A federal lawmaker, representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu federal constituency of Benue state, Dr. Francis Agbo, has condemned the attack on a former councillor who represented Apa Ward Ado LGA, Williams Ochonu and others.
The former councilor, alongside others were said to have been beaten to stupor on Sunday, by gun-wielding hoodlums in Otukpo.
Agbo, in a statement on Tuesday, through Andrew Agbese, his media adviser, said he could not comprehend what may have warranted such a brazen act of violence on fellow citizens.
He urged politicians, especially, those from the constituency, to eschew violence and take a cue from him who has forgiven his political opponents, despite various acts of provocation, including physical attacks on members of his family.
The lawmaker maintained that, public office is meant to develop and unite the people, and not to intimidate them.
He called on public office holders to borrow a leaf from him, for not using his office to attack anyone even when there are obvious reasons to do so.
The statement decried the violence unleashed on Ochonu and others, resulting in various degree of injuries, saying that such action, smacks of politics of bitterness and should be condemned by all well meaning citizens.
The lawmaker said, “I am yet to fathom what could have warranted this savage attacks on Hon Williams Ochonu, Best Agbese, Patrick Eza and others but we should remember that humanity is one and it is high time we moved away from politics of violence and bitterness to politics of issues and development.
“Since I was popularly elected as a House of Representatives Member in 2019, I have neither abused my office nor attacked anyone even when there’s need to do so because public office was conceived to unite and develop society and not attack, maim or kill people.”
He urged security agencies to bring the culprits to book in order to deter other urchins and blood thirsty politicians across the constituency, who may be spoiling for war ahead of the 2023 elections.
“I hereby call on our well respected senior citizens and leaders in Agila district to wade into this matter, apportion blame where necessary and reconcile the victims and the attackers.There must be forgiveness, though very difficult but achievable.
“Politicians especially those from Enone should eschew violence.
“They should draw inspiration from me. When my duplex in Ijigban, my ancestral home was nearly brought down in 2013 and many of my relations were mattcheted on the sad day, though I knew the urchins that attacked my home and their sponsors, I forgave them though it was very difficult for me.
“This should be our attitude at all times as no political office is worth the blood of any human being”, he said.
Below are photos of the victims.
