By Oghenekevwe Laba
LAGOS SEPTEMBER 13TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Human right lawyer and Delta gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Christmas Akpodiete, Esq, may not contest 2015 Delta State governorship
A close friend of Akpodiete, Mr. James Umukoro hinted newsmen over the weekend that the Governorship aspirant might not be running in the 2015 governorship election as result of threat to his life.
According to Umukoro, “I advice Akpodiete to withdraw due to threat to his life by members of the Islamic sect popularly referred to as ‘Boko Haram’ who has perpetually threatened to kill him.”
Speaking further, he recalled, “It will be recalled that the millionaire Lawyer, his wife and daughter, was on April 5th 2013 attacked by unidentified gunmen who shot sporadically at his car around the Wuse market area of Abuja in an attempt to assassinate him.
“A couple of hours and days after the incident, he received an anonymous telephone call from unidentified persons claiming to be members of Boko haram who claimed responsibility for the attack affirmed that they are fighting for Islam and threatened that he will not survive next time, insha Allah, meaning God’s willing,” he stated.
However, investigation has since revealed that the attack came after Akpodiete whose whereabout is presently unknown spoke at a symposium in Abuja condemning the terrorist activities of the Islamic sect, while calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of their members and sponsors.
Urhobotoday gathered that the lawyer had earlier advised President Jonathan to desist from any form of Amnesty for Boko Haram while describing them as vampires and cowards of the 21st century.
In his words, “Boko Haram has committed un-pardonable crimes, the souls of the thousands of people they have killed cries for justice, and it will be too pathetic not to prosecute them, stating that the letters of the Law is clear on the act of terrorism, and the Law must take it cause.
Advising Akpodiete’s supporters, Umukoro urged them to be resilient and continue in their support for Akpodiete adding that, “The life of the human right lawyer was more precious than any political ambition, that politics is not a profession but a calling to serve”.
As at the time of filing in this report, all efforts to reach Prince Christmas Akpodiete proved abortive.