The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore has condemned what he called a heightened level of harassment of citizens through death threats, arson threats, among others against those who happen not to support Peter Obi’s candidacy.
Obi is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
Sowore made this known on his social media handles while reacting to the assault visited on a man referred to as a “Fake Bishop”.
The man, also said to be a plumber, was beaten up on Saturday in Dei Dei, Bwari local government area of Federal Capital Territory.
The victim is said to be one of the ‘bishops’ who attended the unveiling of Kashim Shettima as the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a video widely circulated online, a man who bears striking resemblance to one of the ‘clerics’ who attended the event in June, could be seen as he was assaulted and humiliated by some youths. There have been allegations that the ‘bishops’ who attended the political event were fake and paid to be there.
Some of the assaulters could be heard saying “fake bishop”, “This is one of the so-called bishops Tinubu used”, among others in the video.
According to a Facebook user, Sunday Wale Adeniran, the man identified as “Rev Chika” is an indigene of Agulu in Anambra State.
Adeniran wrote, “Today at Dei-Dei building materials market in Abuja, this clergyman was molested and beaten when they identified him as one of the clergymen who attended the unveiling of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate. His name is Rev Chika. He hails from Agulu in Anambra state.”
However, Sowore on Sunday asserted that he was shocked that some highly respected persons on Facebook, WhatsApp and elsewhere celebrated the mob justice against the alleged impostor.
He wrote, “Yesterday, I saw a number of pictures of a man referred to as a “Fake Bishop”, who is also a plumber ‘apprehended’ presumably by supporters of Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi in a market in Dei Dei neighbourhood of Abuja.
“His offence? He was accused of appearing as a “fake bishop” at the unveiling event of Bola Tinubu’s VP, Alhaji Shettima also in Abuja weeks ago.
“I was particularly shocked that some highly respected persons on Facebook/WhatsApp and elsewhere celebrated this mob justice against this particular Nigerian.
“Since the advent of this election cycle we’ve seen and observed a heightened level of harassment of citizens via death threats, arson threats, verbal and now physical abuse against those who happen not to support Peter Obi’s candidacy.
“A Catholic Church pastored by Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka known as Adoration Ministry was a victim of this mob action, Femi Kuti’s African Shrine in Lagos was at the receiving end of arsonists over his refusal to support Mr. Obi for President.
“We’ve seen supporters brandishing guns and threatening people who might not support Obi’s candidacy. A former media assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri complained consistently that the life of his one year old daughter was repeatedly threatened.
“Obi’s supporters are not alone in this unconscionable act, a disabled Obi supporter was reportedly beaten for displaying his paraphernalia. However, Obi’s campaigners have demonstrated the most amount of intolerance and harassment of his opponents.
“The latest mobbing of the Bishop/plumber is barbaric, unacceptable and criminal. I condemn these conducts and urge Nigerians to stand by their rights to choose their leaders without pandering to fear, harassment and threats by anyone.”
“No set of persons or groups should be allowed to ride roughshod on anyone simply because they refuse to follow their preferred candidate(s). It is DEMOCRACY, founded and built fundamentally on the freedom to choose.