The spates of political violence sweeping through Nigeria reached Onitsha yesterday as hoodlums reportedly attacked former Governor Chris Ngige and stopped him from campaigning in Onitsha. The incident brought Onitsha, the business hub of Eastern Nigeria, to a virtual halt.
The spates of political violence sweeping through Nigeria reached Onitsha yesterday as hoodlums reportedly attacked former Governor Chris Ngige and stopped him from campaigning in Onitsha. The incident brought Onitsha, the business hub of Eastern Nigeria, to a virtual halt.
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Trouble started at about 9. 00 AM when the convoy of vehicles carrying Dr. Chris Ngige and Mrs. Jessie Balonwu, senatorial candidates of Action Congress of Nigeria for Anambra Central and North respectively, made their way to Onitsha Main Market where Dr. Ngige was scheduled to attend a prayer service.
According to those in Dr. Ngige’s camp, the two candidates where attacked by men of the Anambra State Market Task Force (popularly called Npiawa azu) working in together with hundreds of thugs bearing guns and axes. The hoodlums blocked the main road to the market with three vehicles of the Anambra State Environmental Agency (ANSEPA). They blocked all movements into the market and harassed and beat up anyone wearing the outfit of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Several ACN party supporters were reportedly injured and taken to the hospital. Amongst those injured was Mr. Gozie Agbakoba, a House of Representative candidate for ACN. Six vehicles belonging of ACN were also damaged.
Bigger crisis was averted when Dr. Ngige persuaded the traders, who formed a protective shield around his vehicle, not to engage the hoodlums. When police arrived, led by Mr. Parry Osita, an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Onitsha, he convinced Dr. Ngige to reschedule his visit to the market for another day.
“One live lost here is worth more that 1000 of those lives you see down there,” he declared, pointing at the hoodlums stationed about 100 metres from the rostrum. He pleaded that he be allowed to go to other places in his campaign schedule for yesterday promising that ‘the machinations of the state government led by APGA and piloted by Peter Obi cannot stop Anambra voters from deciding freely.”
In her speech to the crowd, Mrs. Balonwu said that, “Peter Obi and his fellow Agulu woman, Joy Emodi have failed today, because they thought that’s by blocking the road we will not campaign, yet the whole market have left their businesses and assembled here to listen to us.”
However, APGA party officials had a different take on the incident. In a press release sent by the office of Peter Obi, the governor of Anambra State, APGA accused Dr. Chris Ngige of attempting to force his way into the market when traders did not wish to have him as their guest.
They accused Ngige’s security men of shooting in the air when the traders were closing in on Ngige. APGA alleged that one trader was taken to the hospital.
According to APGA source, the Chairman of Anambra Market Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATA), Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwor confirmed the development. He told APGA officials that he was in his office in the morning and received a call from the Chairman of Onitsha Main Market, Chief Nnedu Unobuagha, who told him that there was problem in the market. “When I got there, it was obvious that traders did not want to see or receive Dr. Chris Ngige. My advice was that if you visit somebody and the household were in 100 percent agreement that they will not see you, the wise thing to do is to beat a retreat and go and do your home work very well.” He said “If not for the wisdom of traders, the crisis would have gone beyond control”, he stated.
A similar incident occurred yesterday in Eke Awka where Senator Annie Okonkwo, Anambra Central senatorial candidate for Accord Party, had gone to campaign. Just like in Onitsha, the situation became tense as rival supporters clashed. According to APGA source, one trader was shot and killed.
This could not be independently confirmed before going to press. And Senator Okonkwo could not be reached for comment.
Independent observers in Onitsha, however, told Saharareporters that what happened in the city was not different from what has been happening across Nigeria where the government in power frustrates efforts by the opposition to reach voters in their sphere of control.
“The only candidates who do not have problem in Anambra State when they go out to campaign are those of the ruling APGA,” one observer said. “If the government of Peter Obi wanted Dr. Ngige and other opposition candidates to campaign freely, he would have provided them with adequate security and not allow government vehicles to be used to block their way into Onitsha market.”
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