A chieftain of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and Director General, Planning and Strategy of Murtala Independent Campaign Council, Alhaji Gowon Enenche has condemned in strong terms, the invasion of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, state campaign office in Lokoja, Kogi state, at the early hours of Sunday.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Sunday in Lokoja, Alhaji Enenche said the acts by the invaders is not only senseless, it is barbaric, unpolitical, highly uncivilized and an action perpetrated by people who are scared of the political strength of the SDP candidate.
Alhaji Enenche noted that election is a game of numbers where popular candidates show the stuff they are made of, not one that is characterised by intimidation, harassment and destruction of property as it is currently happening in the state.
The philanthropist cum grassroots politician called on the state government to set out machinery in motion to fish out political thugs if only the state or the APC candidate is not behind the dastardly acts.
The Social Democratic Party chieftain said the forthcoming election, is an avenue for the people of Kogi state to show that they are not comfortable with happenings in the state and that people should be allowed to freely go about their activities.
According to Enenche, “the act should be condemned by any reasonable person and all suspected political thugs in the state should be put on wanted list for arrest and prosecution before the coming election.
“The ugly development portends danger for the forthcoming governorship election in the state as this action is already putting fears in the people.”
He said, “The country must become aware of what is going on in Kogi State. We have kept quiet for a very longtime in the face of several unprovoked attacks on SDP members and this is already going out of hand.”
Furthermore, the SDP leader called on the Kogi State Police Commissioner to see that he and his men give all parties free hands to go about their political activities, adding that the incident, could be traced to some key political figures of the ruling APC in the state as being responsible for sponsoring the thugs who invaded the SDP campaign office in Lokoja around Kpata market, burning houses and destroying billboards.
While calling on relevant national and international communities to turn their attention to events happening in Kogi state in the build up to the election, Gowan Enenche appealed to all supporters of the SDP and by extension Murital Ajaka not to retaliate any attack, assuring that the perpetrators of the heinous act will be brought to book either now or when the SDP assumes power in the state.
Alhaji Enenche said he had earlier raised alarm of the alleged sinister moves against supporters of the SDP in his capacity in charge of planning and strategy and that supporters in the state should not be deterred by the tactics of the thugs, adding that no provocative action will distract them from focusing on the goal which is winning the November 11’election in the state.