Victor EzejaPresidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election in Nigeria, Mr Peter Obi expressed dismay over how the party’s National chairman, Julius Abure, was arrested on Wednesday.
Obi said it is quite demeaning and “epitomize the pinnacle of rascality”, capable of further tarnishing the image of the country in the international community.
Obi stated this via a statement in his official X handle in reaction to how Abure was manhandled during his arrest by police officers in Benin City the capital of Edo State on Wednesday.
He said: “I firmly believe that, as citizens, we are all duty-bound irrespective of our status in society to respond to invitations from properly constituted authority. My stance on this matter remains unwavering but does not explain watching the distressing image of our National Chairman lying on the ground in the name of arrest.
“This act is undesirable, demeaning and unequivocally intolerable and must be condemned by any decent and civilized mind within the context of our present civic landscape in Nigeria. These deplorable actions epitomize the pinnacle of rascality and serve to egregiously tarnish the already regrettable perception of our nation as one plagued by lawlessness.”
He said such behaviour by law enforcement officers must not only be denounced but also diligently addressed “to uphold the principles of justice and respect for the dignity of the individual within our society.”
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He maintained that while constituted authorities must be allowed to carry out their legal duties, it must be done following due process that demands civility, decency, established arrest procedures and respect for the dignity and rights of citizens and, above all, the presumption of innocence before the law.
“It is crucial to emphasize that as a leader within the Labour Party, Mr. Abure represents, both personally and statutorily, as the incumbent Chairman of the LP, the face of political opposition in Nigeria. Most importantly, political Parties are institutions of democratic statehood and ought to that extent be accorded due respect.
“It is imperative to reiterate that no pretext or subterfuge should be employed to stifle Nigeria’s political opposition. Therefore, I urge that he should be granted bail based on his status while the investigation his alleged offence continues,” Obi stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
