The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio- Cultural In the Diaspora (AEISCID) has condemned explosively the reported assassination attempt on the life of the governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Grand Alliance( APGA) in Ebonyi State,Prof. Benard Ifeanyi Odoh, describing the attack as dastardly.
Prof. Odoh’s convoy was attacked while returning from a campaign rally at Ezzaegu community, Ishielu original government area of the State when it was surprised by an unmarked Sienna space car posted near the popular Rest House just before the Enugu/ Abakaliki federal expressway.
In the process, the governorship aspirant lost his driver who was hit by bullets and the assailants also set ablaze the backup Toyota Hilux vehicle before making away with some valuables.
Replying to the development through a statement signed by its President General,Amb. Pascal Oluchchukwu, Saturday in Abuja, the association encouraged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to order immediate probe on the assassination attempt on the life of a frontline governorship aspirant.
The Ebonyi indigenes also demanded immediate redeployment of the State’s Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, and also the disbandment of the State- owned security outfit, Ebubeagu.
READ MORE: Ukraine President Zelenskyy Meets With EU Official
According to AEISCID, Ebonyians and indeed Nigerians should hold governor Dave Umahi responsible for whatsoever happens to Professor Odoh or any other governorship aspirant of the opposition political parties for that matter in Ebonyi State.
We at AEISCID vehemently condemn this cowardly and dastardly attack as one now too many. We therefore invite the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to order an immediate probe this attempt on the life of a frontline Governorship aspirant like Odoh.
This is about the seventh time we’re reading about similar unwarranted attacks on Professor Odoh and his teeming supporters just because they’ve chosen to remain of the APGA and not of Governor Umahi’s APC.
We recall that his convoy was also fired at in Iboko, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on October 20th last year by the same Ebubeagu army. On 24th December, the Party’s supporters were attacked by the same notorious Ebubeagu operatives at Ugwulangwu, Onicha Local Government Area of the State after a campaign visit to the area.
To that end consequently, this group wants the IGP, Ebonyians and indeed Nigerians to hold Umahi responsible for whatsoever happens to Professor Odoh or any other aspirant of the opposition political Parties for that matter.
While we formally call on the IGP to speedily order an unprejudiced and uncompromised probe into the attack, we demand the immediate redeployment of the State’s Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba and also the disbandment of the rampaging Ebubeagu army which has since become a particular vendetta tool in the hands of Governor Umahi against his perceived opponents.
The IGP should instantly set up a special crack team to re-collect from the Ebubeagu army, all weapons and armouries in their possession before they plunge the State into a full-scale war. They can not be allowed to continue to work as rough tools in the hands of the peremptory government in Ebonyi, ” the group said.
While commiserating with Prof. Odoh and his APGA family, the group advised the state government to desist from hopeless politicking able of plunging the state into anarchy.
Democracy is and remains about the freedom of the people to make their choice of leaders according to instrumentality of the ballot. The will and choices of Ebonyi people must be admired and no aspirant deserves to die or be killed just because he belongs to another political party.
For if Elechi was that tolerant to have allowed an Umahi he never wanted to succeed him prevail, Umahi should know that Ebonyians are wiser than before and he and his puppet APC aspirant, Nwifuru can not, we repeat can never shoot their way to through the ballot.
They should market their ideas, views and governance perspectives to Ebonyi electorates who should be at liberty to accept or reject them at the polls as we’re certain they will, ” it added.
