Tinubu should be held responsible for campaign rally violence – Rev Father Oluoma

A Catholic priest, Rev. Father Chinenye Oluoma, has blamed President Bola Tinubu for security failures that allow attacks and violence to occur during political campaign rallies.

Oluoma said Nigerians who deliberately disrupt campaign activities of political parties they do not support should be prepared to face the consequences but insisted that the government remains responsible for protecting lives and property.

The priest made the remarks in a Facebook post on Thursday, following the reported persistent attacks on supporters of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, during a campaign rally.

He said he would not sympathise with individuals who interfere with rallies of political parties they oppose, particularly those allegedly paid by politicians or their aides to cause disruptions.

“If you are dumb enough to go and disrupt the campaign rally of a political party you don’t support because some politicians or their aides gave you some lousy amount of money, we won’t waste our tears at your obituary,” he said.

Oluoma, however, stressed that the government has a responsibility to provide adequate security for political gatherings, provided the organisers notify relevant government agencies in advance.

He argued that Nigeria’s current security structure places the ultimate responsibility for security on the president.

“If a party’s campaign rally is disrupted by some rascals and they are not stopped or apprehended by security agents, hold President Tinubu responsible,” he said.

The priest also said Tinubu should be held responsible if anyone is lynched over alleged disruption of a campaign rally and those involved in the killing are not arrested and prosecuted.

Oluoma described the growing incidents of mob attacks and killings at political gatherings as disturbing, urging the government to take urgent steps to prevent further violence.

He also condemned the denial of public spaces to opposition parties for campaign activities, saying the government has a duty to guarantee political parties access to venues and provide adequate security.

He maintained that until state police become effective, the responsibility for protecting lives and property rests with President Tinubu.