The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed fears over the safety of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, (PDP Abia), who was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The party lamented that the arrest of Abaribe has further confirmed the earlier alarm that the APC-led Federal Government had commenced a total clampdown on the opposition and perceived opponents of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election bid.
In a statement issued by its Spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP said the clampdown on Senator Abaribe was part of the moves to intimidate and emasculate members of the National Assembly who are known for their outspokenness against the constitutional violations and misrule of the APC administration.
The party said that the Federal Government had given no reasons for the arrest and detention of Senator Abaribe, who had been kept incommunicado without access to his lawyers and associates.
“The party also notes the apprehension of Nigerians following numerous alleged plots by the Federal Government to frame up other lawmakers, including Senate President Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, as well as Senators Dino Melaye and Shehu Sani.
“Nigerians can now see that our dear nation is fast descending into a fascist state where constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech no longer obtains and citizens are marked, arrested and detained on the whims and caprices of those in power.
The PDP asked the DSS to immediately declare Senator Abaribe’s whereabouts, as well as the charge against him, adding, “the laws of our nation are clear on the process of arrest and prosecution of any citizen and not recourse to clampdown and intimidation.”
On its part the leadership of the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo said the prevailing circumstances at the time of the disappearance of Nnamdi Kanu were beyond the contemplation of the law that a surety can guarantee the production of an accused person.
In a statement issued by its President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Ohaneze said the army “in the name of Operation Python Dance” invaded Nnamdi’s home and destabilised normalcy there.
The statement reads: “It is only the security agency that can disclose Nnamdi’s whereabouts.
“Senator Abaribe has no capacity, nor has any surety in the circumstances to know the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu. What happened in Umahia was an invasion, a war of a kind.
“Nnamdi may have been killed or captured in the imbroglio or even escaped into hiding.
“The onus lies on the security forces to disclose his whereabouts. The judiciary is beginning to tow the line of the executive by throwing the law overboard in matters that affect the South East. We are all equal before the law”. – Thisday.
