Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Ahead of the March 18 governorship and state house of assembly elections, a member of the Abia State House of Assembly, has raised alarm over alleged importation of hoodlums in Aba.
The lawmaker, Hon. Obinna Ichita representing Aba South state constituency who said his attention was drawn to the ugly development by his constituents, urged the security agencies to quickly investigate the matter.
Addressing a press conference in Umuahia, the lawmaker called for a swift and proactive action by the security agencies to avoid any situation capable of disrupting the upcoming elections in the state.
Ichita who is the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, appealed for calm but charged the people to remain vigilant.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has directed the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to launch investigation into the alleged threats on the life of Ichita.
The directive was sequel to a petition by the lawmaker, alleging threats to his life by purported agents of Government.
Malami in an acknowledgement letter signed by the Director Citizens’ Right Department, Ministry of Justice, F. K Bebu, informed the lawmaker that the IGP had been directed to take necessary actions on his petition.
The lawmaker who confirmed this during the press conference, said he had to petition the Attorney General following several threats to his life by purported agents of Government.
“I complained that they threatened my life because I asked them to account for N27.4 billion world bank fund which was meant for specific intervention projects in my constituency.
“You know that the Abia State Government under Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, sometime took me to court asking the court to stop me, a lawmaker from asking questions about projects executed in my constituency. Where is such done in a democracy? Abia Government, taking a member of the legislative arm of the same Government to court to stop him from exercising his constitutional duties?
“It has never happened anywhere in Nigeria, and thank God the judiciary said no to such executive rascality.
“I’m glad that the Attorney General of the Federation has directed the IGP to quickly investigate the matter,” he noted.
Shedding more light on the alleged presence of strange faces in Aba, the lawmaker vowed that any attempt to subvert the will of the people in the forthcoming polls would be disgraced.
“I have had complaints from my constituents, of the presence of strange faces in their neighbourhoods who were allegedly imported to cause mayhem during the governorship election.
“The National Security Adviser and security agencies should know the security implications of any violence in the upcoming elections in Abia.
“I, therefore, appeal the the Chief of Defense Staff to immediately deploy personnel to Abia so that we can have a free, fair and peaceful election. People should be allowed to vote for the candidates of their choice without any form of molestation.”
Ichita declared that anybody that attempts to foment trouble in the forthcoming election, would be stoutly resisted.
“Anybody that tries to engage in any form of violence will meet stiff resistance.”
The lawmaker said that no amount of intimidation from any quarters would stop him from speaking for his constituents or seeking explanations on how public funds or projects with bearing on his constituents were executed.
He explained that public service “is all about stewardship and accountability,” hence, public office holders should be prepared to explain to the people how they deploy public funds at their disposal.
The APGA deputy governorship candidate who said that the Supreme Court re-affirmation of his boss, Professor Greg Ibe as the authentic candidate of the party, had restored the hope of Abia voters ahead of the polls.
Ichita predicted landslide victory for APGA in the March 18 polls in Abia.
