A coalition of civil society organisations in Nigeria has called for an independent investigation into a reported attack on opposition politician, Omoyele Sowore, Friday in Ekiti State, saying the politician’s conduct had become a source of concern for the coalition.
The group advised Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, to withdraw from the electoral process if he was unwilling to participate responsibly.
In a statement issued in Bauchi, Bauchi State, the coalition questioned Sowore’s account of the incident, demanding that the events be examined by an impartial body. The statement was signed on behalf of the Centre for Public Integrity by
Job Samuel Danfulani, John Samuel Nangi for Nigeria Integrity Watch, and Mohammed Ibrahim Sumaila for
the Northern Council of Nigeria. Other signatories were Abdullahi Salisu for the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Forum, and Hassana Mohammed for Foundation for Democracy in Africa.
Noted the Coalition,”While we sympathise with Sowore who claimed that he was attacked and taken to an unknown location, we also noticed some gaps in his account. He accused the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police and the Ekiti State Government of masterminding the attack.
“We dare say that the allegations are wild and were made long before the facts were independently established. It would seem that Sowore’s allegations were aimed at discrediting the DSS, a security agency in court with him.”
Continued the Coalition, “We question the sequence of events in Sowore’s account, including his reported use of his personal social media account and his subsequent appearance at a hospital.
“The sequence appears confusing, especially the part that police personnel attached to him were disarmed by suspected armed thugs. How Sowore ended up in police hospital remains a mystery,” opined the Coalition.
“The same Sowore who claimed that he was attacked unprovoked by suspected thugs in Ado-Ekiti was recently sighted on viral video clips attacking a lawyer inside the Federal High Court, in Abuja. In another, he was seen having a heated verbal exchange with prison officers inside the same court.
“Had the lawyer and the prison officers not restrained themselves, only God knows the kind of violence that would have greeted both encounters.
“Very invaluable is the statement by the Ekiti State police command that the confusion was triggered by an altercation. Given Sowore’s history of attacking persons who disagree with him, even in courts, it is not impossible that he or his rowdy supporters may have sparked off the Ekiti disturbances which he now claims is an attack by thugs,” noted the Coalition.
“We urge Sowore to stop the comedy and also stop hiding behind the pillar of contesting elections to cause chaos,” the Coalition stated.
The coalition also urged Sowore to avoid statements that could inflame passions while the incident is being investigated.
“We callon the authorities to establish what happened and make their findings public. Any inquiry should follow due process and protect the rights of everyone involved,” declared the Coalition.