The attack on the immediate past Minister of Transportation and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday March 6 on his way to Ubima, his community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State is still eliciting reactions.
Speaking to National Point in Port Harcourt Pastor Theophilus Akubo, a member of the Africa Democratic Congress ADC, condemned the attack describing it as undemocratic and barbaric.
He equally condemned the burning down of ADC’s party secretariat, stressing that our democracy and politics should witness some level of civility
“I think at this point in our democracy we should flow more than that and play civilised politics; not politics of thuggery. And I pity those who shamelessly subjected themselves to be used for such satanic act and as such it deserves wide spread condemnation because we want a free,fair,credible and transparent election,” he added.
The ADC stalwart said he suspected a coverup because the police should have launched a thorough investigation to fish out the perpetrators to punish them accordingly.
“I expect that by now the police and other relevant security agencies should have commenced a thorough investigation to fish out the perpetrators and punish them accordingly. Unfortunately, this same act happened to Peter Obi in Benin. If the police do not go into real action to fish out the perpetrators and sponsors then we have a long way to go.
“As you know Amaechi is not a small figure in Nigeria as he has grown into status of prominence and he has contributed to the development of this country. He has served as two-term speaker, two-term governor and two-term minister of transportation and a presidential aspirant.”
“This is very unfortunate that it is happening in his home state,” Pastor Akubo lamented.
He debunked an insinuation that Amaechi’s community people attacked him. “They were hired to carry out the attack which is a major problem facing the opposition not being allowed to express themselves in the political space.”
Akubo, expressed fears that the general election will be characterised by rigging and thuggery
“In the history of elections in Nigeria it has been majorly characterised by rigging, thuggery and anti-democratic tendencies.
“But I think Nigerian politics should grow past rigging, thuggery and anything that could mar the success of elections. They should allow people to express themselves the way they want in a democratic space,” Akuro concluded.
