₦airaland Forum

The Labour Party Candidates Forum (LPCF), on Tuesday, declared solidarity with former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing his arrest as politically motivated and aimed at silencing opposition voices in Nigeria.

The LPCF urged Nigerians not to interpret the matter along ethnic or religious lines, insisting that it should instead be seen as an attempt to intimidate opposition voices in the country.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Barrister Okeme Adejoh, and Secretary, Comrade Eze Oko Splendour, the forum accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using state institutions to intimidate critics of the administration.

He added: “Labour Party Candidates Forum (LPCF) stands in solidarity with Mallam El-Rufia in this moment of oppression and persecution by the ruling party APC. This body views the arrest as politically motivated just to silence the voice of opposition in this country.

“This is not the way to go in a democratic system. People must be allowed to criticize the policies and programmes of this administration without any iota of fear of being arrested, intimidated or incarcerated.

“There are so many people in APC who have committed worse crimes than what Mallam El-Rufia is being accused of yet they are walking freely in this country. For instance the case of Yahaya Bello and Ifeanyi Okowa are good examples. This goes a long way to justify the saying that "If you join APC your sins will be forgiven or forgotten". This is very sad.”

The forum further alleged selective justice, claiming that some members of the APC accused of more serious offences have not faced similar treatment.

“This Mallam El-Rufia's matter should not be viewed as North and South issues or a religious case. We in opposition view it as an attempt to intimidate opposition voices in our dear country Nigeria. Opposition is not a crime in a democratic dispensation rather it is the beauty of democracy.

“We hereby demand for his unconditional release from EFCC or DSS. This is not the way to sustain our nascent democracy rather it will pave the way for autocracy, dictatorship, tyranny etc. Opposition members must be allowed to breathe in this country. Enough is Enough,” they added.

El rufai committed a serious crime against the State...This goes beyond constructive criticism of Government....National security should not be joked with in the name of opposition....The Midget will be dealt with in the language he understands....

sailor2011:
El rufai committed a serious crime against the State...This goes beyond constructive criticism of Government....National security should not be joked with in the name of opposition....The Midget will be dealt with in the language he understands....

Labour Party Candidates Forum (LPCF), a bunch of wannabe political clowns.

You guys can go and join him in EFFC custody