Tinubu was absent at the event which was organised by the National Peace Committee at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Thursday.
Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) on Thursday confronted Kashim Shettima, the running mate of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Tinubu, over the absence of his principal at the signing of the peace accord for the 2023 elections in Abuja.
Tinubu was absent at the event which was organised by the National Peace Committee at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Thursday.
Abdulsalami Abubakar, chairman of NPC had said the accord was to promote peaceful electioneering.
Sowore; Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party, (LP); Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Rabiu Kwankwaso, flagbearer of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and others were present at the event.
Shettima was however at the event to represent Tinubu.
WATCH: You Can't Run For President of Nigeria In Absentia, Says @YeleSowore About Ailing Tinubu @officialABAT's Absence, Challenges Former Abacha CSO At The International Conference Center Venue of Peace Accord Signing pic.twitter.com/fAOWo12QCX
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) September 29, 2022
Sowore in a video posted on his social media page, which had now gone viral, narrated how he challenged the former Borno State governor over his sitting in the front when his principal was absent.
“VIDEO: At the Presidential “Peace Accord” signing ceremony event in Abuja, a chance to tell Abacha’s henchman Al-Mustapha some truths! … Kashim Shettima ought not be allowed to sit where Presidential candidates should sit…I challenged him too! #WeCantContinueLikeThis,” he captioned the video.
At the Presidential “Peace Accord” signing in Abuja, I had to challenge Al-Mustapha Abacha henchman and Kashim Shettima who took the position of Presidential candidates because @officialABAT was no where to be found but organisers let him sit in front! pic.twitter.com/kNv4mzUG9S
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) September 29, 2022
In the video, the AAC presidential candidate clashed with the politicians, saying, “I confronted him (Shettima) why is he sitting here when Tinubu is not here, if I was sitting there, I won’t stand up for him. Because Tinubu is the one who is supposed to be here. You can’t be running for Nigeria’s presidency in absentia.”
Sowore was also heard accusing Hamza Al-Mustapha, Chief Security Officer to Sani Abacha, the late Military Dictator of ruining the lives of many Nigerians with his principal.
He maintained that he stood for the truth for Nigeria unlike Mustapha.
Abacha, a native of Kano State forced interim President Ernest Shonekan to resign in 1993 and declared military rule across the country, having established the provisional ruling council (PRC).
Notable among the series of human rights abuses under the Abacha regime was the killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists opposed to the exploitation of Nigeria’s resources. His regime also detained Moshood Abiola, touted winner of the 1993 presidential election; former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and the late Shehu Musa Yar’adua, brother of former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. This was despite several pleas and condemnation by the international community.