The Malami Support Organization (MSO), Argungu Local Government, under the leadership of Nura Sani Argungu, has raised alarm over what it described as deliberate attempts by the Kebbi State Government to suppress opposition voices and frustrate empowerment initiatives targeted at the poor.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the group recalled that a few days ago, it had lodged a petition to relevant authorities, accusing the Kebbi State Government of working tirelessly to silence dissent and opposition parties. According to the organization, rather than promoting inclusivity, the government has resorted to using the police force as a tool of intimidation.
MSO alleged that the state government has consistently mounted pressure on members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under the leadership of Dr. Abubakar Malami in Kebbi State, using the security agencies to coerce opposition members into submission.
Citing a recent incident in Argungu, the group explained that one of the party’s prominent stakeholders, Alhaji Surajo Garanda, had planned to support women—particularly mothers—with financial assistance to boost their small-scale businesses. The initiative, which was expected to benefit over 500 women, was reportedly blocked by the police.
“The police authorities, acting in clear bias, stopped the distribution of this assistance that would have touched the lives of vulnerable women. Instead, they busied themselves with sponsoring or securing a purposeless gathering clearly intended to frustrate our program,” the statement read.
MSO accused the police of acting in concert with certain politicians in Kebbi State to divert attention and lend full support to APC-organized political activities while clamping down on opposition initiatives.
“As we all know, in a democracy, no authority has the right to stop a peaceful gathering, especially one aimed at empowerment or political engagement. Freedom of Assembly is a constitutional right that must be respected,” the group declared.
The statement further stressed that the only lawful basis for security agencies to halt a gathering is when there is clear evidence that it poses a threat to peace, security, or public safety. “Anything outside of that is a misuse of power, driven by personal or political interest,” MSO argued.
The organization called on the authorities to respect democratic principles by ensuring a level playing field for all political actors and groups. It reiterated its demand for fairness, urging the police and government institutions to stop the intimidation of opposition parties and to uphold the constitutional rights of all citizens.