The leadership of Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND has reacted to the unlawful arrest of the member representing Degema-Bonny Federal constituency and an aspirant for Rivers Governorship, Hon. Farrah Dagogo, alleging that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike is behind the unlawful arrest.
While calling on the National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to call Wike to order, MEND is demanding the immediate release of Dagogo, insisting that his arrest is a political witch hunt by Gov. Wike who believes that Dagogo poses a threat to his choice of successor as governor in 2023.
In a release on Wednesday, MEND says Hon. Dagogo is a good son of Niger Delta and has committed so much to the uplifting of the people of Niger Delta before his entry into politics.
MEND said contrary to allegations by Gov. Wike that Hon. Dagogo launched an attack and caused crisis at the screening venue of National Assembly aspirants in Port Harcourt, there is nothing to show that an attack was carried out.
MEND notes that police had arrived the venue of the screening to arrest some men who were engaged in peaceful protest. Out of the 19 persons arrested, four according to MEND were released because they belong to the camp of anointed aspirant of Gov Wike.
The Movement also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call Wike to order, accusing the opposition PDP of keeping mum as the crisis in the state rages.
“Wike by his action is attempting to drag the reputation of the PDP to the mud. He is tyrannical and intolerant to opposition. He is far a dictator than Muhammadu Buhari is believed to be.
“The peace established by the government of former president Umar Yar’Adua is about being truncated by governor Wike with the unlawful arrest of those whose offence is nothing but seeking to contest election.
“We demand the immediate release of Hon. Farrah Dagogo now. We understand that if not for the prompt reportage of the illegal abduction of Dagogo in the media, which alerted the general public, maybe we would be hearing something else about the gentleman at this moment” MEND says.
It says it does not want to toll the line of lawlessness which Gov. Wike is dragging them into, alleging that all the state instruments, including the police and judiciary have succumbed to Gov. Wike’s tyranny.
MEND wondered why Wike insisted that an attack was carried out even when the committee has never at any point said it was attacked.
It urged Wike to pursue his political ambition peacefully without victimising Hon. Dagogo with frivolous allegations and attempts to implicate him desperately.
