The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural In the Diaspora (AEISCID) said it has observed with sincere misgivings the recent actions of the Ebonyi State Police Command declaring the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate, Prof Benard Odoh, wanted over the murder of his traditional ruler, Ezeogo Christopher Igboke Ewa.
The group warned the police command against joining what it termed dangerous politics by some stakeholders in the state.
Penultimate Monday, the Umuezeokoha monarch who doubled as the Chairman of the Ezza traditional rulers’ council was gruesomely murdered. Since then there have been accusations against some political figures by the state government.
But in a statement released to newsmen Wednesday by the President worldwide of the accountability group, Amb Pascal Oluchchukwu, urged the Commissioner of Police “to within 24 hours withdraw the statement credited to him that Police declared Odoh wanted, withdraw the officers on his trail to arrest him and then restore the policemen attached to him that has been reportedly withdrawn on the orders of the Police even when some of them were not deployed from the State Command.”
According to Oluchchukwu, Ebonyi people will hold the Police command accountable if any harm befalls Odoh or any candidate for that matter.
The statement said: “As the theatrics of what we strongly believe is a well-plotted political script by the APC administration in Ebonyi continue to play out even in about 72 hours to Saturday’s Governorship election.”
While declaring that it is concerned about good, credible and accountable governance in Ebonyi state, the group condemned the actions of both the Police and the Ebonyi State government to politicise the death of the monarch.
“We are also aware of statements credited to Umahi wherein in a meeting with stakeholders of Ezza Ezekuna at the Ebonyi Airport project site he disclosed that he will flood security agencies around Ezza areas on Friday ahead of Saturday’s election.
“For us, this is an attempt to intimidate, harass and oppress voters, particularly of Ezza extraction and it all adds to the fears that the Umahi government may have a hand in the death of the monarch just to create the kind of artificial tension it is intending to create in Ezza land and have its way in voter oppression and suppression.
“We call on the Police, DSS, Military and indeed, every security agent that will be on election duties not to allow themselves to be used by the state government to destabilize, arrest or oppress voters in Ebonyi come this Saturday.
“This group, therefore, encourages the great people of Ezza Ezekuna and indeed, all Ebonyi voters not to be intimidated, harassed or suppressed during the polls. They should go ahead and exercise their franchise and ensure they defend and protect their votes from the evil riggers that manipulated the process in the last election.
“We finally urge the CP to within 24 hours withdraw the statement credited to him that declared Odoh wanted, withdraw the officers on his trail to arrest him and then restore the policemen attached to him that have been reportedly withdrawn on the orders of the Police even when some of them were not deployed from the state Command.
“We pray that a candidate who is truly the choice of the Ebonyi electorates emerges at the poll on Saturday and not any candidate who is hoping to be imposed through a compromised system.”
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