11th June, 2014
National leader of the All progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu has condemned in the strongest terms the attack by the police on APC members during a peaceful procession and campaign in Ekiti last Sunday.
According to him, the unprovoked attack on innocent citizens simply because they belong to another party is the height of political intolerance and heightens the doubts most Nigerians have about the ability of this government to guarantee free and fair elections in Ekiti, Osun and other states in 2015.
“The open boasts and direct threats by the ruling party to “capture” or win Ekiti back at all costs are beginning to manifest,” he said.
He noted that: “The impunity of the police officers in Ekiti and glaring partisanship is clearly endorsed by the power that be. In this instance, we will demand for justice and enforcement of our fundamental human rights.
“I am fully with Governor Kayode Fayemi and the people of Ekiti State in confronting this rising tyranny and defeating barbaric tendencies”.
Tinubu declared that he equally joins many well meaning Nigerians who demand and want peace to put the international community on notice that the present government is too desperate to be trusted to protect the fundamental rights of Nigerians and to conduct free and fair elections.
Nigerians are confronted with a government that sanctions impunity while laying false claims to being democratic”.
” What was the crime of APC members and their supporters in Ekiti that they were teargassed, shot at and killed? Is sweeping the streets and singing party songs in a peaceful procession now a crime in Jonathan’s country? If you are sure you have people to vote for you while resort to violence means?”
Political campaigns should be a celebration of democracy not war. Why are we promoting with the barrel of the gun and giving democracy tainted with the blood of the innocent to our people,” he quizzed?
This is not the liberty we seek or the democracy we need. What happened in Ekiti is criminal. It is unacceptable. It is a direct assault on the rights and freedom of an elected governor and his people. It must not be allowed to stand.
Tinubu said APC believes in the contest of ideas, how to create jobs, provide security, ensure health infrastructure development and provide life more abundant for millions of our people.
“APC is not about the promotion and perpetration of violence but about ideas and peaceful competition in an atmosphere that is free and fair. Our adversaries must be mindful also that nobody has the monopoly of violence. Peaceful and civilized approach to issues trumps violence.
This government must rescue millions of Nigerians from their poverty rather than intimidate them with the Police.”