Kamarudeen Ogundele, Ado Ekiti
Members of Oodua Peoples Congress and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria on Wednesday protested against the continuous detention of their leaders.
The seven accused persons, who are majorly members of the All Progressives Congress, are being remanded in prison custody over the alleged murder of the National Union of Road Transport Workers’ leader, Omolafe Aderiye, on September 25, 2014.
They are two former RTEAN chairmen, Adebayo Aderiye a.k.a. Ojugo and Rotimi Olanbiwonnu a.k.a. Mentilo; State OPC leader, Adeniyi Adedipe a.k.a Apase; Sola Durodola, Ajayi Kayode, Oso Farotimi and Sola Adenijo a.k.a. Solar.
The protesters defied an early morning downpour to stage the protest at the state APC secretariat in Ajilosun area of the city.
They alleged that the detainees were arrested and detained on trump-up charges because they were members of the APC, calling on senior party leaders to intervene and save them from death in custody.
They appealed to former governors and members of the party in the state to save the men from political persecution.
The protesters called on Governor Ayodele Fayose to act like a statesman and rise above partisan interests and facilitate the release of the detainees.
They chanted songs including, “E tu won sile o, awon to wa l’atimole, e tu won sile (release them, release those who are in custody, set them free), “solidarity forever, solidarity forever.”
The protest leader, Tunde Makanjujaye, described the APC members as “political prisoners”, saying the prosecution, having failed to establish a case of murder against them, had now resorted to “frivolous applications” at the Court of Appeal to stall the case.
Makanjujaye lamented that their incarceration had affected their health and ruined their businesses.
Wife of one of the detainees, Mrs. Blessing Durodola, said it had been very tough for the family, calling on the state government to have mercy on their children.
“My husband did not know anything about the murder, we have lost everything since he was detained and taking care of our children and sending them to school has become a huge burden.
“I want APC leaders at the national level to save their members unjustly detained, it has been very tough and difficult for us. Life has not been easy for us.”
Personal Assistant to the OPC leader, Kamaru Lateef, said the protest was to draw the attention of APC leaders at national and state levels to the plight of the detainees who, according to him, were suffering because of their party affiliation.
“We want the APC Federal Government to intervene, we want these people to be free. We have made representations to party leaders and we want them to use everything at their disposal to ensure their freedom,” he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment