The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has asked the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma to quickly explain to Nigerians the role of his regime in the attack on Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, PDP candidate for Ideato Federal Constituency.
The opposition party opined that the Governor’s comment on the matter has not just betrayed his sympathy for the attackers but also exposed the depth of his knowledge on the attack prior to its execution.
In a statement made available and signed by Collins Opurozor, the State Publicity Secretary of Imo PDP, the opposition party said “on Saturday, January 14, 2023, a motorcade of three vehicles conveying gunmen, arsonists and bombers stormed the residence of our candidate, Ikenga Ugochinyere, at his hometown in Akokwa.
“Three persons were shot dead. Among them was an uncle to Ikenga. Our candidate escaped death by a whisker. No fewer than thirty-two vehicles were burnt to ashes. Buildings were levelled to the ground with explosives. It was total war!”
Recall that the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, yesterday said that Ugochinyere does not pose any threat to the Government, nor does he have any capacity to do so, to warrant any form of attention.
The Commissioner said, “Ugochinyere is queer and perverted in every sense of the word, resulting in a manifest, lifelong cantankerous conduct that has defined his infantile political adventure for long. Naturally, he picks enemies the way magnet picks pins and therefore should look inward to know where his problem emanated.”
Reacting to the statement, the PDP said, “Uzodinma accused our candidate of violating an agreement which he (our candidate) allegedly reached with unknown gunmen. Uzodinma also claimed to have known of some meetings between Ikenga and the unknown gunmen. He alleged that the agreement was to the effect that elections would not be held in the South East. According to Senator Uzodinma, it was Ikenga’s breach of the agreement that led to the attack. This is obviously a lie from the pit of hell!
“However, what this self-confession has established is that, even before the attack on Ikenga Ugochinyere was carried out, Uzodinma had full knowledge of it. He knew how it was conceived, planned and executed. By his admission, Uzodinma knows who the so-called unknown gunmen are. He knows where and how they meet. He is privy to their agreements, documents and action plan. So, what is unknown about the gunmen if the Governor could boast of knowing everything about them, including their meetings and their resolutions?”
Imo PDP insisted that “this watery defense put up by Senator Uzodinma has further strengthened general belief that his regime has serious questions to answer over the attack on Ikenga Ugochinyere.”
PDP said it must be clearly stated that Senator Uzodinma’s failed attempt to link Ikenga Ugochinyere with whatever group that doesn’t want elections to hold in the South East is a new dimension to his unending war against our candidate.
The release further reads, “In a recorded telephone conversation, an appointee of Senator Hope Uzodinma, one Chinasa Nwaneri, was threatening fire and brimstone upon Ikenga Ugochinyere, threatening that our candidate would be dealt with whenever he would be sighted in Imo State.
“On December 23, 2022, this threat was executed and the first onslaught was launched on Ikenga’s convoy as he returned to Imo from Abuja.
“What is really worrisome is that, in all of these, no arrest has been effected by the Nigeria Police and/or the Department of State Services. It is noteworthy that protection of lives and property is the sacred responsibility of the government. The security agencies are supposed to be non-partisan and act without fear or favour. “