… says it fits pattern of growing police harassment of opposition

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN,  has raised an alarm over the growing harassment of the opposition by the Nigeria Police, following Tuesday’s arrest of ACN supporters travelling to Abuja for Wednesday’s court appearance of the party leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the arrest, which should be condemned by all Nigerians, fits the emerging pattern of a police clampdown on the ACN and its supporters.

It said as at the time of issuing this press release, the arrested members have yet to be released by the police, who have been taking them from one police station to another apparently just to frustrate and delay them since they could not be reasonably charged with any offence other than being ACN supporters.

ACN recalled that the police also arrested the party’s supporters on their way to Abuja to show support for the party’s leader when he first appeared in court last month.

”When this is taken along with the recent harassment of journalists at The Nation as well as the arrest and trial of our party chairman in Jigawa state, Dr. Abubakar Fulata, for ‘slandering’ the state governor by saying he has no requisite qualifications to be governor, one can see an orchestrated and well-coordinated attempt to suppress the opposition in the country, with the police as the arrowhead.

”This is nothing but a clear attempt to subvert democracy and the rule of law. How can we claim to be in a democracy when Nigerians are being wantonly denied of their Constitutional rights, including the freedom to associate and move around freely? When did it become an offence for Nigerians to travel from one part of the country to another? What security risks could unarmed and peaceful Nigerians pose simply by travelling from Osun state to Abuja?

”It is important to find out who has been giving the orders for the arrest of ACN members on the road. And if the IGP says he is not the one, then it is pertinent to ask who is really in charge of the police,” it said.

The party described the action of the police against ACN members as misplaced aggression, saying the same police force that has proved to be clinically efficient in harassing and intimidating ACN members has been cowing before Boko Haram, armed robbers and kidnappers.

”Or could it be that the police under IGP Hafiz Ringim have been specially trained only to sniff out ACN members, or all progressive-leaning individuals and groups, and ferret them to detention at the slightly opportunity? it asked.

ACN said it is time to call IGP Ringim to order, because he is fast emerging as a threat to the country’s democracy and the enjoyment of civil liberties.

The party said since Ringim’s assumption to office, cases of extra-judicial killings have increased, insecurity has worsened while the enjoyment of individual rights and freedoms have come under assault by the police, wondering whether this is the legacy that he wants to leave behind after many years in service.

”The police should immediately release the arrested ACN supporters and lay off our members so they can move about freely in their own country, as long as they are not disturbing the peace. If the police persists in its current folly, then it should be blamed for any breakdown of law and order that may result from its undemocratic and unlawful actions,” ACN warned.