ADC chieftain and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi has expressed concern over the reported arrest of revered religious leader, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar.
Umar, who met with Obi in Kaduna earlier in the week was reportedly arrested by agents of the DSS in Kaduna on Tuesday.
In a statement on X[Formerly Twitter], the former Anambra State governor described the development as troubling.
The full statement is published below…
Troubling Developments in Our Polity that Must Be Nipped in the Bud.
I have just been made aware early this morning that Revered religious leader, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar has been arrested by authorities shortly after hosting me in Kaduna on Sunday.
This development underscores the deeply troubling state of our nation and our democracy, where freedom of speech and movement is increasingly threatened, and where citizens and perceived political opponents face harassment and unnecessary persecution. This cannot be allowed to continue.
This country must defend freedom and free speech, which are the hallmarks of every democratic society. Suppression and intimidation of dissent can never stand in a democratic society, and this Nigerian government must understand this fact.
I respectfully call on all those bent on undermining our already fragile democracy to please stop and apply the rule of law and tenets of democracy in dealing with citizens. -PO
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