By Nahum Sule (Taraba State Correspondent, in Jalingo)
The federal lawmaker representative Wukari/Ibi constituency, Honourable Danjuma Usman Shiddi, decried that Taraba state is descending into a state of tyranny and dictatorship with the unlawful detention of opposition supporters by Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku administration.
In a press release on Thursday, the lawmaker lamented brutality of members of the campaign council especially Mr Yakubu Samaila Young JP, who is a victim of total brutality by the governor.
According to the release, it reads: “Today, I still affirm my conviction and respect for the rule of law and the Courts, and cherish the grand-norm that establish the Court and vests it with the jurisdiction on legal disputes. In exercising my right to freedom of speech, I wish to express my reservation about the path of dishonour, disobedience to the rule of law and anarchy taken by Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku and his cohorts, and to draw the attention of the Taraba and Nigerian public and the international community to what is in totality a grave illegality by Governor Darius and his lieutenants in harassing, hunting and hounding of the members of the All Progressive Congress especially those aligned with Honourable Danjuma Usman Shiddi and Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, both contesting for Taraba South senatorial seat and Taraba Governorship respectively, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
“I have observed that the continuous arrests, hounding and harassment of our members in the most barbaric and condemnable manner even when they are on bail or sureties for persons on bail, ostensibly at the instance of Governor Darius and his cohorts leaves much to be imagined. This press statement is necessary in the face of overwhelming evidence of arrests, hounding and harassment of our members and thus, that raises fundamental questions on Governor Darius’ eligibility for public office and international travels or engagements, and for a display of such questionable social behaviour by Governor Darius, the international community must take seriously.
"This behaviour is evident in his plots, intrigues and conspiracies with a section of the Taraba Judiciary which heralded these recent waves of arrests and incarceration of our members and teeming supporters against all known democratic cultures or rules. We are worried about Governor Darius’ and his cohorts' several other obvious gross misconducts and nasty violations of not only the sacred norms of the Nigerian constitution, but also the agelong values of peace, unity and respect for human rights held in the highest esteem by Taraba people. Here are the other critical issues that will continue to prick the conscience of all rational, democratic and right thinking people in Nigeria and across the world”, it reads.
It further stated that for several months running, some members of the All Progressive Congress in Taraba State have been locked up and gagged by the governor, thus, preventing them from freely moving, expressing their views without fear of intimidation, associating and pursuing legitimate businesses, while those who dared are surrounded by armed policemen and armed thugs, while the streets have been taken over by miscreants who literally live inside the streets with their cudgels and hemp.
The lawmaker stressed that Hon. Yakubu Samaila Young JP is still in remand at the instance of Governor Darius who ensured that his bail conditions are not only stringent but draconian too.
He said “A few months ago, we woke up to witness the shameful arrest and eventual unlawful detention of Isa Ma'aji Shekarau Masa-Ibi a.k.a Isa Ma'aji - Wukari Local Government Coordinator, Honourable Danjuma Usman Shiddi Campaign Council, Hon. Danladi Jibatswen Zozo, Chairman All Progressives Congress, Wukari Local Government and Mr. Meshack Dan-Azumi, the Senator Emmanuel Bwacha Campaign Council Wukari Local Government Area Coordinator in a bid to silent Honourable Danjuma Usman Shiddi and Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.
"These persons remained in detention until we painstakingly secured their bail. The trio were arrested on the allegation of exercising their legitimate duty of drawing the attention of the security agencies to a potential breach of law and order via a petition. Yesterday again, we woke up to a shameful arrest and remand of Alh. Gambo Hashimu the Deputy Director-General of the Hon. Danjuma Usman Shiddi Southern Taraba Senate Campaign Council, and Hon Abdullahi Shuaibu apc stalwart at Zing correctional center, who stood surety for the aforementioned persons” he said.
He further charge the his teaming supporters to keep hope alive as their victory is certain in the coming election. NNL.
