The All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter in Anambra State has accused the state government of complicity in the assassination of deposed monarch Chief Alex Edizieuno.
Alex Edozieuno, 62, and his driver, Chukwuemeka, were killed by suspected gunmen along the Ezu Bridge in Otuocha on Friday.
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He was one of 13 monarchs suspended last year for paying a visit to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd. ), in Abuja with oil magnate Prince Arthur Eze.
He was dethroned later by the state government, along with three others.
In a joint press conference on Sunday, the state chairman of the APC and the Director-General of the Andy Uba Campaign Organization, Basil Ejidike and Paul Chukwuma, respectively, described the monarch’s death as a “political killing.”
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“We awoke to the devastating news of the assassination of Chief Alex Edozieuno, who was the traditional ruler of one of the communities in Aguleri until his death, before he was dethroned by the state government sometime last year,” they said.
“We are deeply concerned about this death because we believe it was a politically motivated killing, and we wonder how any citizen of this country, no matter how high-ranking, could commit such an act.
“We have received death threats and threats to our families from high-ranking APGA officials, including a close female relative of the governor and a member of the House of Representatives.
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“We are urging law enforcement agencies – the police, the DSS – to act quickly and conduct a thorough investigation, as threats have now resulted in deaths.”
C-Don Adinuba, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, responded by describing the APC as a group of politicians who are allergic to peace.
“Rather than politicizing the ex-death, the monarch’s the APC should provide whatever information it has about the crime to the Nigeria Police Force,” Adinuba added. After all, the APC is the Federal Government party that controls both the police force and the Department of State Security.”
Ngige demands justice.
Meanwhile, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, has condemned the killing of Edozieuno and his driver.
Senator Chris Ngige Media Office issued a statement in Abuja on Sunday urging security agencies to track down and prosecute those responsible for the murder.
However, Ngige stated in his statement, “Long ago, when we were in the PDP, he was a field man and a political forte of sorts.”
“I recall our last conversation last year, when he called to express his dissatisfaction with his deposition as the traditional ruler of his community. I advised him to accept it as a divine intervention and move on.
“It is quite troubling that Alex was gruesomely murdered by yet-to-be-identified individuals…
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I urge law enforcement to track down his assassins and bring them to justice.”
APGA deputy governorship candidate refutes withdrawal rumors
Prof Lilian Oroegbu, the running mate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance governorship candidate in the upcoming Anambra State governorship election, has denied reports that she has withdrawn from the race.
The names of Chukwuma Umeoji and Oroegbu as APGA governorship and deputy governorship candidates had been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
This has resulted in a protracted legal battle that is still ongoing in various Courts.
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On Tuesday, she debunked the rumors in a statement titled “APGA Deputy Governorship Candidate Oroegbu pledges unwavering support to APGA candidate, says I am committed to my joint ticket with Umeoji” issued in Abuja.
Oroegbu stated, “I trust the process that led INEC to initially publish my name and believe my name will be published when the Court of Appeal upholds the Owerri High Court judgment that declared Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji as the party’s validly nominated candidate.”
