Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has held President Bola Tinubu, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo and the management of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accountable for enabling what he described as a local weather of violence following the alleged brutal assault on comic Osagie Daniel Idedia, popularly often called Porkupyne, in Benin City, Edo State.
Atiku condemned the assault, alleging that the comic was focused for supporting his presidential ambition and for demanding good governance and accountability in Edo State.
The former vice-president said this in a put up on his X deal with on Saturday, calling on the Edo State governor to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and urging the police to research allegations of political involvement.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal attack on comedian Osagie Daniel Idedia (aka Porkupyne), in Benin City, Edo State, and I state without equivocation that this was a politically motivated assault on a Nigerian citizen solely because he is my supporter and because he dared to demand good governance and accountability in Edo State,” Atiku stated.
He added, “I hold Governor Monday Okpebholo @m_akpakomiza, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC leadership directly responsible for creating and tolerating a climate of impunity in which opposition supporters are beaten, maimed and terrorised.”
Atiku known as on Okpebholo to clarify what occurred to the comic, urging the governor to interrupt his silence on the incident.
“Governor Okpebholo must explain what happened to Porkupyne, stop hiding behind official silence and prove that his government is not shielding political thugs,” he stated.
The ADC presidential candidate additionally known as on Tinubu and the APC management to cease what he described because the brutalisation of his supporters.
“President Tinubu and the APC must stop the brutalisation of my supporters and end the dictatorial arrogance of treating loyal opposition as enemies of the state,” Atiku said.
He additional demanded an pressing police investigation into the incident, notably allegations that political actors had been concerned within the assault.
“The police must urgently investigate allegations of political involvement, identify the perpetrators and expose whoever sponsored or facilitated this cowardly attack,” he stated.
Atiku added that no Nigerian must be subjected to violence due to their political affiliations or refusal to help a selected candidate or political get together.
“No Nigerian should be brutalised for refusing to support Tinubu, the APC or any governor, and no political party has the right to beat, maim or terrorise its way to power,” he stated.
The former vice-president additionally drew the eye of Amnesty International and international missions in Nigeria to the incident, urging them to observe the remedy of opposition supporters because the nation approaches the 2027 normal elections.
“I am formally drawing the attention of @amnesty @AmnestyNigeria and all foreign missions in Nigeria to this deeply troubling incident,” he stated.
He urged the organisations and diplomatic missions to independently doc politically motivated violence and demand accountability from the related authorities.
“They must closely monitor the treatment of opposition supporters, independently document politically motivated violence and demand accountability from the relevant authorities as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections,” Atiku added.
He demanded rapid justice for the comic and safety for Nigerians exercising their political rights and freedom to precise dissent peacefully.
“I demand immediate justice for Porkupyne and protection for every Nigerian exercising the right to political choice and peaceful dissent,” he stated.
Atiku maintained that political energy shouldn’t be used to intimidate residents or compel them to help a selected get together or candidate.
“Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians, not to the APC, not to Tinubu and not to any governor who believes power gives him the right to intimidate citizens into submission,” he stated.
He urged the ruling get together and the administrations of Tinubu and Okpebholo to show their dedication to ending political violence.
“The APC must stop the brutalisation of my supporters now, and Governor Okpebholo and President Tinubu must demonstrate that their administrations will neither tolerate political violence nor shield anyone responsible for it,” Atiku said.
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