General News of Friday, 1 February 2019
Source: www.ghanaweb.live
2019-02-01Ayawaso polls: We won’t tolerate any savagery, barbarism in 2020 – Prof. Alabi
Professor Joshua Alabi is presidential hopeful of the NDC
Flagbearer hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joshua Alabi, has ardently indicated that the party will condone no acts of violence or intimidation from any opposing forces in the 2020 elections.
His comments come on the back of unfortunate events that happened at the Bawaleshie center during Thursday’s Ayawaso West Wuogon polls.
Violence erupted after some armed and
Read full articleattired security personnel thronged the center and fired shots, injuring some persons in the process and leading to counter reactions.
While condemning what he describes as ‘horrendous crimes’ perpetuated by the unknown men, Prof. Alabi was certain to emphasize that a repeat of such will not be tolerated by the party subsequently.
“While I commiserate with the injured and traumatized victims, I wish to absolutely condemn these acts of violence being visited upon law abiding citizens who are exercising a democratic right to vote in an election”, he said.
Adding, “The use of violence in elections and within the conduct of any democratic exercise cannot and will not be countenanced in the run up to the 2020 general elections”.
Mr. Alabi further charged the police service and other national security agencies to explain to the citizenry how that such an unknown unit was deployed in a critical election such as Thursdays. He also maintained that perpetrators of the incident must be duly investigated and prosecuted afterward.
“The Ghana Police Service owes itself a duty to explain the use of such an unknown unit in a by-election of this sort, investigate the horrendous crimes committed today and prosecute the culprits in no time”.
“The government and all State institutions mandated to maintain law and order must remain loyal to our sacred Constitution and rid our politics of all forms of violence”.
He however extended sympathy to injured persons, while encouraging party members to remain grounded and firm.
“While I lend my support to the national leadership of our party as they address these matters through democratic means, I wish to call on party supporters to be resolute and not be intimidated by persons who believe that the only way to win political power is to deploy force and violence”.
“I wish the injured NDC members a speedy recovery and assure them of my sincerest sympathies and utmost support in these difficult times”.
Read the full statement below:
