A chieftain of New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo has called on the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop the arrest and intimation of human rights activists.
He urged Tinubu to focus on the revamping of the country’s dwindling economy.
The NNPP chieftain made these declarations via a statement made available to journalists.
The statement was made available to Afriposot on Sunday.
Oguntoyinbo while speaking in relation to the Sunday morning’s arrest of the Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress, (AAC) in the 2023 general election and foremost human right activist , Mr.Omoyele Sowore at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on his return from a foreign trip appealed to Tinubu to stop what he described as unjust arrest of activists in the country.
He also cited last week’s arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero by the men of Department of State Services, (DSS).
Oguntoyinbo said, “I want to implore the federal government to stop the arrest and intimation of human rights activists and face the herculean task before it , which is bettering the lives of Nigerians through urgent improvement of the Economy.
“The brief arrest of Sowore and the last week’s arrest and seizure of the international passport of the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero will portray the Bola Tinubu’s administration in bad light.
“Ajaero was arrested on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment. The NLC president was billed to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London.
“The Department of State Services later granted administrative bail to Ajaero but he missed the London event and up till now, his passport is yet to be released to him.
“I will implore the government that as a democratic government it should focus more on how to improve the lives of Nigerians. I think what should bother government is the conditions of Nigerians presently which is far from the best.
“Nigerians are currently experiencing the worst form of life now. The deregulation of petroleum products’ prices by the government has led to people buying the products at different prices from the marketers. As of today, many Nigerians’ are buying petrol between N1000 and N1200. This is absurd. Few months back, the price was N695. How will Nigerians’ cope with this high prices.
“The country’s economy is in comatose with the cost of foodstuffs going to the roof. Rice is unaffordable. The gari, elubo and even pepper that are believe to be common are also in high prices. The new minimum salary agreed to by the government is not yet implemented by the government, making an average workers unable to go their offices.
“As it is now, the country is parading two different sets of One thousand Naira, Five hundred Naira and Two Hundred Naira Notes, giving room for production of fake Naira Notes. To worsen the situation, the current exchange of Naira has made the country’s currency worthless in comparison to Dollars, Pound Sterling and even the neighbouring countries’ currencies.
“I am very sad that Nigeria’s currency can no longer compare favourably with Ghana Cedis and West Africa Coast CFAs. That is the reality we are in now. Anybody still calling Nigeria the giant of Africa is economical with the truth. One Ghanaian Cedi now exchange for almost N106, CFAs too has dumped Naira behind”.