Senator Ahmad Lawan, representing Yobe North, has dismissed claims that he ordered the arrest of a constituent, Ishe’u Ibrahim Jadda, who had reportedly criticized the Gashua water supply project.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Lawan’s media adviser, Ezrel Tabiowo, asserted that the former Senate President “has never used, and will never use his position or influence to silence dissent or intimidate his critics.”
This response comes in the wake of a media report alleging the senator’s involvement in Jadda’s arrest following remarks about the water project in Gashua, a town in Yobe State.
Tabiowo clarified that the project was facilitated by Senator Lawan, commissioned, and handed over to the Yobe State Government by the federal authorities.
However, the statement remained silent on the project’s current operational status.
Tabiowo strongly condemned the report, branding it “reckless and untrue” and describing it as a targeted attempt to damage the image of a leader known for his dedication to democracy and the rule of law.
He emphasized, “To be clear, Senator Ahmad Lawan, an experienced legislator and former Senate President, has never used and will never use his position or influence to silence dissent or threaten his critics.”
“His long-standing record as a lawmaker, even during his years in opposition, speaks to a man who respects divergent opinions and upholds the sanctity of democratic engagement,” the statement continued.
Highlighting Lawan’s commitment to transparency and open discourse, Tabiowo recalled his leadership during the 9th Senate (2019–2023), stating that “robust debates and opposing views were not only tolerated but encouraged.”
“He faced lots of criticism yet remained committed to good governance, consistently placing the well-being of the people above personal or political interests,” he noted.
“To claim that someone of his integrity would engineer the arrest of a constituent for exercising their constitutional right to free speech is not only ridiculous but also an insult to his long standing record of principled public service,” the statement added.
Tabiowo pointed out that the Gashua Water Supply Project was initiated in response to a severe public health issue that had claimed numerous lives in the area. Medical experts have linked the region’s high rate of kidney disease to unsafe water sources.
“The Gashua Water Supply Project, recently inaugurated and transferred to the Yobe State Government by the Federal Government, was championed by Senator Lawan in response to a public health crisis that has claimed numerous lives,” he stated.
He reiterated that Senator Lawan welcomes constructive criticism as a vital tool for improving governance.
“Far from being intimidated by criticism, Senator Lawan values constructive feedback as a crucial means of enhancing the effectiveness of public service.”
“Allegations of his involvement in any form of repression are entirely unfounded and appear to be a deliberate effort to undermine the real progress being achieved in Yobe North,” the statement stressed.
