nationwide on phantom charges by the Government of the All Progressive Congress (APC).”

It pointed out that on the 4th of February, 2017, the Chapter Chairman of PDP in Jigawa State, Mr Salisu Mamuda was arrested for criticizing the Jigawa State government against spending the sum of N400,000,000 to entertain defectors from PDP to APC.

It recalled that Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP in Lagos State during the 2015 gubernatorial election was arrested by men of the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) on February 17, 2017 on account of exposing the Forex racketeering by the APC led Government  at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to the statement, on March 3, 2017, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, a PDP chieftain in Kogi State was arrested on trump-up charges and detained illegally for criticizing the wrong policies, misgovernance  and non-performance of Governor Yahaya Bello.

Last Sunday, it noted, Austin Usman Okai, a PDP Youth leader and frontline critic of the Yahaya 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.

The statement added that there were also reports of indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens of this Country in Kaduna, Edo, Nasarawa amongst others at both the federal and state levels controlled by the ruling APC.

The PDP said: “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 criticizing and holding government accountable.”

“Constructive criticism is the primary responsibility of opposition in a democracy all over the world and Nigeria cannot be an exception.

The statement noted that the PDP has also been alerted to the news of the federal government of Nigeria planning to tap mobile telephone lines and hacking of other devices of citizens as a way of harassing and intimidating them into silence.

It added: “These and other unholy practices of this administration will henceforth be resisted by all Nigerians. We will mobilize Nigerians at all levels to fight against the use of arms in a democratic system to ridicule and intimidate citizens of this Country.

“We will no longer tolerate this high handedness of the APC and we therefore demand the unconditional and immediate release of Mr Austin Usman Okai and all our members in several detention centers of security agencies across the Country.”

It alerted the international community on “the serious issues of human rights violation in Nigeria since the APC administration took over power in May 29, 2015” and called on all civil rights organization across the country and in the Diaspora to rise to this occasion.

“Our democracy is in serious danger and the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order as a result of these undemocratic behaviours,” the statement declared.

The PDP also condemned what it said was the “another insulting and baseless accusation by one Mr Cairo Ojugboh wherein he declared that the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff renegade group ‘will not accept stolen monies from Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and Chief Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.’

The NCC reiterated that Ojugboh, the former National Vice Chairman of the PDP, has no locus to speak in the capacity of Deputy National Chairman of the PDP.

According to the statement, “he is an interloper and an impostor; and as such, any action or statement made by Cairo Ojugboh and other self-appointed members of the Sheriff renegade group is illegal, null and void and should be disregarded by all loyal supporters and members of the PDP.”

The statement added: “Let these irritants take note that Governors Fayose and Wike and indeed all Governors elected on the Platform of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are men of integrity.

“Our Governors are responsible and trusted Party men that are working tirelessly in their various states to deliver the needed dividends of democracy.

“The people of Rivers State and Ekiti State can testify to the wonderful achievements of our Governors in their states and other states governed by the PDP.”

The statement further said that “the purported campaign or mobilization by the non-existing National Working Committee under Senator Sheriff,” were illegal, null and void.

It therefore urged party faithful in the South East and any other zones in Nigeria to disregard such meetings or gathering.

It stressed that the NCC has appealed the Judgment of the February 17, 2017 at the Supreme Court “and in the eyes of the law, until the Appeal is set aside by the Supreme Court, the National Caretaker Committee remains in charge of the affairs of the PDP. So, Senator Sheriff and his co travellers have no power to call for any meeting of Party members or supervise the affairs of the PDP forthwith.”

The statement admonished Sheriff to stop parading himself as the National Chairman of the PDP, calling on all security agencies and other agencies of government to stop according him or members of his illegal team any support or assistance.

It called on party m members to stop attending any meeting organize by Sheriff or any member of his team.

“They are illegal and have no place to function as such. Senator Ahmed Makarfi led National Caretaker Committee remains the only authentic National Exco of the PDP in line with the Decision of the May 21st and August 17, 2016 National Conventions of our great Party,” it declared.