FG Clampdown On Opposition Threatens Democracy – HURIWA

HURIWA

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) says the recent clampdown on top politicians belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is undemocratic.

The group declared that the abduction and illegal detention of PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for more than 48 hours is totally unacceptable.

“This dictatorial pattern of using the mass media to dish out soft tissues of lies and outright propaganda just to score cheap publicity and corner the popular support of the largely uninvestigative minds of Nigerian media audience is reprehensible and totally condemnable and is hereby condemned,” National Coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said on Saturday.

He claimed that the detention of Metuh based on spurious allegation of involvement in the alleged sharing of funds meant for the purchase of arms is a ploy to silence PDP and political opposition in Nigeria.

“Nigeria’s democracy is now in imminent danger of collapse and we may relapse into anarchy. Since Mr. President said he can’t respect court orders and some persons are clapping, then we must be ready to live with full-fledged dictatorship.”

Onwubiko maintained that HURIWA has no political affiliation but the development calls for the intervention of the association to remind the ruling party that the attempt to silence opposition political voice is unwise and inimical to democracy and freedom of expression.

Speaking further, he said: “EFCC must be made independent and free of all executive interferences. The public or nocturnal visit of the acting Head of EfCC to the presidential villa whilst handling sensitive cases involving members of the political opposition is totally condemned”.