Anambra Residents Petition Jonathan, IGP over Ubah, Offor
Following the controversy that trailed the April 11thAnambraState Assembly election, the people of the state have petitioned the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abbah, over activities of two oil moguls in the state.
Also copied were the President-elect, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and the Commissioner of police in the state.
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.AtthiruJega, has been called upon to address the matter before the supplementary election on Saturday, 18th April in the state.
The petition, written by concerned citizens of the state, alleged that the two oil moguls, Chief Emeka Offor and Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, had become a menace during elections in the state.
The two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains were said to have been the brain behind the violence in Ekwusigo and Ihiala respectively, during the presidential, National and State Assembly elections in the state recently.
According to the petition made available to reporters on Tuesday, in Awka, they perpetrated their acts brazenly in the presence and assistance of security personnel.
The petition reads in parts, “Sir, what we have just recounted may sound incredible but that is exactly how it happened. The most shocking aspect of his commando – like operation is that these men performed these criminal acts under the protection of armed police, naval and army officers.
“BothEmekaOffor and IfeanyiUbah, have a track record of such thuggish and lawless conduct at election periods.Offor had previously done such act in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo L.G.A. with impunity in the service of PDP in 1998/1999 and 2007.
“Ubah, in the present election cycle, had done similar acts at Ihiala, Nnewi North and Nnewi South INEC offices with impunity and in the act, distorted the results of earlier elections with the death of a policeman in Ihiala.
“Astonishingly, these two men are so proud of their actions and as we write,they are boasting that they will do even worse things or whatever it takes to ensure that their wish prevails on the day to which election in Ekwusigo had been rescheduled.
“Their well-known modus operandi is usually to offer INEC officials and senior law enforcement officer’s heavy sums of money (US Dollars) and do asked them to intimidate and keep the people and candidates of otherpolitical parties from protesting the illegalities.
“These men openly boasted that even you, the IGP and most of your officers take orders from them.Sir Offor in particular, openly boasted that it was his influence and money that sealed your appointment as Inspector General of Police and that no police officer he does not endorse can remain or be posted to serve in any capacity in Igbo land.
“To avert a potential mayhem of calamitous level, these two men or any other persons interested in repeating such criminal acts of April 11, must be appropriately nipped in the bud before the exercise of April 18.”
