HON OKWU, ANINRI HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER HOSPITALIZED WITH BROKEN HEAD FOLLOWING VIOLENCE AT ANINRI LGA PDP PARTY MEETING, EKWEREMADU CONDEMNS VIOLENCE
Enugu: Hon Engr Chinedu Okwu, Member representing Aninri State Constituency at the Enugu State House of Assembly is currently hospitalized at ESUTH Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, GRA, Enugu, following serious injuries he sustained at Saturday’s Aninri Local Government meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP at Ndeagboh, the Local Government headquarters.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu, CFR, PhD, Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District and Former Deputy Senate President condemned the violence, stating that the “violence was at variance with the peace-loving nature of Aninri”
In the statement, Ekweremadu said,
“I received with utmost sadness the news of the violence that marred the expanded stakeholders meeting of the Peoples Democratic, PDP, in Aninri LGA as well as the brutal attack on my supporters and associates at the said meeting.The attack, which left many, including the Member representing Aninri State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedu Okwu, critically hospitalised, is at variance with the peace-loving nature of Aninri.
“Therefore, I condemn in strongest terms this attempt to stoke fire and political violence in our Local Government Area. I also condemn any attempt to pollute the processes leading up to the 2023 elections in Enugu State with acts of political intolerance, intimidation, violence, and destruction of lives and property. That is not what Ndi Enugu, the Waawa people, are known for. I, therefore, call on the security agencies and the relevant authorities to swing into action to ensure that the perpetrators and masterminds of this brigandage are fished out and brought to book to serve as a deterrent to future troublemakers.
“Meanwhile, my sympathies go to Hon. Chinedu Okwu and many others, who sustained various degrees of life-threatening injuries during this act of political brigandage.However, in the midst of this clear affront and provocation, I urge our teeming supporters and the good people of Aninri and Enugu State to maintain the peace. We have been through this road before and the Good Lord, who saw us through it all, will surely see us through this and to victory, once again.
However, in his own reaction, the Aninri Local Government Area Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon Victor Okoro alleged that the violence broke out before his arrival at the venue.
“The violence broke out before my arrival at the venue when my Deputy, Hon Anthony Uche, popularly known as Babadudu tried to preside over the meeting and was resisted by some youths”.
