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Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has condemned the gunmen attack in Benin City, Edo State, saying the incident underscores growing concerns about the health of Nigeria’s democracy.
Obi spoke in a video circulating online following the attack at the residence of former APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, where gunmen reportedly opened fire and riddled the gate and several vehicles with bullets.
“This is where our democracy has reached. A former governor, and you can see what happened in front of his house, where hoodlums came shooting,” Obi said in the footage while pointing to the bullet-riddled gate.
“I assure you this cannot continue; we have a country, and we are a part of it. We cannot have terrorism and have officials in government terrorising the citizens.”
The incident reportedly occurred shortly after Obi, Odigie-Oyegun and other political figures attended the formal declaration of Barrister Olumide Akpata into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Benin.
A video from the scene showed visible bullet holes on the estate gate and damaged vehicles, indicating the intensity of the attack.
National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said the attackers allegedly trailed the group from the ADC Secretariat to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence before opening fire.
According to him, the assailants shot at the gate and destroyed several official vehicles in what he described as a failed assassination attempt targeting the political leaders.
“The leadership of the ADC is under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State. Armed individuals followed us from the ADC Secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and shot at the gate, destroying several vehicles,” Tanko said
