National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, and former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, have condemned the attack and burning of the party’s secretariat in Ado Ekiti, describing it as a threat to democracy and political tolerance.
Residents and ADC members woke up on Tuesday to find the
secretariat razed, with office equipment, plastic chairs, canopies, and sound
systems destroyed.
Hours later, suspected hoodlums were said to have regrouped
and invaded the venue of the party’s planned affirmation ceremony, attacking
members, vandalising vehicles and motorcycles, and scattering arrangements for
the event.
Reacting to the incident, Aregbesola, who arrived at the
venue shortly after the attackers fled, described the incident as a shameful
display of intolerance and a dangerous signal for democracy.
“It is regrettable that individuals who emerged through
democratic processes can resort to violence and intimidation to suppress
opposition voices. The attack on ADC members in Ekiti signals a descent into
fascism,” Aregbesola said.
The former Interior Minister also faulted security agencies
for failing to protect the party’s members and property, saying such negligence
violates the constitution.
In the same vein, Olusola-Eleka described the incident as
political terrorism, lamenting that the police failed to act swiftly despite
early reports of the midnight attack.
“We are let down by the security agencies because more than
two hours after we reported the incident, no officer came to secure the
premises,” he said.
On his part, Ekiti ADC Chairman, Ilesanmi Omolayo, said
several members were injured during the attack and were receiving treatment in
hospitals.
He alleged that the assault was an attempt to intimidate the
party over its growing popularity.
Also reacting, ADC governorship aspirant and former High
Commissioner to Canada, Dare Bejide, condemned the attack as barbaric, saying
those behind it were enemies of democracy.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP
Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident, adding that the Commissioner of Police,
Joseph Eribo, had ordered a full-scale investigation to arrest the perpetrators
and bring them to justice.
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