Posted by By Tony Edike on
ENUGU - THE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday joined other Nigerians in condemning the gruesome murder last week of Engr.....
ENUGU - THE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday joined other Nigerians in condemning the gruesome murder last week of Engr. Funsho Williams, a gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, describing the ugly development as a major setback to the preparations for the 2007 general election.
In a statement issued in Enugu by the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, the party wondered why high profile killings had become a regular feature in the country, adding that it was wrong for politicians to resort to assassination of opponents as means of finding themselves in power or settling their differences.
'We condemn this senseless, brutal and uncivilized action and believe that it was the handiwork of desperate politicians who do not believe in the development of democracy in Nigeria," Umeh said.
Recalling that APGA's National Secretary, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi was nearly killed in similar circumstances on March 24, this year at his residence in Gusua but survived the attack through the special grace of God, Umeh said the murder of Engr. Williams has forced many Nigerian politicians into having serious thoughts about their personal security 'and this is very dangerous for the polity."
Umeh, who enjoined politicians not to see acquisition of power or position as a do or die affair, said they (politicians) must be prepared to subject themselves to the will of the people in intra-party and inter-party contests as the only means of securing the survival of our democracy.
'We call on the Inspector-General of Police to apprehend and parade both the killers and their sponsors within two weeks to serve as a deterrent to others who may be planning to toe the same line.
This should not be allowed to go the way of previous assassinations," the APGA Chairman said.
He further reminded politicians that 'life is sacred and it is one of God's commandments that ‘Thou Shall not Kill', stressing that 'whosoever that kills to become Governor, his soul shall perish and suffer eternal fire". 'Engr. Funsho Williams has fallen but the sponsor(s) of his assassination will never succeed," he added.
The party, however, sent its deep condolences to the members of Williams' family and prayed God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest.