The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, over what it described as the unlawful detention of a social critic and opposition figure, Olusegun Olushola (aka Sholyment).
In a statement on Tuesday, the party noted that Olushola being a responsible and law-abiding citizen, honoured the invitation of the Police on Monday, and was subsequently detained on the order of Governor Abdulrazaq.
This, it said, amounts to reckless abuse of power and an infringement on the critic’s fundamental human rights.
It alleged that the state government had already concluded an arrangement to take Sholyment to court over trumped-up charges of inciting public disturbance, injurious falsehood and criminal defamation.
The PDP recalled that that was the same way a member of the party, Lawal Sharafadeen, popularly known as Harab, was unlawfully detained and subsequently taken to court over phantom allegations by an aide of the governor, Obasanjo Alashi (aka SOJ).
In a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Tunde Ashaolu, the party accused the governor of using state apparatus to silence opposition members and muzzle dissenting voices, alleging that the present administration had on different occasions demonstrated its intolerance to criticism.
It warned Governor Abdulrazaq against turning Kwara to a lawless state.
The statement reads: “It is only in a banana republic that a responsible citizen will honour the invitation of security operatives and be detained illegally on the order of the governor for criticizing the bad policies, misgovernance and non-performance of the governor.
“We have also been alerted to the plans of the present administration in Kwara to arrest some selected members of the opposition who have been critical of the incompetence and maladministration of Governor Abdulrazaq.
“This is wrong and absurd. Under a democratic setting, responsible citizens should not be detained indiscriminately for criticizing and holding the government accountable.
“Kwarans must not allow this untoward and unjust action of the governor to stand. We must resist all attempts by the governor to intimidate dissenting voices.
“Our party demands the unconditional and immediate release of Mr Olusegun Olushola from police detention.”