The Peoples Democratic Party demands the immediate and unconditional release of Salihu Yakasai, son of elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai, from security custody.
Yakasai was arrested reportedly by the Department of Secret Service, DSS, on his way from a barbing salon over his earlier criticism of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration.
Yakasai, in a series of tweet, stated that the APC-led government has failed Nigerians as insecurity was the order of the day following the abduction of 317 schoolgirls from the Government Secondary College, Jangebe in Zamfara State.
Also, the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje fired his aide from his service over his criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The official PDP statement reads below;
“The party describes the reported arrest of Salihu by security operatives as well as his alleged detention in a secret facility, just after his criticism against the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s failures in the fight against banditry in our country, as completely unacceptable.
Salihu Yakasai’s ordeal is a sad reminder of the sudden disappearance of another known critic of the Buhari administration, Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Abu Hanifa Dadiyata since August 2019.
The PDP reminds agents of the APC-led administration that Nigeria is a democratic nation and that the rights of citizens, including their freedom of expression, within the ambit of the law, are firmly guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) & as such, must be respected.
Our party, therefore, rejects the arrest of Salihu Yakasai, for joining other patriotic Nigerians in demanding a Presidential commitment a decisive action to rescue the abducted Zamfara schoolgirls as well as to end all acts of terrorism in our country.
The PDP also condemns the decision of the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, in summarily relieving Salihu Yakasai of his appointment as his Special Adviser on media, on the ground that his patriotic demand for a decisive action to end terrorism, was contrary to the stand of the All Progressive Congres government.
It is also instructive to note that Governor Ganduje equally warned all political appointees and public servants in the state against such patriotic expressions like those made by Salihu.
The action he Governor Ganduje has again heightened apprehensions on the alleged connections between APC leaders and the bandits pillaging our nation.
In this regard, the PDP demands that Governor Ganduje comes clean on the matter.
This is because such stances have continued to embolden bandits while frustrating patriotic citizens who are raising voices against acts of terrorism in our country.
The PDP charges Nigerians to hold the APC and its leaders responsible for the escalated acts of banditry and terrorism in our country as well as any harm that suddenly comes the way of well-meaning citizens who are raising their voices against the activities of outlaws in our nation.”
