A former presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC), Bashir Othman Tofa, has told President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the release of Nastura Ashir Sharif.

Tofa asked Buhari to apologise to Sharif, before fire consumes the North and the country, even more than the 2011 election violence.

Sharif, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) was arrested by the Police for organising protests against the killing of Nigerians by bandits in Katsina and other States.

In his statement on Wednesday, Tofa said the arrest and detention was wrong, undemocratic and a very bad example of intolerance.

Tofa wondered why citizens who demonstrated peacefully against killings would be incarcerated.

“Is this a notice that nobody is allowed to say anything or to express a view, even peacefully? Is this the Democracy Nigeria is showing to the world? We hope not,” he said.

He declared that so many people are angry about the state of the nation.

Tofa warned that if “this collective anger is tickled and pushed by a few who may have started some illegal action somewhere, it will easily spread.

“The 2011 violence, destruction and death that occurred when it was rumoured that Gen. Muhammad Buhari was denied his victory will be a child’s play this time around.

“Nigerians are very angry! Insecurity everywhere, poverty, joblessness and now Covid-19, disease, despair and desperation have eaten deep into people’s patience and good sense.”

He maintained that for the Police and other agencies to carry out illegal arrests and called their actions “a deliberate attempt to dishonour this government and cause more hatred against it.”

Tofa noted that because of Nastura’s situation, “I have the nasty and angry, often abusive words, uttered against the President by hitherto his supporters’

“President Buhari should be very careful. He should begin to know and appreciate his true and sincere friends, and get rid of his enemies, who do tremendous harm to his image and his own future well being and safety.”

Tofa said Buhari must remember that in three years, someone else will be President.

“I, and millions of other Nigerians, condemn the arrest of Nasturah Sheriff and other Nigerians who were either killed or injured simply because they came out to demonstrate and make their views known in a peaceful manner,” he added.

He demanded Nastura’s immediate release, and all those in detention for such purposes.