Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have described as a new low the
handcuffing of its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, saying that
by that act, the PDP said the APC regime was just a step away from full blown
fascism.
The PDP Governors Forum said the action was meant to deride not only
Metuh but also the PDP as well as cast the party in bad light before Nigerians
as a party of corrupt individuals even when the embattled spokesperson of the
party was yet to be convicted by any competent court.
In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja and signed by Earl
Osaro Onaiwu, coordinator of the forum, the governors said: “ The APC regime
was yet to learn from history, therefore, its banal exhibitionism and Telemundo
antics of subjecting accused persons like Metuh to inhuman treatment.
“The only reasonable conclusion we have reached is that the
anti-corruption agencies and other institutions of state have allowed
themselves to be dictated to by a single vindictive authority which takes
pleasure in using power anyhow and in anyway in gross abuse of the
constitution, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and human liberty.
“The handcuffing of the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP
exemplifies a terrible decay of power by the APC regime which sees itself
bigger than the democratic state, Nigeria, which brought it to power.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the forum is not against the anti-corruption
mantra of the present regime of President Muhammadu Buhari, but, we insist it
must be within the ambit of our constitution and appropriate laws.
“Any other means is a descent into fascism with its attendant
consequences in the long run,” the statement read.
The PDP Governors Forum further noted that Section 34 (1) of
the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, frowns on
all forms of degradation particularly inhuman or degrading punishment and
treatment, of which Metuh was subjected to.
The governors called on security and anti-graft agencies to be mindful of
how they take instructions from political office holders as the tide of power
is constantly moving, as the APC will not be in power forever.
They also urged civil society to resist such ultra-constitutional actions
before Nigeria becomes the private estate of the APC.
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