Rights group flays arrest of politicians, polling agents
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has voiced concern over the arrest and the subsequent release of Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by security agents. The group also expressed worry over allegations of arrest of polling agents in some parts of Osun State where the gubernatorial election took place yesterday.
MURIC Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, in a statement, wondered what offence Mohammed had committed to warrant being arrested on the eve of a gubernatorial election.
The statement asked the security agents to explain the reason for his arrest to Nigerians and save the citizens the guess work, calling on the Federal Government to caution its security agents because overzealousness on the part of those who should maintain law and order would earn government a bad name.
While querying the attitude of the security agents posted to Osun State for the election, he wondered why some soldiers were wearing masks, while some security personnel arresting only members of one political party.
The statement read in part: “It is not good for democracy. The Federal Government is yet to cultivate the culture of sportsmanship in politics. Arrest of the opposition, particularly on the eve of an election is reactionary, conservative and undemocratic. “It is not too difficult for Nigerians to guess the motive for his (Mohammed) arrest. The arrest was meant to gag the opposition because Lai Muhammad is the spokesperson of the APC. He is known to be articulate and fearless. What is the Federal Government trying to hide?
“The rumour making the rounds about the arrest of polling agents is an ill wind that will blow nobody any good. It had better not be. MURIC warns that Osun 2014 is a test tube. It has all the ingredients of a crystal ball for forecasting the conduct of 2015 general elections. To be or not to be, that is the question.”
The group also said it was not impressed by the silence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the issue of hooded soldiers and arrest of key opposition leaders being the only referee on the election pitch.