By Chidiebere Nneji
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described as politically motivated the summons issued by the police to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
In the same manner, the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal have berated the police as being a tool for political vendetta against opponents.
It said the move was an assault not only on individual politicians but on Nigeria’s democracy itself.
ADC further alleged that the Federal Government was using the police to harass opposition leaders instead of focusing on protecting Nigerians from insecurity.
This was contained in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Friday.
“At a time when terrorists and criminal gangs freely operate in large parts of the North, the Nigerian Police appear more interested in silencing opposition leaders than protecting citizens,” the statement read.
Similarly, the opposition coalition condemned the violent attack on the convoy of former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in Birnin Kebbi, where several party members sustained injuries.
It noted that the attack occurred in broad daylight near a police outpost, decrying the fact that no arrests had been made.
“Despite the seriousness of the attack, no arrests have been made, and the perpetrators remain at large,” ADC said.
Meanwhile, the Sokoto South Senator Aminu Tambuwal on Friday urged Nasir El-Rufai, to honour the summons issued by the Kaduna State Police Command.
Tambuwal gave the advice while appearing on Channels Television’s programme Politics Today.
The police command had invited the former Kaduna State governor following an attack on members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, by thugs in Kaduna.
In response, El-Rufai threatened to contest the summons in court.
However, Tambuwal maintained that the police cannot curtail freedom of association and assembly as guaranteed by the Constitution.
He said: “Making reference to the constitution of Nigeria which provides for freedom of expression and Assembly, but most of the time the police tries to hide under the Public Order Act which its provisions are inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution to come hard on individuals or groups trying to come together or meet.
“There is no need for a permit from the police for a political party to have a meeting. Even when you write to the police, you notify them. In most cases it has to do with political rallies. In most cases it is for the police to provide security at the rallies and guide the political parties not to have clashes on a particular days and times.
“It is just for guidance and not for the police to say you can’t meet. It wasn’t a rally. We were there on a commiseration visit as a coalition to leaders of the coalition that were attacked by thugs, we were not there for anything, we were there just to commiserate with the leaders in Kaduna.
“I’m a law abiding citizen of this country and whoever is invited by the constituted authority should appear, I will advise my brother and friend, El-Rufai, to attend to the invitation of the police.”
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