From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
More reactions have continued to trail the last week attack on the convoy of the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; this time from Borno Emirate Concerned Citizens Forum (BECCF).
The forum at a press briefing on Sunday in Maiduguri, said the November 9 incident, was a breach on the emerging peace in a state just coming out of 13 years of Boko Haram insurgency.
“The recent happening in the State is tantamount to a breach of peace and a concerted efforts in bringing down the successes recorded so far in bringing a lasting peace to our State in the recent past,” Chairman of the forum, Hassan Zanna, Zanna Boguma Borno, said.
He said the forum observed with dismay recent political upheavals in Bama, central part of Borno and Biu, southern part of the state as well as Maiduguri Metropolis.
He condemned all acts of violence and disruption that may breach the entrenchment of peace in the state. He urged all political stakeholders to eschew political violence that may open ways to hoodlums to jeopardize the relative peace witnessed in the state in recent time.
A former university lecturer and Dean Borno Emirate Concerned Citizens Forum, Prof Khalifa Dikwa, also described the attack as wild imported rascality which ought to be condemned.
“It’s not in our character. Borno is synonymous with the utter definition of decency. This wild imported rascality should be officially condemned & sent back to where it came from,” Dikwa said in a message on Sunday.
He said Borno people are guided by their faith. “We must refuse to do to others what we do not want others to do unto us,” he advised.
He said Atiku Abubakar as a former Vice President and traditional title holder in Adamawa Emirate, ought to be given respect, insisting the last Wednesday attack on the visitor was “a politics taken too far.”
Atiku’s convoy was attacked by hoodlums in Maiduguri while on the PDP presidential campaign visit. The PDP accused the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of mastermind of the incident though the police claimed no attack occurred even as they announced arrest of one suspect.