Published:
The arrest is seen as part of the government’s clampdown on members of the Baraje-faction of the PDP
The Bayelsa state police command has officially confirmed the arrest of Tonye Okio, a key member of the Kawu Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The police claimed he was arrested over for making “seditious publications”, failed to comment on the claim by the Baraje faction that Mr Okio’s arrest was part of an extensive plot to hunt down members of the splinter group.
A statement by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Peter Ogboi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said members of Mr Okio’s syndicate were still at large.
The statement said Mr Okio will be charged to court when investigations were completed.
Mr Okio, who served as a special representative in Abuja, to former Bayelsa Governor, Timipre Sylva, is the publicity secretary of the Baraje PDP faction, in Bayelsa state. He was arrested at his Abuja residence and taken to Yenagoa on Saturday.
The faction, also known as the New PDP, has cried out against what it considers a plot annihilate and cripple it.
It alleged that Mr Okio was arrested for speaking against the “tyrannical” style of leadership of the present leadership in the country.
A social and political activist, Diofie Buokoribo, has condemned the arrest of Mr Okio, demanding his immediate release from detention.
Mr Buokoribo reminded the police and the state governor, Seriake Dickson, that the law of sedition had been expunged from the nation’s laws since the second republic.
“What manner of lawyer is Mr Dickson that he does not even know this elementary fact? The people of Bayelsa State are really in trouble with characters like this at the helm of affairs,” Mr Buokoribo said.
He alleged that Mr Okio was arrested over his comments on Facebook, considered to be unfavourable to some people in the corridors of power. According to Mr Buokoribo, the comment was about an unnamed South-South Governor, who was recently caught in the United States with $5 million.
Mr Buokoribo described Mr Okio’s arrest and continued detention as illegal and unfair.
“Keeping Tonye in detention ostensibly for social media activism is a national embarrassment. It insults our collective intelligence. Free Tonye now!” he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment