The Spokesman for the All Progressives Congress Presidential
Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, has demanded the immediate release of the
Bayelsa State Media Coordinator, Ebikpoemi Ugo, from the state police custody.
This is as he knocked Governor Douye Diri for being
allegedly intolerant of criticisms from the opposition and his unnecessary show
of force through the use of state security agents.
Keyamo made the call in a statement issued in Abuja on
Friday.
Ugo, who is also the Publicity Secretary of Kolokuma-Opokuma
Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was allegedly arrested by the Bayelsa
State Police Command on October 18 following a petition by the governor.
In the petition, Diri accused Ugo of making two unfounded
claims through his Facebook posts.
The first social media post, which the governor said was
targeted at him read, “What about the Federal Government N150m sent to the
state?” while the second stated “Shameful broadcast and you still have mind
begging Muhammadu Buhari for more money when the one he brought was pocketed.”
Consequently, Ugo was picked up by security operatives and detained
for several days before he was arraigned in court for “Defamation of Character”
and “Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of Peace”.
The APC council spokesman was later remanded in prison
custody, where he allegedly remains under terrible conditions.
Reacting to his travail, Keyamo knocked the state governor
who he said was using the state police to attack the opposition.
His statement read, “We are extremely disturbed by the
actions of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State in respect of the arrest, charge
and remand in prison custody of Mr. Ebikpoemi Ugo.
“Incidentally, this
gentleman is also the Tinubu Media Centre Coordinator, Bayelsa State.
“To say we are shocked by the conduct and complaint of
Governor Diri is an understatement. Here is an opposition governor who is at
the forefront of the call for State Police already misusing the police to
oppress a hapless and harmless citizen just asking valid questions (even
without mentioning the governor’s name).
“These are the same leaders of the opposition that are quick
to cry blue murder at the slightest provocation if the act had been that of an
APC governor or the Federal Government. These are the same opposition governors
that are begging Nigerians to re-elect them because they have allegedly turned
a new leaf. Alas! The leopard cannot change its spot.”
The Minister of State for Labour stated that it was on
record that despite the deluge of misinformation and abuses against the
President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on a daily basis on social
media, he did not succumb to using security agencies to clamp down on the
opposition over ‘mere defamatory posts’ on social media.
Keyamo disclosed that the president instead went further to
even confer people including his critics with National Honours.
According to him, if the APC governors retaliate in their
various states by clamping down on officials of the opposition parties, it will
result in an open invitation to chaos across the country.
He, therefore, called on Diri to instruct the Bayelsa Police
Command and Attorney-General of the State to effect the immediate and
unconditional release of the suspect.
“That Governor Diri of Bayelsa State should immediately
withdraw his complaint to the police, which in turn should immediately withdraw
the charges and discontinue the trial of Mr. Ugo and set him free. He can also
choose to immediately instruct the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State to take
over the matter from the Police and enter a nolle prosecui (discontinue the
trial).
“The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, can also
immediately instruct the Bayelsa State Police Command to withdraw the Charges
against Mr. Ugo forthwith and set him free.
“Anything short of any of these options above will be
oppressive, barbaric and undemocratic and would be consequently unacceptable to
us and we shall respond fully in a lawful and legitimate manner. A word is
enough for the wise,” he said.
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