The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the House of Representatives, on Sunday, lampooned President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest Tanko Salihi Yakassai, a former aide to Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje
The PDP Reps noted that Yakassai was arrested after he criticized the Federal Government over the abduction of over 300 schoolgirls in Zamfara State on Friday.
Their statement was signed by the Caucus Kingsley Chinda (Rivers State) and condemned Yakassai’arrest, which it said was against the freedom of expression guaranteed by the 1999 constitution.
“The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus, House of Representatives notes with utmost concern and dismay report of the arrest of Mr Tanko Salihi Yakassai, a former aide to Umar Ganduje, Governor of Kano State by agents of the Department of State Services (DSS).
“As a Caucus, we note with very serious concern, the continuous breach and denigration of democratic ethos and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (as amended) by President Muhammadu Buhari. “Particularly in view of constitutionally guaranteed safeguards in Chapters IV thereof on freedom of speech, and also the provision of Section 14(1) of the said Constitution which provides that “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State base on the principles of democracy and social justice.
“Recall that only recently, some armed bandits abducted secondary school girls from a Zamfara State Government-owned secondary school in Jangebe, following which Mr. Yakassai had criticized persons in authority, including President Muhammadu Buhari and reiterated our call for the resignation of the President over his failure to curb or effectively deal with the general state of insecurity across the country.
“Mr Yakassai had also lamented that the current administration has failed Nigerians at all levels which led to his removal as the Special Adviser on Media to the Kano State Governor”, Chida said. Saluting “the stance, uncommon boldness, courage and statesmanship shown by Mr Yakassai and a few other Nigerians for standing firm to say the truth”, the caucus noted with utmost surprise and disappointment the rationale behind the arrest of Yakassai.
The Caucus wrote a day after Ganduje fired Yakassai for the tweets in which he criticized Buhari’s administration’s inability to prevent the spate of kidnappings going on in various parts of the country.
Among Yakassai’s tweets were:
“Clearly, we as APC government, at all levels, have failed Nigerians in the number one duty we were elected to do which is to secure lives and properties. Not a single day goes by without some sort of insecurity in this land. This is a shame! Deal with terrorists decisively or resign.
“Just last week it was #freekagaraboys, today we have a new hashtag #RescueJangebeGirls, who knows tomorrow what hashtag we will come up with? Perhaps one for ourselves when we get caught up in one of these daring attacks.
“This is sad and heartbreaking, I feel helpless and hopeless. “I completely agree. Hypocrisy is in our DNA. Imagine what’s happening in the North now under GEJ or OBJ, what you will hear is he’s the enemy of the North and Muslims, but here we are, being ravaged by all sorts of insecurity but no collective rage, sai useless lamentations. SMDH.”
The PDP lawmakers called for Yakassai’s release.
“We are indeed greatly worried and take cognizance of the fact that the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government has consistently failed in its responsibility of preserving the Constitution which he swore to defend and uphold, particularly with respect to the protection of the lives of Nigerians as guaranteed in S.14(2) of the Constitution and his social contract with Nigerians during his electioneering campaigns.
“We hereby call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government to pay particular attention to the message (as delivered by Mr Yakassai and other well-meaning Nigerians), rather than focus on the messenger. For how long will he continue to fiddle while the country burns? “Consequently, we hereby call on the DSS and other relevant authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Yakassai” the Caucus said.
