AVOID ANOTHER ABA WOMEN'S RIOT IN NASARAWA, STAKEHOLDERS URGE TINUBU. (PHOTO).

Avoid another Aba women’s riot in Nasarawa, stakeholders urge Tinubu

As political tension continued in Nasarawa State over conflicting judicial pronouncements regarding the March 18 governorship election, stakeholders have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to step into the fray and prevent the situation from degenerating into a crisis reminiscent of the historic Aba women’s riot.

Since the declaration of Governor Abdullahi Sule as winner, women in Nasarawa have taken to the streets adorned in black attire, and in some instances, stripped naked in protest against what they claimed was a dubious declaration. Their assertion has been that David Ombugadu won the election.

The legal saga unfolded as the tribunal ruled in favour of Ombugadu, overturning the initial election results. However, the appellate court, last week, upheld Governor Sule’s victory, causing further turmoil and disillusionment among Ombugadu’s supporters.

Meanwhile, Ombugadu has escalated the legal battle by appealing the case to the Supreme Court.

The deteriorating situation has raised concerns among stakeholders, particularly in light of recent clashes between soldiers and defiant protestors. Despite the military presence attempting to quell the demonstrations following the Appeal Court’s verdict, the determined protestors vowed to continue their rallies for 20 days until justice prevails. Stakeholders fear a potential escalation of tensions and have called on President Tinubu to intervene and help diffuse the situation before it gets out of control. They emphasised the importance of mitigating the risk of the crisis escalating into a larger and potentially violent confrontation, underscoring the need for swift and diplomatic intervention at this critical juncture in Nasarawa’s political landscape.

They said the looming uncertainty regarding the Supreme Court’s decision, coupled with the steadfast resolve of the protesters, underscores the need for immediate action to prevent further unrest and preserve peace and stability in the state.

In the wake of these unfolding events, various civil society groups, community leaders, and political commentators have highlighted the potential dangers of allowing the situation in Nasarawa to escalate unchecked. They stressed the delicate political climate demands immediate attention and decisive action to prevent a further breakdown of law and order.

The security agencies have been urged to exhibit utmost restraint and professionalism in handling the protests, emphasising the need to protect the rights of citizens while maintaining law and order.

Meanwhile, a retired Brigadier General, Philip Umar Ashim, has slammed the army’s handling of the protest. An army truck reportedly rammed into protesters and injured several of them in Lafia.

Expressing dismay via his official X handle yesterday, Ashim said the defence by the military that its officers were on patrol duty was scandalous. He questioned the absence of other law enforcement agencies such as the police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Services (DSS) during the incident, highlighting the inappropriateness of the military taking the lead in engaging both peaceful and potentially violent demonstrators.

“Someone should have been relieved of his command for unprofessional deployment of troops,” he said.

He further criticised the use of an Armoured Personnel Carrier to confront a crowd of unarmed, predominantly female protesters, describing it as a display of untrained military tactics.

Ashim warned against overzealousness, asserting, “errant troops must be disciplined appropriately in order not to escalate the already tensed political atmosphere in the country.”