The Labour Party (LP) has asked for the arrest and prosecution of Iyaloja General, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, who is the daughter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC). She is accused of pressuring traders to back her father’s campaign.
The call, the party said, followed a viral video allegedly showing shops of traders who failed to attend the women’s rally in support of Tinubu’s ambition being shut down, noting that the affected traders complained that they were being forced to pay N5,000 as a fine.
This was just as the party called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Delta State over alleged attacks on its members by loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Arabambi Abayomi Oluwafemi, the LP said the developments negated the tenets of democracy, stressing that every Nigerian was entitled to associate with any political party of his or her choice.
Arabambi, who cited the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which guarantees freedom of association, wondered when it has become an offence for citizens to make personal political decisions.
He explained: “Section 40 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, provides as follows: “Every person shall be entitled to assembly freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any association for the protection of his interests.
“The urgent call becomes necessary going by the recurring attacks on members of LP and their offices in Lagos.”
He recalled the attack on the LP offices in Ajegunle and other areas in Lagos. This he listed to include but is not limited to the assault on members of the party in the Oshodi area of Lagos.
According to him, the State Police Command has refused to act on calls to create an enabling environment for all politicians in Lagos irrespective of their party’s affiliation.
In a related development, the party has also called on Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Delta State over allegations of attacks on its members in the state by those it described as PDP’s agents.
He said the party was, “worried that its members were being subjected to daily attacks by the Agents of the PDP in Delta state.”
“If this goes unchecked it is capable of causing the breakdown of law and order and a full recipe for anarchy, capable of truncating the 2023 general elections, Arabambi said.
He, however, appealed to members of the party to remain law-abiding, assuring them that the party would do all legally possible to protect their rights.
He however reminded the vice presidential candidate of the PDP, Ifeanyi Okowa, to focus his attention on the real enemies within his party and stop pursuing perceived enemies.
