Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has condemned the raid, by personnel of the Nigeria Police, on the house of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday.
The condemnation was contained in a release by an aid to the senator, Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo, today in Kaduna.
The statement reads “Senator Makarfi considers this assault on a respected national leader a former Federal Minister and a nonagenarian as callous and further evidence of the descent of the country into the abyss of authoritarianism and police state. It was clearly an attempt to intimidate and cow as well as stifle contrary opinion in clear violation of our constitution and international conventions, as we approach the 2019 elections.
“Senator Makarfi identifies and sympathizes with Elder Clark over this assault on his privacy as well as calls on Nigerians to be vigilant and resist attempts at constricting our democratic space and fundamental human rights, (mis)using agencies of state.
“Even though the Police authorities have sought to distance themselves from this show of shame, Senator Makarfi urges that they go beyond ordinary disclaimer by instituting a genuine investigation into this with a view to unraveling the sordid act as well as bringing perpetrators to justice”.
PRESS STATEMENT
The attention of Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has been drawn to the raid, by personnel of the Nigeria Police, on the house of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday.
Senator Makarfi considers this assault on a respected national leader a former Federal Minister and a nonagenarian as callous and further evidence of the descent of the country into the abyss of authoritarianism and police state. It was clearly an attempt to intimidate and cow as well as stifle contrary opinion in clear violation of our constitution and international conventions, as we approach the 2019 elections.
Senator Makarfi identifies and sympathizes with Elder Clark over this assault on his privacy as well as calls on Nigerians to be vigilant and resist attempts at constricting our democratic space and fundamental human rights, (mis)using agencies of state.
Even though the Police authorities have sought to distance themselves from this show of shame, Senator Makarfi urges that they go beyond ordinary disclaimer by instituting a genuine investigation into this with a view to unraveling the sordid act as well as bringing perpetrators to justice
Sgd
Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo
5th September 2018
