Attack On Amosun Condemnable
It was sad to see Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s head covered in bandage on the front page of the Compass newspaper on Monday. It is also disheartening to note that the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ogun State was attacked by members of the opposition party in his state while campaigning for votes in the coming April polls.
Amosun, according to the report was campaignintg in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state when some intolerant supporters of the opposition attacked his convoy and pelted him with stones. One of the stones, it was learnt, hit his forehead and he had to be attended to in the hospital.
This attack, to say the least, is uncalled for. It is not only unnecessary but repugnant. This is not the kind of politics that we should be playing now. An attack on a defenceless citizen who is going about trying to convince the people of his desire to serve them is an attack on all covers of democracy and should be condemned.
Even though Senator Amosun has identified those behind the attack as the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, General Tunji Olurin (retd.), Senator Iyabo-Obasanjo-Bello and the founder of the Omo Ilu Foundation, Buruji Kashamu, we are dismayed that those mentioned have not deemed it fit to respond to the allegation three days after it was made. By keeping silent, they are giving credence to Senator Amosun’s allegation.
It is not enough for the Chairman of Yewa Local Government Area, Dr. Mohammed Adewunmi to say that the attack was not politically motivated. The fact is that Senator Amosun was attacked while campaigning in the area and there is evidence of the injury he suffered for all to see.
It is our belief that the law enforcement agents should investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack on Senator Amosun at Yewa and bring the culprits to book to prevent a backlash. This is because no party has a monopoly of violence. The sane thing to do now is to assure the citizens that no sinner will go unpunished.
As the April elections approach, there have been political violence in some parts of the country. They should be thoroughly investigated by security agencies and the perpetrators made to pay for their sins.
It is when we do this that we will be sending a clear message to the harbingers of violence that they will not go unpunished. Holding them accountable for their actions will serve as a deterrent to others.
Politicians are also advised to to tone down their rhetorics and avoid making inflammable statements during campaigns. Politics, like we have stated earlier, should not be a do-or-die thing. Politicians must show respect for one another and eschew bitterness in their politicking.
It is the way they conduct themselves that their followers will take to.
It is time we put a stop to all these violence and the best way to do this is for the politicians to call their supporters to order. The supporters should be made to understand that violence does not pay and that violence begets violence. Our country certainly needs a peaceful atmosphere to conduct the coming polls.
Comments