The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has condemned the alleged unprovoked harassment, intimidation, confrontation and threat to the life of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) national chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu.
The council of political parties described the threat against Nwanyanwu, which occurred at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on July 12, 2024, as outrageous, despicable, inhuman and barbaric.
IPAC said it is a national embarrassment that a prominent political leader and lawyer would be publicly humiliated and threatened to be killed after being trailed for days by a suspected assassin.
It said that Nwanyanwu’s offense is speaking truth to power and resisting impunity, executive recklessness, and rascality at a time of unprecedented insecurity, economic recession and tension in the polity.
The national publicity secretary of IPAC, Mrs. Chinyere Ogeh Kalu, said it is inconceivable that a party’s national chairman could be publicly confronted and threatened with death for merely expressing his views on the political crisis rocking Rivers State.
IPAC, while lamenting that energy has been dissipated towards destabilising Rivers State and making it ungovernable, said the peace, unity, security and welfare of the people have been sacrificed at the altar of inordinate political expediency.
“IPAC is constrained to intervene in this dastardly and cowardly threat to the life of a patriotic Nigerian desirous of national peace, unity, security and progress, as a threat to the life of one person is a threat to all.
“It is unthinkable that such a brazen attempt to life could happen at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja with world-class security. Council commends security agents for their prompt intervention and interrogation of the suspect, and urges the Police to charge him to court to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to tow this path of dishonor,” it said.
Urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter, IPAC added “There is no room for ‘youthful exuberance’ and showmanship in governance. Leadership is a deep and heavy responsibility particularly at this trying period in our nation building.
“The Police should also provide adequate security to Dan Nwanyanwu and his family. It is evident that he was trailed to Transcorp Hilton Hotel by the suspect and his collaborators. Security agencies should be at alert always to forestall criminal elements from harassing, attacking, kidnapping and killing innocent people. This security breach at Transcorp Hilton should be taken seriously.
“The voice of opposition cannot be silenced for any reason. Opposition is critical to the survival of democracy. It should be encouraged not gagged. Freedom of expression is guaranteed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, it should not be suppressed.
“As the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, IPAC will resist suppression, oppression, subjugation and intimidation of fellow compatriots as a result of their political views and beliefs.
“Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, a recipient of national honour, has been the voice of the voiceless and the marginalised in the society who has contributed immensely in deepening democracy and rule of law in Nigeria. We urge him not to be deterred by this ugly incident,” the statement reads.