PLATEAU: ALLEGED LIBELLOUS PULICATION AGAINST GOV. MUTFWANG: COALITION OF APC YOUTHS CRY OUT, OVER MR. SAMUEL SAMUEL’S ARREST

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

A Coalition of youths in the Plateau State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cried out following the arrest of one Mr Samuel Samuel, over allegation of defamatory publication against the person of the Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang (Esq).

A press release signed by Dung Benjamin Dalyop for the Coalition, made available to this Newspaper has called on the press, citizens of Plateau State, and lovers of democracy in Nigeria and around the world, members of civil society organization, the international community and people of goodwill to intervene in the matter.

The Coalition has described the arrest of Mr Samuel as, “An abuse of Power and a threat to Democracy on the Plateau”.

The press release in part reads:

“Gentlemen of the press, citizens of Plateau State, lovers of democracy in Nigeria and around the world, members of the civil society, the international community and people of goodwill.

“It has become very crucial for us to speak out against the illegal detention of a Plateau democracy youth icon, Hero Samuel Samuel, who has been incarcerated on the orders of Plateau State Governor Barr. Caleb Mutfwang for 13 days now over allegation of defamation contained in a post he made on social media.

 “We have noticed with a heavy heart the continued intimidation and harassment of dissenting voices on the Plateau since the current administration came into office.

“Not long ago, we witnessed the similar arbitrary arrest and detention of Gamka who was alleged to have defamed a Commissioner of the current government led by Barr. Caleb Mutfwang.

“Today, we have witnessed the arrest and detention of Samuel Samuel by the Police on the orders of the same Government which is progressing rapidly towards repression and dictatorship with determination to silence any voice that questions its stewardship and criticize its poor and abysmal performance.

“We wish to state the following facts:

“We condemn in totality the illegal arrest, detention, harassment and intimidation of Samuel Samuel for an allegation that has not been proven. As a bonafide citizen of Plateau State and Nigeria, he enjoys fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution which can only be infringed upon by a Court of competent jurisdiction.

“In democracy, the citizens are at liberty to hold their government accountable because they elected those in power to govern. Therefore, nobody can take that right away from them.

“Even if any citizen is alleged to have crossed the line in criticizing government and government officials, the accuser cannot use the instruments of coercion like the police to intimidate, harass or unlawfully detain such citizen. Only the court has such powers, not the accuser or his collaborators”.

TO BE CONTINUED…