PDP Rejects Arrest of Salihu Yakasai
The opposing Peoples Democratic Party PDP has called on security operatives to immediately release the former aide of the Governor Ganduje of Kano State, Salihu Yakasai.
The party stated this in a communique issued by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan. It said the arrest and detention of Salihu Yakasai, son of an elder statesman, is unacceptable.
Yakasai was arrested shortly after criticising President Buhari’s administration over failures in the fight against banditry in our country.
The communique reads: “Salihu Yakasai’s ordeal is a sad reminder of the sudden disappearance of another known critic of the Buhari administration, Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Abu Hanifa Dadiyata, since August 2019.
“The PDP reminds agents of the APC-led administration that Nigeria is a democratic nation and that the rights of citizens, including their freedom of expression, within the ambit of the law, are firmly guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and as such, must be respected.
“Our party, therefore, rejects the arrest of Salihu Yakasai, for joining other patriotic Nigerians in demanding a Presidential commitment of decisive action to rescue the abducted Zamfara schoolgirls as well as to end all acts of terrorism in our country,” the opposition party stated.
The PDP also faulted the Kano State Governor Alhaji Umar Ganduje for relieving Salihu Yakasai of his appointment as his Special Adviser on media, alleging that his patriotic demand for a decisive action to end terrorism was contrary to the stand of the APC government.
The party noted further that Governor Ganduje had also warned all political appointees and public servants in Kano state to guard against patriotic expressions like those of Salihu.
“The action of Governor Ganduje has again heightened apprehensions on the alleged connections between APC leaders and the bandits pillaging our nation.
“In this regard, the PDP demands that Governor Ganduje comes clean on the matter.
“This is because such stances have continued to embolden bandits while frustrating patriotic citizens who are raising voices against acts of terrorism in our country,” PDP noted.
The party, however, urged Nigerians to hold the ruling party and its leaders accountable for the increase in banditry and terrorism in the country.
