Governor Sule Did Not Order The Arrest Of PDP Protesting Mercenaries

Rabiu Omaku

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has debunked claims by the protesting PDP women who were arrested by the Nigeria Police a few hours after the declaration of the sitting Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule by the apex court as the substantive Governor of the State.

The position was contained in a press statement signed by Hon. Peter Ahemba, The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs.

According to the statement, The attention of His Excellency, Engineer. Abdullahi Sule, The Executive Governor of Nasarawa State has been drawn to a publication in some online media platforms credited to the Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Mr. Francis Orogu where he alleged that the Governor was behind the arrest and “continued” detention of some supporters of his party.

Ordinarily, this allegation deserves no response as we understand the PDP leaders have not recovered from the shock of defeat arising from the recent Supreme Court verdict and can raise unnecessary issues out of frustration, it has become pertinent to clarify that the Governor has no hand in the arrest of the protesters.

Firstly, it is public knowledge that the State Police Command, in the performance of its constitutional responsibility of maintaining law and order, arrested some persons believed to have been sponsored by the leadership of the PDP to stage a needless protest thereby causing public disturbance, in violation of a peace pact earlier signed by leaderships of the ruling APC and the opposition PDP to maintain peace before, during and after the Apex court ruling on the Governorship dispute.

Surprisingly, the PDP supporters, who were instigated by the party leaders resorted to violence by blocking and burning down tires on the ever-busy Jos Road causing untold hardship for motorists as well as grounding commercial activities to a halt.

The statement further read that shortly after the Supreme Court rightly affirmed the election of His Excellency, Engineer. Abdullahi Sule was the duly elected Governor of Nasarawa State, thus prompting their arrest by the Police.

The SSA on Public Affairs described the unfolding as quite unfortunate that the PDP Chairman, Mr. Francis Orogu, whose desperation for power put the protesters in trouble has turned around to accuse the Governor of a matter that is strictly within the purview of the Police authorities, and the Judiciary.

We wish to make it abundantly clear to Mr. Orogu and his co-travelers that Governor Sule, as a democrat and respecter of the rule of law does not meddle in the affairs of security agencies, the Judiciary and other arms of Government and therefore the allegation that the Governor is behind the arrest of the PDP supporters is baseless.

At this juncture, we demand an unreserved apology from the State PDP Chairman for his serial false allegations against His Excellency and the Government of Nasarawa State.

The PDP leaders must, as a matter of morality, seek the forgiveness of the people of the State, particularly the womenfolk for misleading the unsuspecting women and encouraging them to display nudity in the streets whereas their wives, daughters, and close relations were not engaged to do same.

This, no doubt, constitutes an act of human rights violation especially the right of women to human dignity, and must not be overlooked by our Civil Society Organisations.

While we sympathize with the arrested protesters