Ex-governor Yerima quizzed, released

By Femi Adi/Kaduna

Kaduna Police Command has released former Zamfara governor, Ahmed Sani Yerima after about three hours of questioning.

Yerima, now a senator, was arrested today in Kaduna after featuring on a Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria programme, Hanu da Yawa where he was alleged to have made an inciting statement against the Nigerian state.

On the programme, Yerima said in response to a question on what the leadership of the All Progressives Congress will do, if the fails to get registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission: ” I said we can go to Eagle Square in Abuja together with General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sardauna Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau and others to mobilize people without using any weapon for a peaceful protest until our party is registered.”

“We will mobilise people, just like what happened in Egypt, we will sit there day and night, until INEC changes its decision.’’

He said that protests are part of democracy, but “I am not calling for the peaceful protest now, I am just sounding a word of caution’’.

During the programme, Yerima had said that the new party, All Progreesive Congress (APC), would meet all conditions for registration by the Independent Nationa Electoral Commission (INEC).

“We have no doubt that the party will be registered, we are going to fulfil all the constitutional and legal provisions for it to be registered, and we have no fear whatsoever that INEC would abide by the statutory conditions for the APC to be registered.’’

He said that leaders of the political parties involved in the merger would meet on March 27, to adopt the constitution and manifesto of the new party, after which it would be sent to state congresses and the national convention for ratification.

Yerima described the emergence of the APC as a good omen for the political development of the country, adding that “it is important to have two strong parties in the polity so as to give Nigerians alternative choice during election’’.

“Nigeria and its interest is paramount in this effort, and we are doing everything possibele to ensure that our efforts are not scuttled either by INEC or from within.’’

He acknowledged that already, there were efforts to scuttle the merger from within and outside the party, but said thta measures had been taken to ensure the success of the merger plan.

According to the Kaduna Police Commissioner, Femi Adenaike, Yerima was released after he explained why he made the statement.

The police commissioner told newsmen that Yerima was not under arrest.

“The senator was not under arrest, all we did was to find out what he said that they were going to go on a peaceful demonstration. I am satisfied with what he said and he is free to go.’’

Adenaike blamed journalists for blowing the matter “out of proportion’’, saying that his concern was the peace and security of Kaduna State.

“I am highly disappointed in you journalists, in the sense that nothing is happeniing and you are blowing it out of proportion.’’

In an interview with newsmen shortly after he was released, Yerima said he never called for any form of violence during his eight year tenure as governor and will never do so, because he believes strongly that Nigeria can exist as a nation if there is peace among citizens.

Yerima said the police were uncomfortable with his call for a peaceful protest, “should in case we meet all the legal requiremets and INEC refuse to register APC’’.

.Updated with NAN report