The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed fears over the safety of Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia South Senatorial District who was arrested by the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) early hours of Friday.
The party lamented that the Gestapo-style arrest of Abaribe has further confirmed the earlier alarm that the APC-led Federal Government has commenced a total clampdown on the opposition and perceived opponents of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election bid.
The PDP in a statement issued Friday by Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, said the clampdown on Senator Abaribe is feared to be in furtherance of the moves to intimidate and emasculate members of the National Assembly who are known for their outspokenness against the constitutional violations and misrule of the APC administration.
The opposition party noted that the Federal Government has given no reasons for the arrest and detention of Senator Abaribe, who has been kept incommunicado without access to his lawyers and associates.
It also stressed the apprehension of Nigerians following numerous alleged plots by the Federal Government to frame up other lawmakers, including Senate President Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremmadu, as well as Senators Dino Melaye and Shehu Sani.
“Nigerians can now see that our dear nation is fast descending into a fascist state where constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech no longer obtains and citizens are marked, arrested and detained on the whims and caprices of those in power.
“The PDP charges the DSS to immediately declare Senator Abaribe’s whereabouts, as well as the charge against him. Moreover, the laws of our nation are clear on the process of arrest and prosecution of any citizen and not recourse to clampdown and intimidation.” It said
Meanwhile, Igbo Renaisance Forum (IRF) has also condemned the arrest of Abaribe’s arrest by operatives of DSS.
In a statement issued by Nze Ugo-Akpe Onwuka, the Convener of IRF, the Forum also demanded for the release of the arrested lawmaker arguing that legal procedure should be followed if there is need for him to be invited for any questioning.
“We ask that Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe be released, and that if there is need for him to be invited, that they follow the legal procedure.”
It lamented that it was “sad that in this period, when Nigeria is battling with the integrity of government to prove to the international community that there is no deliberate effort to subdue the opposition and individuals perceived to be critical of the government, the DSS could embark on such a very caustic action.”
