APC Blasts Enugu Commissioner, LGA Boss over Attack on Okey Ezea

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State, Politics Tuesday, November 21st, 2017

Photo: Injured Bar. Okey Ezea

From Ignatius Okpara

ENUGU, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Enugu chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC, has condemned in strong terms the recent attack and brutalization of her gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 general election Barr. Okey Ezea, by political thugs alleged to be sponsored by the State’s Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Vitus Okechi.

Ezea, who is still receiving medical attention in the hospital, according to the APC, was kidnapped and brutalized during the controversial November 4, council area election in the state.

The party alleged that the attack on the APC chieftain, which took place in Igboeze South local government area where he hails from, led to serious degrees of injuries in parts of his body, adding that “our leader, Okey Ezea, suffered from serious injuries and highest dehumanization by over 50 political thugs sponsored by the state Commissioner for Transport, Vitus Okechi.

Speaking with newsmen Monday at the state secretariat of the party in Enugu, at the end of its expanded State Working Committee (SWC) meeting Dr. Ben Nwoye, disclosed that from the information made available to the party, the Ezea’s alleged attackers “were not faceless but well-known individuals in the State.

According to the Chairman, Ezea was able to “identify the Enugu State Commissioner for transport, Mr. Vitus Okechi and the Deputy Chairman-elect of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, Mr. Sunday Ajogwu as the masterminds of the attack.

The APC accused the two PDP stalwarts of leading over 50 armed thugs who swooped on Ezea at his country home in Igbo-Eze South Council area, after which they abducted him to an unknown destination.

“We have called this press briefing to intimate the entire Nigerians of what happened to our 2015 governorship candidate during the November 4 local governorship election in Enugu State. We are raising this alarm because before we became members of either the APC or the PDP, we were first of all human beings. So, when certain things happen, we should treat it as human beings.

“Our guber candidate, Chief Okey Ezea was attacked, kidnapped, incapacitated, detained in the kidnapers’ den before he was rescued by the police.

“Ezea knew his attackers; he identified them as the Commissioner for transport in Enugu State, Mr. Vitus Okechi and the Deputy Chairman-elect of Igbo-Eze South, Mr. Sunday Ajogwu.

“While I commend the police for their prompt response, which led to his rescue, our worry and concern right now is that several days after, the suspects are yet to be arrested.

“Ezea is not an ordinary citizen, so if this could happen to him, we wonder what the fate of other helpless citizens becomes. In Enugu State, we cannot allow this to happen; we cannot lose a leader just like that.

“We are saddened that after they led over 50 armed thugs to attack our guber candidate, no arrest has been made.

“Our lawyers are already working on a petition on his behalf because these people have to be arrested.

“We are calling for their immediate arrest, prosecution and if found guilty, they should be subjected to the highest punishment. They should be brought to book on those charges.” Nwoye stated.

When contacted, Commissioner Okechi, denied the allegation, saying he never at any time involved himself in any form of attack on Ezea during and after the council polls

He said: “I couldn’t have involved myself in such thing. I’m not even aware that he was attacked by anybody, because I was not there initially.” Okechi stated.