IT was a cruel, abusive and violent assault which happened in broad day light in the presence of uniformed policemen and live before the microphones and cameras of journalists present at the Akwatia Lorry Station in the Vawaso Electoral Area during Tuesday’s by-election in that Constituency.
The cameras captured the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) Vice Chairman, Chief Sofo Azorka briskly walking towards Alhaji Osman Masawudu, the third National Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to assault him both verbally and physically.
Uniformed policemen were seen holding Sofo Azorka just to restrain him for further lawlessness. Also captured on video was a man believed to be an escort of Sofo Azorka, placing a well-landed slap into the face of Alhaji Masawusu.
Azorka, on reaching where Masawudu was standing and speaking to journalists, was speaking angrily and pointing a finger into the face of Masawudu while screaming “your mother, your mother, I said your mother”. Azorka then pushed his fore-finger into the face of Masawudu as if that act is what would enable the “your mother” yelling land well into his ears.
Masawudu responded by telling his attacker, “Azorka, I am your brother” but that rather seems to have provoked the attacker who then grabbed Masawudu by the colar of his shirt and started to ruffle him.
It was at that point that the police moved to separate them and free Mazawudu from Azorka’s firm grips.
MASAWUDU
Alhaji Masawudu, after the incident, spoke with journalists and said he was surprised:
“He attacked me. He attacked me just for nothing and this shows how the NDC believes in violence. We do not believe in violence, we believe in peace and everybody is here for peace.
I never attacked anybody in my speech, I never attacked anybody physically, or even spiritually. I am a Moslem but if you just come and attack me because I am granting an interview, I do not see the sense in it.
“I am telling the whole world that what Azorka did to me today, Azorka should know I am a Dagomba man and he came and attacked me. What about if my people from Tamale too attacks him? How would we end this? I am a Chief and he comes to attack me what if my people retaliates, then what would happen?”
AZORKA
Sofo Azorka also explained why he attacked Masawudu:
“The third vice chairman (of the NPP) is only doing politics. He is not strong and he cannot do anything. Do you understand me? He is a child. He wants a position in politics. The NPP loves to give positions to violent people but if he brings it on me, I have the appetite to fight. Anytime, I have the appetite to fight. He himself knows. If he is insulting he should insult the NPP people and not the NDC. He is a small boy. Who does he think he is?”
MINORITY LEADER
On the same day, in the same Constituency, Alhaji Sofo Azorka addressed journalists and said if he had met the Minority Leader, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin at the NDC Party office, he Azorka and his men would have done something to Afenyo-Markin and that thing would have necessitated a by-election to be held in the Effutu Constituency, where Afenyo-Markin is the Member of Parliament.
“If we had met him here, I swear by God, there would have been a by-election in Afenyo-Markin’s town. We are ready for that. If you are not respecting the Police, walahi, we would have done a by-election in his constituency”, Azorka noted.
Asorka made the statements after Afenyo-Markin had paid an unannounced visit to the NDC office in Akwatia on during the by-election.
Afenyo-Markin, in response, said this was not the first time such remarks had been made and he understands the words of Azorka to mean a threat to kill him.
“I have heard that the NDC’s Vice Chairman, Chief Sofo Azorka, said that he wants to ‘kill’ me. We know them—the infamous Azorka Boys; all they know is beating people up and killing others. So, this is not his first time threatening people. But I am not a coward,” he said.
The Minority Leader said this is not a matter for any NPP member to get agitated over and there was the need to remain calm and focused without being intimidated
“There are foot soldiers on the ground. So, nobody should let the words of Azorka put fear into anybody. We do not do politics with fear; it’s all about courage.
“Our fore-bearers spent time in jail all for the sake of politics, so don’t let anybody put fear into you,” Osahen Afenyo-Markin stated.
