Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Accord Party presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has warned towards the rising hazard of political violence in Nigeria, declaring {that a} nation already battling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and different safety threats can not afford to add politically motivated assaults to its nationwide safety disaster.
Olawepo-Hashim gave the warning throughout a solidarity go to to presidential candidate of AAC and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, following an assault on him in Ekiti State.
“Nigeria cannot afford to add political violence to the general insecurity in the land,” Olawepo-Hashim declared, stressing that assaults on political actors threaten democratic freedoms and nationwide stability.
The Accord presidential candidate welcomed the assertion by a United Nations consultant expressing concern over the incident however known as on different worldwide companions to converse out, insisting that political violence deserves clear and constant condemnation.
Olawepo-Hashim additionally known as on President Bola Tinubu to warning members of his crew towards rhetoric and actions able to scary political confrontation.
“The President should call his team to order. They should not provoke war because they would be the first to run away,” he mentioned.
The go to additionally introduced to the fore the longstanding relationship between the 2 pro-democracy activists, courting again to the wrestle towards navy rule.
Describing Sowore as a comrade from the early days of the wrestle, Olawepo-Hashim mentioned, “Sowore is our own. We brought him into the movement in 1989/1990.”
In his response, Sowore expressed gratitude for the go to, describing Olawepo-Hashim as a senior comrade who launched him to political activism on the University of Lagos.
“I am most grateful for this solidarity visit by my senior comrade and colleague, presidential candidate of the Accord Party. He was one of those who brought me into the struggle in UNILAG. We fought against military rule together when some people ran away,” Sowore mentioned.
He declared that the incident wouldn’t intimidate him or weaken his dedication to the wrestle for democracy.
“We are not intimidated, and we shall continue to fight until genuine democracy is established,” he added.
The go to highlighted a bond cast throughout Nigeria’s pro-democracy wrestle and bolstered a message that political disagreements mustn’t ever develop into a justification for violence.
Olawepo-Hashim’s intervention additionally positioned the accountability for preserving democratic house on political leaders, urging restraint at a time when Nigeria is already grappling with a number of safety challenges.
