THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA in Anambra State of sponsoring insecurity in the State.
Opposition APC alleged that the ruling party has been intimidating and frustrating the party ahead of the November 6, governorship elections.
But APGA has denied the allegation, saying it would not sponsor or encourage political motivated killing in the state for any reason.
The allegation by the APC came while reacting to the Friday killing of the former traditional ruler of Mkpunando in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Alex Edozieuno, and his driver, identified as Chukwuemeka.
APC in a media interaction in Awka Anambra State Capital on Sunday by its State Chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike and Director-General of Andy Uba Campaign Council, Mr. Paul Chukwuma, said the murder of former Igwe Alex Edozieuno was politically-motivated and designed to intimidate APC.
They said the former Igwe Edozieuno, last month joined the party and since then he has been a trusted party member in the state and the party also alleged that APC chieftains in the state have been receiving threats from the member representing Anambra East and West at Federal House of Representative Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe and the wife of the Governor Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano.
During the interaction, Chief Ejidike said last Friday was the darkest day in the political history of Anambra State and urged the Police, Director of Security Services DSS and other security agencies in the State to ensure that the killers of Edozieuno are brought to justice.
“Igwe Alex Edozieuno, was murdered in cold blood within his community along with his driver.
“The same Igwe was suspended along with other traditional rulers in the state last year for one year.
“He was the only one dethroned and replaced by the government before the expiration of the suspension date.
“The former Igwe barely a month joined the APC family in Anambra, since then he has remained one of the trusted person in the party.
“The killing was politically-motivated, no doubt.
“To ensure that such does not take place again in the State, we call on the Police commissioner, Director of DSS to swing into action immediately and unravel the circumstances leading to the killing .
Anambra State has not experienced political killing until this time, members of APC in the State have been receiving threats from the government of Anambra State, especially from the wife of the Governor and Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe and their threats have come to manifestation,” he said.
While Paul Chukwuma said that, it is sad that a state government would make a threat to life and at the end it would come to past.
According to him, government officials had boasted that nobody will challenge them in the state even the security operative and it is happening and said they are praying for Anambra not to slide back into its bad years.
He also reaffirmed that Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe had been threatening the lives of APC members in the State. However, the APGA, in reaction to the allegations, denied the killing of the traditional ruler and threatening any member of APC in the State.
The state ruling party through the Commissioner of Information and Public Enlightenment Mr. C-Don Adinuba, said it was ridiculous for APC to say APGA was involved in the death of the former traditional ruler in the State and at the same threatening its member’s lives.
How can they say the APGA is threatening them? Do they think that all people are like them? Violent is in their DNAs, let them go to the Police or DSS to lay their complaints with prove it,” he said.
According to the Commissioner, the Igwe has no political relevance in the State and wondered why APC would associate APGA with killings and threats to lives.
“Whosoever that alleges must prove it. Of what significance is Igwe Alex Edozieuno to the State political structures. Those who are significant in the state, nobody has alleged of any threat. This is to say APC is thinking of violence.
“The problem with APC is that it’s made up of people who are good at creating mayhem. The same group of people in APC burnt Anambra State government in 2003, beat elected Governor and took him to shrine to take an oath,” he said.
Reacting to the threat and murder as politically motivated, the Anambra State Police Spokesman, Mr. Ikenga Tochukwu (DSP), said he was not aware of any threat to any politician or any politically-motivated killing in the State.
“I don’t have any information on that, please. Meanwhile, the Command receives, treats and investigates all complaints accordingly,” he said.
BY SUNNY A. DAVID
