KANO: My son has freedom of speech, grant him access to lawyer, says Tanko Yakasai

*As PDP reps demand immediate release of Salihu Yakasai

ALHAJI TANKO Yakasai, father of sacked aide of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Salihu Yakasai, has appealed to authorities to grant his son access to his lawyer.

The elder statesman, who made the appeal yesterday, said that Salihu had not done anything unconstitutional.

While updating the public on the development about his son’s arrest, Tanko said a lawyer and Salihu’s brother visited Abuja two days ago and applied for permission at the DSS office to talk to him but the request wasn’t granted.

He said, “They were advised to call today (Sunday); we are still waiting for an update from the security operatives, who have yet to contact us.

“I appeal to the authorities to grant him (Salihu) access to his lawyer; he is protected by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in freedom of expression.”

In the same vein, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, caucus in the House of Representatives expressed concern over Salisu’s arrest, yesterday.

Leader of the caucus, Kingsley Chinda, in a statement, said the group is  concerned over the continuous breach and denigration of democratic ethos and the constitution the country.

Chinda said the PDP caucus “is proud of and salutes the stance, uncommon boldness, courage and statesmanship shown by Yakassai and a few other Nigerians for standing firm to say the truth.”

He said,  “We, hereby, call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government to pay particular attention to the message delivered by Mr Yakassai and other well meaning Nigerians, rather than focus on the messenger. For how long will he continue to fiddle while the country burns?

“Consequently, we call on the DSS and other relevant authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of Yakasai.”