OPEN LETTER TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, IGP Abubakar Mohammed Adamu
Dear Sir,
INTIMIDATION, INTOLERANCE AND VIOLENCE IN ABIA STATE.
We of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Abia state are constrained to bring to your esteemed attention some very dangerous developments in Abia State which pose serious threat to security of lives and property in the state, and which if not tamed could lead to uncontrollable breakdown of law and order, as well as possible loss of innocent lives.
Specifically, in the last few days, an audio recording of a phone conversation involving the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia state on General Duties, and a very close ally of the governor, Mr. Uchenna Erondu Junior, and a citizen of the state, Mr. Ogochukwu Nwaokeoma has been trending.
In the said conversation, Mr. Erondu called Mr. Nwaokeoma on phone and warned him not to henceforth, write anything against the Abia State government including salary arrears, pension arrears and other failings of the administration. Mr. Erondu went further to threaten the young man that should he go against his advice, he should be prepared to end up like Mr. Erondu’s biological elder brother, Mr. Azubuike Erondu, popularly called MOPOL who had been in police detention for weeks at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. He reminded him that his family lacks the financial capacity to bring him out in the event of his incarceration in Abuja.
He went further to cite a case of one Augustine another government critic who was ruthlessly dealt with and silenced permanently. He challenged Mr. Nwaokeoma to go and make enquiries about the said Augustine. Following the threat, Mr. Nwaokeoma is reported to have gone into hiding and is unable to write his examinations as an ND2 Student of the Abia State Polytechnic Aba fearing for his life which is now in danger.
Another case of violence coming out of Abia was an attack on an innocent woman, by name Mrs. Jane Ogbauta who recently led hundreds of women on a peaceful protest in Aba during which they made legitimate demands from government which included construction of roads, clearing the town of heaps of refuse, payment of salaries and pensions, job creation, as well as the need to fight insecurity. Agents of Abia state government are believed to be behind the violent attack on the woman and some of her members since the government had issued statements accusing members of the opposition of sponsoring the protest, while condemning the woman and her members for the protest. There have also been reports of consistent threat to the life of the said woman over the peaceful protest.
Sir, there have been other numerous acts of violence and threat to lives of many innocent citizens from government quarters. Sadly, many are not reported for fear of further violent attacks. Of course if Mr. Nwaokeoma hadn’t recorded the phone conversation with Mr. Uchenna Erondu Junior, and was not bold enough to make it public, many wouldn’t have known, or would have doubted his claim if told as a story without empirical evidence.
As could be heard in the trending audio, and as it is public knowledge, most of those who had been threatened, attacked, or locked up have not committed any offence, except for their demand for good governance and security of lives and property in the state.
History has proved that the easiest route to anarchy, especially in a democracy is when a non performing government assumes the extreme notoriety of violently shutting up the citizens from making legitimate democratic demands. We therefore, on behalf of millions of Abia citizens who are presently in a state of panic and agitation, sincerely appeal that you use your good offices to intervene and ensure that the force is not used for vendetta against innocent citizens.
May we also request that you specifically cause an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest and continuous detention of Mr. Azubuike Erondu (MOPOL) who had already raised an alarm over an alleged plot to poison him in detention given the disclosure from the recording that the government has a hand in his travails.
Kindly also intervene and ensure that Mr. Ogochukwu Nwaokeoma who was directly threatened by the said Uchenna Erondu , and Mrs. Jane Ogbauta who was attacked and presently being threatened are shielded from any harm.
Since Nigeria is already grappling with too many security challenges, it cannot afford to allow the violent disposition of some selfish persons in Abia to add to the national security burden. Let us state for the records that as a political party and individuals we have a lot of confidence in the Nigerian Police Force and trust that you will do all that is necessary to rid Abia state of impunity, more so when the good name of the force is wittingly or unwittingly being dragged into it.
Thanks for your anticipated kind response, and do accept the assurances of our greatest esteem.
Signed
Hon. Nkem Okoro (JP)
State Chairman, APGA.
Dr. Onyebuchi Onyegbule
State Secretary, APGA
