Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, on Tuesday bemoaned the arrest and detention of a Labour Party supporter, Nnamdi Chude.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the Anambra State government recently confirmed Chude’s arrest for alleged cybercrime.
Chude had tweeted that the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had brought the state back to the era of ballot box snatching during the recently concluded state election.
The government stated that it had no specific information regarding the allegations against Chude or the reason for his arrest.
However, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State had informed Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the arrest.
In a statement, the press secretary to Governor Soludo, Christian Aburime, revealed that Chude was arrested by the Cyber Crime Unit of Interpol in Anambra and taken to Abuja the following day. But Obi is appealing to all concerned “to please treat the issue most objectively on rule of law, and compassionately release the young man in question”.
Obi said in a statement: “After due enquiries, I regret to say that the arrest of Mr Nnamdi Chude is a further confirmation of Nigeria’s poor and declining performance in the Rule of Law, Voice and Accountability, and other governance indicators
“With Voice, and Accountability, the No 1 key indicator of good governance, it is very important, particularly for those in authority to note and accept that freedom of expression is a fundamental right and ingredient for the development of a good society.
“While I appreciate that the freedoms must be exercised in line with the rule of law, arresting Nigerians for tweeting on their leaders and those in authority decimates the opportunity for inclusive governance and accountability which are highly needed in a developing country like Nigeria.
“As we are all Nigerians and Nigeria is our only country, we must continue to make efforts to build a better Nation where justice, fairness, equity, tolerance, prosperity, accountable leadership and rule of law shall reign with no Nigerian feeling suppressed or oppressed.
“As leaders, it is important for us to know that there are several consequences of occupying public office.
“For instance, citizens will have their different thoughts on us and we have the right to reply. Arbitrary use of our office or in unrestrained way will do no one any good, including those in authority.”
