The security lapses that enable assaults and violence to transpire during political campaign rallies have been attributed by Rev. Father Chinenye Oluoma, a Catholic priest, to President Bola Tinubu.
While stating that the government must continue to ensure the safety of its citizens, Oluoma warned that Nigerians who wilfully interfere with the campaign operations of political parties they do not support should be ready to face the repercussions.
The priest made the comments in a Facebook post on Thursday, in response to the reported ongoing violence on NDC supporters during a campaign rally in Nigeria.
He made it clear that he has little sympathy for protesters who disrupt political events, especially if they are hired to do so by politicians or their associates.
On the other hand, Oluoma emphasised that, so long as organisers inform the appropriate government authorities in advance, the government is obligated to ensure sufficient security for political meetings.
“If some rascals disrupt a party’s campaign rally and they are not stopped or apprehended by security agents, hold President Tinubu responsible,” he stated, arguing that the president of Nigeria should be held ultimately responsible for security under the country’s current security framework.
The priest added that Tinubu need to face consequences if individuals responsible for lynchings that occur as a result of purportedly disrupted campaign rallies go unpunished.
The increasing number of mob attacks and killings at political rallies is deeply troubling, according to Oluoma. He firmly believes that the government must act immediately to put an end to this bloodshed.
He further said that the government should ensure that political parties have access to venues and provide sufficient protection, and he denounced the practice of denying them use of public areas for campaign events.
He insisted that President Tinubu is personally responsible for the safety of the people and their possessions till the state police are up to the task.