The attack on Peter Obi

The Tuesday attack on former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, and other chieftains of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) by gunmen in Benin City, Edo State, is despicable and highly condemnable. Obi and former Edo State governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and other leaders of ADC were in Benin City to receive former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the LP governorship candidate in Edo 2024 election, Olumide Akpata, into the party.

However, a few minutes after the event, some gunmen gruesomely attacked the ADC Secretariat at Ogbelaka Street Off Sakponba Road Benin City and also attacked the residence of the party’s national leader, Odigie-Oyegun on Reservation Road, GRA, Benin City. The hoodlums shot severally at the gate of the former governor and vandalized many vehicles. Although Obi, Oyegun and others escaped death by whiskers, the attack signals danger ahead of the 2027 general election. The attack on opposition is attack on our nascent democracy. It is also an attack on freedom of association. Unfortunately, the ADC has been subjected to similar attacks in Lagos and Kaduna states where their meetings were disrupted.

The intolerance of opposition is alien to our constitution. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution clearly states  that: “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests: Provided that the provisions of this section shall not derogate from the powers conferred by this Constitution on the Independent National Electoral Commission with respect to political parties to which that Commission does not accord recognition.” The recent attacks on the ADC contravene the above constitutional provisions.

The rising political violence has been condemned by many Nigerians. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said “the attack on Peter Obi, John Oyegun, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, Olumide Akpata and other Coalition ADC leaders in Benin is utterly condemnable and unacceptable in any democracy.” Atiku further observed that: “In recent times, we have witnessed reckless and inflammable rhetoric from elements within the ruling party in Edo State. Words, when weaponised often precede actions. What happened in Benin did not occur in a vacuum. Nigeria must not descend into a theater where politics is settled by violence.”

The ADC has also condemned the Edo attacks on its leaders. Its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, had in a statement said: This was not an isolated incident. It bears the unmistakable marks of a dangerous and escalating pattern of political intimidation and terror against our party across the country. The resort to gunfire against lawful political actors represents an act of terrorism against the opposition, which has no place in a constitutional democracy.”

According to Abdullahi, “We are particularly alarmed by the pattern of inflammatory rhetoric and threats that have preceded these events, including the outrageous claim by the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who had earlier issued a threat that he would not guarantee the safety of Obi should he visit Edo State. The governor has since gone ahead to make further ridiculous claims that the ADC is sponsoring cultism in Edo State, and threatened to start demolishing properties of the opposition in the state.”

The attack on Obi and others is ominous as we approach the 2027 general election. If the attack is anything to go by, then Nigerians should expect more violence and thuggery ahead of the 2027 election season. If the recent council poll in Abuja could be marred by violence, voter apathy and other electoral infractions, 2027 will witness more violence and voter apathy.

Nigerian politicians must eschew violence and thuggery. They should play the game according to rules. There is even no room for the ‘do or die’ approach to politics in our political system. It is sad that some of our politicians have adopted this untoward strategy to rig elections. Nigerians have accepted multi-party democracy. There is no room for a one-party state, which will amount to autocracy. Let the politicians learn to tolerate opposing views and practice politics without bitterness. The political space is enough for all the politicians to ply their trade without rancor and violence.

The Police and other relevant security agencies must investigate the needless attack on Obi and other chieftains of the ADC in Benin City and unravel the motive for the attack. The security agencies should also apprehend those involved in the violent attack and bring them to justice. This matter should not be muted or be swept under the carpet in the usual Nigerian manner. The new acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, must ensure that the perpetrators of the violence on Peter Obi, John Oyegun and others are quickly arrested and diligently prosecuted according to the laws of the land. Allowing the matter to fizzle out just like that will embolden the attackers to wreak more havoc on the opposition as we move towards the 2027 general election.

Let our democracy grow through tolerance of opposing views. Our democracy can only thrive in an atmosphere of plurality of views. If the reception of a new member into a party can elicit a violent attack, then it will worse in 2027. To stem such unwarranted attacks in future, we urge the politicians to stop making inflammatory and incendiary comments such as the type Okpebholo made against Obi in July last year when the former Anambra governor visited that state. The growing culture of political intolerance is detestable. Our politicians should not set the country on fire by their divisive comments.

The federal government should do everything within its powers to ensure the security of all Nigerians, including members of the opposition. For instance, Section 14 (b) of the 1999 Constitution states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” The function must not be abdicated by the government.

Nigerians have right to freedom of movement. Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution states that “every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereto or exit therefrom.” This right must not be vitiated by political thugs or agents of political actors.