Ayade Running A Repressive Regime – Amnesty International
BY:VITALIS UGOH , Calabar
Amnesty International (AI) has lambasted the administration of governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State describing it as “a repressive regime “.
The organisation made its views known in Calabar through the mMdia Manager, Isa Sanusi while addressing newsmen on the state of the nati0n, following the incarceration of Comrade Agba Jalingo in prison.
It said Ayade’s government must stop the repression and that the authorities must respect, protect and ensure the right to freedom of expression and media freedom.
The organisation claimed that the reported repression of ja ournalists and human rights activists could hinder investors from coming to the state
“It declared Cross River is becoming a den of repression where increasing number of people are being clamped into detention. Cross River government is very highhanded and repressive. We have written to him several times over the situation in the state as well as continued incarceration of Agba Jalingo but Gov Ayade never bothered to respond..”
It could be recalled that Agba Jalingo, a journalist and human rights campaigner had been held in detention by the state government.
The International Human Rights Watchdog, also accused the governor of playing politics with the liberty of citizens of the state and called on the governor to release Agba Jalingo “immediately and unconditionally.”
Also the organization’s researcher, Damian Ugwu said by holding Jalingo in detention over spurious allegations, the governor was working against the people who voted him into power.
“We are concerned that Agba Jalingo’s trial falls short of international standards of fairness, especially because the court has allowed witnesses to be masked and trial to be held in secret, he added.
“The pattern of repression in Cross River State flagrantly violates the Nigerian constitution of 1999 as amended, and International and Regional Human and Peoples’ rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.
“Jalingo was arrested at his home in Lagos on 22 August,2019 to Calabar and had remained in detention without trial.
