Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has strongly condemned Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood for calling Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom a “drowning man”.
Fayose made his stance known in a series of tweets on his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday evening.
Moshood called Ortom a ” drowning man” after the governor accused the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, of aiding and abetting perpetrators of the infamous Benue killings.
The police spokesman made the comment on a Channels Television early Tuesday.
Fayose said, “I call on governors in the country to speak against the disparaging of the Benue State governor.
“I speak as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum and I condemn that insult on Governor Ortom by the PPRO.
“On behalf of PDP governors, I condemn this irresponsible act of the PPRO and demand for immediate retraction of the statement as well as unreserved apology from the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
“I expect the NGF to also rise in condemnation of this affront on one of its members because an injury to one is an injury to all. Besides, it is Governor Ortom that the PPRO insulted on National Television today; it can be any other governor tomorrow.
“The comment made on Channels Television Sunrise Daily today, by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO); Mr. Jimoh Moshood, describing the Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State is a “drowning man” is an insult on all the governors in Nigeria.
“The police authority must retract the comment and tender an unreserved apology to Governor Ortom, the people of Benue State and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
“it is unfortunate, regrettable and a height of irresponsibility for the PPRO to have insulted a whole governor who represents one of the federating units in Nigeria.”
Also, Fayose condemned the police for declaring wanted Mr Kassim Afegbua, the spokesman of former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida over a statement he issued on behalf of the Vice President.
Fayose said, “That declaration by the police against Mr Afegbua is malicious, reckless, unlawful, unwarranted and against all democratic ethos. It should be withdrawn forthwith.
“It is now clear that the police has turned itself to an organ of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, acting as if its only duty is to protect the interests of President Muhammadu Buhari and his allies.
“Which one should interest the police? Arresting those herdsmen that have killed thousands of Nigerians in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Adamawa, Ogun, Ekiti and other States or rushing to declare a Nigerian who only exercised his rights to freedom of expression wanted?
“On whose complaints did the police declare Afegbua wanted? Did IBB lodge any complain against him? Was there anything in the statement released by him that Nigerians do not know before now? Is it not true that Buhari has looked the other way while herdsmen were killing Nigerians?
“Most importantly, why didn’t the police arrest former President Olusegun Obasanjo when he released similar statement against President Buhari?”
Meanwhile, Afegbua has sued the police, IGP Ibrahim Idris and Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood for N1 billion.
Also joined as respondents in the case of defamation of character and harassment are Channels Television and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).