Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Sir Ifeanyi Eleje, has condemned the attack on Prof. Benard Odoh, the party’s governorship candidate in Ebonyi state, describing it as heinous.
In a statement on Sunday, Eleje said it is one attack too many being perpetrated by anti-democratic forces in Ebonyi state under the Umahi-led administration using the instrumentality of Ebubeagu security operatives.
“I am shocked to learn of the brazen attack on the convoy of Prof. Ben Odoh, the All Progressives Congress Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship candidate in Ebonyi State on Thursday, February 2, 2023,” he said.
He therefore, appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, and other heads of security agencies, including the President and C-in-C, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the NSA, the DG, DSS, and the DG, NIA , the NBA, INEC and the International Community to give the undemocratic practices in Ebonyi State deserved attention.
Eleje, the APGA senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, said he has for sometime now been operating from outside Ebonyi state, due to threats to his life, adding that, he was secretly taken out of Ebonyi state recently, based on reliable intelligence from trusted sources that Governor Umahi had instructed his para-military outfit to abduct his supporters and inflict serious bodily injuries on them.
“I have also been informed that specific directives have been issued by the Governor’s team to the same outfit that I (his opponent in the Senate race) should be attacked, incapacitated, and hospitalised until after the Senate election scheduled to hold this February 25th by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” he said.
He added, “Presently, my campaign activities have been disrupted as a result of incessant harassment and violent attacks by a para-military outfit established and controlled by the Umahi-led APC government and known as Ebubeagu security operatives.
“Even as I condemn this dastardly attack on Prof. Odoh and his entourage, the Director General of my campaign organization Mr Iheukwumere Okogwu and some of our other team members have been forced to relocate outside Ebonyi state as they are being hounded by Ebubeagu security operatives who are on the prowl and searching for these supporters based on the directives of Governor David Umahi.”
Eleje, therefore, called on peace-loving people of Ebonyi state and his constituents in Ebonyi South senatorial district to rally round and vote for APGA candidates and protect their votes in the forthcoming elections and put an end to the ugly era of state-sponsored attacks and killings going on in Ebonyi state under Governor David Umahi’s watch.
The convoy of the governorship hopeful was ambushed near Rest House, Okpoto, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by hoodlums, who killed his driver.
Two persons in the convoy also sustained gunshot injuries, five persons were declared missing, while his back-up Hilux van was set ablaze by the hoodlums.
Professor Odoh and many others in his campaign train, however, escaped unscathed.
…PDP too
Similarly, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday in Abakaliki urged Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi to stem what it termed; ‘unwarranted’ politically motivated attacks on opposition politicians in the state by hoodlums.
This is contained in a press statement issued by Chief Abia Onyike, Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Governorship Campaign Council (GCC), a copy was obtained by New National Star.
The Campaign council frowned at the recent spate of unprovoked politically induced attacks and killings in parts of the state.
It called on the governor, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, to rise to the occasion and ensure that the forthcoming elections were not marred by violence and killings of political opponents before, during or after the elections.
It also called on Umahi to guarantee the safety and security of members of the opposition political parties.
Onyike further urged the governor to leverage the various security agencies and apparatuses of government to curb rising insecurity in the state to prevent the state from sliding into a state of anarchy and bloodbath.
“The political situation in Ebonyi which has resulted in unwarranted attacks and killings of members of opposition political parties has degenerated from bad to worse. We appeal to the governor to urgently intervene to save the state from needless violence.
“Hoodlums and suspected political thugs are on the rampage attacking opposition political leaders and candidates and even stopping opposition candidates and their political parties from freely campaigning and wooing voters ahead of the February and March elections.
“We, hereby unequivocally condemn in very strong terms, the latest attack on Sen. Sam Egwu representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District.
“Egwu, who went for a PDP rally on Saturday to address his constituents in the private residence of Senator Sylvanus Ngiji-Ngele in Amagu, Abakaliki Local Government Area was allegedly attacked by miscreants.
“The road to Sen. Ngele’s house was suddenly blocked by hoodlums suspected to be thugs working for some interests who later returned to Sen. Ngele’s house and started shooting sporadically with their AK-47 and pump actions assault riffles.
“We also regret to recall that on Wednesday, Feb. 1, Egwu successfully held a rally at Obegu Abba in Ebonyi LGA.
“At the end of the rally, Egwu left the venue only for suspected gunmen to invade the home of the PDP Chairman in the Council area, Mr Michael Nwebonyi.
“They started shooting intensively for more than 20 minutes; properties were vandalised and several people were wounded as they scampered for safety while others ran into the bush.
“Two days ago, Prof. Benard Odoh, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was ambushed at Okpoto in Ishielu LGA by suspected political thugs where his convoy was subjected to a volley of bullets.
“Though Odoh luckily escaped unhurt, his driver was instantly murdered and his backup vehicles were set ablaze,” the campaign said.
The campaign further alleged that the perceived intolerance to the opposition in the state was responsible for the spate of politically-motivated killings and disappearances in Onicha LGA of Ebonyi.
“In Onicha, where our principal, Chief IfeanyiChukwuma Odii hails from, six persons have been killed including the bodyguard attached to Odii while many have disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
“If the violent attacks and killings are not checked, the situation in Ebonyi may snowball beyond imagination and the blood bath may result in a chain of other terrible events.
“We, therefore, call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Security Agencies and the National Assembly to intervene in the Ebonyi debacle,” it added.