Burning of campaign materials: Aondoakaa tasks supporters against retaliation

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Michael Aondoakaa has called on his supporters not to retaliate over the alleged burning of their campaign materials.
Aondoakaa, who condemned the alleged burning of his campaign materials by rival supporters at the weekend, however, urged his supporters to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding.
The governorship candidate in a statement said no act of provocation, regardless of how painful or offensive, should make his supporters abandon the principles of peace, justice, tolerance and rule of law upon which the campaign was founded.
“I therefore call on all my supporters across the 23 local government areas to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding. Do not retaliate. Do not destroy anyone’s campaign materials. Do not engage in violence,” he said.
Aondoakaa said the movement would not allow the alleged incident to distract it from its campaign message, stressing that politics should be about ideas, solutions and service rather than hatred, intimidation and violence.
He said those seeking to provoke his supporters into violence were only trying to create confusion and distract the movement from its message, urging them not to give such persons the opportunity.
He noted that the strength of “Benue First” hius campaign slogan does not lie in posters, banners or billboards but in the conviction of the people and their shared vision for a safer and more prosperous 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,” he said.
The former Attorney-General of the Federation further urged his supporters to respect the law, opponents and democratic process, saying their conduct should demonstrate the values the movement represents.