Ruthless Governors Opposed to Free Speech
The list of governors pummeling critics in their states is growing by the day. These governors, who are averse to opposition, have been using security agents to silence and oppress opponents. State laws are also being misapplied to actualise their evil plans. We are at a level where governors order arrest of opponents and charge them for treason, a federal offence. Nigerian human rights activists will have to start staging state-specific protests against these intolerant rulers from hell. The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle has surprisingly joined the inglorious club. Few weeks ago, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Ibrahim Danmalikin-Gidangoga was dragged to a Shari’a Court in Gusau, for “defaming Matawalle and inciting public disturbance, actions contrary to sections 287 and 142 of the Shari’a Penal Code.” Gidangoga was surprisingly charged under the Shari’a Penal Code. Matawalle got angry because Gidangoga held a press conference and raised pertinent questions about some of the actions and inactions of his government. This governor subsequently got security agents to “take action” against the Zamfara APC spokesman. As at press time, the Zamfara APC spokesman was still in jail.
In Bauchi State, Governor Bala Mohammed recently motivated the arrest of an opposition politician, Umar Mai-Fata, over “injurious and false accusation” against him. He is being held in a correctional facility in Bauchi, while his trial was adjourned. The detainee had claimed that Governor Mohammed took N1 billion from the state government’s coffers to fund the November 16 Bayelsa governorship poll where he served as the Chairman of the PDP campaign committee. Governor Mohammed should have sued Mai-Fata for libel instead of this illegal arrest and detention.
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State is also fast becoming a bully. 21-year-old Michael Itok was thrown into prison on October 8, over “injurious Facebook posts” against Udom. He was charged under Section 6 of the state’s Internal Security, for “activities that constitute a nuisance.” The governor considers some of his Facebook posts a nuisance. Governor Emmanuel is the complainant in the case. Itok was arraigned on November 26 at a Magistrate’s Court by the Akwa Ibom Ministry of Justice, based on an investigation by the DSS. The accused was taken back to prison because the court lacks the competent jurisdiction to hear the charge. His file was returned to the Akwa Ibom DPP. Luckily, Itok is now out on bail while the case continues later this month.
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State is also averse to criticisms. He rules the state with an iron fist. Ayade is always very ruthless when confronted with facts and figures showing his failings. He is persistently intimidating his perceived opponents with security agents. Last August, Ayade bared his fangs at the publisher of CrossRiverWatch, Agba Jalingo, for reporting that he “diverted N500 million meant for the state’s micro finance bank.” This governor mobilised the Cross Rivers State Police Command to Lagos to abduct Jalingo at home. Ayade is very good at using the police to terrorise innocent people. Now, Agba Jalingo is on trial for treason for criticising Ayade. He was remanded at the Calabar prison, after Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court, Calabar, denied him bail. Amobeda eventually announced his withdrawal from the case after a secret recording, where he allegedly made some biased remarks against Jalingo, was leaked to the press.
Apart from Jalingo, another critic of Ayade, Joseph Odok, is also languishing in Calabar prison. Odok, a lawyer, was arrested on September 26 in Abuja and taken to Calabar where he is facing terrorism charges. Ayade instigated his arrest and incarceration because of Odok’s constant criticism of his government.
In Niger State, Governor Sani Bello got activist Abubakar Katcha arrested and arraigned before a Magistrate for criticizing him. The governor’s chief of staff petitioned the police, alleging that Katcha posted criticism of his principal on his Facebook page. Katcha accused the governor on Facebook of diverting public funds to private use amidst decaying road infrastructure in the state. The police said Katcha’s Facebook postings could “incite the public.” Interestingly, Katcha and Bello were erstwhile political allies, and once served in the same cabinet as commissioners in Niger State. They are also members of the ruling APC, with Katcha currently serving as a board member of the National Film and Video Censors Board.
For me, equating criticism of government, policies and politicians with treason is bizarre and draconian. This baloney has to stop. Affected governors must be compelled to instantly and unreservedly release all those in jail for criticising them. The likes of Agba Jalingo are demanding accountability from these governors. If any governor is aggrieved by a publication, I expect him to file for libel. Abducting people and locking them indefinitely is lawlessness. These governors need to be reminded that they are public officers and must learn to be tolerant of criticism which is a necessity in free societies. All forces of good must mount pressure on affected governors to free the critics they are holding. Today, I urge the Acting IG Muhammed Adamu, to reprimand the then Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, Austin Agbonlahor, for allowing Ayade to use him to abduct Jalingo. Agbonlahor is now an AIG.