Police making Abure sit on the floor is demeaning – Peter Obi

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi has described the arrest of the party’s national chairman Julius Abure on Wednesday as ‘distasteful’ and ‘humiliating’.

Mr Obi said in a post on X on Wednesday night that the police dehumanised Abure, a lawyer, by making him sit on the floor.

“Like many Nigerians, I observed the distasteful national television news reports detailing the humiliating arrest of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, earlier today in Benin City, Edo state,” he wrote.

“Throughout my roles as a private individual, public figure, Governor, and Presidential candidate, I consistently advocated for the paramount importance of upholding the rule of law in any sane society.

“I firmly believe that, as citizens, we are all duty-bound irrespective of our status in society to respond to invitations from properly constituted authority. My stance on this matter remains unwavering but does not explain watching the distressing image of our National Chairman lying on the ground in the name of arrest.

“This act is undesirable, demeaning and unequivocally intolerable and must be condemned by any decent and civilized mind within the context of our present civic landscape in Nigeria. These deplorable actions epitomize the pinnacle of rascality and serve to egregiously tarnish the already regrettable perception of our nation as one plagued by lawlessness.”

Obi stated that as the national chairman of the LP, Abure is the face of political opposition in Nigeria.

“It is imperative to reiterate that no pretext or subterfuge should be employed to stifle Nigeria’s political opposition. Therefore, I urge that he should be granted bail based on his status while the investigation his alleged offence continues,” he added.

Abure was released on bail on Thursday morning.

Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of Zone 5, Benin City Arungwa Nwazule on Wednesday evening said Abure, Edo State chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi; and three others were arrested for “conspiracy, brutal assault, attempted murder, armed robbery, grievous harm and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.”