By Seun Adeuyi


On Saturday, a man who some people identified as one of the “bishops” who attended the ceremony where Kashim Shettima, vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was unveiled, was reportedly mobbed at the Dei-Dei International Building Materials Market in Abuja.

In a video circulated online, a man who shares semblance with one of the “bishops” who attended the event in July, is seen being humiliated by some youths.

Shouts of “fake bishop”, “this is one of the so-called bishops Tinubu used”, among others, are heard in the background of the video.

Supporters of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), have been accused of perpetrating the act. The allegation has however been denied.

While reacting on the video, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, condemned the attack.

In a series of tweets on Sunday, Sowore also faulted Nigerians, who he claimed, supported the mob action on social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp.

When City & Crime visited the market on Monday, a trader, Hassan Musa, gave a clearer picture of what transpired.

According to Musa, the man was at the market to get plumbing materials when he was recognised and mobbed.

Musa said, “When the story of the fake bishops went viral some weeks ago, people were angry that the APC has taken them for fools. So, when he was recognised as one of the bishops, people started insulting him.

However, he was not touched or beaten. People just gathered round him until the police came and escorted him out of the market.”

Confirming the incident FCT police spokesperson, DSP Josephine Adeh, in a statement, explained how the police rescued the “cleric” and escorted him out of the market.

She identified him as Bishop Hilary C. Okafoh of Madalla, Niger State.

By Hussein Yahaya


The police have broken their silence on the mob action against one of the “clerics” who attended the unveiling of Senator Kashim Shettima as Vice-Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Daily Trust had reported how an angry mob attacked the “cleric”.

In a video shared by a Facebook user, Sunday Wale Adeniran, shouts of “Fake bishop”, “This is one of the so-called bishops Tinubu used”, were heard in the background while some persons mocked the man whom the Facebook user identified as “Rev Chika”.

Daily Trust had contacted Police Public Relations Officer in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), DSP Josephine Adeh, for reaction, but she promised to call the DPO of the area where the incident took place and get back to our reporter.

When there was no response some hours after, our reporter called back but she did not pick.

However, the PPRO later confirmed that the incident happened, narrating how the police rescued the “cleric” and escorted him out of Dei-Dei International Building Materials Market, Abuja.

She identified him as Bishop Hilary C. Okafoh of Madalla, Niger State.

She said, “Not knowing how far this will go, and to preserve his fundamental human rights. The police swung into action and saved him from further embarrassment.”

The presence of some “clerics” dressed in religious robes at the event which held at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, in July, had sparked a controversy.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had distanced itself from the “men of God”, saying they were hired to give semblance of acceptance to the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Vice President of CAN, 19 Northern States and Abuja, and its chairman in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, had said though the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was free to “hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them, such effort would only add to their many ropes but would not change the need for fairness and justice”.

But Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Communication of Tinubu’s campaign, had insisted that the men were not hired.

After both camps stopped the heated exchanges over the “clerics”, the controversy raged on social media.

Rozross:
Nigeria is bleeding. It’s so sad that youths keep taking the back sit and allowing old recycled men lead us. Nigerian youths are their own nightmare and it’s part of the reason I won’t ever reason any man who shows dislike or low interest towards politics. Any young man who dislike politics will not make a good head.

She identified him as Bishop Hilary C. Okafoh of Madalla, Niger State.

garriAndsugar:

. talkative

Rozross:
Nigeria is bleeding. It’s so sad that youths keep taking the back sit and allowing old recycled men lead us. Nigerian youths are their own nightmare and it’s part of the reason I won’t ever reason any man who shows dislike or low interest towards politics. Any young man who dislike politics will not make a good head.