Youths Stop Lawmaker From Speaking At PDP Woman Leader’s Burial

The lawmaker representing Idah/Ibaji/Igalamela/Ofu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Zacharias Idris, has lamented over his rejection at the burial of the Peoples Democratic Party’s women leader, Salome Abuh.

Recall that the PDP women leader, Abuh, was burnt alive after the November 16 governorship election in Kogi state.

She was buried in her hometown, Aji-Obala, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State on Saturday.

The Honourable who is a member of the All Progressives Congress while speaking at the event was reportedly stopped by youths who were in attendance from speaking.

The lawmaker was warned by the youths at the event not to speak noting that any attempt to do so could lead to violence.

Idris while speaking on the incident stated that he was at the event to speak on how Abuh attended his inauguration and delivered a goodwill message.

Idris said, “My goodwill message was known to me only God and me. But once they refused to hear from me, that is not my problem.”

“I had to walk out of the programme (venue) quietly in order not to cause any crisis.”

“It would have been a goodwill message. I condemn the incident that led to the woman’s death; I completely condemn it. Secondly, it was to encourage the family of the woman and pray to God to give them the strength to bear the loss of their person.”

“As for those who perpetrated the incident (killing), they will go for it (sic); they will not go free. They have also made arrests. When the vigilante people caught six persons, I called the Commissioner of Police of Kogi Command and he sent his men to pick (arrest) them. As I speak to you, those suspects are still in police custody in Lokoja.”

“In that kind of (tense) situation, that is what should be expected; I did not expect less than that. But all I know is that I am a servant of God and that place is within my constituency. The woman who died was also part of the people that I represent and she had been a good person to me. Sentiments and political leanings aside, during my inauguration, the woman came to the venue with her husband. I don’t have any grudges.”