Angry Peter Obi knocks police over Abure’s arrest
Expressing his anger over what he calls “the humiliating arrest” of Julius Abure, former presidential candidate Peter Obi has taken a swipe at the Nigeria Police.
In a string of comments released on X, Obi deplored police handling of Abure’s arrest, calling it the “distressing image of our National Chairman lying on the ground in the name of arrest.”
He said, “This act is undesirable , demeaning and unequivocally intolerable and must be condemned by any decent and civilized mind within the context of our present civic landscape in Nigeria.
“These deplorable actions epitomize the pinnacle of rascality and serve to egregiously tarnish the already regrettable perception of our nation as one plagued by lawlessness.
“Such behaviour must not only be denounced but also actively addressed to uphold the principles of justice and respect for the dignity of the individual within our society.
“Regarding the circumstances surrounding Mr. Abure’s arrest, it is crucial to emphasize that while constitutional authorities must be allowed to execute their statutory functions, officers must adhere to due process, civility, decency and established arrest procedures, embody civility, decorum, respect for the dignity and rights of citizens, and, above all, the presumption of innocence before the law.
“It is imperative to reiterate that no pretext or subterfuge should be employed to stifle Nigeria’s political opposition. Therefore, I urge that he should be granted bail based on his status while the investigation of his alleged offence continues.”
TheCornet reports that Peter Obi had stood in the 2023 general election as the standard bearer of the Labour Party. He garnered wide support, especially from the youth who were desirous of a change in the polity.
A former member of the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at separate times, Obi’s supporters believed him to be an outlier.
In a shocking reality, Obi, an outsider, revolutionized opposition politics by securing considerable possible gains for his in state and national elections.
He however lost to incumbent President Bola Tinubu.
By Fola Ademosu
