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Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi State, Emmanuel Nwobo, has warned that alleged attacks and threats against opposition members could throw the state into anarchy.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Nwobo, said the political situation in Ebonyi was degenerating into what he described as a security and political quagmire, alleging that the opposition was being deliberately pushed out of the state’s political space.
“The threats are on social media, they post about it. And the opposition party don’t actually want to join issue with them in the same mode they’re operating, because that may be lawlessness and throwing the state into anarchy.”
Nwobo said the situation was particularly worrying because. “It is not as if the ruling party don’t know, not as if the opposition party is weak, or they don’t know how to retaliate, or don’t know how to go on reprisal. But we are in a country that has been passing through a lot of security challenges.”
He alleged that a series of attacks on opposition figures and their supporters had intensified tensions in the state, including an incident in which a party chieftain’s residence was allegedly invaded and damaged. “Then seven days after, they invaded the home of one chief. That is known as Chief Nkuta. And this destroyed party properties, inside his private home.”
Nwobo further alleged that the attack involved armed men who assaulted party members, leaving some injured, including the state deputy chairman and his wife. “In Nkuta’s house, they came with guns, machetes, beating party members, the state deputy chairman was wounded, the wife was injured. A lot of things happened.”
He said petitions had been submitted to the police, Department of State Services (DSS), army and other relevant authorities following the alleged attacks, but claimed that no meaningful action had been taken. “Petitions have been made, Immediately after the attack was made, around the ninth of the month, 8th or 9th of August, nearly after the attack in Chief Nkuta’s compound. And immediately after the attack on journalists at the home of his family. The petitions were made to the appropriate quarters.”
“Police was even there when these things were going on, not as if it happened at their back, because they are police that were in his compound when he was attacked.”
When asked about the response from security agencies. “Nothing that has been done yet.”
Nwobo said the petitions were submitted shortly after the incidents. “Police was even there when these things were going on, not as if it happened at their back, because they are police that were in his compound when he was attacked.”
He described the situation as executive recklessness and called for the intervention of security authorities before the crisis escalates further. “What we needed to do is escalate it because this is like executive recklessness and they induce terrorism.”
Nwobo also alleged that individuals connected to the state government were involved in some of the attacks. “The political appointees of the governor were in the IFAS.”
He said he could provide the names of individuals he alleged were involved and maintained that security agencies already had records relating to the incidents. “I have mentioned three of them. And I can go on and produce names. The reporter before that, the police, they have the record. And that can be produced at any point in time.”
Nwobo also linked the current political tension to comments allegedly made by the governor during an event in June, when he said the governor had declared that he had what it took to “consume” opposition members. “And because this phase started by the governor’s threat, because, you know, excuse me, I said on the 15th of June, you know, when the governor pronounced that they have, during the adoption of the president, that he has all it takes to consume all the opposition members, which was condemned by the PDP.”
He said the subsequent explanation that the statement was not intended literally did not, in his view, resolve the concerns raised by the opposition. “I think they went to explain that that’s not what they meant. But I think the meaning was the consumption was all about what is happening right now.”
Nwobo urged the Federal Government, security agencies and other authorities to intervene before the situation worsens, warning that continued inaction could have wider consequences for the state. “To my wisdom, I said it’s not necessary to start reprisal without, first of all, escalating the matter and calling the attention of the federal government and the commander-in-chief and other people that are interested to know that there is a scenario looking like what happened in Boronui State, trying to escalate in Eboni State.”
He said the PDP’s decision not to engage in retaliatory violence was intended to prevent the state from descending into wider lawlessness and potentially creating conditions for a state of emergency. “And definitely may lead to a situation where they begin to say we need the state of emergency in their own state, which is not the good of anybody.”
Nwobo’s allegations come amid growing political activity ahead of future elections. “So our only goal is to escalate it and let the security agencies know that something must be done.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
