Imo state Labour Party Candidate for the off season Governorship election scheduled to hold on November 11, 2023, in the state, Chief Attan Achonu has alleged that men of the state police command last Sunday, attacked and attempted to kill him while on his way to a church service
Addressing a press conference on the matter in Owerri Sunday, Chief Achonu said, ” they prevented me from attending church service,”
The governorship candidate disclosed that he was billed to attend a church service in the Owerri North Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, ” I was at the St Peter’s Anglican church in Obibiezena community to attend its synod having received an invitation from the church but surprisingly, policemen with thugs attacked and prevented me and my convoy from gaining access into the church premises”
He said that the policemen told him that he would not be allowed access into 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 organization 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 rejected to allow him entre 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 APC. Myself and my supporters were attacked and gun shot at us. We were at St Peter’s Anglican church at Obibiezena in Owerri North to attend a church service.
“I was dully invited by the church to attend its synod but policemen stationed Amoured 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 should I 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 ranked 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 women , I had to obey her. We turned our vehicles and went home. They attacked my vehicle and shot them. If not that my cars are bullet proof, there would had 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 embolden to lead this charge. I am leading the charge 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 nor attacked his vehicles.
He said that the police only advised him not to campaign in the area that the same time since the candidate of the APC was campaigning in the area at then.
The police spokesperson said ” nobody attacked the Labour Party candidate. We only advised him not to campaign in the area the same time the APC candidate was campaigning in the area at the same time to avoid clash of interest 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. These misinformation are 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 is not deterred by the distractions of the opposition parties as it will continue to campaign in all parts of the state till the last day for campaign as approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
