The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC), yesterday alleged that the federal government is planning to tap mobile telephone lines and hack other devices of citizens as a way of harassing and intimidating them into silence.
The party also frowned against what it called the unconstitutional arrest and detention of PDP members across the country for criticising the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, warning that such arrests are threats to democracy.
The Makarfi-led PDP stated this while reacting to the recent arrest of the PDP youth leader from Kogi State, and frontline critic of the Yahaya Bello’s APC led government in Kogi State, Mr. Austin Usman Okai. The party said Okai was arrested by men of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squared (SARS) on phantom petitions by some cronies of the governor.
National Publicity Secretary, PDP – NCC, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said, “We have also been alerted to the news of the Federal Government of Nigeria planning to tap mobile telephone lines and hacking on other devices of citizens as a way of harassing and intimidating them into silence.
“These and other unholy practices of this administration will henceforth be resisted by all Nigerians. We will mobilise 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 centres of security agencies across the country.”
He continued, “For emphasis, on the 4th of February, 2017, the Chapter Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State, Mr.
Salisu Mamuda was arrested for criticising the Jigawa State government against spending the sum of N400,000,000 (Four Hundred Million Naira Only) to entertain defectors from PDP to APC.
“Nigerians will also recall that Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (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).
“Also on March 3, 2017, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, a PDP Chieftain in Kogi State was arrested on trump-up charges and detained illegally for criticising the wrong policies, misgovernance and non performance of Governor Yahaya Bello.
“Just yesterday, April 9, 2017, Mr. 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.”
He added that there are also reports of indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens of this country in Kaduna, Edo, Nasarawa amongst others by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
“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 criticising 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.
“Finally, we wish to use this medium to inform world leaders on the serious issues of human rights violation in Nigeria since the APC administration took over power in May 29, 2015. We call on all civil rights organisations 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.”