Labour Party tackles Soludo over murder of lawmaker, says ‘Anambra now at war’

The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has tackled Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra, over the “alarming rate of insecurity” in the state.

The party’s reaction came on the heels of the discovery of Justice Azuka’s lifeless body, a member of the Anambra house of assembly, on the Second Niger Bridge.

On Thursday, Tochukukwu Ikenga, police spokesperson in Anambra, announced the recovery of the legislator’s decomposing body and the launch of a manhunt for the suspects.

Justice Azuka, was abducted on 24 December along Ugwunapampa Road in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The lawmaker, who represents Onitsha North Constituency I in the state assembly, was returning home for Christmas celebrations when the hoodlums attacked him.

In a statement by Obiora Ifoh, the LP spokesperson, the party mourned the death of the late lawmaker while commiserating with his family over the loss.

The party chided Soludo for having “completely lost the willpower to enforce law and sanity” in the state, adding that Anambra is gradually assuming a “hobbesian status” under his leadership.

“We are presently traumatised by this death and that of other deaths that have become a daily occurrence in Anambra State, a state that is gradually assuming a hobbesian status under the administration of Prof. Charles Soludo,” the statement reads.

“Anambra has fully assumed the state of war, where life has suddenly become nasty, brutish, and short because the present leadership has completely lost the willpower to enforce law and sanity.

“We are pained because not long ago, the Labour Party candidate in the last governorship election in Anambra State, Obiora Agbasimelo, was abducted while campaigning, and as we speak, his whereabouts are still unknown.

“Neither the security agencies nor the government could account for his disappearance, and his family is left traumatised.

“The whole essence of a government is to provide security and well-being for the people; that constitutional provision is lacking in Anambra state at present. It is unbelievable and unspeakable that a personality as high as a legislator could be abducted for over a month and the government was incapable of rescuing him.

“Though information has it that the police have made arrests of some suspects, we are, however, calling for a proper and deeper investigation to unravel the real culprits.

“We are not by anyway suggesting a political motive. That would be left for the security agencies to determine; however, we are not unmindful of the circumstances that led to his regaining his mandate after a court ruling ousted the previous winner from another party, who was initially declared the winner of the 2023 election.”

The party asked its members to remain peaceful, cooperate with security agencies, and not be dampened by the unfortunate incident.

Similarly, The Labour Party LP Caucus of the House of Representatives said it is deeply saddened and devastated by the news of the death of Hon. Azuka, its party man and member of the state Assembly, after a prolonged period of captivity in the hands of kidnappers.

The LP House of Representatives Caucus leader and member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra state, Hon Afam Victor Ogene, in a statement on Thursday, described the incident as “Horrible, heart-rending and a big blow to the Labour Party and the legislature.”

The LP caucus leader had earlier in January called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to take urgent and decisive action to secure the release of the abducted state lawmaker and also address the growing insecurity in the state, which according to him “has become notorious for kidnappings and killings”.

The Rep members expressed their heartfelt condolences to the family of the late lawmaker, especially his young wife and children, who have been thrown into deep sorrow as a result of this dastardly act of great wickedness by criminals.

Hon. Ogene asked rhetorically : “How do you explain this act of wickedness? How do you comfort Hon. Azuka’s young wife that her husband would no longer return home? What do you tell the children when they grow up. This is very sad. It is condemnable and government has to truly take more decisive action to prevent this kind of destruction of life and the future of many by a few individuals who are currently laying siege on the people of Anambra state”.

“As I said in my earlier truction of life and the future of many by a few individuals who are currently laying siege on the people of Anambra state”.

“As I said in my earlier statement on the kidnap of the late lawmaker, the level of carnage going on in Anambra on a daily basis is heart-rending. People live in fear as a result of the growing insecurity.

The rate of bloodletting, kidnappings and other violent crimes in the state is fast turning the state into a killing field. And this is not an exaggeration.

The crime that is reported in the state is just a tiny fraction of the horrendous insecurity reality in Anambra. That’s the brutal truth”.

“The horrific experiences of kidnapping survivors in Anambra underscore the dire need for improved security in the state. The government’s primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens, as well as protect their property. It is imperative that the government takes decisive action to reclaim control from criminal gangs and restore confidence among the people”.

Today, it is Hon. Justice Azuka, but no one knows whose turn it will be tomorrow. While we commend Governor Soludo’s recent efforts at tackling the situation, through the launch of the Agunachemba security outfit, more certainly, needs to be done, especially in the area of deploying technology in the fight against criminals in the state”.

“For instance, how many drones does the state have in it’s crime-fighting arsenal; does the state operate a command and control centre; are the state’s vigilante services properly motivated in the battle against kidnappers and sundry criminals?

“Only two days ago, a serving local government chairman had his car riddled with bullets, in a daring kidnap attempt in Onitsha — a development which reinforces the dire need to further prioritize security,” the statement added.

The caucus however prayed for the repose of the soul of the fallen lawmaker, and asked God to comfort his young family in this period of grief, and beyond.

Hon. Chugbo Enwezor, former two-term member of the state Assembly who represented the same Onitsha North 1 constituency where the late Azuka represented before his abduction, in his own reaction, said it was quite painful and embarrassing to hear the news of Azuka’s death.According to Enwezor, a lawyer,, personally, I am deeply devastated by this gory tale.

I am perturbed by the level of wickedness exhibited by the kidnappers to the extent if killing him after collecting money as ransom for his release”.

“I would suggest that Section 214 of the 1999 constitution which gave the federal government the exclusive right to control the police be amended to give the state governments power to join hands in equipping the police, not just Vigilante operatives for effective security network.

He regretted that the insecurity situation in Anambra state has become too inexplicable that people are beginning to wonder whether we still have government in power in the state.

He condoled the family of late Hon Azuka, Onitsha people and the Labour Party for the irreparable loss and urged them to bear it with fortitude.