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.
Sun
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