A family in Enugu is grieving after losing one of their own to violence that broke out during a political rally. Sporadic shootings erupted at the airport and at the NDC secretariat in Enugu State on October 10, during the party's governorship campaign flag-off, leaving at least one supporter dead.
Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has stepped forward with a promise of support to the bereaved family as they lay their loved one to rest. The gesture puts a human face on what could easily be reduced to a headline about political unrest.
The shooting is a sobering reminder of the cost ordinary Nigerians sometimes pay simply for showing up to support a candidate they believe in. As Enugu prepares for its governorship contest, questions about the safety of political participation in the state remain very much open.
Originally published by Premium Times.