By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Divine Mandate Campaign Council of All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the alleged murder of the ward Councillor for Achara in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state, Hon.Ogbonnaya Ugwu by unknown gunmen.

The Director, Information, Divine Mandate Campaign Council, Mr. Uchenna Orji, conveyed the feelings of the Council during a press conference held at the Campaign Council Office, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital on Monday.

Orji while also condemning another attack on the Commander of Neighborhood Watch in the same Council by unknown gunmen, called on Security Agencies to unearth the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“Just yesterday, 12th March, 2023, an APC member and Councilor of Achara Ward 2 in Okposi, Ohaozara Local Government Area, Hon. Ogbonnaya Ugwu (SPACO) was gruesomely murdered and set ablaze in his car.

“There was also an attack on the Commander of Neighborhood Watch, Mr. Dickson Solomon on same Saturday last week wherein rains of bullets were thrown at him and God rescued him as he tells his ordeals.

“We also heard of the ugly incident that happened a night before the Presidential Election at same Court Area wherein another known Supporter of APC was gunned down. One would be left to conclude that the targets are APC Supporters and unsuspecting members of the public.

“We strongly call on Security Agencies to please rise to their duties and work on the available information and bring to justice all the persons who are directly or indirectly involved in this needless attack to our people no matter how highly placed they are or the political party of their affiliation. “

Chief Orji raised alarm on the plans by opposition elements to stoke violence using external mercenaries during the forthcoming Governorship and State Assembly elections and called on Security Agencies to be alive to their responsibilities.

“On another development, the Directorate of Information, Divine Mandate Campaign Council is aware of the plans of the opposition Political Parties to use external mercenary to launch attacks on the integrity of our Divine Mandate administration and the personality of the APC Candidates ahead of the Governorship/State House of Assembly Elections.

“We are aware of the dirty deal between a Governorship Candidate of an opposition political party and a group called Civil Society Committee for Anti-Fraud Election Security whose team leader came all the way from Delta State and was quartered at Anson Suite Limited for many weeks.

“These political jobbers headed by one Iyere Kennedy did a press conference in Enugu State recently raining all forms of abuses and leveling all forms of unfounded accusations against our Party, the APC and the Divine Mandate administration of our dear Governor and the security architecture in the State. We shall not join issues with them.

“The Director who also doubles as the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation in the state, applauded some notable Stakeholders of the State who have thrown their weight of support behind the Candidature of Right Honourable Francis Nwifuru going into the March 18 poll.

“We are glad to note the enthusiasm of Stakeholders of opposition political parties in the State who have seen reasons to support the candidature of Rt. Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.

Honestly, since after the first election, it has been either massive political alignment in favour of APC or mass defection to APC or open support for the Governorship Candidate of APC by the bigwigs of opposition political parties including Labour Party, PDP, APGA, etc.

“History will be kind to prominent leaders of opposition political parties in the state including Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim GCON, Sen. Sylvanus Nguji Ngele, Sen. Obinna Ogba, Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, Sir Arch Edward Nkwegu, Hon Peter Ede, Engr. Livinus Makwe, Hon. Anayo Edwin Nwonu, Chief Boniface Ofoke, Hon Sylvester Ogbaga and many others too numerous to mention, for upholding the Divine Mandate zoning arrangement for the Governorship seat, which is equitably the turn of Ebonyi North, Izzi in particular.

“We view their deep thoughts to collapse their structure in PDP, Labour Party, APGA, etc in favour of APC’s Governorship candidate, Rt. Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as not only God’s design for a more united and progressive State, but also an interesting phenomenon that will shape the political landscape in the state.”

Orji advised Ebonyians to go and exercise their franchise at the poll as all arrangements have been concluded to ensure adequate security across the state.

“We urge the good people of Ebonyi State not to me moved by the antics of the opposition elements, but to stand focused in our decision to vote the party that has made Ebonyi State a reference point in good governance.”