…As Imo PDP Kicks
Destiny Ugorji
Lawmaker representing Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Our West Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Kingsley Uju has raised an alarm following an invasion of his residence by armed men suspected to be working for the state government.
A statement by the Director, Public Affairs and Communication to Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima, Agunwa Emeka Nzeribe, made available to The Agenda Online confirmed the invasion, even as he confirmed that the lawmaker was safe.
The statement reads in part: “This is to inform the public especially the peace-loving people of Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru West Federal Constituency, Imo state that at wee hours of Friday, February 24, 2023, masked, heavily armed, unknown gunmen invaded the country home of Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima. Hon. Uju is member representing Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru West Federal Constituency. He is seeking reelection for the same position under the PDP.”
“Hon. Uju who represents his people in the green chambers has never been invited by the Nigeria Police or other security agency for any offense. As a public servant he has official address known to government and public in Abuja and Imo state. If he is wanted by security or anti graft agencies for any reason, such agency or agencies would have reached him through his office in Abuja.”
“The public may wish to know that Hon. Uju has never been invited by security agencies as claimed by Imo State government for any offence and did not evade any arrest or invitation.”
“Since Hon. Uju buried his mother in December 2022, he has been constantly trailed by unknown gunmen and his life threatened severally. He was attacked and almost abducted by gunmen at Umuapu, Ohaji in his campaig rally ground on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. It took intervention of the good people of Umuapu before Hon. Uju could be rescued from his abductors. At the wee hours of yesterday, the same armed men more in number this time, with sophisticated weapons like those going to war, invaded the country home of Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima at Umuorji, Egbema, ransacked the entire building and made away with some valuables. The gunmen broke into living room of Hon. Uju. As they could not find anything incriminating to justify their action, some dosmestic staff of Hon. Uju were beaten up and taken away to unknown destination.”
He however confirmed that the lawmaker was safe, ready for today’s election. “Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima is safe. He is presently in his country home, highly engaged with his party agents in last minute directives preceding today’s election.”
Reacting, the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, weekend, condemned what it described as assassination attempts on the federal lawmaker, calling President Muhammadu Buhari intervene.
A statement, signed by the Imo State Publicity Secretary of the party, Collins Opurozor and made available to newsmen in Owerri, regretted that “governance in Imo has been reduced to a rogue enterprise.”
The statement reads in part: “the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State condemns in the strongest terms the continued attempts by armed agents of the APC-led regime in Imo State to assassinate the member representing Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta and Oru West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima, who also is our candidate for the Constituency in today’s elections.”
“Our Party alerts Nigerians that in the last three days, our candidate has escaped by a whisker two very brutal onslaughts targeted at his life. Just as he was wrapping up his campaigns at Umuapu in Ohaji-Egbema, three days ago, these state-sanctioned terrorists stormed the arena and unleashed mayhem on our candidate, not also sparing our Party members and other innocent citizens of Imo State.”
“At about 10pm last night, the country home of our candidate at Umuorji in Egbema was invaded by truckloads of armed men who came in vehicles that included armoured personnel carriers. They took over his residence, cordoned off the entire area, and searched desperately for our candidate to murder. When they couldn’t get him assassinated, they visited unimaginable terror on everyone and everything at sight. They abducted his family members and political supporters and tortured even aged men and women to a pulp.”
“Till this moment, the attacks are yet to abet, as an armoured tank is still stationed in front of his residence and the terrorists still operating unhindered. This is happening in Imo State on Election Day!”
“Despite the hues and cries that have been sent out by our Party and our candidate since these attacks began, no security agency in the State has deemed it fit to act and save lives and property at Umuorji, Egbema. This questions the neutrality and impartiality of the security establishment in Imo State.”
“Our Party notes that the last plot to gruesomely eliminate Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima was hatched immediately after the efforts by the bestial and rampaging Imo APC regime to frame him over some very dangerous criminal acts hit the rocks.”
“Recall that on December 25th, 2022, our Party had intercepted intelligence and duly alerted Nigerians to a very cruel conspiracy by agents of this immoral administration in Imo to recruit some detained bandits in the State and pressurize them to implicate our candidate as condition for their pardon and release.”
“In the aftermath of last night’s failed assassination attempt, it is curious that the propaganda arm of the Imo State Government has been activated to peddle very shameful tale, that our candidate was arrested by EFCC, DSS and the Police. This has, therefore, nailed the APC-led regime in Imo and established their full involvement in the attack.”
“It is regrettably that governance in Imo has been reduced to a rogue enterprise. Treasury looting, bloodletting, arson, brigandage, forced disappearances and gangsterism have become key policies of State under this unelected regime.”
“Our Party calls on President Mohammadu Buhari to wade into this matter and tame the gangsterism of Senator Hope Uzodinma and his henchmen.”
“Further, Imo PDP urges the Inspector General of Police to commence investigation into the activities of the Tiger Base of the Imo State Police Command, with a view to unraveling the roles of that Base in these atrocious acts across the State.”