By Jude Opara
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Tuesday attack targeting chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo.
Peoples Daily reports that the attack occurred in Benin during a political engagement involving coalition leaders of the ADC.
Atiku, in a statement said: “The violent attack on Peter Obi, Chief John Oyegun, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, Olumide Akpata, and other coalition ADC leaders in Benin, Edo state, is utterly condemnable and unacceptable in any democracy.”
Atiku alleged that inflammatory rhetoric from elements within the ruling party in Edo state may have contributed to the incident.
“In recent times, we have witnessed reckless and inflammatory rhetoric from elements within the ruling party in Edo state, rhetoric that dangerously legitimises violence against political opponents. Words, when weaponised, often precede actions. What happened in Benin did not occur in a vacuum,” he added.
He further warned that Nigeria may be edging towards a dangerous phase where opposition members face both institutional harassment and physical threats.
“Nigeria is entering a perilous phase in which opposition voices are not only harassed through state institutions but are now being physically targeted. The ruling APC appears to have escalated its intolerance from bureaucratic suppression to open aggression.”
He accused the APC in Edo of escalating political intolerance, while urging President Bola Tinubu’s government to uphold its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property without discrimination.
“@officialABAT and the nation’s security chiefs bear a constitutional responsibility to guarantee the protection of lives and property without discrimination or partisanship.
“The safety of opposition leaders and supporters is not a favour; it is a democratic obligation. Nigeria must not descend into a theatre where politics is settled by violence.”
