IGP has no right to order arrest of Afegbua, says Ikubese

THE Presidential aspirant of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2019 election, Dr Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to refrain from repressive tendencies that can truncate democracy in the country.

In a statement made available to journalists in Akure yesterday, he condemned the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris for declaring the media adviser to the former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, Kazeem Afegbua wanted over the statement he issued on behalf of his boss.

Idris had ordered the arrest of Kazeem Afegbua for making false statements, defamation of character and for an act capable of instigating public disturbance throughout the country.

But Ikubese said, “I’m sore concerned over this allegation as Afegbua did not make a statement to the police, wherein he could have been accused of misinformation and be thus charged, should his statement be found to be false.

“Rather he issued a statement on behalf of his principal, General Babangida. If anyone is to sue for ‘defamation of character,’ it is IBB, not the police.

“Even that would be a civil suit, not a criminal case for which he will be declared “wanted” by the police.

“Now, how this advisory statement is deemed as ‘act capable of instigating public disturbance throughout the country’ beats me hollow.”

The NCP aspirant expressed dismay over the attitude of the police towards people who are critics towards the Federal Government, urging the president to call IGP to order.

“I worry sore that if President Buhari does not call the IGP to order, over his over-zealousness, as seen even so displayed in the recent wanton arrest of Bring Back Our Girls peaceful demonstrators in Abuja, in the name of ‘invitation,’ his administration will soon be tagged one of civilian dictatorship, a toga for which posterity will forever be unkind to him.

“I hereby call on the IGP to withdraw the arrest warrant issued on Mr Afegbua and immediately apologise to the Nigerian civil populace whom the police has the primary responsibility of protecting.”

Ikubese declared that if the police refused to withdraw the warrant of arrest and apologize to Nigerians for the misconduct, he would encourage Afegbua to seek redress in court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.

“The beauty of democracy is enshrined in the ethos of freedom of expression and association within the ambit of the law, in converse to military dictatorship.

“The police has the responsibility to enforce the extant laws for the good of society, not to manipulate it for the benefit of the ruling class,” he said.