Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress’ presidential hopeful, criticised the assault in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, on a man who was allegedly a “fake bishop.”
Sowore claims that the victim, a plumber, was charged with acting as a “fake bishop” at the recent unveiling of Kashim Shettima, the APC vice presidential nominee, in Abuja.
According to Sowore, the victim was “apprehended” in a market in the Dei Dei neighbourhood of Abuja by people who were likely Peter Obi’s followers as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate.
The ACC presidential candidate also criticised Nigerians in a series of posts on his Twitter account on Sunday, alleging that they had encouraged the mob activity on Facebook and WhatsApp.
“I was especially astonished that several highly respectable folks on Facebook/WhatsApp and elsewhere cheered this mob justice against this specific Nigerian,” he said. Since the start of this election season, there has been a noticeable increase in the harassment of residents who happen to oppose Peter Obi’s candidacy, including murder threats, arson threats, verbal abuse, and now physical abuse.
“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.
#WeCantContinueLikeThis”
