10 Politicians Who Survived Assassination In 2015
It is a common and abnormal trend in Nigeria's democracy to see politicians threaten themselves over who controls the political space. This is one of the reasons killings and maiming were recorded before, during and after all the elections conducted in 2015.
Some politicians who survived assassination attempts on their lives have so much to say about this ugly trend.
[article_adwert]
1. Dr Goodluck Jonathan
Dr Jonathan is the former president of the nation. An attempt was made on Jonathan's life in relation to his support for the re-election of the governor of Bayelsa state. NewNigeriaWorld of Monday, November 30 had the caption as: “President Goodluck Jonathan Survives Assassination Attempt.”
According to the Cable,the attack which occurred on November 30, 2015 was carried out by alleged militants working for the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa state. The alleged assailants were reported to have intercepted and drove into a short motorcade conveying the former President from the Julius Berger bridge area of the state capital Yenagoa, trailed the chased the motorcade to the entrance of the Yenagoa private residence of the former President in the Kpansia area of the town, before they were overpowered and arrested by a combined team of security men attached to the former President.
In a report by The Capital. the police issued a statement that members of the arrested gang were taken to the headquarters of the Bayelsa State Police Command where they were handed over to the police authorities for further investigation.
2. Hon Seriake Dickson
Dickson is the current governor of Bayelsa state and also the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s candidate in the governorship election. He is leading in 5 local government areas in the inconclusive governorship election that first held on Saturday, December 5.
The supplementary election will be concluded come January 2016, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He was threatened by gunmen during the campaign period.
3. Samuel Ortom
Mr Ortom is the present governor of Benue state. He served as minister under the Jonathan administration. He decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the PDP where he clinched the governorship ticket and went on to win the governorship election of Saturday, April 11.
He was one of those targeted by masked men during the electioneering process.
READ ALSO: 10 Things Nigerians Expect From Buhari As He Clocks 73
4. Dr Alex Otti
The former Managing Director of one of Nigeria's commercial banks was fortunate he escaped the bullets of hired assassins during the governorship campaign. He contested under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia governorship election. He lost to the PDP's candidate and present governor, Dr Ikezie Okpeazu.
5. Ike Ekweremadu
Senator Ike Ekweremadu is one of the 3 senators representing Enugu state at the National Assembly. He is the present Deputy Senate president. He has been challenged often regarding his choice as the Senate's number two man. An alarm was raised several weeks ago on threat to his life.
6. Senator Bassey Otu
Senator Otu is from Cross river state. He is a PDP senator. He received threats to his life allegedly from one of the opposition parties in his state.
READ ALSO: How Abubakar Audu's Ghost Sealed Yahaya Bello's Victory
7. Senator Julius Ucha
The Igbo-born senator is from Ebonyi state. He also vied for the governorship seat of his state under the All Progressives Congress but failed.
8. Mr Polycarp Danladi Gankon
Gankon is from Kaduna state. He contested under the All Progressives Grand Alliance but lost to the APC candidate and eventual winner, Mallam Nasir El Rufai. He claimed that he escaped by a hair's breadth when hired assassins came looking for him in his hotel before the Saturday, April 11 governorship election.
Gankon is one of the politicians who survived assassination attempts. His case was also unusual because he escaped twice.
9. Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya
Inuwa Yahaya is a top-notch politician in Gombe state. He was the APC candidate who contested against Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo. He lost to the PDP candidate.
10. Umar Muhammad Nasko
The young politician was the PDP's candidate at the governorship election in Niger state. There were so much reactions against his choice by former governor Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu. Nasko did not get any sympathy from Niger citizens despite the attempted assassination on his life as he lost to the APC candidate.
Source: Legit.ng
