Peter Obi condemns cleric’s arrest after Kaduna assembly

Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate within the 2023 election, says a cleric who just lately hosted him in Kaduna State has been arrested.

In a put up shared on his X (previously Twitter) account on Tuesday, Obi stated he was knowledgeable that the non secular chief, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, was arrested shortly after internet hosting him throughout a go to to Kaduna on Sunday.

“I’ve simply been made conscious early this morning that revered non secular chief, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, has been arrested by authorities shortly after internet hosting me in Kaduna on Sunday,” Obi stated.

The previous governor described the incident as an indication of a worsening local weather for civil liberties, warning that it might undermine Nigeria’s democratic ideas if not urgently addressed.

“This growth underscores the deeply troubling state of our nation and our democracy, the place freedom of speech and motion is more and more threatened, and the place residents and perceived political opponents face harassment and pointless persecution. This can’t be allowed to proceed,” he stated.

Obi emphasised that safeguarding basic freedoms is important in a democratic society and urged authorities to stick strictly to the rule of regulation.

“This nation should defend freedom and free speech, that are the hallmarks of each democratic society. Suppression and intimidation of dissent can by no means stand in a democratic society, and this Nigerian authorities should perceive this reality,” he added.

He additional referred to as on related authorities to keep away from actions that might weaken democratic establishments.

“I respectfully name on all these bent on undermining our already fragile democracy to please cease and apply the rule of regulation and tenets of democracy in coping with residents,” Obi stated.

As of the time of submitting this report, authorities had not issued any official assertion concerning the arrest or the circumstances surrounding it.