Those celebrating the attack by unknown gun men at Eben Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State yesterday, that left two people dead should have a rethink.
Many reports on the social media alleged that the gun attack disrupted the town hall meeting convened by the Senator representing the Abia North Senatorial district, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in the area.
So far, no security report had validated the above claims and no group has taken responsibility for the attack and who their target/s were.
Whereas many commentators are of the opinion that the senator is not doing enough to fight insecurity in his district on the floor of the Senate and should sit up now the attack has affected his programs, it is pertinent for all and sundry to note that violence does nobody any good in the long run.
According to reports, two innocent young women who are neither politicians nor attached to OUK's convoy lost their lives during the attack. What a way to end an earthly journey and what a pain and agony their loved ones are going through now. May their souls rest in peace.
Again this calls for a sober reflection, as the 2023 general election draws nearer, it's the responsibility of every citizen to ensure that we have a peaceful election devoid of any form of violence.
The media has a lot of work to do in this respect, especially the myriad of social media commentators and influencers we have around. Many of this social media commentators in their quest to the break the news more often than not throws all the ethics of the journalism practice into the dustbin while updating their platforms.
Many of course have not left no one in doubt that they are partisan, and deliberately skews their reports to favour either the political party/candidate they owe allegiance to.
While nobody can stop anyone from advancing the cause of their political leaning during an electioneering period, we must understand that a violent act against any politician is not a plus for another politician.
We all must rise and condemn violence in our state and nation Nigeria without minding whose horse is gored.
We must understand that the ordinary man on the street had always being at the receiving end whenever any form of violence erupts in our communities.
Whereas it is expected that the media should hold those in power accountable for securing lives and properties in the state, but in discharging this onerous task we must first all condemn violent acts and condemn those behind any act of violence and urge them to have a rethink.
The only way to democratically remove or install a candidate during an election is the ballot box, anything else is undemocratic and injurious to the people.
As the campaign is about to commence, let those of us in the media industry stand against violence targeted at any political party or candidate because an injury to one is an injury to all. We are brothers and sisters before and after elections and Politics.
All those in the campaign team of the candidates standing for one election or the other are all our kinsmen, in-laws, clubs members and above all church members. If a particular politician is attacked and someone close to you in his team loses his/her life, believe me you will feel the pain more than the politician.
While the campaigns and elections will go on as planned with a beef up of security around the political elite, those who lost their loved ones will take a break to mourn and bury the deceased.
Let me also appeal to the Unknown Gun Men (UGM) to have a change of mind. Let them drop their guns and pick up their Permanent Voters Cards, PVC which I believe they already have. The PVC is the greatest weapon to the change the narrative in our state and nation come 2023.
A word they said is enough for the wise. Let peace led.
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia based Journalist.
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