BEVERLY HILLS, February 08, (THEWILL) – A group, the Arewa Youth for Progressive Development, AYPD, has condemned the “unprecedented intolerance and obnoxious attempt” by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State against all forms of free speech and constructive criticism against his government.
In a statement by its President, Comrade Danjuma Bello Sarki, and Secretary, Abdulhamid Usman, the Arewa youth said it is rather unfortunate that el-Rufai who was a known critic of the past administrations has become highly intolerant of any dissenting voice against his administration.
According to them, “The recent arrest and detention of Mr Luka Binniyat, the Bureau Chief of the Vanguard Newspapers on trump up charges is nothing but an attempt to gag the media and silence his critics in the state. This is apparently undemocratic, crude and uncalled for.
“It is a known fact that el-Rufai has ordered the arrest of Onjewu Dickson, Abdullahi BZ Barazana, Adamu Abdullahi, John Danfulani PhD, Nasiru Jagaba and others, all in an bid to cow his opposition to silence, despite being a furious critic in the past.
“It is obvious that in an attempt to shut down dissenting voices the governor of Kaduna State has threatened and written to the media houses of all journalists critical of his administration to either be silence or transferred out of the state. We are aware that he has made several attempts to silence Luka Binniyat of the Vanguard Newspapers and others to no avail hence, this new conspiracy to intimidate him.”
AYPD continued, “The question we keep asking is what is he trying to achieving or hide by all this? However, we call on all members of the forth estate of the realm and other well meaning citizens to remain steadfast and resolute in their quest for objective reporting and criticism, despite these harassment and oppression. Also, we call on the people to condemn in totality this heinous act of tyranny and oppression.”
