Emma Elekwa
Chairman, Guild of Public Affairs Analysts, GPAAN, Enugu State Chapter, Dr Ambrose Igboke, has urged the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 General Elections, Mr Peter Obi not to be careless about his security.
While encouraging Mr Obi to maintain his simplistic disposition, Dr Igboke advised him against moving around unprotected, ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Igboke gave the advice in a chat with newsmen, in reaction to the arrest of a suspect in an alleged attack on Mr Obi, and a former governor of Edo State, John Odigie-Oyegun.
Obi, Odigie-Oyegun and other chieftains and members of the opposition All Democratic Congress (ADC), escaped death by a whisker on the 24th of February, when armed men fired several gunshots at them at their party meeting in Benin.
Shortly after the attack, one Udeme Monday Stephen posted on his X account @stevetom788, claiming responsibility for the attack and threatening further attacks on Obi.
Stephen stated online that Obi was lucky to have escaped in Benin, and vowed that the former presidential candidate wouldn’t be that lucky next time.
Suspect arrested
A source with the Department of State Services, DSS has confirmed Udeme’s arrest and possible arraignment in court.
In the light of the above, the GPAAN Enugu boss expressed worry that Obi was being too careless about his security.
He insisted that with the way he moved around without protection, he might put himself in harm’s way.
This, he noted, is because of how porous the political environment in Nigeria is, and how mean its politicians often are.
Igboke recalled how high-profile individuals have been killed in the past in the build-up to general elections.
He regretted that till date, no perpetrator has been prosecuted.
“I strongly believe Mr Peter Obi is being very careless about his security.
“Even celebrities who should mingle with the public are now deploying serious security.
“To be simple is good, but when you are operating in an environment of the jackals, you need to protect yourself from the wild animals.
“We have seen a lot of bad things happen to people in this country and everyone moved on.
“So, I would appeal to Mr Peter Obi to beef up his security. If the state security is not provided for him, he should use private security, especially as we enter the heat of the 2027 general elections,” Igboke advised.
Strong democratic structures
The Enugu GPAAN boss, however, expressed concerns that such unfortunate would occur in Edo State, which has a record of sustained democratic structures dating back to the Benin Kingdom, over 600 years ago.
Igboke noted that the fact that the state cannot host a meeting of the opposition is a threat to democracy.
“Again, for this to happen in Edo State, I think the governor should be concerned that the opposition cannot hold meetings in his state.
“And this is just meetings, what then happens during the campaign proper.
“Edo state prides itself as a democratic state for over 600 years, dating back to the Benin Kingdom, with governance structures that have worked for them. So, the governor should take heed.
“We pray that 2027 does not portray bloodshed. Eliminating your opposition should not be the case.
“Your strength should be in your ability to convince the electorate based on what you have been able to do or the promise you are making,” he said.
The social affairs commentator, who spoke on sundry issues, also shared his expectations from the recently appointed Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.
He called on the new IGP to improve the welfare of officers and men, while pushing for the total implementation of the Police Act of 2020.
“Police is the least paid of all the security agencies in Nigeria. After 35 years of service, someone is leaving with 1.5 million as severance package.
“That is pathetic! A Captain is earning about 12 million while his counterpart in the police is getting about 1.8 million.
“Also he should look into the issue of barracks. Most police officers transferred from one state to another stay in shanties and uncompleted buildings.
“How do we expect professionalism from them when they live in such uninhabitable places?
“So, the new IGP should stop all these things that his predecessors have focused on- tinted permit, joint VIP escort and other irrelevant things.
“He should look into the welfare of the police so that the force can become effective.”
