By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, of unleashing terror on innocent Nigerians, particularly opposition PDP members and other dissenting voices in Ebonyi State.
The party has, consequently, urged President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Security Adviser and the Police High Command to immediately step into the situation “which is a serious threat to the security of Ebonyi State in particular and that of the nation in general”.
The party made the accusation in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba in Abuja.
The PDP stated that it is alarmed by reports that Governor Umahi is using a heavily armed killer squad, currently disguising under the “Ebube Agu” security outfit, as a political weapon to arrest, attack and inflict grievous bodily harm on Nigerians and particularly PDP members in Ebonyi State.
According to the party, “Since Governor Umahi made the error in his devastating adventure of moving from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he is unrecognized and frustrated, he has reportedly resorted to terrorizing innocent Nigerians, especially PDP members in a desperate bid to create fear, panic and siege mentality on citizens of Ebonyi State as a prelude to rigging the 2023 general elections.
“The PDP invites Nigerians to note how Governor Umahi instigated the illegal arrest of the Ebonyi State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Nwoba Chika Nwoba and kept him in detention without justification on the strength of a draconian law that did not pass through the established due process of lawmaking.
“Just recently, a prominent member of the PDP and former member the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Linus Abaa Okorie, was declared wanted by Governor Umahi without any accusation or charges levelled against him.
“Our Party vehemently rejects such violation of Fundamental Human Rights going on in Ebonyi State and calls on Nigerians to hold Governor Umahi and the APC responsible for acts of violence and terrorism in Ebony State.
“The PDP also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of our State Publicity Secretary in Ebonyi State as well as other innocent Nigerians reportedly detained in various facilities in the State.
“As a Party, we urge President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Security Adviser and the Police High Command to immediately step into the situation which is a serious threat to the security of Ebonyi State in particular and that of the nation in general.
“This is because any breakdown of law and order in Ebonyi State will have a ripple effect on the fragile security situation in the entire South East region of the country and beyond”, it said.
The party declared that Governor Umahi must be called to order, saying, “he must learn to live with the consequences of his ill-advised decision”.
The Governor, the PDP said, committed a political suicide by joining a party of “political bandits” and “warlords” where he has no future and should not vent his frustration on other Nigerians.
“In any case, the PDP wants Governor Umahi and the APC to know that no amount of intimidations, harassments, threats and attacks will bend the will of the people in their resolve to vote out the APC in 2023”, the party said.
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