The Governing Council of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, ICCON, on Wednesday condemned the gruesome attack on Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, during the just-concluded governorship election in Adamawa State.
Zuru was a National Commissioner of the dependent National Election Commission, INEC, deployed to Adamawa State for the gubernatorial rerun election on April 15.
While on his assignment, Zuru was manhandled by some unscrupulous elements for refusing to take part in the illegal declaration by the suspended INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari.
The Chairman of the council, Fanna Inna Abdulrahman, charged the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police to arrest and prosecute those behind the attack.
Abdulrahman said the attack was an “undeserving, dastard, and barbaric treatment” meted on Zuru’s person and integrity.
Condemning the attack, Abdulrahman called on the Federal Government to compensate Zuru for the humiliation because the professor is a man who stands for the truth.
A statement by Abdulrahman reads: “As a former President and Chairman of the 3rd Governing Council of ICCON, we can attest and vouch for the character of Professor Zuru to be a humble and gentleman who always stands for truth and honesty and does not in any way, deserve to be treated in such a manner by his attackers while on a national assignment.
“This has inflicted pain not just on the elder statesman and his family but also to his colleagues in the academia and professional associates.
“For a man of his stature who served as Vice Chancellor at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and Kebbi State University as well as Chairman GoverningCouncil of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria , rather than earn national awards for his contributions to nation building, Prof. Zuru was subjected to such a barbaric act.
“We are of the opinion that the same way INEC is strongly calling for the prosecution of the suspended REC, same measure of zeal should be deployed in bringing the perpetrators to book so as to bring succor to Prof. Zuru and entire family for the trauma they have gone through in the past few days.
“It is on this premise that we as the regulatory body for chemistry practice in Nigeria, join other well-meaning Nigerians to call on the Federal Government and the Inspector General of Police to without further delay, arrest, prosecute and bring all the perpetrators to book to serve as deterrent to others and as well, compensate Professor Zuru for the humiliation he received without any wrongdoing while performing a national assignment.”