The All Progressives Congress has alleged that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Enugu State was behind the attacks that took place at its rally held at Opi, Nsukka Local Government Area on Saturday.
THE WHISTLER reports that the occasion was the official visit of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, to welcome some new entrants into APC. The event was a state programme of the APC, with the state Chairman of the party, Barr Ugochukwu Agballa, in attendance.
Uche Nnaji, who contested the state governorship election in 2023, is reportedly interested in contesting the seat in 2027. He had accused the ruling PDP of over taxation, deception and increasing the poverty of the natives of the state.
When contacted, a stalwart of APC and former Commissioner of Housing in the state, Barr Peter Okonkwo, who was present at the rally, said his party had addressed the matter.
An eyewitness, who refused to be mentioned, stated that the party faithful had gathered at St Charles, Opi, around 11am, and were expectantly waiting for the arrival of the minister, Hon Uche Nnaji, and the state chairman, Barr Ugo Agballa, when the alleged thugs arrived.
He said, “We were gathered already despite the rains. We heard the sirens of some personalities. It turned out to be Gov Peter Mbah that was passing. Some APC supporters were displaying their brooms as the governor’s entourage was passing. They passed peacefully. Then we continued waiting for the minister.
“Not quite long, some men dressed in the uniform of the National Forest Guards, Neighbourhood Watch and some on mufti stormed the venue. They began to destroy our canopies, chairs and the sound systems. APC supporters did not attack them. Some were running because there were gunshots.”
He said when the alleged thugs left, the supporters were told to move to the party’s zonal office located along Enugu Road, Nsukka, for safety reasons.
Quoting him, “We returned to our party office. We waited until the minister arrived with his entourage. He also came with security. We were then told to return to the venue where we had left at Opi. The event went well. There were no attacks afterwards.”
A public affairs analyst and APC loyalist, Chukwunonye Okereke, accused Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch of becoming tools in the hands of politicians.
He said, “The Nsukka disruption is not an isolated case. In the past 18 months, opposition meetings in parts of Enugu have either been denied venues, shadowed by security operatives, or outright scattered under the guise of maintaining public order. Local government chairmen are often accused of coordinating such actions at the grass-roots level.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the state Governor on New Media, Dr Reuben Onyishi, told THE WHISTLER on Sunday that it was a fight within the hierarchy of the APC.
According to him, “The fact is that it is not true. The government did not send anybody. The people were pre-occupied with the coming of the state governor to Nsukka. They had no time to go and do anything with APC. It is within themselves. It is an internal crisis. They are saying someone mobilised and so on. It is not true. It was internal and they started destroying their things. PDP had no time for such. The residents were concerned with the governor’s visit.”
He advised the public to disregard what was being circulated.
According to him, “PDP doesn’t have time for such. There was no point for anybody to contemplate doing such a thing at Opi. We were focused on what brought the governor to Nsukka. He came for many things. We are not interested in what APC was doing at Opi. You can attest to this by the massive reception that welcomed the governor. We don’t have time for that. If they have issues, they should handle such by themselves, and stop casting blame.”
Our correspondent reports that Gov Mbah was in Nsukka to commission some projects, perform a foundation laying ceremony of the Nsukka International Market, and also held a townhall meeting with some stakeholders.
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