Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), has called for the immediate arrest and decisive prosecution of politicians and other individuals who make statements capable of inciting violence.
Irabor made the call on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television, against the backdrop of a viral video in which Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East, was allegedly heard urging his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
The former military chief said, “For me as a person, any time we hear individuals making inciting comments, I think that such people should be picked up immediately, and that is why I am glad that even though the statement made by Senator Fadahunsi is a political one, but I think that it also borders on incitement to violence.
“I think the police have done the right thing by inviting him, and he should be questioned even beyond that.”
Irabor also called for the arrest of Islamic clerics Sani Jingir and Ahmad Gumi, citing what he described as inciting remarks made by the two clerics at different times.
“Added to that is of course the Sheikh in Kano, Sheikh Jingir, who also made some comments which of course I believe are also inciting, that could also add to the bouquet of threats that we have.
“He also should be arrested and I also believe that the various comments that someone like Gumi has been making also demands that he be called not just to order but of course invited and arrested in order to let the populace know that there is nobody who is above the law and then when you say things that are not right you should be called in to answer,” the former service chief added.
