By The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore has condemned the mob action against one of the ‘fake bishops’ allegedly hired by the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
It would be recalled the ‘fake bishops’ were spotted at the unveiling of Kashim Shettima as the APC vice-presidential candidate, a development that sparked outrage at the time. Tinubu’s camp had, however, denied the claims.
On Saturday, pictures showing moments one of the bishops, one “Rev Chika” — said to be a plumber — was paraded at the popular Dei-Dei market in Abuja surfaced online.
Reacting to the development, Sowore condemned the mob action against the victim presumably by supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.
The AAC standard bearer, in a series of tweets on Sunday, alleged that in the buildup to the 2023 polls, there have been reports of attacks against prominents persons by Obi’s supporters, also known as Obidients.
“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,” the post read in part.
“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.”
