Peter Obi, former Anambra Governor and Labour Party chieftain, has lamented violent killings during election of Auchi Polytechnic Edo State, saying the students were practicing President Bola Tinubu politics of snatch, grab and run with it.
“I watched a heartbreaking video that showed students in Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State running for their lives as they were being shot at during their student election yesterday which left 2 students dead and several injured,” Mr Obi said in a statement on Monday, condemned the killings during Auchi Polytechnic election.
Citing Mr Tinubu’s statement during campaign for 2023 elections, Mr Obi said killings during Auchi Polytechnic election shows the younger generation are learning from the president’s political philosophy.
“When we have chosen to “fight, snatch it, grab it, and run with it” how can we expect our children to do it rightly and democratically when they have learned from us?, Mr Obi asked.
The former Anambra governor added, “This is not just disgraceful, it’s a national indictment. When we, the leaders, have chosen to fight, snatch, grab and run with it, our children have learned similar and rascality is now a normal situation.”
Urging political leaders to show good examples, Mr Obi said “It is now up to us, the leaders, to learn how to restore civility, order, and core values in our society by ensuring that our character and behaviour reflect the change we seek in our society.”
He added, “When we choose to conduct both our public and personal lives with bad behaviour and rascality, we normalise bad behaviour, lawlessness, and criminality.”
Prior to the 2023 presidential election, Mr Tinubu, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress, charged his party members to fight, snatch and grab power.
“Political power is not going to be served in a restaurant. They don’t serve it a la carte. At all cost, fight for it, grab it and run with it,” said Mr Tinubu, who has maintained a stronghold on Lagos politics since 1999.
