Nigerians Condemn Police Blockade Of Rivers Gov Residence

 

A member of the House of  Representatives, who is also the Chairman, House Committee  on Downstream, Mr.  Dakuku Peterside, described  the police action  as the  height of  dictatorship in the country.

Peterside, who is from Rivers State, spoke via a statement issued by his media  aide, Mr. Sylvester Asoya.

He said, “A situation whereby the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu led  police in the State, an agency funded with tax payers money,  to block the elected  state governor  from having access to Government House,  showed that  Nigeria was on a free fall to maximum dictatorship.”

Peterside further lamented that “the insult on the  Government of Rivers State is an affront to all elected political office holders  in Nigeria that  requires definite condemnation by all lovers of freedom and  democracy.”

A former chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Oyo State, who is  now a leading figure in the newly registered All  Progressives Alliance,   Mr. Akin Oke, said the action of the police in Rivers State was a threat  to democracy, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to caution  Mbu, for  disrespecting social equality.

Similarly, a respected lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), and the National Vice President, Committee for the Defense of  Human Rights, Mr. Taiwo Otitolaye, said the police action  was a threat to  democracy.

In separate telephone interviews with our correspondent in Ilorin on Friday, they advised against acts that  could jeopardize the nation’s democracy.

While   Sagay said the blockage  was an abuse of power and a violation of Nigeria’s constitution,  Otitolaye said it was  an act of brigandage.

“It is undemocratic.  We condemn it in strong terms. It is worrisome to us  now that we are not in a military dictatorship.  We do not  want to revert  to that era of military dictatorship. We ask that the presidency should not use  the police or other security apparatus for any undemocratic adventure. He  should desist henceforth from such,” Otitolaye  said.

Sagay described the police action as  a breach of the rule of law,  a breach of the right of the  freedom of the  movement of the governor; a breach of  Amaechi’s right to  go to his office   and an  inhumane act.  He said, “It is a breach of  everything. It should not be seen to happen in a civilized society or a  democratic society.”

Oke said, “The event of Thursday in Port Harcourt is  worrisome and disturbing, particularly at this point when we  are thinking that  democracy has come to stay. For democracy to thrive in Nigeria, there must be tolerance. When you now view it from the point that there is no tolerance  within the party (PDP), how do we grow our democracy?”