From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The Labour Party has accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of sponsoring the spate of barbaric attack on its members in Enugu State.
It called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to order an immediate investigation into the ugly trend.
Labour Party members were recently attacked in the state ahead flag-off of campaigns with various programmes of the party disrupted by thugs disguising as “Biafra agitators.”
The first attack happened on August 30, at Nenwe in Aninri LGA, another was at Awgu headquarters of Awgu LGA, on September 4, and the latest incident at Primary School Station, Nomeh, Nkanu East Local Government Area, on September 24.
National Vice Chairman of Labour Party (South East) Innocent Okeke, in a statement in Enugu on Tuesday, alleged that the PDP was fretting over the burgeoning acceptance of the party in the state.
Okeke said the party had watched with dismay but to the seeming delight of the PDP-led Enugu State Government, the several violent attacks on their members in the last two months.
He wondered why members of the Labour Party were isolated for attack when others including the PDP were going about their political activities, town hall meetings unchallenged, and unharmed.
Condemning the attempt to abridge the Freedom of Association in the state, Okeke urged that the adoption of the party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by the masses should not be met with brutality and harassment.
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Our independent findings revealed that the gruesome act is sponsored by the powers that be in Enugu State.
“Enugu State has been a one political party state since 1999 and has been dominating the political space unchallenged. It is understandable that with polls and opinions favoring the Labour Party guber candidate to emerge as the next governor of the underdeveloped state, the self-acclaimed owners of the state have risen to stop the wishes of the people to have a feel of good governance which our candidate represent by employing brutality and intimidation. But who will stop an idea whose time has come?
“This political strategy to cow the people is infantile and will certainly be counterproductive. We therefore call on the Inspector General of police, Usman Alkali Baba, to immediately commence thorough investigation into this unhealthy development in Enugu State so as to forestall it from snowballing into a serious public crisis.
“Labour Party will not resort to violence no matter the level of provocation. We encourage our members and followers to remain calm and focused. Our party as the face of the masses has come to change their old narrative of distructive tendencies, intimidations, harassments, and killings,” Okeke stated.
Enugu State Chairman of PDP, Augustine Nnamani would not speak on the issue.