From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State chapter of the Labour Party and the Alex Otti Campaign Council respectively have again cautioned the Abia State government and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to stop their numerous acts of violence against the party and her candidates, especially destruction of their campaign billboards.
This is coming on the heels of the warning of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (retd), to state governors using thugs to prevent the opposition from placing their campaign materials in strategic points.
Monguno threatened that security agencies would soon take necessary measures if such action continues.
In a statement, the Alex Otti Campaign Council said it had gone a step further to petition the Police and Department of State Security Services when it realized that the PDP and Abia State government were not ready to give peace a chance.
“While the DSS intervened and cautioned the General Manager of Abia State Signage and Advertising Agency, Mr. Anthony Otuonye, who was being used to perpetrate these acts of violence, the Police in the state also got involved.
“Sadly, after repeatedly destroying our gigantic billboard located around Umuikaa junction at the Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, the government and her agents yesterday arrested one of our party chieftains from Isiala Ngwa South, Elder Dr. Nwaigburu, after he and other party faithful prevented them from carrying out another act of destruction of our billboard a few days ago.
“Interestingly, Abia State government has not been able to establish any single lawful reason for the destruction of our campaign billboards, except that our presence in the electoral contest in Abia has thrown the failed government into a panic mode, hence the resort to violence.”
Going further, Labour Party stated as follows, “That the Okezie Ikpeazu led government should without delay release a chieftain of our party they illegally arrested.
“That the energies and resources being wasted against Labour Party and her candidates should be deployed in taking care of Abia workers and pensioners most of whom are owed up to 45 months pension and salary arrears.
“That having known the pattern and antecedents of the PDP led Abia state government, it’s very easy to decipher that their attacks are targeted only on the Labour party and her candidates because they are considered the most popular party with mass appeal and followership in Abia state”.
Labour Party called on the Federal Government, the Police, the DSS and all law enforcement agencies saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring peace and order to call Ikpeazu and the AbiaS government to order before they set the state on avoidable fire.