AT least, four major contenders for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were in Owo, Ondo State, this morning to commiserate with the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and the people over the attack last Sunday by gunmen on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo.
Gov Akeredolu, an APC member, is an indigene of Owo.
More than 40 worshippers of the church were estimated to have been killed by the gunmen, while many others were injured.
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The party’s national leader, Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayode; and Senator Ibikunle Amosun were in the town to offer their condolences.
The four politicians are among the leading aspirants for the APC presidential ticket.
They are all from the South-West, where the church attack occurred. The region alone has seven aspirants among the 23 men seeking to pick the party’s presidential ticket at its primary holding on Tuesday in Abuja.
Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, have condemned the attack.
While Tinubu donated N75 million to the relations of the deceased and the injured, Fayemi donated N50 million on behalf of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
Osinbajo assured the people of the state of the Federal Government’s commitment to securing lives and property in every part of the nation.
While informing the people of Owo that he was representing President Buhari to condole them, the Vice President appealed for calm among the people and promised that the government would bring the perpetrators of the massacre to book.
He also pledged the government’s support for the deceased’s relations and the victims.
According to him, the nation would be better than it was, “no matter the attempts by evil forces.” He called on the citizens, especially the youths, to have faith in the country.
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He's a good governance and decent society advocate. He's The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation's News Editor since September 2022. Contact him via email @ [email protected].