CNG flays Prof. Yusuf Usman’s arrest, demands his release

CNG calls on FG

Warns against stifling free speech

The Coalition of Northern Groups, (CNG), has condemned the arrest and continued detention of Prof. Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), describing it as an attempt to suppress dissent.

CNG logo

In a statement issued yesterday by the group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the CNG expressed concern over the detention of Prof. Yusuf, who has been an outspoken critic of the current administration.

The Coalition asserted that Yusuf’s arrest was politically-motivated and aimed at silencing voices advocating for transparency and good governance.

The statement said, “The CNG finds it deeply troubling that an administration, which once thrived on opposition politics and enjoyed the freedom to criticise previous governments, is now resorting to draconian measures to stifle democratic engagement. Such acts of political suppression set a dangerous precedent and threaten the very foundations of Nigeria’s democracy.

“We cannot afford to regress into an era where dissent is criminalized and opposition voices are forcefully silenced through harassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrest”.

Calling for Prof. Yusuf’s immediate and unconditional release, the group urged the government to focus on addressing the country’s pressing challenges rather than clamping down on critics.

“The CNG demands the immediate and unconditional release of Prof. Yusuf. We urge the government to focus on addressing the pressing challenges facing the nation, rather than expending energy on silencing critics. Democracy thrives on dialogue, debate, and the free exchange of ideas, not on the suppression of dissenting voices.

CNG calls on FG2

“The CNG calls on the Tinubu administration to uphold democratic principles by allowing a free and open space for constructive criticism and alternative views. If the government continues on this path of repression, it will only fuel greater resistance and deepen the growing mistrust between the leadership and the people.

“Civil society organisations, (CSOs the media, and the international community should take note of this dangerous trend and hold the Government accountable for its actions, which are deployed to destroy Nigeria’s democratic successes”, the statement further emphasised.

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