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HoR minority caucus condemns crackdown on citizens by FG, calls for immediate release of detained persons

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has slammed the Federal Government over crackdown on citizens criticisms and demanded for the immediate release of detained persons.
The caucus also reiterated the importance of dissenting opinions in a democracy, reminding President Bola Tinubu of his critical stance during the reign of President Goodluck Jonathan.
This was contained in a statement dated December 22, 2024 and signed by the Minority Caucus Leader, Rep Kingsley Chinda, stating that:
“The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives is very concerned about the growing controversial clampdown of citizens criticizing government.
“It is equally disturbing that agents of state are fingered in the brazen, callous, and ill-tempered harassment, and intimidation of citizens who on various medium express their respective disagreement, and apprehensions about some government policies which they believe will further exacerbate the near-zero situations of Nigerians.
“As a responsive and responsible group, we condemn in strong terms any, and every actions by the government; through security, and law enforcement agencies geared towards creating fears, panic, and make people to cow-tow to submission.
The Caucus further explained that: “We wish to reiterate that democracy can only thrive where there is virile opposition, and dissenting voices, as well as enabling alternative opinions
to express their differing views without fear or let.
“The Caucus recalls that, before 2015 when the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power, the party was very brazen, sharp-shooting, and sometimes not courteous in it’s vilification, and pillorying of the government in power.
” Indeed, President Bola Tinubu in 2011, as the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was very frontal in his criticisms of (then president) Goodluck Jonathan.
” It is surprising that a party that went roughshod in attacking, and castigating the PDP, now abhors, rejects, and hates criticism with much derision.
“As a Caucus, while we counsel that every criticism should be civil, and align with accepted regulations, we enjoin government to eschew every action of citizenry intimidation, coercion, and prosecution which may have negative effects on democracy.
” We also encourage the government to evolve results-yielding, and life-changing policies, and initiatives that will impact positively on Nigerians as an ingenious strategy to “defeat” its critics.
“While the Caucus calls for immediate release of anyone detained by state agencies for criticizing government policies, or under any guise, we also promise to resort to legislative actions against continuous abuse.
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Senator Natasha on FB listed 3 politicians that should be arrested if anything happens to her

The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken to her verified Facebook page to raise a serious alarm, alleging that her life is in danger following a reported attack on her family house in Kogi State.
In the strongly worded post, the Kogi-born lawmaker fingered some high-ranking political figures in Nigeria, declaring that should anything happen to her, the Nigerian Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, and the current state Governor, Usman Ododo, should be held accountable.
“Nigeria Police, I reiterate, should any harm befall me, Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ex Gov. Yahaya Bello & Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi state should be held responsible,” she posted.
Her statement comes, hours after her family home in Kogi was attacked, although details surrounding the incident remain sketchy as of the time of filing this report.
Recall that this is not the first time the Kogi senator is making such allegations against the trio. She made the same statement few weeks ago during her homecoming to Kogi State where she accused the senate president, Akpabio and Yahaya Bello for plotting evil against her.
Senator Natasha has been a vocal political figure and critic of the ruling establishment in Kogi, and this latest development adds to the growing tension in the state and national political landscape.
Authorities are yet to issue an official response to her recent allegations.
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Emergency Rule: We should be thankful to President Tinubu -Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, saying he wanted the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the oil-rich state.
In a move that has continued to divide opinions, Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly following months of political crisis in Rivers State.
But Wike said the president’s move saved Rivers from implosion, arguing that the decision to appoint a sole administrator following Fubara’s suspension was a step in the right direction.
The former Rivers governor said this on Friday in Abuja during a media parley with select journalists.
“As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers state. I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state.” Wike said.
However, people must tell the truth. The governor was gone. He was gone, yes… so when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him.
“Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’”
In February, the Supreme Court waded into the months-long political crisis in Rivers State, asking the Martin Amaewhule-led members of the state’s House of Assembly to resume sitting.
The apex court also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop releasing funds to the Rivers State government over what it labelled as disregard for court orders. It dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker and asked the governor to re-present the budget to the lawmakers.
After weeks of back and forth between Amaewhule and the lawmakers over the budget re-presentation and moves to impeach Fubara, President Tinubu stepped in.
He suspended Fubara and his deputy and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, citing security reasons. Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as the sole administrator, a step Wike said saved Rivers.
“Mr president came in and saved the situation, saved Rivers people from that calamity and anarchy,” the FCT minister argued.
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