The gubernatorial candidate of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), in the March 9 election in Oyo State, Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye, has been re-arrested by the men of the Nigeria Police Force Zone 11 Command in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Bamigboye is the Acting National Chairperson of SPN and the Oyo State Coordinator of the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR).
DAILY POST gathered that Bamigboye had earlier been arrested on Tuesday and detained for several hours by the Oyo State Police Command at the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Iyaganku Ibadan. He was then re-arrested and transferred to Osogbo on Thursday.
DAILY POST gathered that Bamigboye’s arrest was in connection to his support of the struggling workers of a food processing company in Ibadan, Sumal Foods, for better working conditions. He had earlier been arrested upon, which the Department of State Services (DSS) recently arrested and detained him.
It was learnt that the arrest was made on the request of the management of the company and the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employee (NUBTE).
Our correspondent further gathered that Bamigboye was arrested together with a former worker of Summal Food Limited, Arowosegbe Azeez and taken to Osogbo on Thursday.
He had earlier reported on Thursday at State Criminal Investigation Department Iyangaku where he met a Deputy Commissioner of Police who asked him and Azeez to report back on Tuesday. They were still at Iyaganku on Thursday when the signal came from Zone 11 that they should be transferred to the Zonal Command in Osogbo.
Bamigboye was later released around 9.pm on Thursday. He made this known in a short message to our correspondent, saying “I am released again…on my way to Ibadan”.
SPN while commenting on the arrest, described it as an attempt to force activists from leading resistance against obvious attacks on the living standard and democratic rights of workers.
SPN in a statement made available to DAILY POST by Chinedu Bosah, its National Secretary, said the arrest was unlawful and politically-motivated.
Bosah said, “The arrest is connected to the intervention of Abiodun Bamigboye in support of the struggling workers of Sumal Foods for better working conditions upon which the Department of State Services (DSS) recently arrested and detained him. The arrest was made on the request of the Sumal Managament, the State Governor and the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employee (NUBTE). NUBTE has consistently worked with management and the state to undermine workers interest in Sumal, A&P Foods/Pladis etc.
“The arrest and detention is also politically-motivated considering the fact that Abiodun Bamigboye is an opposition pro-labour socialist political figure who has in many occasions challenged Oyo State Government anti-poor policies in defence of the working masses. The governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi is closely related to the owners of Sumal Foods Ltd and has a vested interest in the company. The governor could be using the instrumentality of the state/force to attack activists and further his parochial economic interest aimed at sustaining the poor working conditions in Sumal Foods.
“This arrest smacks of intimidation, terror, harassment and attempt to force activists from leading resistance against obvious attacks on the living standard and democratic rights of workers and community people. Abiodun Bamigboye is committed to the struggles of the working masses and no amount of intimidation will undermine his resolve. Hence, the arrest and detention of Abiodun Bamigboye is unlawful and politically motivated. SPN will legally and politically challenge this clear attack on democratic rights.”
However, Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, Olugbenga Fadeyi when asked to comment, insisted that he has not been briefed about the development.
Fadeyi in his short message to our correspondent Thursday night said, “I have not been briefed about the development. Thanks.”
