Joseph Bakare
Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has described the raid on the home of elder statesman Edwin Clark as an unwarranted harassment.
Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, said: “Chief Edwin Clark, a second republic senator, former minister under the General Gowon administration is not just anybody. “Yes, he is not above the law. If there is a genuine reason for his home to be searched by law enforcement agencies, nobody will object to it. “However, as it now appears, for the police to conduct a raid on the home of a man of that age on the pretence that they were looking for arms and eventually, the claim turned out to be a hoax, then something must be amiss. “This type of action by the police coming at this time when the nation is preparing for election is not reflecting well on the country. Such actions constitute a threat to democracy. They represent gross abuse of state institutions. “Now that the Inspector-General of Police has denied that the raid was authorized, the next move should be a thorough, transparent investigation into the Chief Edwin Clark incident to prevent future occurrence. “These kinds of ugly developments must stop. This country experienced peaceful change in 2015 because the government in power allowed democracy to work. If the government had allowed the flagrant abuse and misuse of state institutions to be the norm, we would not have had the change that occurred.” Saraki reminded the Federal Government of its commitment to world leaders to create a peaceful and conducive atmosphere necessary for a credible, free and fair elections devoid of intimidation, suppression and human rights abuse. He said: “Democracy is not only about elections. Circumstances that will create tension in any part of the country or make people feel that their fundamental human rights are being trampled upon should be avoided,” he said. “If a man of the calibre and status of senator Edwin Clark could suffer such unwarranted raid on his home, then what happens to ordinary Nigerians as we move towards the 2019 polls and beyond?”
Meanwhile, a presidential aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, yesterday called for a full investigation into the raid on Clark’s house, saying the incident was “further evidence of the descent of the country into the abyss of authoritarianism and police state.” In a statement issued in Kaduna yesterday, Makarfi said the raid was an attempt by the government in power to intimidate and cow Nigerians. According to him, Nigerians must resist any attempt to “constrict their democratic space.” The statement signed by Mukhtar Sirajo, his Media Assistant read: “The attention of Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has been drawn to the raid by personnel of the Nigeria Police, on the house of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, on Tuesday. “Senator Makarfi considers this assault on a respected national leader, a former Federal Minister and a nonagenarian as callous and further evidence of the descent of the country into the abyss of authoritarianism and police state. “It was clearly an attempt to intimidate and cow, as well as stifle contrary opinion in clear violation of our constitution and international conventions, as we approach the 2019 elections. “Senator Makarfi identifies and sympathizes with Elder Clark over this assault on his privacy as well as calls on Nigerians to be vigilant and resist attempts at constricting our democratic space and fundamental human rights, (mis)using agencies of state. “Even though the Police authorities have sought to distance themselves from this show of shame, Senator Makarfi urges that they go ahead to institute genuine investigation into this, with a view to unraveling the sordid act as well as bringing perpetrators to justice.”