A governorship aspirant in Ogun State during the last election, Segun Showunmi, has reported the attack he allegedly suffered at the premises of the election petition tribunal on June 5 to Nuhu Ribadu, the newly-appointed Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu.
Ribadu, a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was on Thursday appointed by the President as the Security Adviser.
On the report of his announcement, Showunmi quickly wrote an open letter to Ribadu, informing him of how he was flogged by some suspected thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC), when he went to the Isabo Abeokuta to witness the case filed by Ladi Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the election of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
While congratulating Ribadu on his appointment, Showunmi said he had known Ribadu for years and, “as one of the very few public officers in Nigeria, I trust and have faith in his ability to do the job without letdown.”
In his open letter, Showunmi said he had written Ribadu to bring to his attention “a major security challenge I have, a type I have never experienced in over 30 years of speaking truth to power in this country.”
According to him, thuggery and brigandage had risen in Ogun State to such an unacceptable level, saying: “The highpoint of it is that a few weeks ago, I was violently attacked within the precinct of the Ogun State high court while simply minding my business, much more embarrassing was that it was in full view of the Nigeria police. The images are all over the media.”
Showunmi expressed worries that the government and authorities concerned have, “in the most uncivilized manner, pretended that nothing happened.”
”Please ask for a detailed explanation of this event, sir, and send a very clear warning to politicians, that this rubbish will not be tolerated.
“Congratulations, sir, and be assured of my service at the drop of a hat. You are not like most of them, as such a lot of us are praying along with you and wishing you success.”
