The once serene and peaceful political atmosphere in Ebonyi State, has gradually turned to a theatre of war, writes OBINNA OGBONNAYA
The recent pre-election crisis in Ebonyi State within the last two weeks has become so alarming that if not nipped in the bud, may lead to more killings and destruction of properties.
This is even as the two leading political parties in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are battle ready to ensure victory at the polls.
What started like a mere political trading of words has metamorphosed into attacks, intimidation, harassment, destruction of properties, now to the killings of supporters of both parties.
Ebonyi State, known for peace and good brotherliness has suddenly become a house of commotion and conflict, even before the election proper.
The political atmosphere in the state has become so tensed that the residents of the area are now jittery to come out on the election day to carry out their civic responsibility of voting for a candidate of their choice.
In the past elections, there had existed some political crises but the dimension the 2019 general elections has taken has become a source of concern and worry both for the international communities and residents of the area.
Months before the electioneering campaigns commenced, both parties had accused each other of recruiting political thugs from within and outside the state to cause mayhem and disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election in the state with the aim of rigging the election and securing victory.
There were identified flash point areas like Ikwo, Izzi, Onicha, Ishielu, Ohaukwu, Ohaozara and Afikpo South Local Government Areas. The local government areas have been prone to crises with attendant death records and as was anticipated, the areas are now riddled with huge political attacks.
There have been a number of deaths recorded, destruction of billboards and of late, as well as burning of houses. While the security agencies have assured and reassured residents of security of their lives and properties before, during and after the elections, the leading PDP campaign organisation led by the former Minister for State Health, Chief Fidelix Nwankwo had in a press conference accused the police of shielding political thugs of the opposition party who allegedly went round the town allegedly using acidic contents to destroy the bill boards of candidates of the PDP in the capital city.
Barely few days after the party laid before the public the allegations against the APC, thugs suspected to be loyal to the candidate of the APC, Ikwo/Ezza South Federal House of Representatives Comrade Chinedu Ogah allegedly attacked and brutalized the Vice Chairman, Ikwo local government area, of the State, Hon. Iteshi Regina at Item Amagu community, Ikwo LGA.
It was gathered that the suspected thugs invaded the residence of the Vice Chairman, beat and molested her and left her almost half dead. It was also gathered that when some supporters of PDP, one Monday Eden and Nweke Ifeanyi rushed to the scene to safe the woman from further attack, they were also beaten blue and black by the suspected thugs.
An eyewitness who spoke to LEADERSHIP on grounds of anonymity alleged that supporters of the candidate has been molesting the members of the PDP in the community and called on the state, federal government and security agents to come to their aids urgently.
He said: “If not checked with their excesses of harassing and molesting innocent members of the community, no member of the community would survive the evil intention of the suspected thugs who are neck bent on causing mayhem and disrupt the peaceful conduct of election in the area”.
The eyewitness who said that the Vice Chairman is currently recieving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Abakaliki to check the activities of the boys to for stall a further occurrence.
“Our worry is that if they are allowed to continue to intimidate and harass the people, it will thwart the long existing peaceful coexistence/relationship that the people have been enjoying in Ikwo Noyo clan.
We also urge the security agencies to equally arrest and persecute the culprits involved in the nefarious act to serve as deterrent to those who may be used as agents of distraction to Saturday’s general election”, he said.
In a swift reaction, the APC candidate for Ikwo/Ezza South federal constituency, Comrade Chinedu Ogah debunked the allegations levelled against him that he masterminded the kidnap and hostage taking of the Vice Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Mrs. Regina Iteshi.
Comrade Ogah, while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, decried what he termed high level of desperation by unpopular politicians in the area who resorts to blackmail and allegations to score cheap political points.
He alleged that the internal rift between two PDP stakeholders in Amagu, Chief Okeagu Ogada and Amb. Frank Ogbuewu led to the attack of the vice council boss.
Only recently, hell was let loose in Izzi Local Government Area of the state. Izzi happens to be one of the local government areas in the state that boast of high concentration of APC major stakeholders in the state.
It is expected that Izzi would be a battle ground between the PDP and the APC. The likes of Chief Austin Igwe Edeze, former governorship aspirant of the APC, Chief Edward Nkwagu, also a governorship aspirant in APC, Chief Mattaiws Adum, APC senatorial candidate for Ebonyi North, Chief Johnson Mbam Ogodo, the APC Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC, Chief Elias Mbam, former Chairman Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission, the immediate past Attorney General of the State, Augustine Nwankwegu would have their hands full as they battle the likes of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, Chief Fidelix Mbam, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Chief Sabinus Nwankwegu, Chief Goddy Ogbaga, a former Minister in the local government area.
The two political parties recently accused each other of being responsible for the burning of 30 houses in pre-election related violence in some of the communities in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi state.
While the APC State Chairman, Pastor Eze Nwachukwu alleged that his members bore the brunt of the attacks, the ruling PDP believed otherwise. Pastor Nwachukwu who described the attacks as an unprovoked war urged the police and other security agencies to intensify security surveillance in the state.
The party warned that it would no longer tolerate any attack on its members and urged police to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of the violent attacks.
Nwachukwu chronicled alleged attacks on its members to include attack on the senatorial candidate of the party in Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Mr Nweze Onu, attacks on APC members, destruction of their houses and property in Izzi local government area. Others include attacks and disruption of APC local government rallies by suspected political thugs at Ebonyi, Onitcha, Ohaozara local government areas and destruction of APC campaign office in Ohaozara.
He also listed alleged attacks on the home of APC Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr Chris Ogba at Ezzama, Ezza South on February 16 and attack on members of the party at Ekoli-Edda among others.
“All these incidents have been duly reported to the Police in the state and we call on the police to ensure that perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice. We also call on all our members and supporters to remain resolute, refuse been intimidated as we assure victims of the party’s resolve to bring justice”, Nwachukwu said.
Not accepting responsibility of the allegation, the State Chairman of the PDP, Onyekachi Nwebonyi who also hail from Izzi clan denied the allegations.
“It is not true, they are the ones attacking our members. I had briefed you on the killing of two persons on Sunday who were attached by political thugs while six others were injured. PDP has been very peaceful despite the provocations. The governor, who is a man of peace, have continued to calm the party faithful down and urging them not to retaliate despite the provocations”.
He decried the attacks and called on security agencies to fish-out the perpetrators and bring them to book. “I want to use this medium to condemn the wanton destruction of properties and killing of innocent Nigerians all over the nation. Of my particular interest is the wanton destruction of properties and killing of innocent Ebonyians in Ebonyi state. The opposition in the state are visibly out to instigate violence in Ebonyi state so as to scare voters from coming out to vote. I therefore warn them to desist from this act which is capable of causing unrest in the state. Let me also call on the security agencies in the state to immediately wade into investigation these killings and wanton destruction of properties to ensure that these does not escalate”, he said.
Angered by the uncontroled attacks in the state, the State Commissioner of Police in the state, Awosola Awotunde, called for calm from residents of the state.
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Awotunde who spoke to journalists after his assessment visits to areas affected by the violence vowed that police authority would ensure that perpetrators of the dastardly acts were arrested and brought to book. Condemning the attacks and destruction of over 30 houses and property worth millions of naira in communities in Izzi local government area, the police commissioner described the incident as barbaric and man’s inhumanity to man and warned against any reprisal. He said that those involved in the criminal attacks on the
communities including their sponsors would be arrested and prosecuted.
“We appeal for calm and assure the public that police will spare no efforts in ensuring that everyone who is involved in the dastardly act is brought to book including their sponsors. The police further reassures the public of commitment to protection of lives and property of every citizen of the state before, during and after the elections”, Awotunde.
When Leadership spoke to some of the victims, they described the act as barbaric and uncalled for adding that people are hidding under the guise of politics to wrack the lives of thwir percieved enemies. Narating his ordeal, a victim of the attack, Mr Donatus Nwofe who spoke to journalists at Aguabata in Agbaja community of Izzi said that he lost two of his buildings and property worthy several millions to the attackers.
Nwofe, who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Ebonyi council, said that the suspected political thugs invaded his compound and shot sporadically before setting the houses ablaze. “I lost everything; even the boxers I am wearing was donated to me by a sympathizer, as you can see, no pin was removed from the burnt down houses. “We now live in fear as no one knows when the hoodlums will attack again with their AK 47 riffles and other weapons. I am appealing to police to beef up security in the community and I am also calling on state and Federal governments to come to the rescue of the victims of the attacks,” Nwofe said.
Another victim, Mr Paulinus Onyike said the suspected political thugs from a major political party invaded Izenyi, in Agbaja community and set houses ablaze. He said the suspected political thugs who invaded the area, first shot indiscriminately before setting houses and other valuable property ablaze in the area. He described the attacks as barbaric and called for proper investigation and arrest of the perpetrators.
While the PDP and the APC are still battling with the loss of properties, The PDP has also accused the APC of masterminding the killings of its supporters in Izzi and other local government area’s of the state by thugs alleged to be loyal to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. In a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Deacon Okulegu Bethran and made available to newsmen the party expressed regrets over the wanton killings and destruction of property and called on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the ugly incident.
The party expressed concern over the use of acidic contents to destroy the bill boards of candidates of the party especially those at the capital territory and urged the Police and other law enforcement agencies in Ebonyi State to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous act are fished out and brought to book. He noted that the prosecution of the perpetrators would assure Ebonyi people that their safety and security are guaranteed, especially in this election period.
According to him, “It is not in our nature to be alarmist, but this killing has sent potentially wrong signals not only to Ebonyians and the global community, about the nature of the now postponed national elections, but indeed on the safety of PDP members and loyalists in Ebonyi State.
“It is our belief that the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators would reassure Ebonyi people of their safety and security as they prepare to perform their civic rights when the elections re-commence on February 23, 2019”.
“We also use this medium to express our profound gratitude to Governor David Umahi, for the way he has been handling this challenges of killings in some parts of the state, He has proved that he is a dependable father, trusted in taking Ebonyians to the promise land and also worthy of emulating”. “Ebonyi PDP family has vowed our unalloyed support to all our candidates ranging from the presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, all the national assembly members, Governor David Umahi, and all the state house of assembly members.”
The party’s spokesman called on all members of the party to remain calm, peaceful and law abiding in the face of these unprovoked provocations.
“We will not succumb to intimidation or any other form of assault on our members as we are absolutely sure of winning the 2019 elections with comprehensive victory”.
It would be recalled that before the mayhem unleashed on the people of the state, The Ebonyi State Police Command had arrested two suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over alleged attempt to bomb the 6 spam Ugwogo Idembia bridge in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. In an interview with Leadership, the Police Public Relations Officer ASP Loveth Odah gave the names of the suspects as one Nweke Kingsley and Chijoke Uwakwe.
The PPRO who condemned the attack said that the command is battle ready to arrest and prosecute any member of the proscribed organisation ahead of the election adding that the command would deploy adequate security to forstall any breakdown of law and order.
Governor David Umahi had earlier in a live broadcast raised the alarm that some suspects were arrested by the State internal security while trying to detonate an explosive at the Idembia bridge in the state. According to the Governor, “as the Chief Security officer of the state, i was briefed by security agencies that a House of Assembly candidate went to quarry site to buy explosives and the people came and reported to us, they refused to
sell to him. We had to immediately report to the security agencies and they have the name of the person. They moved into action to arrest the person and I have said they should declare him wanted”.
“Subsequently, four hours later, we got information that a meeting was:held and it was agreed to plant explosives in hotels, in flyovers and
bridges including bridges built by past administration in the state. While we were still examining the authenticity of the information, Commissioner for Internal security called to say that the community
and Neighbourhood Security Watch apprehended two people that have succeeded in planting explosives at Idembia bridge and they have not
detonated it”.
“They were still planting it, they go to the expansion of the bridge the weakest link to plant it. They have been apprehended and sent to the Army and the Army has sent them to the police. So, they are being investigated”.
The governor further stated that, “Two House of Reps candidates in Ezza North LGA were shooting guns. Incidentally, a police orderly was attached to one of them who participated in the shooting of gun. The matter has been reported to
the police to fish out the police orderly and he must be arrested. Moreso, Army personal also arrested one of the candidates of a political party along the
road with a pistol. Then in Ikwo, somebody was arrested with gun for terrorizing his community”.
“I have encouraged Ebonyians to come out and vote because we have enough security and that any disturbance, the should just let the
security agencies know. Security agencies are equal to the task and they are very neutral and well prepared to protect the people”.
Governor Umahi urge Ebonyians not to be afraid of anything adding that men of the security forces are on ground to protect the lives and properties of the people.
Worried by the development, Pan-African Women Project, a foreign election observer team from South Africa in Nigeria to monitor the 2019 general elections has also condemned in strong terms, the pre-election violence that erupted in parts of Ebonyi State. The leader of the group in the state, Mrs Lebogang Mkhize Ugorji, while laying bare their observations before newsmen in Abakaliki, said that they recorded the burning of properties in some council areas and noticed the proliferation of firearms which they said were politically motivated.
Ugorji said: “We noticed that there were pockets of pre-election violence in some areas of the state. For example, a building was set ablaze at Izziogo in Izzi L.G.A. because of some political differences and several people were wounded. Similarly, at Ikwo L.G.A. two men were caught with pump-action rifles by vigilance groups as they were alleged to be political thugs hired to disrupt the elections.
Also condemning the ugly situation the Senator Representing Ebonyi Central senatorial zone, Senator Obinna Ogba who lamented that selfish politicians were instigating political killings and violence in order to pave way for the perpetuation of electoral malpractice during the polls.
Ogba said that, “I condemn the wanton destruction of properties and killing of innocent Nigerians all over the nation. Of my particular interest is the wanton destruction of properties and killing of innocent Ebonyians in Ebonyi State.
“We have been getting briefs from our supporters and other stakeholders that about eight of our PDP members were shot. And as I speak, two are dead. The survivors are receiving treatment at Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA). “All this is being caused by some members of the opposition party. Some members of the opposition are visibly out in the state to instigate violence so as to scare away voters from coming out to vote,” he lamented.
Senator Ogba therefore, called on security agencies to rise up to the occasion and stop the menace before it escalates the more. With the postponement of the election, no one is certain of the security of lives and properties of the people in the state. The security agencies must as a matter of urgency stand up to its responsibilities to avoid throwing the state into political crisis.
