Trump’s assassination attempt should be a learning curve for African leaders — PIGGD
Comrade Wisdom Opara, the convener of PVC Initiative for Good Governance Diaspora has reacted to the assassination attempt on the former president of the United States of America, Mr Donald Trump.
Recall that Trump escaped with a bullet wound to his ear in the attack as he was giving a speech to supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The Republican presidential hopeful had begun his speech in front of his supporters when a 20 year old gunman opened fire on him.
It was his last rally before the start of the Republican convention, which kicked off on July 15 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The FBI named Thomas Matthew Crooks as the attacker in the assassination attempt.
The 20-year-old was a registered Republican, according to voter records cited by the AP news agency.
Secret Service said its operatives killed the suspected attacker; one spectator was killed and two others critically injured in the shooting.
The shooting was attributed to the tense political incitement across the United States. United States is now divided along party line, with Democrats accusing Donald Trump of being a danger to democracy, a rhetoric that is considered dangerous after assassination attempt on the former president.
Meanwhile, reacting to the attack in a statement, the vocal and firebrand leader of PIGGD urged African leaders to learn from the failures of politicians in the United States to control political rhetoric to avoid same trend in Africa.
Opara revealed that he had Donald Trump and his family in his prayers during the shooting and thanked God that the former president of the United States survived the assassination attempt.
The statement reads, “Donald Trump was attacked because of unguarded political statements. The rhetoric in the United States was on a dangerous level, a level it could as well be call incitement” the statement reads in part.
“We thank God the president is alive, split seconds head turn saved him. The country would have been thrown into chaos had the would-be assassin succeeded. I personally put him in prayers the moment I saw the news” he said.
The president of the pro-democracy group also said he was in a train to London from Manchester when he heard the sad news.
“Right on that train, I thought about Africa, the level of rhetoric and incitement going on there. My continent needs peace, we need to understand politics comes and goes, and nobody should say things that could lead to chaos” the State said.
The convener joined the world in wishing the former US president quick recovery while calling for reflections and cautions.
“We can achieve good governance by ensuring peace even during political campaigns. Election is not war, campaigns should be carried out respectfully and cautiously”
He finally called on the world to shun political violence, while urging African leaders to work towards avoiding inflammatory statements that could cause incitement.
PIGGD, a nongovernmental organisation based in UK is pushing for good governance and sustenance of democracy as tools of emancipation of Africa.
