TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the federal government wants Femi Fani-Kayode, former spokesperson of the party’s presidential campaign organisation, to die in detention.

In a statement signed by Dayo Adeyeye, the party’s national publicity secretary, the PDP said Fani-Kayode was being denied access to his medication in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“It is common knowledge that in furtherance of its campaign of attrition against members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the guise of an anti-corruption war, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Spokesperson for the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PDPPCP), was arrested on the premises of the Federal High Court, Lagos,” the statement read.

“His rearrest is the latest in a series of plans designed to further harass and intimidate our members and supporters using the security and intelligence apparatus of the Nigerian State.

“A few days before his arrest his wife, Precious Chikwendu and their 8-month-old son, Aragorn, were arrested and would have been detained but for the timely intervention of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.

“What is not common knowledge is that at the time of his arrest, Chief Fani-Kayode was ill and taking medication. Since his arrest, he has been denied access to his medication and medical doctors who are conversant with his medical history.”

The party said the federal government was hindering Fani-Kayode’s treatment and arrested him as part of its plan to “harass and intimidate” its members.

“As at the time of writing this statement, officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have continued to deny Chief Fani-Kayode access to his medication.

“The only conclusion that can be reached is that the APC led Federal Government and EFCC want Chief Fani-Kayode to die in detention. In the light of the prevailing circumstances where EFCC are detaining an obviously weak and ill man, this is an inescapable conclusion.

“These continuous violations of the constitutional rights and freedoms of the Nigerian people by the Buhari Administration must stop. The Federal Government cannot, and must not, be allowed to continually infringe on the rights of the very people it swore to uphold.

“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians to urge the Federal Government to desist from its path of human rights abuses.”