By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Civil Society Members of the SAP lll State Steering Committee of the Kaduna Open Government Partnership (OGP) has expressed deep concern over the detention of Abdullahi Yunusa, a student leader and dedicated civil society member, who has been in custody since August 2, 2024, following a social media post made during the #EndBadGovernance protest in Kaduna State.
This was contained in a statement signed by six leaders of different civil society organisations (CSOs), made available to our correspondent in Kaduna on Tuesday August 20, 2024.
“We recognise and respect the important role security plays in maintaining peace and order in our society. However, we also recognise that every citizen should be treated fairly and just, especially in cases where a young person’s future is at stake,” it said.
According to the statement titled, “Public Statement: A Call to Remain Resolute In the Case of Abdullahi Yunusa” the CSOs said that Yunusa has a strong record as a civil society member known for his positive contribution and kind heart in his involvement in the Open Government Partnership and other Civil Society Initiatives.
“We are confident that Abdullahi has never engaged in any activities that would incite unrest or harm our society. This is why we have taken his detention seriously, as it raises significant concern about civil liberties,” it added.
They said that in light of these concerns, “we have formally reached out to the OGP Kaduna Government Co-chair and other stakeholders, appealing for their urgent intervention in addressing and resolving this matter.
“We urge the authorities to ensure that due process is followed and that Abdullahi Yunusa’s rights are upheld,” the statement said.
They therefore, urged Civil Society members and the broader community to please remain calm as they work together towards a positive outcome.
“While we continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that his rights are upheld, we remain hopeful that his innocence will be considered, and that steps be taken for his prompt release, allowing him to return home safely to his family and continue his positive contributions to our community,” the statement concluded.
The statement was joijtky signed by Mubarak Abdulganiyi (Civil Society Co-chair, Open Government Partnership SAPIII), Seth Luke, (CS Co-chair, Open Budget), Leslie Dongh, (CS Co-Chair, Open Contracting), Musa Suleiman, (Co-chair, Citizens Engagement), Femi Johnson, (Co-chair, Service Delivery in Health and Education) and Sumayya Abdullahi Hussaini (Co-chair, Strengthening Social Protection Systems).
