- Safiu Kehinde
The 2023 Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised warning over the spate of violent attacks on opposition parties across the country.
This is coming under the heels of the latest attack on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) office in Cross River state.
NPO Reported that political thugs suspected to be loyalist of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had on Saturday stormed the opening ceremony of the ADC’s new office in Bakassi area of Cross River.
The thugs invaded the event, violently dispersed party supporters, and destroyed canopies, loudspeakers, chairs, and other equipment arranged for the event.
A video of the attack shared on X showed the thugs shouting that no party will be allowed in the state aside the APC.
Reacting to the incident in a statement issued on his official X handle on Sunday, Obi condemned the attack.
The former Anambra governor who, had also came under attack alongside ADC leaders in Edo state earlier this year, labelled the latest development as an attack on democracy.
He warned that violence may be the future of Nigeria’s democracy if the repeated attacks on opposition parties are left unchecked.
“What occurred at the ADC office in Bakassi, Cross River State, is not merely an attack on a political party; it is an attack on democracy itself.
“When thugs can storm a party office and destroy property without facing arrest, it reflects how dangerously low our democratic standards have fallen.
“In the current state of Nigeria, what can we expect when leadership standards have plummeted to the extent that qualification, certification, and credibility are no longer deemed necessary for public office?
“If we continue down this path, violence may become the future of our democracy.” Obi wrote.
He however attributed the violent attacks to the presence of elected officials with allegedly forged certificates.
Obi reiterated that fraud and violence cannot create true leadership but rather affect future generations.
“The ability for individuals to present forged certificates for election sends a troubling message to our society.
“We must recognize that fraud and violence cannot create true leadership; they will only result in chaos. This chaos will ultimately affect us and our children.” He added.