ARREST OF MEMBERS OF OPPOSITION ’LL CREATE TENSION – says the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) By Akinwunmi King(Lagos)and Oladele Ogunsola, (Ibadan) With less than 24 hours to the Osun State gubernatorial election, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has said arrest of leaders or members of the opposition is most likely to create tension. MURIC was reacting to the alleged arrest and detention of a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Yemi Oke, in Obokun Local Government Area by security agents described as Special Forces, which came from Abuja. MURIC, in a statement by its Director, Ishaq Akintola, said it was alarmed by this development, noting that such action will amount to political naivety to claim ignorance of the likely motive behind clampdown on the opposition a few days to an election. “Whereas President Jonathan declared a few days ago that the days of election rigging are gone while the Minister of State for Defence claimed yesterday (Wednesday) that the deployment of security operatives to Osun was to prevent the breakdown of law and order, the arrest of Hon. Yemi Oke indicates that the Federal Government is not ready to walk its talk. “Arrest of leaders or members of the opposition is most likely to create tension, drive them underground and militarise them. This was the precursor of the famous ‘operation wet-e’ which turned the South West to the Wild, Wild West of the 60s,” the statement read in part. The group called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), election observers and the international community to take note of the “game plan of the Federal Government, adding that “can anyone match FG’s declarations with its actions? “When did election turn into war that soldiers in full battle gear must breathe down the necks of the electorate? “We assert that a free and fair election is totally impossible in an atmosphere of tension and fear. Democracy is all about free choice but choice cannot be free in a fully militarised zone. “The militarisation of Osun becomes provocative when members and leaders of opposition are detained on phantom charges.” DAILY INDEPENDENCE August 8, 2014
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 15:01:28 +0000
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