|
untitled
...Ngige speaks, Ohanaeze reacts
MATTHEW OGWUCHE, (Bureau Chief Abuja) and FELIX UKA, Awka
HOURS into yesterday�s violence in Anambra State, Gov. Chris Ngige, away in Abuja, accused the rival Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) faction of Chief Chris Uba of masterminding the incidents to attract the imposition of emergency rule
in the state.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, Gov. Ngige blamed the faction for the crisis, saying the effort was
part of a ploy to trigger the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
The government later reinforced its position in a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity
to the Governor, Mr. Fred Chukwuelobe.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja yesterday, Gov. Ngige accused the police of aligning with his estranged political
godfather, Chief Uba and the latter�s agents to actualise an alleged plot to make the state ungovernable as a prelude
to a declaration of a state of emergency.
He declared that what he described as the orchestrated violence in several parts of the state, exactly 24 hours
after he raised alarm based on a security report that violence will be unleashed on his state, gives credence to
the plot.
Gov. Ngige who spoke at a crowded news conference at the Governor�s Lodge, Asokoro, painted a picture of arsonists
and assailants on the rampage, which led him to direct his security men to hurriedly withdraw his children from
school in Awka to an unknown safe destination.
As at press time, even the whereabouts of his wife is unknown to him, he added.
He said he has also received reports that the State Broadcasting Service (ABS) transmitter stations at Onitsha
and Enugu Ukwu near Awka, the State Independent Electoral Commission Headquarters (ANSIEC) have been burnt down
by yet-to-be identified arsonists.
Similarly, he disclosed that the Speaker of the State House of Assembly Hon. Mike Balonwu and some members of the
state legislature have been allegedly cordoned off into forced detention in the Assembly village by the mobile
policemen in Awka.
Gov. Ngige, however, insisted that no life was lost and that his state "was still peaceful and governable.
The governor declared that the stage had been set for yesterday�s mayhem, with the previous withdrawal of police
security from all state government agencies in Anambra and last week�s immobilisation of the State Vigilante Service
(AVS) by the police.
As at press time, he said he was still waiting to formally brief the President and the Inspector-General of Police
(IGP) on the crisis.
The state government also issued a statement which said:
"Arsonists belonging to Chief Chris Uba�s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State, early
Wednesday November 10, 2004 burnt down two radio Stations of the Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation (ABS).
The arsonists are also burning Government cars. The official car of the Chairman of Anaocha Local Government Transition
Committee with registration number LG 002 NEN has been burnt. The driver narrowly escaped being burnt in the car.
"Also dozens of mobile policemen have besieged the official quarters of members of the Anambra State House
of Assembly preventing members and visitors alike from leaving or entering the place. The Speaker, Hon. Mike Balonwu
and other members are currently being held hostage. The House members are being forced to sign a document purporting
that the Governor resigned on July 10, 2003. They are being offered financial inducements to sign the document
failing which they would be shot.
"The development came as Chief Chris Uba and his group fine-tune plans to cause confusion in the state and
create the impression that law and order have broken down and possibly get the Federal Government to declare a
State of Emergency in the State.
"Prior to the burning down of the studios of the ABS, the Chris Uba group had announced in local stations
of their intention to hold a political rally ostensibly in readiness for the December 18, 2004 local government
polls.
"Information available to the state government indicates that the group has mobilized students and road transport
workers as well as some hoodlums to unleash terror in the State.
"The office of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) has been burnt by the group.
"Already the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, has been notified of these developments.
"It is important to inform the general public that all government buildings and offices in Anambra State are
bereft of security. The Governor, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige (OON), has, since January 4,2004, been stripped of his
security details following the controversial order given by the (removed) Justice Stanley Nnaji of the Enugu High
Court.
"Despite the fact that the Appeal Court, Enugu had on January 12, 2004 (ten months ago) restrained the police
hierarchy from implementing Justice Nnaji�s order pending the determination of the appeal filed by Governor Ngige
and despite the fact that Justice Nnaji has since been dismissed from service, the governor is yet to have his
security details restored.
"The Appeal Court has fixed November 30, 2004 for ruling on the Governor�s appeal.
"Only last week, dozens of members of the state Vigilante Group were picked up and their vehicles seized by
the police said to be acting on orders from Abuja. The state government was reliably informed the Vigilante men
are to be detained until after the local government poll.
"The governor is safe and is currently in Abuja. He is in touch with the officials back in the state. He has
appealed for calm and has also asked the people to remain calm and avoid any act that could lead to a breakdown
of law and order."
Meanwhile, apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze, has condemned the destruction of public property in
Anambra State, saying that the purpose was to create chaos so that the Federal Government will declare a state
of emergency in the area.
Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Col. Joe Achuzia (rtd) who made this known in Enugu yesterday while reacting to
the crisis warned that Ohanaeze would not stand by and watch while terrorism is being organized within the Igbo
nation.
Achuzia further disclosed that Ohanaeze would on Friday hold an emergency Ime Obi meeting to assess the situation
and also take a stand against those behind the act.
He called on President Olusegun Obasanjo not to relate the crisis in Anambra with the situation in Plateau State,
as Anambra was only being torn apart by political crisis.
According to him, "today we are witnesses to vandalism and terrorism being visited on Anambra State. This
act of terrorism started almost from day one when the Governor assumed office. Ohanaeze on its own part has been
watching and refused to interfere in what we consider to be a political affair, especially when the matter is between
people from the same party."
He further called on the Federal Government to restore security operatives to Gov. Ngige to enable him (governor)
provide adequate security to the people as the Chief Security Officer of the state.
© 2004 @ Champion Newspapers Limited (All Right Reserved).
Powered By dnetsystems.net dnet®
|
|
