Suspected APC Thugs Renew Attack on Natasha's Banners, Insist First Class Title for Obobanyi is Enough From New Direction

Suspected thugs alleged to be working for All Progressives Congress (APC), leaders in Okehi local government reconvened on Tuesday and renewed their attack on campaign materials belonging to the candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), in Kogi Central senatorial district, Barrister Natasha Hadiza Akpoti, saying first class title given to Obobanyi of Ihima is enough.

With the renewed attack, the current intimidation of opposition parties in Kogi Central by the ruling APC which has reawakened thuggery in the senatorial district seems not to have an end in sight.

The renewed political intimidation is one of the many that have been launched against the female senatorial candidate from Kogi Central senatorial district.

The thugs were said to have launched the attack on the banners mounted at Natasha's immediate home town, Obeiba Ihima in Okehi local government a week ago, the renewed attacks were said to have been launched on Tuesday to put a final touch to the banners when the thugs discovered the banners were still readable.

An eye witness relayed that the thugs were chanting, "Obeiba and Ihima do not need a senator, the promotion of Obobanyi as first class chief is enough dividend from New Direction Government of Governor Yahaya Bello to Ihima People."

It could be recalled that the long traditional title dispute in Ihima recently took a new turn when the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello promoted HRH. Samuel Adai Onimisi to First Class Chief and the title of Obobanyi of Ihima was handed over to him, a move many political pundits have described as a panacea to woo the  traditional ruler and the people of Emani clan and Obeiba to support Alhaji Oseni, the anointed candidate of the governor.

Commenting on the renewed thuggery activities and political intimidation in Ebiraland, Natasha's team pointed out that it has become necessary for elders and leaders of Ebiraland to wake-up and address the issue, calling on the apex body in Ebiraland, Ebira Peoples Association (EPA) to call all stakeholders and political leaders in the land to addressing the wrong approach the ruling party has decided to sell its candiatate.

"Destroying of campaign materials is a primitive approach to winning of election, the political parties should campaign on issue based, tell the people why they should vote for their candidate and present their blueprint to the people not by sponsoring thugs to destroying the campaign materials of the opposition parties and creating fear in the mind of the people while jeopardising the relative peace we are currently enjoying.

"We have seen enough of political violence in Ebiraland where able-bodied men were maimed and property worth millions of naira were destroyed, we don't pray to return to that era but prayer alone wouldn't survive the problem if we failed to do the needful now by calling the sponsors of these thugs to order.

"We are brothers and sisters, and we should all remember that man owns power and lose it as well and the evil man does will live after him and he will surely be remembered for that", the team said.