Govt is hunting opponents – Ugbah || ‘Unongo is ready for questioning’ || Count us out of invitation – Suswam’s aide || The simmering political crisis in Benue State took another dimension yesterday, as the Nigeria Police Force summoned the Action Congress of Nigeria governorship candidate in the April 26 poll in the state, Prof. Steve Ugbah, Senator George Akume and a former minister of steel, Paul Unongo.
The police invitation of Akume is coming on the heels of the arrest yesterday morning of two ACN chieftains, former chairman of Gboko local government area Chief Simon Abua Yaji and Mr. Adaa Maagbe by policemen.
The police had summoned Unongo, Akume and Ugba vide a letter dated May 18, 2011, with reference N0. CB: 3000/IGP. SEC/MU/TC/ABJ/VOL 6 and asked them to report to the force headquarters on Monday.
Only last week, Maagbe escaped assassination when Ugbah’s convoy was attacked at Lafia, enroute to Makurdi for the burial of Mrs. Mimidoo Kastina-Alu, the wife of the chief justice of Nigeria. Mr. Charles Ayede, an adviser to the Ugbah campaign team, lost his life in the attack.
Although none of the affected politicians admitted he was formally invited by the police, as at the time of filing this report, Ugbah and Akume were billed to see Inspector-General of Police Mr. Hafiz Ringim at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Monday.
Yesterday, Ugbah decried the spate of arrests and detention of ACN members and leaders in the state, warning that any attempt by Governor Gabriel Suswam to intimidate and muscle political opponents would be resisted.
Ugbah, who was reacting to the arrest of Adaa and Maagbe as well as the attempt to clamp him into detention, said it was wrong to use state security apparatus to intimidate political opponents, especially Maagbe who almost lost his life to the assassin’s bullet.
Ugbah also wondered why as a victim of a failed assassination attempt, the security forces were further harassing him instead of apprehending those who almost killed him or their sponsors.
He said: “It is worrisome that rather than fish out the culprits of the assassination attempt, security agencies have instead picked up Maagbe. We have cause to believe that the security agencies are acting on the orders of Governor Suswam which is most unfortunate.”
Ugbah also warned that it was dangerous to rob the ACN of victory and thereafter commence the hunting of its members. He advised security agencies “not to allow themselves to be used as stooges by an unpopular regime that is bent on oppressing the people”.
A source close to Unongo also confided in our correspondent that the PDP chieftain was ready for any invitation by the security agencies over the Benue matter, He said, “ I can tell you that Unongo has been hearing about the rumurs that he is being wanted in Abuja. He is a statesman who wants peace for the state.
“He is ready for the security agencies or the State Security Service and he is not running away. He has called for an end to the crisis in the state and he is presently in his village at Jato Aka in Kwande local government area of the state”.
But Governor Gabriel Suswam has denied any involvement in the invitation of Unongo, Akume and Ugbah by the police, saying that the state government did not harass Ugbah and other chieftains of the opposition. Speaking through his special adviser on media and public affairs, Dr. Cletus Akwaya, Suswam said that it was regrettable that the ACN had politicised the unfortunate killing of Ayede by unknown gunmen.
Akwaya said, “It is an insult on the police for anybody to insinuate that the IG is taking orders from a state governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the defeated candidate Prof. Ugbah, is not being harassed in any way by the state government. Count Governor Suswam and the state government out of the invitation of the ACN chieftains by the police.
“We also wish to draw the attention of Benue stakeholders to the fact that Prof. Ugbah and the ACN have been engaged in a lot of propaganda against Governor Suswam.
The ACN has poloticised the unfortunate killing of Ayede Charles by unknown gunmen. We wish to reiterate that Ugbah, from all accounts of eyewitnesses, was not attacked in the incident, He was not at the scene of the incident but has continued to politicize the unfortunate incident to paint Governor Suswam black.
“We also wish to draw the attention of the public to the fact the Ugbah has threatened violence in the state in all his media briefings.
“Ugbah and the ACN have lost election. They should accept defeat or wait for the outcome of their petition before the Election Petitions Tribunal.
“The resort to blackmail and mischief is unacceptable and the ACN must be held responsible for the breakdown of law and order in the state on account of the numerous threats he has been dishing out.”
When LEADERSHIP SUNDAY made calls over the matter, the force PPRO, Mr. Olusola Emmanuel Amore, his numbers were not available. But his deputy, Mr. Yemi Ajayi, claimed not to be aware of such letter or invitation.
On emerging from the Force Headquarters yesterday after meeting with the IG, Ugbah also told journalists that he was formally given a letter inviting him to the Police Headquarters on Monday.
The letter dated May 18, 2011, and signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (IGP Monitoring Unit), Rabiu Ladodo, reads in part “This office is investigating a case of alleged breach of the peace and security in Benue State and the death of late Charles Ayede reported to the IG.
“In view of the foregoing, you are requested to have an interview with the Inspector-General of Police through the under-signed on 23rd May, 2011 at 1000hrs, to shed more light on the allegation.”
When asked about police summons on Unongo and Akume, Ugbah said: “I do not know for sure, but it is possible all of us are expected to report on Monday.”
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