The governorship candidate of the Labour Party for the November 11 governorship election in Imo state, Attan Achonu, on Sunday, accused the police of attacking him and his convoy while on his way to church in the Owerri North Local Government Area of the state.
Briefing journalists in Owerri, on Sunday afternoon, Achonu said he was at Peter’s Anglican Church in Obibiezena community to attend its synod, having received an invitation from the church but surprisingly, policemen with thugs allegedly attacked him and prevented him and his convoy from gaining access to the church premises.
He said that the policemen told him that he would not be allowed access to the church premises because the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, who is the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, was at the church service.
Achonu said that he confronted the policemen and questioned why he should be stopped from worshipping God in his state, but the policemen together with some thugs attacked his convoy and shot at his vehicles.
He showed journalists as bullets riddled his vehicles, saying that the act was a deliberate plan to harm him and discourage him and his campaign organisation from working towards his victory on November 11.
He said that the commander of the Tiger base unit of the state police command led the charge against him, saying that the officer refused to allow him to enter the church even when the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Berde, spoke to him on the phone.
Achonu said, “Today, I was attacked by policemen together with thugs working for the APC. Myself and my supporters were attacked and gunshots were fired at us. We were at St. Peter’s Anglican Church at Obibiezena in Owerri North to attend a church service.
“I was duly invited by the church to attend its synod but policemen stationed Armored Personnel Carriers and thugs. They said I was not going to be allowed to enter the church, that the governor was worshipping there.
“I confronted them and asked them why I should be stopped from worshipping God in my own state simply because the governor is there. I called the Director of the DSS who called the state Commissioner of Police who spoke to one officer Ola, who literally disobeyed the Commissioner of Police. A lower-ranking officer disobeying a Commissioner of Police! I have not seen this one before.
“I confronted them but my wife held me and I was with a woman, I had to obey her. We turned our vehicles and went home. They attacked my vehicle and shot at them. If not that my cars were bulletproof, there would have been casualties.
“I want to put the President of Nigeria and all Nigerians on notice about what Hope Uzodimma is using the police and thugs to do in Imo State. They want to annihilate us but I am more emboldened to lead this change. I am leading the change to liberate my people.
“Imo people should come out and vote Labour Party and defend their votes so that we will take back our state. I am happy that everybody has embarrassed Labour Party in Imo State and we are working towards having the Imo State of our dreams.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Police in Imo State, Henry Okoye, said that the police didn’t attack Achonu or his vehicles.
The police spokesperson said “Nobody attacked the Labour Party candidate. We only advised him not to campaign in the area at the same time the APC candidate was campaigning in the area to avoid a clash of interests and possible breakdown of law and order in the state.
“The Labour Party candidate didn’t inform us about his campaign in the area but the APC candidate informed us and we were there to provide security. The Commissioner of Police advises political players in the state to stop misinforming the public. This misinformation is capable of escalating things which may lead to breakdown of law and order in Imo state.”
The spokesperson for the APC in the state, Cajetan Duke, said that the LP candidate was misleading the public because he had seen that the APC would sweep the poll on November 11.
He said that the APC was not deterred by the distractions of the opposition parties as it would continue to campaign in all parts of the state till the last day of the campaign as approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
