Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has frowned at the recent political violence and threats being experienced in Edo State, ahead of the forthcoming governorship election, saying: “What is happening in Edo State is an embarrassment “.
He stated this in a chat with newsmen, after he cast his votes at the just concluded Enugu State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, congress held on Saturday at the Michael Okpara Square,
Ekweremadu, who spoke on his impression on what is happening in Edo State politics, said: “I believe power comes from God. Edo people should be allowed to decide who their governor should be and that is the difference between democracy and other forms of government”.
“So, the issue of bringing in thugs, bringing in security men to come and determine the will of the people is against the spirit of democracy. We cannot support that kind of attitude . I want to appeal to the players in Edo State, both PDP and other political parties to give peace a chance, allow the good people of Edo State elect their leaders. Unless we do that, we are undermining the road to our democracy and that’s how democracy dies.
“I believe that law enforcement agencies, the INEC, the Judiciary. these are critical institutions of democracy. They need to cooperate with the people to ensure there is a peaceful election in Edo State.
“Unless we do that, we will be ruining our democracy. The people of Nigeria will be disappointed.
“After so many years of practising our democracy, we say democracy is nascent. It is no more nascent. What is happening in Edo State is an affront. It is an embarrassment to the people of Nigeria. And it has to stop”.
