SaharaReporters on Wednesday reported that Tijani Momoh, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 5, covering Edo and Delta states, confirmed the arrest of Abure along with four others in Benin City, Edo State capital, for attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and other related offences.
Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, has lambasted the Nigeria Police Force over the arrest of the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure.
A viral video showing how Abure was arrested by some armed police officers emerged on the internet Wednesday afternoon.
Abure was however released on bail on early Thursday morning.
Reacting to Abure’s arrest, Obi in a series of posts on his X handle on Wednesday night said that the process of the Labour Party’s National Chairman by the police was deplorable, demeaning, distasteful, unequivocally intolerable and epitomises the pinnacle of rascality and lawlessness in the country.
Like many Nigerians, I observed the distasteful national television news reports detailing the humiliating arrest of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, earlier today in Benin City, Edo state.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) February 21, 2024
Obi, a former Anambra governor, said that Nigerians are all duty-bound irrespective of their status in the society to respond to invitations from properly constituted authority, but that the process in which Abure was arrested serves to egregiously tarnish the already regrettable perception of Nigeria as one plagued by lawlessness.
He said, “Like many Nigerians, I observed the distasteful national television news reports detailing the humiliating arrest of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, earlier today in Benin City, Edo state.
“Throughout my roles as a private individual, public figure, Governor, and Presidential candidate, I consistently advocated for the paramount importance of upholding the rule of law in any sane society.
“I firmly believe that, as citizens, we are all duty-bound irrespective of our status in society to respond to invitations from properly constituted authority. My stance on this matter remains unwavering but does not explain watching the distressing image of our National Chairman lying on the ground in the name of arrest.
“This act is undesirable, demeaning and unequivocally intolerable and must be condemned by any decent and civilized mind within the context of our present civic landscape in Nigeria.
“These deplorable actions epitomize the pinnacle of rascality and serve to egregiously tarnish the already regrettable perception of our nation as one plagued by lawlessness.
“Such behaviour must not only be denounced but also actively addressed to uphold the principles of justice and respect for the dignity of the individual within our society.
“Regarding the circumstances surrounding Mr. Abure's arrest, it is crucial to emphasize that while constitutional authorities must be allowed to execute their statutory functions, officers must adhere to due process, civility, decency and established arrest procedures, embody civility, decorum, respect for the dignity and rights of citizens, and, above all, the presumption of innocence before the law.
“It is crucial to emphasize that as a leader within the Labour Party, Mr. Abure represents, both personally and statutorily, as the incumbent Chairman of the LP, the face of political opposition in Nigeria.
“Most importantly, political parties are institutions of democratic statehood and ought to that extent be accorded due respect.”
https://twitter.com/peterobi/