Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and an aspirant for the House of Representatives of Alimosho Federal Constituency, Prince Amb. (Dr.) Adedipe Daud Ewenla has called out the security agencies across the state to be conscious of ethical practices, neutrality, and transparency with respect to the forthcoming election, regarding political propaganda against any opposition party.
Ewenla, in an interactive session with journalists following his successful nomination by the screening committee, disclosed that “opposition is one of the factors that enhances ethical demonstration of democracy due to the need to check and balance the policies of the ruling party. The true value of democracy is always evaluated in a healthy relationship between the ruling party and opposition parties.”
According to him, “I was a victim of unethical practices of the Nigerian Police Force after my declaration as a member of the House of Assembly during the last election. ” Several unfounded allegations were levelled against me that led to the arrest and detention of my wife and some members of my family, including members of my campaign team. It was a pure expression of injustice and abuse of power of the ruling party because I was detained and charged in court after a month by SARS. The court of law struck out the case, and I was released a few days before the election to paralyse my plans for campaigning as a bid to blackmail me.”
“Before the illegal detention, I was invited by chieftains of APC in my constituency with several promises for me to withdraw my intentions in reference to my political ambition. It was my refusal that led to the allegations, arrest and detention, even though I know nothing about petroleum or have any business around pipelines. I was tagged and labelled as the main sponsor of vandalism of pipelines in Lagos. I was unable to campaign because it was too late for any electoral duties to be performed.
“I was not arrested nor invited initially, but was unduly declared wanted without any invitation or refusal of arrest. I presented myself willingly before the OC SARS, one Peter Gana, after they had arrested my family and campaign team with my branded campaign bus.
Ewenla also noted, “I am calling on the Inspector General of Police and heads of all security agencies in the state to be thoroughly conscious of the need to be fair and transparent in their execution of duties and not serve as political underdogs to people in power. They must not be underdogs to people in power to have a fair and free election, as a measure to have good representativeness of democracy through the voices of the opposition.
“I was detained illegally for 39 days in police custody, even though all the arrested suspects involved denied my involvement in any capacity. However, others made confessional statements due to threats and torture orchestrated by the police; none of them mentioned my name. I was not released until my late brother filed a fundamental suit against them; may his soul rest in peace.
“The rumour is that they are planning another crime to truncate this present race, but such cheating will not arise the second time. This is a call to all concerned security agencies in Alimosho Local Government, Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole to embrace ethical, logical and reasonable conduct and proper investigation to have a free and fair election that expresses the people’s will and choice,” he concluded.
