CSOs Accuse Buhari, IGP Of Ethno-religious Bias, Assassination Plot Against Deji Adeyanju

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – A group of Civil Society Organisations in the country on Tuesday accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris of carrying out State engineered illegal incarceration, ethnocentric persecution, and lethal plot to assassinate Comrade Deji Adeyanju, who it described as one of Nigeria’s leading civil rights activists.

The group made up of Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, Our Mumu Don Do Movement and Madconnect, said as part of the plot, the police in its latest act of desperation by the Buhari government to silence, detain and possibly eliminate Comrade Deji Adeyanju, have now illegally elected to review a case of culpable Homicide, from which he was discharged and acquitted about 10 years ago, ignoring the long-established principle of Utre Fois Acquit – which makes the case a dead issue that cannot be reawakened. 

The group at a joint press conference in Abuja said they can confirm that Deji Adeyanju was secretly whisked out of Abuja to Kano State at the early hours of Tuesday.

The further said; “We can also tell you authoritatively, that we are no longer in doubt that the only reason Deji was hurriedly whisked to Kano this morning is for the Nigerian Government to quickly execute their devious plan and plot against our brother.

“We wish to state that this same judgement that discharged and acquitted Deji Adeyanju was used by the spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign, Festus Keyamo as part of the cases he submitted to earn his SANship.

“It was also Keyamo based on professional calling and participation in the matter, who made the judgement available to Adeyanju. It is also an attempt by the Police to doubt Keyamo and also know whether he used a false case to earn his SAN honour.

The group reiterated that just as it stated during their press conference one week ago, that they have been informed by multiple veritable sources that the nucleus of the continued persecution of Comrade Deji Adeyanju is a state-backed lethal plot to eliminate him and other fearsome activists in the country. 

It further said that it is crucial to mention, that this unlawful arrest was effectuated without any petition submitted to the Nigerian police against Deji Adeyanju, adding that the arrest is, therefore, highly indicative of executive desperation to intimidate and persecute Deji Adeyanju. 

“We are compelled, therefore, to state unequivocally that should anything untoward happen to our comrade Deji Adeyanju, the remaining days of the present regime of General Buhari shall witness neither peace nor tranquility. 

“While the Buhari government and Police have in flagrant violation of our laws chosen to embark on this fruitless voyage of illegal discovery, we are shocked by their recoil into ethno-religious biases and vendetta, arresting only Deji Adeyanju – the only Yoruba-Christian in a group of four persons that include three Hausa-Fulanis, that were discharged and acquitted.

“It is, therefore, unfortunate that while the present regime of General Buhari continues to give a false impression – to Nigerians and especially the international community – that it is committed to a united Nigeria that is free of ethnic bigotry and intolerance, its actions, however, especially as it relates to respect for human rights and dissenting voices, have proved otherwise.

“Again, we wish to forewarn all well-meaning Nigerians, within and without the country, that as gathered through veritable sources within the incumbent government of General Buhari, there is an active plot to silence dissenting voices of opposition against the regime; and the ultimate goal of this plot is to plunge Nigeria into a full-fledged dictatorship. 

“This heinous plot is given credence through the recent ban placed on the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) activities in the North-East. And as if that was not enough, the shameful declaration made by the Nigerian Army on Monday, December 17, 2018, insinuating a possible closure of all Amnesty International offices in Nigeria – citing laughable reasons – reeks of filthy desperation to suppress and repress voices of reason in Nigeria. 

“In conclusion, therefore, we wish to remind the Nigerian Police, and indeed the cabal behind the unlawful arrest and continued detention of Deji Adeyanju, that tyranny has no place in a democratic government, and whether they like it or not, our resolve to liberate our comrade Deji Adeyanju; and indeed our country Nigeria, from their filthy hands of repression, shall continue to wax stronger until tyranny is completely defeated, and liberation is secured for all oppressed persons in our country.”

The press conference was addressed by Ariyo-Dare Atoye of the “Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution,” Raphael Adebayo of “Our Mumu Don Do Movement” and Moses Paul of the “Madconnect.”