Peter Obi’s Man Begs Tinubu For Help
The Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate in Imo State, Athan Achonu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing air strikes in the Okigwe Local Government Area of the state.
During a press conference held in Owerri, the state capital, on Sunday, Achonu expressed concern that the bombardments have left many without homes and others mourning their losses.
He criticized the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, for what he perceived as an inability to address the issue of insecurity in the state.
Achonu further pointed out that Uzodimma had recently made a statement suggesting he was planning to bomb an unspecified community, implying that the governor had knowledge of the military air strikes taking place in the Okigwe LGA.
He urged the president to establish an investigative panel to uncover what he described as the indiscriminate killing of people and the destruction of lives and properties in the area.
The LP governorship candidate said, “It is with so much grief and sadness that I address the nation today, on the ongoing multiple bombardments happening in Okigwe zone, which has led to the destruction of lives, properties, and livelihood.
“As I address you now, so many families are left homeless, scores dead and many missing and yet to be accounted for. It grieves my heart, that these dastardly acts are being directed at defenceless citizens.
“Permit me to state categorically that this measure of state-sponsored violence and destruction should not be meted to any zone or community for any reason while we await the security agencies to unravel those behind this unjustified bloodshed and destructions.”
He stated further, “I want to call on Mr. President once again, to set up a high-powered investigative panel to unravel the perpetrators behind the wanton killings and destruction of properties currently going on in Imo State, and more so, to use this office to call the Imo State governor to order, especially following his recent threats of “bombing” communities in parts of Imo State.
“Let me also use this medium to appeal to those families affected by these dastardly acts not to take laws into their own hands. We will make sure that justice prevails. ”
When contacted, the Special Adviser to the governor, Public Communications, Collins Ughalaa, said that Achonu’s claims were false.
The governor’s aide said, “It is laughable that Athan Achonu is accusing the governor falsely.
“Achonu, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, is a confused guber candidate. He is not in touch with reality. If he was in touch with reality, he would have known that just a few days ago, the Nigerian Army said they had launched a military operation in the Southeast codenamed’ Operation Golden Dawn III.’
“I wonder how legitimate military operations against insecurity in the Southeast could be blamed on the governor. Athan Achonu is against security operations against bandits because he calls them his brothers.
“Some bad boys under the bad influence of some unscrupulous politicians are causing havoc in some communities in Okigwe zone where Achonu comes from. Achonu prevaricates on sensitive issues such as security and prefers to hide under press conferences to accuse an innocent man who is doing his best to address the politically orchestrated insecurity in Imo State.”
The public communications SA added, “So far, the governor has recorded tremendous success in the fight against insecurity and it is uncalled for that Achonu could level baseless accusations against the governor, who himself is a victim of insecurity.
“This is not the time for trading blames. It is the time for concerted efforts to tackle insecurity, and Achonu should say where he stands, whether on the side of the governor or on the side of the bandits terrorising communities.”
