Barr. Mike Aondoakaa
By Francis Atume, Makurdi
The Aondoakaa/Ogbenjuwa Campaign Organization has warned that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s scheduled visit to Ushongo Local Government Area should not be used as a licence to intimidate opposition parties.
The organization in a statement alleged that it received disturbing reports that the Chairman of Ushongo Local Government Area and some traditional rulers have directed the immediate removal of campaign materials, including billboards, posters and flags belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, ahead of Governor Alia’s visit to Lobi in Mbaawe Ward.
In a statement issued Tuesday in Makurdi signed by the Deputy Director-General of the campaign organization, Hon. Abraham Waro, the organization described the directive as a brazen abuse of authority, a dangerous assault on democratic freedom and an unacceptable attempt to intimidate political opponents.
Waro on behalf of the organization said Ushongo is not a political fiefdom, insisting that no governor, council chairman or traditional ruler has the authority to turn the local government or any other part of the state into a no-go area for opposition parties.
The Aondoakaa/Ogbenjuwa Campaign Organization therefore issued a firm warning to the Ushongo Local Government Chairman and all those behind the directive, stressing that any attempt to remove, destroy or tamper with its campaign materials will be treated as a deliberate act of political intimidation and an affront to the democratic rights of the PDP and its supporters.
The campaign organization warned that the scheduled visit of Governor Alia to Lobi community should not become an excuse to suppress the political visibility of Chief Aondoakaa or deny the PDP its legitimate right to campaign, adding that a governor’s visit is not a declaration of political emergency and does not confer on his supporters the authority to erase the presence of other political parties.
“We remind those issuing these draconian orders that democracy does not operate by intimidation, as political authority is not a licence to violate the rights of others. The people of Ushongo are entitled to their political choices, and no amount of coercion, threats or abuse of office will take that right away from them,” the campaign organization stated.
It described as particularly disturbing that such a directive should emerge from the home local government area of Chief Aondoakaa who has consistently pursued peaceful, issue-based campaigns, noting that rather than engage the opposition on governance and policies, Governor Alia’s supporters are more interested in confrontation and suppression of dissent.
The group expressed worry why Governor Alia, who was ordained as a Catholic priest, and is expected to be a symbol of peace, restraint and respect for human dignity will disappointingly result to political intimidation describing the development as completely unacceptable.
Waro on behalf of the organization called on the governor to rein in his supporters and make it unequivocally clear that Benue State belongs to all its people irrespective of political affiliation, and not allow his scheduled visit to Ushongo to become a pretext for provoking political tension.
The deputy Director – General also called on traditional rulers concerned to remain above partisan politics as well as resist any attempt to drag revered traditional institutions into partisan hostility, stressing that traditional rulers are custodians of heritage and unity, instead of instruments for intimidating opponents.
He on behalf of the campaign organization urged members and supporters in Ushongo and other parts of the state to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, advising them not to take the law into their own hands, but to document any attempt to remove or destroy campaign materials as well as report to appropriate authorities.
The campaign organization restated that its commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness, or restraint interpreted as permission for anyone to trample on its rights, warning that it will not stand by and watch its lawful campaign materials destroyed, nor will allow any individual or group to intimidate its supporters into political silence and advised those contemplating such actions to understand that no one has a monopoly on intimidation.
