The African Democratic Congress, ADC, Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, has described Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State’s call to arrest “Tinubu Must Go” protesters as an assault on Nigeria’s democracy.

ADC’s PCC said Nigerians must not be threatened into silence for opposing President Bola Tinubu.

Reacting to Zulum’s latest video calling for the arrest of protesters after an initial denial, the council insisted that no governor has the right to criminalise peaceful political opinion.

In a statement signed by its Director of Strategic Communications, Phrank Shaibu, the council said: “A viral video now circulating, in which Governor Babagana Zulum speaks in Hausa and orders the arrest and detention of anyone caught expressing ‘Tinubu Must Go’, raises grave questions about his respect for citizens’ democratic rights.

“This is especially troubling because Governor Zulum recently denied ordering the arrest of people wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-shirts. He must explain the fresh video and reconcile its contents with that denial. Nigerians deserve clarity, not contradictory messages about whether peaceful critics will be arrested.

“No governor has the authority to criminalise peaceful political opinion. A slogan, a T-shirt or a call for a president to leave office is not, by itself, a crime. Borno State is not a political detention centre, and its citizens must not be threatened into silence for opposing President Tinubu.

“If the authorities have credible evidence of a separate offence, they should present it in court and allow due process to take its course. They must not use other allegations as a cover to punish citizens for their political views.

“We call on Governor Zulum to withdraw any directive targeting peaceful protesters and to guarantee that no one will be arrested solely for expressing opposition to President Tinubu. A government confident in its record answers criticism with evidence and performance, not threats of arrest and detention.”

Sporting Lagos FC of Lagos goalkeeper, Clinton Lawani has expressed amazement at the huge crowd that turned up to watch his team’s fixture away to Kano Pillars in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).

Sports247 reports that Lawani, who is a graduate of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) and a recent invitee to the under-20 national team, Flying Eagles, acknowledged that the turn out of fans at Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano was massive.

He then stated delight that he and his teammates were not intimidated by the huge array of partisan supporters of ‘Sai Madu Gida’ in the stands, as his Lagos-based side were able to pull off a stunning 1-1 away draw.

Dramatically, Lawani was named man of the match, having put up a sterling performance and produced several remarkable saves to deny Kano Pillars from taking all three points in the Matchday 7 encounte.

He thanked his colleagues for making the award possible and revealed that his major target this season is to help Sporting Lagos get a continental spot at the end of the ongoing campaign, which is the club’s first back in the top-flight after gaining promotion last term.

The youngster also disclosed that he had a lot of awe from playing against Pillars’ veteran duo of Ahmed Musa and Rabiu Alli, who he described as vibrant inspirations about the route to success for young players like him.

“This is the biggest crowd I have ever played in front of. I’m happy to play against big names like Ahmed Musa and Rabiu Ali,” said Lawani, who also encouraged other young players in the NPFL to stay focused and determined in order to achieve their breakthrough.

Sports247 reports further that Lawani’s impressive outing against Kano Pillars further underlined his growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s most promising home-based goalkeepers in the NPFL and domestic scene as a whole.