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Enioluwa Adeniyi
Guest
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Toyin Amuzu, has called for the immediate release of Gaffar Asaolu, political aide to Oladipupo Adebutu, the party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections.
The Ogun State Police Command arrested Asaolu over allegations of involvement in violence during last Saturday’s local government elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Amuzu condemned what he described as the “arbitrary arrest and detention” of Asaolu, demanding his unconditional release.
“The continuous detention of the Director of Finance of the Atiku-Okowa Campaign Committee in the 2023 general elections, on trumped-up charges, is unfair and unjust,” Amuzu stated.
The PDP chieftain accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of orchestrating Asaolu’s arrest, describing it as a political witch-hunt aimed at silencing opposition voices.
He urged the governor to prioritize addressing the state’s growing security concerns rather than targeting members of the opposition party.
“Governor Abiodun should focus on the pressing security challenges in Ogun State instead of engaging in the political victimization of PDP members. The alleged killer squad tag and unfair treatment of Asaolu are unjustifiable,” Amuzu said.
Amuzu also referenced Adebutu’s own run-ins with law enforcement, noting that the governorship candidate had been arrested twice by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police. He suggested that Asaolu’s detention is connected to his association with Adebutu.
He said that Adebutu was later released when no evidence was found against him, while Asaolu remains in detention, pointing out that “this is a clear case of political persecution and an affront to democracy”
“The government should focus on addressing the real security challenges facing our state, which include ritual killings, cult clashes and killings, robbery, kidnapping, and political violence especially from the ruling party rather than harassing innocent citizens,” Amuzu added in the statement.
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He, therefore, called on the state government to respect the Rule of Law and ensure that all citizens are treated fairly and justly.
“The illegal arrest and detention of citizens without sufficient evidence is a clear violation of their fundamental human rights. The people of Ogun State deserve better, and it’s time for the government to take action to address the growing security concerns and put an end to political witch-hunts”, the 2023 House of Representatives PDP candidate submitted.
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