Labour Party Chairman Harassed at Airport, Youth Group Condemns Attack
By: Abudu Olalekan
Just a regular day. A regular flight. You get off the plane, maybe you’re a little tired, ready to get home. That’s probably how Julius Abure, the National Chairman for the Labour Party, was feeling. He just landed at Benin Airport, his flight from Abuja finally over. He was probably thinking about his next meeting, or maybe just a quiet evening. But that’s not what happened. Not even close.
It all went south in a hurry. A woman was waiting. She came at him, screaming. A phone in her hand, recording the whole thing. She was throwing insults, loud and mean, right there for everyone to hear. It was a total mess. A public disturbance. Security guys had to step in. They had no choice. They had to restore order, to stop the chaos. What a scene.
The Directorate of Mobilization and Integration (DMI), a group of young people who are super passionate about good governance, they saw the video. They were furious. They were not having it. They released a strong, powerful statement, signed by Audu Caleb on behalf of the DMI Director General. They called the whole thing “disgraceful,” “dangerous,” and just plain “unacceptable.” They made it clear: no political leader, no citizen at all, should have to deal with that kind of mob harassment in a public space.
“We condemn this attack on Julius Abure in the strongest terms. Such actions have no place in a democratic society,” the statement said. And they were right. This kind of behavior, it’s a slippery slope.
But the DMI wasn’t done. They started calling out names. First, they appealed directly to the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi. He’s the leader of the Obidient Movement. They asked him, basically, to “rein in” his supporters. To remind them of the discipline that made the movement so huge and popular in the first place. They’re telling him, you gotta be in control here. This kind of thing? It isn’t what we stand for.
Then, they went after Dr. Yunusa Tanko. He was the appointed leader of the movement. He had gone on a public call, asking people to “mass mobilise” to “rescue” the woman who started the trouble. The DMI warned against that kind of talk. They said it was “irresponsible” and could “provoke wider unrest.” Leaders, they said, have to set an example. They must be restrained. You don’t call for a mob action. That’s just a terrible idea.
The DMI also made a direct plea to the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies. This is a must-do. They want them to investigate, to find out who was involved, and to bring them to justice. This is a big deal. If we let this kind of behavior go unpunished, it creates a dangerous culture. A culture where political supporters feel like they have a license to just attack perceived opponents in public. We can’t have that. It’s bad for everyone.
The statement wrapped up by reaffirming the Labour Party’s commitment to peace and lawful engagement. They said Nigeria’s democracy must not be taken over by thugs and intimidation. Our public spaces, our capital, they have to stay safe. They have to be dignified. “We will not allow street violence to define our democracy,” the statement added. It’s a powerful message. It’s a reminder that political disagreements should stay within the bounds of respect, not become a reason for public attacks. This kinda thing just has to stop.
