PDP condemns arrest of former governor Sule Lamido

The Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the arrest of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, by the police as a further signal that democracy is nose-diving in Nigeria.

Lamido was arrested and detained on the allegation of ‘inciting the public.’ In a statement signed by its spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, the opposition party declared that the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was simply arresting and detaining prominent opposition leaders because of the fear of losing elections.

“The true reason for his arrest however, has to do with the forthcoming local government elections in Jigawa State. The long incarceration of former Governor Gabriel Suswan is also linked to the forthcoming council elections in Benue State. The APC led administration is fast loosing the confidence of the people because of its non-performance, high handedness and lack of empathy for the suffering of the people.’’

It said, the only option left for it is to prevent the opposition from effectively campaigning and mobilizing the people for the elections. The whole strategy of APC government is founded on the assumption that if there is no opposition, then they cannot be defeated. Hence the intimidation, harassment and incarceration of popular opposition leaders like Sule Lamido.