…Seeks emergency action to stop bloodbath
The Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has decried attacks on opposition figures in the state by gunmen suspected to be Ebube Agu operatives, accusing David Umahi, the state governor, of declaring war on the people of the State.
Condemning a recent attack on Senator Sam Egwu, a former governor of the state, as well as other leading opposition figures in the state, the PDP called for an emergency action to prevent an imminent bloodbath.
In an issued statement yesterday, by the Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Abia Onyike, the party noted that the spate of politically-motivated killings in Ebonyi has become unbelievable.
The political situation in Ebonyi state has degenerated from bad to worse. Gov. David Umahi has refused to listen to the voice of reason, as his attack dogs and militia groups continue to attack prominent citizens of the state who are members of opposition political parties, the statement reads.
We hereby unequivocally condemn in very strong terms the latest attack on Sen. Sam Ominyi Egwu (Senator representing Ebonyi-North Senatorial District), who went for a PDP rally yesterday to address his constituents in the private residence of Senator Sylvania Ngiji Ngele, in Amagu, Abakaliki local government area.
We also regret to recall that on Wednesday, 1st February, 2023, Dr. Sam Egwu successfully held a rally at Obegu Abba in Ebonyi LGA. At the end of the rally, Sen. Egwu left the venue only for gunmen to invade the home of the PDP Chairman in the Council area, Michael Nwebonyi. They started shooting intensively for more than twenty minutes. Properties were vandalized and several people were wounded as they scampered for safety while others ran into the bush.
The spate of politically-motivated killings in Ebonyi has become unbelievable.
In order to stop the Governorship ambition of a son of the soil, the desperados are believed to be behind the spate of killings and disappearances in Isu, Onicha LGA, where over 6 persons including the bodyguard of the Governorship candidate were killed in order to stop the Governorship aspiration. What a horrible scenario.
Gov. Umahi has never hidden his disdain for a level-playing field in a democratic system of Government. He believes that only the incumbent Government party should be permitted to hold sway during elections and campaigns. This obnoxious political mentality led him to take some strange and terrible steps, such as the introduction of an Executive Order banning the use of public schools for Campaign Rallies by opposition parties.
Gov. Umahi must be compelled to speak up on his role in all of these atrocities, which have painted Ebonyi as a war-torn State.
We call on the Presidency, the National Security Agencies and the National Assembly to intervene in the Ebonyi debacle. Gov. Umahi should be pressurised to return to the path of peaceful transition in Ebonyi which will usher in free and fair elections and preservation of human lives in the State, the party further stated.
