By Kenneth Onuoha
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi State chapter, on Thursday petitioned the new Commissioner of Police, Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies in the state to investigate threats meted on its chairman, Elder Fred Udogu, by thugs suspected to be loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party, in a six paragraph petition signed by Fred Udogu and forwarded to the State Police Command, DSS office, and other security outfits in the state, a copy of which was obtained by 365daily in Abakaliki, tasked the police and others to immediately arrest and prosecute the said thugs to avert further security breach.
He said: “I write to request you (Commissioner of Police, DSS) to take immediate investigation into these dangerous threats to my life and limbs. Deciding to belong to a political party of my choice should not be an invitation of death to me. I implore you to act fast to save my life.”
The leadership of the state’s PDP also accused the state chairman of the APC, Mr. Stanley Emegha Okoro, of leading fierce looking thugs to his residence in Abakaliki.
It alleged that the state chairman of APC, Stanley Okoro, stormed the residence of Udogu with the said fierce looking thugs, under the directives of Governor David Umahi, and demanded for the release of a Tucson vehicle that was in his possession before leaving office as a board chairman.
“Upon my assumption of office as the Caretaker Chairman of PDP in Ebonyi State, the governor sent his men, led by the person he appointed the Caretaker Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Stanley Okoro Emegha, to retrieve a vehicle that was gifted to me as one of the elders of the state. Mr. Stanley Okoro Emegha called, threatened and invaded my house with fierce looking thugs” .
The party alleged that Governor David Umahi had, after the assumption of office by Fred Udogu as its caretaker chairman, been threatening his life.
“There are evil plots against me by the governor, David Umahi. His plots started when I was made caretaker chairman of PDP in Ebonyi State,” he stated.
In a swift reaction, Emegha denied the allegations.
“This is a falsehood. I am a young guy of the new century, and as such, I can’t join issues with him (Udogu).
“I am the Commissioner for Internal Security and he should know that the vehicle was allotted to him as the Chairman of the Capital Territory Board. Now, when he is relieved from his duties, did he supposed to go with the official vehicle meant for the commission?
“I wrote a letter and called him on phone to send his driver to bring the vehicle but he said he is in Abuja, that I should give him time. The day he came back, I called him, he said he need a paper, that the governor dashed him the vehicle on friendship basis. And I told him, it wasn’t so.
“He said I should collect a paper that it is the paper that will prove. I collected the paper and sent my PA in the office to go and deliver it. There is nothing like thugs here, I’m not interested and I will not join issues with him. I have never entered his compound except the day my PA went there to deliver the paper,” he stated.