2 months ago
16 ARTICLE AD
The Olugbenga Edema Campaign Organisation of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in Ondo State has called for the release of the party chairman in Ilaje Local Government Area, Mr Banji Orogbemi, who was arrested by the police.
Orogbemi was reportedly arrested by officers of the state police command for allegedly criticising the current administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the council area.
This development comes a few months before the state governorship election on 16th November.
The spokesperson of the campaign organisation, Mr Oluwatosin Ayeni, in a statement on Tuesday, criticised Governor Aiyedatiwa and other politicians in the area over the arrest of the chairman.
According to the statement, the arrest violates fundamental human rights and the principles of justice.
The statement read, “Orogbemi was apprehended after allegedly calling out Governor Aiyedatiwa for his administration’s lack of progress and accountability. We view the governor’s actions as an abuse of power, as such arbitrary arrests are unacceptable in a democratic society.
“Orogbemi was taken to the Igbokoda Divisional Police Station, where Ogungbure ordered the police to deny him bail. We will not sit idly by while they abuse their powers. This is not just about Orogbemi; it’s about the rights of every citizen.
“The arbitrary arrest of Mr Banji Orogbemi is a clear indication that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa cannot tolerate dissent. His administration, marked by non-performance, has resorted to silencing voices of opposition instead of addressing the legitimate concerns of the populace.”
While urging the police to act independently, the campaign organisation demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest, stressing that political leaders should be held accountable for their actions, particularly when they infringe upon the rights of citizens.
In response, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Aiyedatiwa, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the governor could not be involved in such an act, claiming that the NNPP candidate was merely seeking relevance by making allegations against his boss.
He said, “We are not aware of anything like this, and Mr Governor can’t be involved in such. People criticise the government every day—how many have we arrested? This is just Edema looking for relevance where he has none.”
Also, when contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, said she was unaware of the incident at the time of filing this report but promised to call back.
“I have not been informed about the incident, but I will get back to you as soon as I get the information,” the PPRO stated.
