GROUP ALLEGES ONDO COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, ABIODUN ASHABI, TELLS IGP TO REPLACE HIM WITH IMMEDIATE ALACRITY
Civility is expected to be one of the attributes of the Police Force, hence the saying “Police is your friend”. Unfortunately the word civility is strange in the display of partisanship and utter bias by the Ondo CP, Abiodun Ashabi.
One would even expect some level of decency and application of wisdom from an officer of his calibre. The reverse is the case with him. With his actions and inactions, one is able to quickly decode that the essence of his transfer to Ondo State was a calculated attempt to come and frustrate or rather stop anyone, not in tandem with the cabals who have held Akeredolu hostage. Twice, he has prevented the Ondo Liberation Initiative from holding peaceful protests. Yet nothing has been done to ameliorate the situation, where the State Governor has not been seen for over 74days in Ondo State.
Yes! He was brought here on purpose and he’s really working to fulfil that purpose. The press release by the Ondo Command of the Nigerian Police, and signed by its PPRO is a confirmation of this fact. In the press release, he claimed to have gotten intelligent report of a plan to cause unrest, thereby attempting to criminalise a planned peaceful civil protest against the happenings in Ondo State. Since when has it become an offence to carry out a peaceful protest?
Peaceful protest is the right of the Nigerian citizens as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. By the provision of section 39 (1b)
‘Every person SHALL be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinion, impact ideas and information without interference ‘
By the provision of Section 40
‘Everbody shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular may form or belong to a political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.’
Incase this CP, Mr. Abiodun Ashabi is not aware of this section of the constitution, I’ll advise that he gets himself a copy of the Constitution of Nigeria for him to know that no Police, no matter how highly placed or connected has the right to stop a peaceful protest. I’m saying this because we do not want things to degenerate to a situation where there’ll be confrontation between the police and the Ondo people.
The situation in Ondo is already a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And as a law enforcement officer, he is by law compelled to enforce law and order. Sadly, the action of this CP is not anyway near his call for duty but rather protecting the agents of government against the people. We see this as a suppression of the will of the people.
Consequently, we call on the IGP to call Mr. Abiodun Ashabi to order, to carry out his duty without bias and influence of anyone from any quarter or better still, he (Abiodun) should be replaced with immediate alacrity to avoid confrontation.
‘A stitch in time saves nine!’
_*Alabi Johnson.*_
_*Spokesman, O. L. I.*_
