By Frank Ulom
Arthur Jarvis Archibong, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Cross River State for the 2027 general elections, has called on the state government to release businessman Denis Odama, who he said was arrested in Lagos over comments concerning the Cross River State Government.
Archibong made the call in a video interview, on Sunday, in which he addressed Odama’s reported arrest and subsequent remand at the Afokang Correctional Centre in Calabar, Cross River State.
The PDP governorship candidate said he had followed the case of the Cross River-born businessman with concern, describing the development as an issue that should attract the attention of citizens, political leaders and the government.
“I have followed with concern the case of a young Cross Riverian businessman who was arrested in Lagos following comments he made on social media concerning the Government of Cross River State,” Archibong said.
He, however, distanced himself from the language allegedly used by Odama, stressing that criticism should not degenerate into insults or abuse.
“Let me state clearly that I do not endorse the language reportedly used in that publication and our public conversations must never descend into insults or abuse,” he said.
Archibong acknowledged that political disagreements and criticism could be intense, but argued that such disagreements should not result in the suppression of citizens’ freedom of expression.
“Political disagreement can be intense, but it doesn’t have to be indecent. Criticism can be strong, but it doesn’t have to be abusive,” he said.
According to him, citizens should not lose their freedom simply because they criticised those in government.
He said the economic difficulties facing residents made it particularly important for government to remain open to criticism and questions from the public.
“This is a time when mothers are struggling to feed their children, a time when many of our young graduates are walking the streets without jobs, a time when businesses are struggling to survive,” Archibong said.
He added that parents were worried about school fees, house rents and hospital bills, while citizens expected answers from their leaders.
“People have expectations of their leaders. And when those expectations are not met, people will ask questions. Sometimes those questions will be uncomfortable. Sometimes the language may irritate us. Sometimes the criticism may even be unfair,” he said.
Archibong said the appropriate response to criticism was not to silence critics but to engage with the issues raised.
He cited the words of Justice Sedley, saying: “Free speech includes not only the inoffensive, but the irritating, the contentious, the unwelcome and the provocative.”
He added that freedom to speak “inoffensively” alone was insufficient if citizens were expected to participate meaningfully in a democracy.
“Freedom only to speak inoffensively is not worth having,” he quoted the judge as saying.
According to Archibong, democracy becomes endangered when those in government become intolerant of criticism and citizens become afraid to speak.
He also drew attention to the potential consequences of Odama’s continued detention on his business, workers and dependants.
“Today, Denis Odama is not merely a social media account or a name appearing before a court. He is a businessman,” Archibong said.
“There are people whose daily bread may depend on the doors of his business remaining open. There may be workers waiting for salaries, customers expecting services, family members depending on him, and responsibilities that cannot simply be suspended because he made an offensive post on social media.”
Archibong said the reported remand could have wider economic consequences for Odama and those connected to his business.
“A week may sound short in the language of legal proceedings. But to a small businessman, seven days can be devastating. Seven days can mean lost customers, seven days can mean obligations unmet, and a business painstakingly built over many years beginning to suffer,” he said.
The PDP candidate then questioned whether an offensive social media post should attract such consequences, particularly where the criticism concerns public administration.
“And so, beyond politics, I ask a simple question: Must an offensive criticism of the government end with a citizen behind prison walls?” he asked.
He argued that laws intended to protect citizens from cybercrime should not become instruments for preventing legitimate criticism of public officials.
“We must be extremely careful about creating a society where laws intended to protect people from genuine cybercrime become instruments that ordinary citizens fear whenever they rise to question those in authority,” he said.
Archibong further stated that public office carries both honour and scrutiny, adding that taxpayers, voters, business owners and residents have a right to ask questions about how their state is governed.
“Public office comes with honour, but it also comes with scrutiny. Every citizen who pays taxes, votes, conducts business, raises a family or has a stake in Cross River State has a right to ask questions about how the state is governed,” he said.
He also pointed to issues such as electricity in Bekwarra, Odukpani, Boki, Ikom and other local government areas, saying such matters were legitimate subjects for public discussion.
He said citizens should have the right to disagree and criticise government policies.
“They have a right to disagree. They have a right to criticise,” he said.
Archibong appealed to the Cross River State Government and all those involved in the matter to consider mercy and release Odama.
“I therefore appeal, respectfully, to the Government and to all those involved in this matter, to allow mercy to speak. This is not weakness. It is leadership,” he said.
He added that prison should not become the destination of citizens merely because their criticism of those in power was considered harsh, embarrassing or offensive.
“As someone seeking the privilege of serving Cross River State as Governor, I want to live in a state where no citizen has to praise me in order to remain free,” Archibong said.
“I want a Cross River where people can disagree with their Governor, where journalists can ask uncomfortable questions, where young people can challenge public policies, where opposition voices can speak with facts, performance and superior ideas, not fear.”
Archibong acknowledged that freedom of expression comes with responsibility, saying citizens should also avoid abusive or unlawful speech.
“Freedom of expression carries a responsibility to speak,” he said.
He insisted, however, that his intervention was not primarily political, describing the appeal as a call for compassion and justice.
“Today, therefore, my appeal is not political. It is human. Let mercy prevail,” he said.
Archibong urged the government to allow Odama to return to his family, workers and livelihood, while calling on Cross River State to demonstrate tolerance for criticism.
“Let our brother Denis Odama return to his family, his workers and his livelihood immediately,” he said.
“And let Cross River State send a greater message to Nigeria, that ours is a state confident enough to tolerate criticism and compassionate enough to choose mercy when mercy can still serve justice.”
He concluded by saying political administrations would change but the values protected by society would have lasting consequences.
“Politics will come and go. Governments will come and go. But the freedom we protect today will determine the kind of society our children inherit tomorrow,” Archibong said.
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