The attack on one of the “bishops” who attended the introduction of the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima, in Abuja has been denounced by Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).
The man was reportedly almost lynched by some young people in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday, according to Anaedoonline.ng.
The Bishop, whose identity was kept secret, came dangerously close to being lynched by shoppers at Abuja’s Dei Dei International Building Materials Market.
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When Shettima was formally introduced as Bola Tinubu’s running mate for the APC’s presidential nomination in Abuja, the market vendors recognized him as one of the bishops.
He had to be saved by Nigerian Police Force agents from being lynched by customers in the market.
On Sunday, Sowore expressed his dissatisfaction with the mob behavior on his Twitter account and criticized Nigerians for endorsing it online.
The AAC presidential candidate further stated that the purported bishop’s fundamental human rights were violated during the mob event.
However, he claimed that those who attacked the victim in the market were likely Peter Obi’s followers from the Labour Party.
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He wrote: “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.
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“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.”
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