- Safiu Kehinde
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating the violent attack on the 2023 Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo State.
NPO Reported that Obi and the Edo ADC leaders had come under attack at the residence of the former governor of the state, Chief John Oyegun, in Benin city yesterday.
Armed hoodlums stormed the residence shortly after the ADC convoy’s arrival, opening fire at apartment and vandalising several cars in what was described as an assassination attempt.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on his official X handle on Tuesday evening, Atiku condemned the attack which he labelled unacceptable in any democracy.
He alleged that the attack was a byproduct of the inflammatory statements often made against opposition members by the APC administration in the state led by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
“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.
“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.
Nigeria is entering a perilous phase in which opposition voices are not only harassed through state institutions but are now being physically targeted.” He said.
Atiku further labelled the attack as an alleged transition of the APC from bureaucratic suppression to open aggression.
He charged President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s security chiefs to live up to their responsibilities of protecting lives and properties without discrimination or partisanship.
“The ruling APC appears to have escalated its intolerance from bureaucratic suppression to open aggression. @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.” He added