LAFIA (Nigeria) – The Campaign Organisation of Maku, has condemned an attack on the convoy of its candidate Labaran Maku, by whom it called hired political thugs chanting the name of APC’s Presidential Candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.
Maku’s convoy was attacked Friday in Marraraba, near Abuja, while on tour of the state in continuation of his campaign, preparatory to the governorship elections scheduled to hold on April 11.
Mr. Maku, former Nigeria Minister of Information, is the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria.
Five weeks ago, a similar attack was made on the convoy of Maku at Kwanderre, the hometown of incumbent Sate Governor, Tanko Almakura.
A statement by the Director Publicity of Maku Campaign Organisation, Zakari Edego says “the APC thugs, who apparently must have staged an ambush, descended on the convoy under the Marraraba Overhead Pedestrian Bridge with stones, sticks and bottles.
“Scores of people on the convoy and bystanders were unfortunately injured in the attack while the windscreen of several vehicles were smashed.”
Maku is contesting for the seat under APGA platform, but “his widespread and effective campaign for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan has continued to attract the anger of APC supporters in the state who see him as the threat to both the incumbent governor, Tanko Almakura and General Muhammadu Buhari in the coming governorship and presidential elections.
Mr. Maku has carried President Jonathan’s campaign to all areas of Nasarawa state in recent months to the extent that he is generally seen as the lead campaigner for the reelection of the president in the state.” Says Edego
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) had adopted President Jonathan as its presidential candidate in the March 28 presidential election.
Speaking to journalists at Karu after the attack on his convoy, Mr. Maku condemned the increasing intolerance and violence shown by APC supporters particularly in the Northern part of the country.
He said Nasarawa State had descended into insurgency, which led to the destruction of many communities since the inception of the Almakura administration.
Maku urged his supporters not to retaliate so as not to divert attention from the real issue in the campaign which was to restore peace to Nasarawa after years of violence and destruction under the APC rule.
The Guber candidate however, warned that the current violence by APC and Buhari supporters pointed to the kind of violence that led to the post-election violence in the northern part of the country in 2011 where innocent people lost their lives after President Jonathan won the elections.
He implored that APC should call their supporters to order and peace should be the mantra of all political parties at all costs in this election.
The former Information Minister said APGA supporters should demonstrate exemplary conduct and focus on the issues destroying Nasarawa state and come together as one and peacefully to ensure the exit of Governor Tanko Almakura at the upcoming elections on April 11th.
Mr. Maku called on the people to vote massively for President Jonathan for the continuation of the transformation that was started under the president’s leadership.
Mr. Maku is generally seen as the lead candidate for the governorship because of the mass defections from the APC and PDP since he emerged as the candidate of APGA.
