The traditional ruler of Opu-Kula community in Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers State, His Royal Highness Hope Opusingi, has faulted the allegation by the Nigeria Army that his brother, Hon.
Kenneth Opusingi was involved in the attacks on soldiers at Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru local government area of the state. The Nigeria Army, in statement signed its Acting Director, Army Public Relations Officer, Colonel Sagir Musa, had accused Kenneth, the chairman of Akuku-Toru local government area, Hon. Roland Sekibo and
one Omodo, of being behind the attack on its troops at Abonnema, which led to the death of a lieutenant. Opusingi, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday and made available to LEADERSHIP, insisted that Kenneth was in Kula throughout the period of the Presidential and National Assembly election and was never in Abonnema on that fateful day.
The statement reads in part: “My attention has been drawn to a statement by the Nigerian Army alleging that my brother Hon. Kenneth Opusingi is one of the names behind the unfortunate deaths at Abonnema on the election day. Let me put the record straight that Mr. Kenneth is my younger brother of the same parents.
“As at 20th February, I was with him at Port Harcourt trying to release our boats that were seized by the GOC 6 Division Nigerian army. Myself and my Chiefs even visited 6 Division Army to approach the GOC over our boats that were seized on the orders of the GOC.
“I met the GOC in person, alongside my chiefs to plead with him to release our boats, but he referred me to one of his service commanders who told me that nothing can be discussed until after the elections.
As a result, Kenneth and some of our chiefs left to Abonnema.
I later joined him with the rest of my chiefs at Abonnema on the morning of
22nd of February.
“Due to the restriction of movement in respect of the elections, he
Read Also:
immediately left with some of our people from Abonnema to Freetown. On
reaching Freetown, we started mobilising all our riverine communities
to Kula for the elections the next day, then the army came with four
military boats alongside Christian Don Pedro who is currently facing
trial at the Supreme Court for the murder of my father and nine other
chiefs.
“After several intimidation attempts, they said we should not go to
Kula. I immediately called the 6 Division Nigerian Army to inform them
of the harassment and intimidation of peaceful community voters by the
army. After much argument they seized two of our 200HP boats and left
with them.
“We managed to shuttle several trips to move all our people to Kula
for the election. Later the 6 Division Army called me to confirm if
they have allowed our people to travel to Kula, and I replied yes.
“Let me state clearly that Kenneth was in Kula all through the period
of the elections. They claimed he was in Abonnema, but the Army
officer in Kula Lt. Shehu tried bringing him and Sukubo Sara-Igbe
Sukubo to have a peace accord in Kula on the same election day.
“Sukubo Sara-Igbe Suku is our younger brother, and Kenneth told the
Army Lieutenant that he cannot negotiate any accord with his brother
that he brought up. Lt. Shehu then advised everyone to be peaceful in
Kula community during and after the elections.
“I therefore, urge the military to check their source of information
and correct this very erroneous and ill-fated allegations against Hon.
Kenneth. Kenneth is not from Abonnema and could not have been involved
in the politics and crisis in Abonnema.
“Finally, the claim by the Army against Hon. Kenneth Opusingi should
be regarded as the grotesque of blatant lies, most preposterous,
diversionary and provocative.”
