Adamawa: APC Accuses Fintiri of Persecuting Critics I Tellwell Newspaper
From Mohammed Ismail, Yola
The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State has squealed over the alleged unlawful arrest and detention of the critics of the administration of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri on the alleged orders of the governor.
The party is already picking troubles with Fintiri over the alleged arrest and detention of one A A Lawal Uba, said to be a vocal critic of the Fintiri administration, urging the governor to unconditionally order the release of the politician.
Uba, although a fellow PDP member to the governor, has in recent times authored vicious political screeds against governor Fintiri despite being a member of the ruling party.
He has variously accused the governor of high-handedness, duplicity, corruption and executive rascality.
Following his arrest and detention, the organizing secretary of the APC, Mustapha Atiku Ribadu, called for his immediate release, observing that democracy is under serious threat if the governor will unilaterally use his executive powers to order the arrest of citizens for openly voicing out their views.
He noted that if Fintiri could order the arrest of his own party man for disagreeing with him, he will not bat an eyelid to crush the mainstream opposition parties.
Ribadu, who frowned at what he called “reckless and primitive display of executive power,” said, the development is a political abberation and an invitation to anarchy calling on the governor to take a volte face before he throws the state into the wilderness.
“Democracy is seriously under threat in Adamawa since the governor has started using his executive powers to crush opposition and those who disagree with him.
“If a governor can order the arrest of his own party man for criticising him then we are in for a big trouble in Adamawa,” he cried out, saying, “That is why it has become incumbent for all lovers of democracy to stand against this anomaly because it has the tendency to eclipse our hard earned democracy.”
Ribadu said, “Despite the fact that the detained politician is suffering from a serious health challenge, he could not be released to get medical treatment. This is a new low in Adamawa state and we will definitely challenge it.”
Reacting to the allegation, Humwashi Wonosikou, press secretary to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, called the accusation a wobbly and slippery dig to impugn the superlative democratic credentials of governor Fintiri.
“In the history of Adamawa State, no governor was abused and maligned like Fintiri, yet as a leader, he has remained calm, calculative and composed.
“Only a misdirected and mischievous mind will accuse Fintiri of ordering arrest of anyone. Ribadu and his co-travellers should try to sort out themselves and for once stop trying their puerile political tantrum,” he said.
