The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has accused the state governor, Douye Diri, of using the state police command and the judiciary to abuse the rights of APC members, saying he should lift the “siege” on the members of the party.

The Bayelsa APC said this in a statement issued on Monday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Doifie Buokoribo.

Buokoribo stated that Governor Diri, last week, launched “an ungodly and unsympathetic regime of persecution” against APC members, using the state police command and the court.

He said some party members were invited by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Bayelsa State Police Command for alleged “defamation of character/conduct likely to cause breach of peace”, adding that the APC members included Ebikopoemi Bobby Ugo, Mark-Charles Gborienemi, Funkebi Atabala, and Preye Bagou.

Buokoribo alleged that Ugo, who was arrested before he could honour the invitation, has been remanded at Okaka Prison, Yenagoa, for 18 days.

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He stated: “We consider this development completely preposterous, outlandish, and anarchic, particularly, at a time, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has just formally declared open electioneering activities towards a crucial general election, a period when the state government should, indeed, be leading the charge towards peace.

“The right of our members to freely and openly criticise the administration of Governor Diri is guaranteed under our democratic laws. No authority, however highly placed, has the lawful mandate to tamper with that right. If the governor feels offended, he is free to approach the courts for redress and not seek self-help using intimidatory tactics, in connivance with the police and the judiciary in the state.

“We know it as a matter of fact that defamation is a civil, not criminal, matter. It is worrying that the police in Bayelsa State have become Douye Diri’s poodle. More worryingly, we fail to understand the role of the Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit in this issue.

“Besides, it is inhuman for Governor Douye Diri to persecute fellow Bayelsans at this time, or any other time. Most persons across the state are now displaced because of the ravaging flood. What is needed is empathy, kindness, and leadership.

“Having assumed the governorship of the state through the instrumentality of the Supreme Court, instead of the votes of our people, we would have thought Douye Diri will be humble. This persecution on our members clearly shows pettiness.

“The APC in Bayelsa State demands a quick halt to the siege laid on our members. Bayelsa State belongs to all of us,” the APC Publicity Secretary said.

The Star