BENIN CITY – The inherent conflicts facing politics and agitations by members of political parties have continue to pose danger and create palpable fear, threats and violent attacks in Nigeria; just as some unscrupulous elements have decided to take the laws into their hands by violently attacking opposition members who have different opinions, philosophy and beliefs on how their political parties can clinch the seat of power across the country.
This scenario, even though was not the intension of the Athens when they gave birth to the practice of democracy, current events in Africa, and indeed Nigeria have seen democracy far removed from the noble ideas as conceived by the Greeks.
This kind of alien practice of democracy have seen several threats to lives and violent attacks on private properties belonging to individual such as Emmanuel Adewale Osaigbovo who have continue to insist on equity, fairness and just representation of all aspect of the society.
According to our reports, some individual have attacked Emmanuel Adebowale Osaigbovo severally, for campaigning against Muslim-Muslim ticket in Nigeria, especially as being touted by the All Progressive Party (APC) in the forthcoming 2023 National and Presidential Elections.
Our source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that “some hoodlums and religious bandits recently attacked the family residence of one Emmanuel Osaigbovo, alleging that he has blasphemed against Islam and the Muslims when he said that Prophet Mohammed and Muslim have nothing to do with elections and party ticket.
“Emmanuel Osaigbovo, an active member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and grassroots mobiliser was accused of blasphemy, because he insisted that religion, whether Islam or Christianity has nothing to do with elections”, the source said.
“He insisted that Muslim religion has nothing to do with elections and therefore, fielding Muslim-Muslim ticket in any elections, is divisive, reinforce negative manifesto as well as anti secularism and retrogressive in a multi-cultural and multi-religious society such as Nigeria.
According to another undisclosed source, “these suspects and political thugs have been haunting Emmanuel Adebowale Osaigbovo and his family over unsubstantiated allegations of blasphemy against Islam and the Muslim community. They see him as political enemy and have vowed to harm in whatever way possible”, the source said.
“They have escalated their attacks and manhunt to his place of work and consequently set the family home and residence at Ogumwenyi, Amagba Quarters on fire. The suspects are committing atrocities in the name of religion and politics, inflicting injuries on family members. They have not been fortunate enough to meet him as their target, because, Emmanuel has continued to live in fear and hiding for his dear life.”
“Most of the times, you see these bandits laying clandestine siege in and around our residence seeking to harm Emmanuel Adebowale Osaigbovo for insisting on equity, justice, competence, character and fair representation in our political democratisation. He is significantly facing the dilemma of being harmed either as political enemy or violently attacked over allegation of blasphemy. His activities are clear danger to the opposition not just in the local government but also in the state and across the country” the source concluded.
It is imperative to emphasise that every decent society prides itself on the just and application of the law to every member of its society, irrespective of opinion and religious inclinations.
Therefore, it is high time for the Nigerian society to urgently treat the issue of political violence, religious extremism and intolerance which has become great dangers to the continuous existence of a united Nigeria, its people and its diversity. The authorities concerned should arrest this ignoble behaviour of undermining the law and disrespect for freedom of association, worship and expression of opinion for the overall safety of all.
