Bashir Tofa, opponent of MKO Abiola in the June 12
presidential election, has described the arrest and detention of Nastura Sharif
as undemocratic.
Sharif, chairman of the board of trustees (BoT) of the
Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), was arrested by the police over the protest
by his group.
The group had hit the streets of Katsina on Tuesday, over
the rising insecurity in the north.
In a statement, Tofa said Sharif’s arrest is a “bad example
of intolerance in a democracy”, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to order the
immediate release of the activist.
He said failure to release him could lead to an avoidable
crisis.
“The arrest and detention of Alhaji Nasturah Ashir Sheriff,
the leader of the Coalition of Northern Youth, is utterly wrong, undemocratic
and a very bad example of intolerance. It is unwise and unjust,” Tofa said.
“Not even during sensible and caring military rules, would
citizens demonstrate peacefully about a matter that worries the entire country,
and anyone be arrested. Is this a notice that nobody is allowed to say anything
or to express a view, even peacefully? Is this the Democracy Nigeria is showing
to the world? We hope not.
“I appeal to the President to immediately order the release
of this young man with an apology, before a single match ignites the forest and
conflagrate the entire North and eventually the country. So many people are
angry about so many things. If this collective anger is tickled and pushed by a
few who may have started some illegal action somewhere, it will easily spread.
“The 2011 violence, destruction and death that occurred when
it was rumoured that Gen. Muhammad Buhari was denied his victory will be a
child’s play this time around. Nigerians are very angry! Insecurity everywhere,
poverty, joblessness and now Covid-19, disease, despair and desperation have
eaten deep into people’s patience and good sense.
“President Buhari should be very careful. He should begin to
know and appreciate his true and sincere friends, and get rid of his enemies,
who do tremendous harm to his image and his own future well being and safety.
He must remember that in three years, someone else will be President.”
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