- Says “the President represents the sovereignty of the Nigerian Nation,” and Buhari “is a father figure”
The Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Tuesday condemned “in the strongest terms” the stoning of President Muhammadu Buhari, his convoy and helicopter in the ancient city of Kano, Kano State, Northwest Nigeria.
Obi, who said he received reports of the attacks “with shock and indignation,” described it as “barbaric and un-Nigerian.”
According to the statement by Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Diran Onifade, Obi stated that “the President represents the sovereignty of the Nigerian Nation, and President Muhammadu Buhari particularly, his age considered, is a father figure, an assault on whom, our culture regards as sacrilegious.
“It is imperative that the despicable action such as took place in Kano, and other attacks on candidates and supporters elsewhere this election season, are checked by condemnation by political leaders across the board,
and by effective deterrent and penal action by our security and law enforcement agencies.
“While we as a political party, strictly adhere to our commitment to an issue-based campaign, we notice with regret,
the arrogant and belligerent rhetorics of some politicians who, with all desperation, still consider this year’s election as do or die.
“It must be made clear that this intolerant and intemperate approach, is capable of heating the polity, while directly encouraging the kind of misconduct that occurred in Kano.
“We would like to strongly reiterate that politics is not war, and politicians should carry out the campaigns, without interfering with the right of the people of Nigeria to choose their leaders
of their own free will.
“We sympathise with the President, and urge our law enforcement agencies to rise to the occasion, by appropriately investigating and bringing these violent perpetrators, and their instigators, before the law.
“Our future depends on a peaceful and stable polity, and we urge our supporters, and the good people of Nigeria,
to remain steadfast and determined in expressing their electoral choice and participating in this process,
but never to lose their calm and discretion.”