Benue PDP gov candidate Aondoakaa urges calm after campaign items destroyed

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State, Michael Aondoakaa. Photo: PDP

The 2027 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State, Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, has appealed to his supporters to eschew violence in the face of provocation.

Aondoakaa, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice during the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, made the appeal in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Makurdi on Saturday.

According to him, the appeal followed the burning of his campaign materials in some parts of the state.

There had been a viral video circulating across the state showing some hoodlums pouring petrol on and burning campaign T-shirts bearing the image of the PDP governorship candidate, Michael Aondoakaa, SAN.

Most of those who commented on the viral video condemned the act and described the incident as politics of bitterness.

Aondoakaa, who appealed for calm among his supporters, said that even when campaign materials are destroyed, the aspirations of the people would not be burned.

The former Attorney General of the Federation said, “I have received reports and seen images of the burning of campaign materials belonging to our movement. Like many of you, I am deeply concerned by this unfortunate development.

“However, I wish to state clearly and unequivocally that no act of provocation, no matter how offensive, should cause us to abandon the principles upon which our campaign is founded.

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“From the very beginning, our movement has stood for peace, security, justice, tolerance, and the rule of law. We have presented ourselves to the people of Benue as a credible alternative because we believe politics should be about ideas, solutions, and service, not hatred, intimidation, or violence.

“I therefore call on all my supporters across the 23 local government areas of our dear state to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding. Do not retaliate. Do not destroy anyone’s campaign materials. Do not engage in violence.

“Do not allow yourselves to be provoked into actions that will tarnish the noble cause we represent under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“The price of peace is far cheaper than the cost of violence. Peace builds; violence destroys. Peace unites; violence divides. Peace creates hope; violence leaves pain. No matter the provocation, choose peace.”

He added, “Those who seek to provoke us into anger and disorder have a purpose. They want to distract us from our message. They want to create confusion and paint everyone with the same brush. We must not give them that opportunity. We must disappoint those who expect us to respond with bitterness and violence.

“Let us show Benue people that there is a clear difference between a movement that seeks to inspire and one that seeks to intimidate; between a movement that builds and one that destroys; between a movement guided by peace and one driven by hostility.

“The strength of our movement, christened BENUE FIRST, does not lie in posters, banners, billboards, or campaign materials. Its strength lies in the conviction of the people, in our shared vision for a safer and more prosperous Benue, and in our collective determination to restore hope to our state.

“Campaign materials can be destroyed, but the aspirations of the people cannot be burned. The desire for peace cannot be set ablaze. The demand for good governance cannot be intimidated into silence.”