*’Nobody Should Mistake Our Civility For Weakness, Our Restraint For Fear’
By Tony Ezimakor, Abuja
Presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi has asked President Bola Tinubu and the Department of State Services (DSS) to order the immediate release of his supporter, Rilwan Olawale.
Obi took to his X account to condemn what he said as the sustained harassment and intimidation of his supporters by hired thugs and agents of the State across the country, warning that the resolve by his campaign to toe the part of peace must not be seen as weakness.
He cautioned President Tinubu, as beneficiary of the nation’s democracy, against its destruction through an alleged brazen facilitation of violence.
Recall that the NDC presidential candidate had recently raised the red flag on violent attacks on the party’s support during the funeral of one of its members murdered in cold blood by alleged ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) thugs in Enugu.
Rallies and meetings of the party have also come under attack in other locations as part of the orchestrated intimidation.
Furthermore, the presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had also recently demanded answers over the brutalization of one of his supporters in Edo State in a video that has gone viral, as orgy of violence continues against opposition parties.
Obi stated: “The continued intimidation and harassment of my supporters across the country, the latest being the case of Rilwan Olawale, is disturbing and unacceptable.
“President Bola Tinubu has remained a huge beneficiary of our democracy and should not brazenly be destroying it by encouraging and facilitating violence.
“Our campaign is peaceful and issue-driven, focused on offering Nigerians a credible alternative built on competence, accountability, justice, and compassion.
‘We have chosen the path of peace, not violence; persuasion, not intimidation.
“However, nobody should mistake our civility for weakness, our restraint for fear, or our commitment to peace for an absence of resolve.
“We will not be intimidated into silence, nor will we abandon Nigerians who believe in a New Nigeria that is possible and will be OK.
“I therefore demand transparency regarding Rilwan Olawale’s arrest, his release, respect for his rights, and an end to politically motivated harassment. No government or political party has the right to deny Nigerians the freedom to support a candidate of their choice.
“We will remain peaceful but resolute. We will not resort to violence, but we will stand firmly and lawfully against every attempt to undermine our democratic rights.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: L-R: Obi, and Vice-Presidential candidate, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
