Salihu Tanko YakasaiA youth group under the auspices of Nigerian Youth Forum (NYF) has called on government authorities detaining the sacked Media Aide to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, to immediately release him or face the consequences.
The forum which described Yakasai as one its founding member, also said his arrest by the State Security Service is unjustifiable.
President of the Forum, Comrade Abdulsalam Mohammed Kazeem said in a statement that, democracy world over recognises criticism, as activists, civil society and opposition members have over time used it as tools to checkmate government excesses.
While demanding Yakasai’s release, Kazeem said the former aide to the Governor’s arrest while carrying out his fundamental right is against the principle of modern democracy.
According to Kazeem, “The leadership of Unified Nigerian Youth Forum also known as the Nigerian Youth Forum (UNYF) condemns in strong terms the unlawful arrest of one of her founding member, Mallam Salihu Tanko Yakasai over his personal opinion on the serial kidnapping of school children and other security challenges facing the nation.
“Democracy world over recognises criticism. Activist, civil society and opposition members over time have equally used criticism as tools to checkmate government thereby putting government back on the right track.
“No one has monopoly of criticism and as such no one also has monopoly of praises. If the Government refuses to arrest those who promote her image before local and international communities with falsehood; which has great danger on our image amongst communities of nations, we think the same government lacks the morality to arrest or even intimidate those who are against her unpopular, unrealistic and failed policies which is even within our fundamental human rights. Speaking against bad or good Government policies is a right not a privilege.
“Mallam Salihu Tanko Yakasai’s fundamental human rights should be respected by the State Security Services, his arrest and continued detention is against the principle of modern democracy as propounded by our founding fathers. We call for his immediate release or the authorities should formally charge him before a competent court of law, where justice can be better served and assu
“Anything short of our above demand by the authorities which held Salihu in captivity will be resisted by our Forum, other Youth Organizations and students groups across the country.
“His arrest is unjustifiable by those in position of authorities today. For the purpose of records, the current President of Nigerian, Governor of Kaduna and Kano states, Minister of Justice and that of Information and Culture and many others once accused and even issued unguarded statements without fact against former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Late Umaru Musa Yaradua and nobody arrested them.
Salihu Tanko Yakasai of Kano state, Mallam Mustapha Dabogi of Kaduna state, Eric Ekwere of Akwa Ibom state and many others, are pioneer members of our noble and respectable organization and they are of value added to governance in their respective states and as such we are proud of them.
“Finally we appeal to the Director General of State Security Services, Alhaji Yusuf Bichi Magaji to act professionally and within the rule of law on the unlawful arrest of Mallam Tanko Yakasai, public affairs analyst rated him high when it comes to professionalism on such sensitive issues and as such we hope and believe Salihu Tanko Yakasai will not stay longer in detention,” he appealed.
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