Less than two weeks to the September 10 governorship election in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the alarm on the persistent use of the Police by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate, unlawfully arrest , detain and torture its members.
The PDP, in a statement issued yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Chris Nehikhare, called the attention of the Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria, the International Community, Religious Organizations, Traditional Rulers, Election Monitoring Committees and all lovers of democracy to the worrisome development, which objective, according to it, is to break the spirits of its members or keep them out of circulation until after the governorship election.
According to the party, “Governor Adams Oshiomhole has instructed the Police to launch a large scale unwarranted arrest and detention of our vibrant youths across the three senatorial districts on the prompting of APC members who have turned to “pointers” for the police, and acting a script.
“In Edo South, many of our youths have had to be creative to evade this type of Gestapo operations. In some cases, their parents are arrested in their stead and made to pay huge sums of money as bail!
“It is interesting to note that the state governor and leader of the APC in Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was quoted in the media as threatening that members of our party should prepare for more arrests and prosecution. “While we take this as the desperate stand of the captain of a sinking ship, we want to reassure our dedicated and determined members and teeming supporters that we stand with them in the dark moments of their persecution in the hands of the Police who have obviously become partisan and are being used in an attempt to frustrate an idea which time has come, which is the resolve of Edo people to “change the change” that has brought unimaginable hardship, humiliation, frustration and despondency upon the land.”
The PDP stated further, “While we eschew violent reactions, we make bold to say that we can neither be cowed nor forced to abandon the trust the people repose in us to defend the vote they will cast on September 10. Our decision to chart the path of peace should not be taken as a sign of weakness.
“However, as we continue to exercise restraint and maintain the peace in the face of tyranny and assault in the hands of officers of the law compromised by Governor Oshiomhole, we want to put all lovers of democracy on notice that the arbitrary arrests and demonic detention of our members are an invitation to anarchy and a threat to democracy.
“We, therefore, call on all responsible individuals and institutions to join us in condemning the unlawful and biased actions against our people who have conducted themselves within the boundaries of the law and the privileges of democratic freedom.
“We urge the police to please desist from intimidating, harassing and detaining our members and to immediately release all those who have been thrown into Police cells and prisons across the state on the prompting of Governor Oshiomhole and his APC.
“Edo people should be left alone to decide the party they want to entrust with the control of their affairs in the next four years. The Police should not be used to constitute an impediment to our freedom of democratic choice. We have had enough of impunity and oppression.”
The PDP recalled how a couple of weeks ago, its governorship running mate, Hon. John Yakubu, addressed a small rally of over 250 youths, women and men on Akenzua road in Benin City, at about 5.30pm, only for the governor, soon after he (Yakubu) left the venue with his convoy, ordered Police men to arrest many of the youths on a trumped up claim that they were cultists who just had an “outdoor meeting”.
According to the PDP, “A few days ago, some APC thugs, in a branded APC van, drove into a ward 2 meeting in Fugar, Estako Central Local government, and injured two, who are receiving treatment in hospital. Even with the information that they know the driver and where he had gone to hide the vehicle, our boys were arrested when they went to the Police station to report the matter.
“In Estako East Local government, the Police, under the instructions of Governor Oshiomhole, manufactured a charge of attempted murder and took the case to a magistrate court that lacks jurisdiction. Of course, the magistrate was forced to remand them in prison custody.
“A month ago, the PDP Chairman of Etsako East, Abdulganiyu, was arrested and brutalised by the Police and APC supporters under the guise of settling a rift between the two parties right in the police station.
“On the 28th of August, 2016 at Ilushi in Esan South East local government area, the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, was provoked as he campaigned because of the poorly-attended rally.
“As a result, he incited his APC members and supporters to attack and brutalise our youths. Under the instructions of Governor Oshiomhole, the Police are now arresting the victims of these vicious and malicious attacks.
“On the 6th of August, we received warnings from two reliable top government sources, that the State government has perfected a plan to arrest a number of PDP chieftains and leaders on the eve of the elections. The sources said the persons were named in a list which was approved by the Governor himself and his aides.
“The evidence of this wicked plan was made glaring a few days ago when the Attorney-General of the State, Barr. Henry Idahagbon, changed the charge of assault and conduct capable of the breach of public peace against our youths who were arrested while on a peaceful protest and charged to a magistrate’s court, to murder and communal fight. Promptly again, the accused where remanded in prison custody. #Ovia 13”
