Another chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) in Kaduna State, Alhaji Yaro Makama, has been arrested.
Makama, a former chairman of the PDP in the state, was
arrested on Monday morning by the police for alleged hate speech, and was
whisked away to Abuja.
He was said to have been invited to the state police command,
and upon honouring the invitation, he was taken to Abuja after writing a
statement.
Makama’s arrest came less than 24 hours after the Spokesman
of the state PDP Campaign Organisation, Ben Bako, was arrested last Sunday
evening by the Department of State Services (DSS) and taken to Abuja.
Bako was arrested for allegedly making inciting comments in a
video clip recorded during the PDP campaign rally in Kafanchan, Jama’a Local
Government Area of the state last week.
The Deputy Director General of the Campaign Organisation,
Danjuma Sarki, who confirmed Makama’s arrest in a telephone interview, said the
arrest was part of the grand design by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state
to clampdown on PDP members before the elections.
Sarki said: “This morning, Makama was invited by the
state police command. He honoured the police invitation as a law abiding
citizen.
“They accused him of hate speech and was asked to
write a statement. We thought that after writing the statement, they will let
him go, but surprisingly, he was taken to Abuja after.
“Yesterday (Sunday), when we addressed a press
conference, we said there were plans by the state government to frame and
arrest 150 prominent PDP members before the elections.
“This is a clear indication that they have started executing
the plan.”
The spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Yakubu Sabo,
did not respond to telephone calls and text message sent to his mobile phone on
the issue.
Meanwhile the Kaduna State Peace Commission has expressed
concern over reports of hate speeches by politicians in the state.
The Executive Vice Chairperson of the commission, Mrs. Priscilla
Ankut, in a statement, said: “The commission notes with grave concern reports
of hate speeches in the form of statements by politicians and candidates with
potential of being interpreted as calls for violent actions.”
The statement also noted that “some violent
incidences associated with political campaigns have been reported, including
reports of the death of two persons at a campaign rally within Kaduna Metropolis.”
She said the commission had also received reports of
vandalisation of public campaign billboards and posters, regretting that these
unfortunate developments can undermine the peace currently enjoyed in the
state.
The commission called on all political parties, politicians,
candidates, followers and citizens alike to refrain from statements and actions
that can cause tension in the state.
Ankut urged security agencies to beef-up surveillance at all
campaign rallies as well as monitor all hot-spots across the state in order to
avoid a breakdown of law and order.
The statement further urged citizens to eschew
violence and reject all forms of incitements to commit violence.
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