The Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA), strongly condemn the arrests of messrs Dare Akogun and Abdulrashed Akogun of Sobi FM and Fresh Insight respectively by the Kwara State Police Command. He described the act as “Police Under Colonial Hangover”
This is contained in a statement signed by Comrade Taiwo Otitoloye, the Executive Director Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA).
According to him, “It is a display of primitive power and repression reminiscences of the colonial administration in Nigeria during the Native Authority; when the police is known for betraying their responsibility to protect Nigerian citizens but instead preyed on them.
“One wonder how long it would take to reform the policing system in Nigeria?
“Rather than uphold loyalty to the state, protect the rights of citizens as contained in the 1999 Constitution (As Amended), and International instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory; the Police prefers to continue to be minion to Political office holders against the CITIZENRY.
“These uncivilized attitudes have continued to shrink civic space, and has been one of the threats to democratic process and reforms in Nigeria.”
The statement stated further that, “The Kwara State government wanted the Journalists to retract their stories and apologise; this is hilarious and could be likend to one of James Hardley Chase title “The Qaulity are Afraid.”
“It becomes worrisome, for the Chief Press Secretary to the governor who is a practising journalist to write the commissioner of police to arrest his colleagues over farcical, petty and Illusionary exigencies. This is a sore to press freedom.
“If the citizens are silent over the subjugation of their fundamental Human Rights of expressions, the Kwara State government would hang white albatrosses around their necks as a mark of victory over JUSTICE!”
The group show solidarity with the journalists. “We stand on the side of press freedom; and, equally in solidarity with the duo of Dare Akogun and Abdulrasheed Akogun” It
COMRADE TAIWO OTITOLAYE
Executive Director Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODW