ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The people of Isuokoma community in Ebonyi State, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies in the country to speedily come to the rescue of Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the State.
According to them, Odii’s life is allegedly being threatened by agents of Ebonyi State government.
The leaders of Isuokoma community, Odii, and their people alleged that they have continued to be threatened by Governor David Umahi and his agents on account of their son’s political ambition.
The community made the allegation in the petition jointly signed by Mr. John Nnanna Njoku, President-General of Isuokoma, Mr. Sunday Igne, the Youth President of Isuokoma, Chief Tony Anoke, Diaspora Leader of Isuokoma, Chief Augustine Chigbo Okoro, Coordinator of Isuokoma West Africa and Barr. Obasi Livinus Onu, Abakaliki Branch Chairman of Isuokoma.
They called on President Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services, DSS, Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Director of DSS and other security agencies to speedily come to their rescue “in order to save High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii and the entire people of Isuokoma from the destructive tendencies of Governor David Nweze Umahi.”
In the petition titled “Gov. Umahi’s persistent threats to Chief Ifeanyi Odii”, the Isuokoma community said: “We, the people of Isuokoma, view with much concern, trepidation and agony the worrisome persistent unveiled verbal attacks and threats to the life of our son, High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, by the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi.
“Governor Umahi has (they alleged) in various forms and forums, glaringly demonstrated crass hatred and animosity against Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, following his aspiration and subsequent nomination as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial standard bearer in the 2023 governorship election in Ebonyi State.
“We had ignored and taken with a pinch of salt the unprovoked dehumanising jibes aimed at Dr. Odii by Engr. Umahi. We continually dismissed Governor Umahi’s aspersions on the personality of Chief Odii as the ranting and whining of an uncomfortable player in a tough contest.
“There is no doubt that the recent outburst of Governor Umahi against security chiefs and agencies in Ebonyi State, in which he threatened to block and attack the convoys of opposition candidates in the State, was clearly targeted at our son, High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.
“We are aware that Engr. Umahi has, in his characteristic uncivil manner, commanded the security agencies in the State to withdraw the security personnel attached to opposition candidates.
“We see this as the Governor’s desperate attempt to clear his way to have an easy ride to kill our son, High Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii. This latest show of acrimony jolted us to consciousness to give the Governor’s machination and treachery the deserved serious attention, consideration and publicity.
“It is no longer news that Governor Dave Umahi formed the Ebubeagu militia which he has utilised as a political tool to cow opposition to submission in order to perpetuate his unpopular political influence in Ebonyi State.
“From the build-up to Governor Umahi’s first tenure in office as Governor till now, murder is a recurrent decimal in Ebonyi State. Many people were gruesomely murdered in 2022 in Isuokoma, including the Palace Secretary, Chief Odii Nwachima; the President-General of Isuokoma Town Uninion, Dr. Ifeanyi Anthony Orji; Alhaji Iyioji, an Islamic cleric from Isuokoma; Chief Augustine Nwadibia, the owner of Galaxy Hotel at Nkwoagu Isu market; among others.
“The sobering but revealing reality is that these murders and cases of kidnapping happened in Isuokoma when it became clear that our son, High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii was waxing strong enough to clinch the governorship ticket of the PDP.”
Continuing, the Isuokoma leaders said: “It is also worrisome that the Engr. Umahi-led government of Ebonyi State has not made any effort to investigate the murders and cases of Kidnapping in Isuokoma in 2022, especially the murder of Dr. Ifeanyi Anthony Orji, who was the President-General of Isuokoma Town Union, and HRH Ambrose Ogbu, the king of Isu Community. This is disturbing.
“We are aware that when three persons were recently murdered at Ekoli Edda, Governor Umahi quickly instituted a commission of inquiry to investigate the murders.
“The Governor also mobilised the security agencies that arrested the alleged masterminds of the Ekoli Edda murders, including the Ebonyi State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a House of Representatives candidate of the Governor’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Why is the case of Isuokoma different?
“It was our son, High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, that led the mobilization of support for Engr. Dave Umahi’s governorship bid across the length and breadth of Ebonyi State. Why can’t Governor Umahi reciprocate our kindness to him?”
Pointing out that “Governor Umahi’s anti Isu posturing is seriously threatening the good neighbourliness between Isu and Uburu,” the Isuokoma leaders, however, called on the Uburu community to urgently call their son, Engr. Dave Umahi, to order.
“Governor Dave Umahi’s attacks on High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii smacks of political desperation, hypocrisy and jealousy.
“We have never negotiated and do not intend to negotiate with Governor Umahi to support Chief Odii’s governorship ambition. Engr. Umahi is free to constitutionally pursue his political ambition and support any candidate of his choice within the ambit of the law.
“He should, therefore, allow Dr. Odii to legitimately pursue his political ambition. Enough of this hatred! We can no longer condone it. We cannot keep quiet to allow Governor Umahi to destroy our illustrious son, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, who is the leading candidate in the 2023 governorship race in Ebonyi State.
“This is a desperate attempt to consign Isuokoma to the political waste bin,” the community leaders stated in the strongly-worded petition to President Buhari and various security agencies in the country.