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Lagos APC says NURTW thugs not needed to win election

By Kehinde Olatunji
10 January 2019   |   3:07 am
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has denied affiliating with hoodlums in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), saying the party does not need them to win elections. Its publicity secretary, Joe Igbokwe, at a press conference yesterday added that it would be a waste of time for the opposition to…

[FILES] APC Governorship campaign

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has denied affiliating with hoodlums in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), saying the party does not need them to win elections.

Its publicity secretary, Joe Igbokwe, at a press conference yesterday added that it would be a waste of time for the opposition to want to use the fracas during APC campaign on Tuesday against the party.

Confirming injuries and loss of lives at the event, he condoled with the bereaved families.

Igbokwe also commended the security officers at the rally, saying the situation would have been worse if they didn’t manage it well.

He said: “We had a good crowd. We had party supporters and faithful, committed members of the party. But we regret that towards the end of the rally, two factions of NURTW engaged in a brawl that led to some people sustaining various injuries. We deeply regret this ugly and unacceptable behaviour, with a firm promise that such will not repeat during subsequent campaigns.

“It would have been worse if there was no security presence. I had confidence in the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), but yesterday my confidence in them multiplied. They were dynamic and careful not to deploy maximum force.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the attack on its members at the rally, appealing to the federal government to protection pressmen on official duty.

The national secretary, Shuaibu Leman, stated: “We regret that in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, journalists take great personal and professional risks to collect, process and disseminate information to over 100 million citizens.

“Sadly, being a journalist today can often be a deadly pursuit, particularly for those covering conflict and other dangerous assignments. Conflict and post-conflict areas are predominantly dangerous for journalists. Other dangerous assignments include investigation of corruption cases, coverage of political activities, including elections.”

“We particularly appeal to the federal government and the states to take effective measures for better protection of journalists in their assignments.”

Also, Lagos Journalists League has demanded a world-class treatment for the pressmen who sustained bullet injuries at the fracas.

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