By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders COSEYL, has strongly condemned the recent arrest of a Kaduna-based prominent Islamic scholar and cleric Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar shortly after hosting Peter Obi, the former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP.
The Source reports that Obi ,a prominent figure in the opposition Coalition platform the African Democratic Congress ADC had on Tuesday morning announced the shocking arrest of his host , Sheikh Umar by security operatives on Sunday , describing the development as a disturbing sign of Nigeria’s descent to authoritarianism.
In a statement on his official site, Obi, one of the ADC’s presidential aspirants equally condemned the arrest of the Islamic cleric as representing a very dangerous threat to freedom of speech and movement, as well as a dent on the country’s democratic credentials.
“I have just been made aware early this morning that revered religious leader Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar has been arrested by the authorities shortly after hosting me in Kaduna on Sunday”, Obi stated.
Reacting to the development, the COSEYL in a statement issued on Tuesday by its President -General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem and made available to this magazine, described the arrest as not only shocking, but a dangerous assault on the fundamental principles of democracy, civil liberty and rule of law.
“The alleged arrest is anti-democratic, wicked, barbaric and totally unacceptable in any society that claims to uphold justice and freedom.
“COSEYL views this incident ,as a blatant attempt to intimidate citizens.and suppress freedom of association, expression and movement — rights that clearly guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Nigeria is not a police state. No citizen should be harassed, intimidated,or arrested simply for exercising his constitutional rights, or for hosting a guest, regardless of differences on political affiliation.
“Such actions set a dangerous precedent ,and signals a steady drift towards authoritarianism.
“We state clearly that: injustice to one is injustice to all. We, therefore, demand immediate and unconditional release of Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar ,as well as a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest”, COSEYL stated.
The apex South East socio-political youth group, also called for an immediate end to all forms of politically-motivated harassment, intimidation and persecution of innocent citizens .
The COSEYL warned that the country’s democratic and governance space must not be reduced to a level where citizens live in fear, owing to their political preferences.
“We must collectively resist any attempt to erode freedom.
“COSEYL remains committed to the protection of human rights , justice and preservation of our democratic values”
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