Former presidential media aide and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has condemned the alleged attack on President Bola Tinubu’s convoy by some Muslim youths in Abuja.
Reports emerged on Friday night that some worshippers at the newly renovated Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Abuja allegedly threw stones at the President’s convoy shortly after Friday prayers.
A viral video circulating on social media showed some youths booing Tinubu and chanting rejection slogans as his convoy departed the mosque.
The development sparked controversy, with the Presidency reportedly dismissing claims that the President’s convoy was attacked.
Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Ojudu expressed concern over the growing incidents of political violence across the country, warning that Nigeria was bleeding.
He called for a transparent and thorough investigation into the allegations that stones were thrown at the President’s convoy, despite the conflicting accounts surrounding the incident.
Ojudu also condemned the attack on supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) during a political gathering in the Oregun area of Lagos State on Thursday.
He noted that although the two incidents occurred under different circumstances, they reflected a disturbing pattern of political intolerance that required urgent national attention.
According to him, political meetings are increasingly being disrupted, campaign vehicles burnt, billboards destroyed and citizens threatened over their political choices.
He warned that allowing such incidents to continue could escalate tensions and trigger further acts of retaliation across the country.
Ojudu stressed that Nigerians have the constitutional right to reject the President politically, express dissatisfaction with his administration and campaign against his re-election.
However, he maintained that peaceful political opposition must not be replaced with violence, adding that throwing stones at anyone, including the President, was unacceptable.
He equally condemned attacks against opposition supporters, insisting that political disagreements should never become an excuse to deprive citizens of their constitutional freedoms.
“The President must be safe among the people he governs. The people must be safe when they disagree with him,” he stated.
Ojudu called on Nigerians and political leaders to defend democratic principles by rejecting violence, intimidation and political intolerance.
He said the country must act before isolated incidents of political violence develop into a wider national crisis.
