[Graphic photos: viewer’s discretion advised!]
Professor Steve Torkuma Ugbah, the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in last month’s governorship election, has condemned what he identified as “a pattern of official complacency” especially by the Police, concerning the security of members of his party in the state.
[Graphic photos: viewer’s discretion advised!]
Professor Steve Torkuma Ugbah, the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in last month’s governorship election, has condemned what he identified as “a pattern of official complacency” especially by the Police, concerning the security of members of his party in the state.
The statement was made to the press following the killing last Thursday of Charles Ayede, the Senior Media Adviser of the Professor Steve Torkuma Ugbah/Young Alhaji Campaign Organization in an ambush on the convoy of the governorship candidate between Makurdi and Abuja.
According to him, “When we got to the forest plantation located a few kilometers before Kadarko, gunmen suddenly emerged from the bush and started shooting at the vehicle in which Mr Charles Ayede and Mr Adaa Maagbe were riding. Mr Maagbe is my Senior Special Adviser. Mr Charles Ayede was killed instantly.”
He said the tragic incident was promptly reported to the police in Makurdi, but that despite promises by senior officers, there had been no action. He said that conduct was consistent with previous incidents that the ACN has experienced in the past five months.
Enumerating such incidents that were previously ignored by the Police in the state, he warned that if the official attitude does not change for the better the party may not be able to control the anger and reaction of its members.
Of the governorship election, Professor Ugbah said, “There is no doubt that over 90% of the people in Benue State are ACN supporters. The whole country knows that the ACN won the just concluded elections in Benue State.
Governor Suswam, the PDP and the INEC conspired and continue to manipulate the figures to declare Suswam as the winner.”
Turning to last Thursday’s attack on his convoy, he said the ACN knew its sponsors as well as their objective, and that Governor Gabriel Suswam will have a difficult task extricating himself from direct blame for the murder of Mr. Ayede.
“The objective of this murder and the threat the attack directly posed to me as the main contender in the Benue State Governorship Election of April 26, 2011 which we are disputing, is clear,” he said. “Governor Gabriel Suswam and his henchmen believe that eliminating key authentic custodians of the stolen mandate, he will get away with the fraud. They are dead wrong.”
Full text of the press statement:
Text Of Press Briefing Addressed By The Acn Gubernatorial Candidate For The Benue State, Professor Steve Torkuma Ugbah, Following The Attack On His Convoy
Yesterday, May 13th, 2011, we lost one of our most committed and dedicated senior member of our campaign team, Mr Charles Ayede. Charles was, until his tragic death, the Senior Media Adviser on the Professor Steve Torkuma Ugbah/Young Alhaji Campaign Organization.
This shocking tragic development was occasioned by an attack on my convoy which was heading towards Makurdi from Abuja. When we got to the forest plantation located a few kilometers before Kadarko, gunmen suddenly emerged from the bush and started shooting at the vehicle in which Mr Charles Ayede and Mr Adaa Maagbe were riding. Mr Maagbe is my Senior Special Adviser. Mr Charles Ayede was killed instantly. Fortunately, Mr Maagbe escaped and was hiden by local villagers. Once Mr Adaa Maagbe called me and urged me to return to Lafia to avoid the attack.
The killing of Charles Ayede is one killing too many. Enough is Enough! We all know that I was the main target of the assassins, the ACN Gubernatorial Candidate for Benue State. If the sponsors of the assassins think that the various attempts on my life, and the killing of close associates, such as Charles, will deter us from pursuing and prosecuting the struggle for retrieving the mandate of the people which has been stolen by Dr. Gabriel Torwua Suswam, the INEC and the PDP, they are dead wrong.
If anything, the cowardly murder of Charles, and others before him, has further strengthened my resolve to fight for the realization of the stolen mandate. I promise the people of Benue State that I will stay focused on what is dear to them; and that is to free the people of Benue State from slavery, intimidation, fear, hunger, poverty, ignorance, unemployment and insecurity.
We know the sponsors of this attack. We also know their objective. The Governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, will have a difficult task extricating himself from direct blame for the murder of Mr. Charles Ayede. The objective of this murder and the threat the attack directly posed to me as the main contender in the Benue State Governorship Election of April 26, 2011 which we are disputing, is clear. Governor Gabriel Suswam and his henchmen believe that eliminating key authentic custodians of the stolen mandate, he will get away with the fraud. They are dead wrong.
CONCERNS ABOUT POSSIBLE INSTITUTIONAL CONSPIRACY
When this tragic assassination occurred, we pleaded with the Nigerian Police authorities in Makurdi. Surprisingly, the Police did not respond despite promises by senior Police officers. This conduct this conduct is consistent with previous incidents that we in the ACN have experienced over the past five months.
1. During the electioneering campaigns, PDP thugs attacked our convoys severally and we reported the incidents to the Police. The Police have not arrested anyone.
2. During the election proper, ACN agents were beaten up and, at least, two of them were killed - one at Logo and the other at Gwer-West. All these were reported to the Police. The Police have not arrested anyone.
3. There have been threats of kidnapping of me. Indeed, some of our party members have been kidnapped and kept behind the bars in private detention camps owned by PDP thugs that are loyal to Governor Gabriel Suswam. The kidnapping of Hon. Mtsterkyaa and Mr. Ternenge Chibee Tyough are cases in point. We have reported these to the Police without any positive response.
4. ACN leaders have been systematically attacked by gun-men in politically motivated circumstances. The cases of the State Chairman Comrade Aba Yaro, B.B Nungwa, and many others have been reported to the Police but no action taken.
5. Threats of assassination of several of our members including Barrister Mrs R. Ako, Hon Adzua Ashongo, Adaa Maagbe, Charles Ayede, Imoter Nungwa, B.B Nungwa, Hon. Abua Yajir, Hon. John Dyeh, Chief Emmanuel Viashima, Engr Charles Avul and my humble self, were all reported at different times. We have no information on the state of investigation.
6. Recently, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, who is a close associate of Governor Suswam, was caught taking photographs of Mr Adaa Maagbe’s residence. Both Charles Ayede and Mr. Maagbe live in that house. We reported this to the Police but nothing came out of it. Again, Governor Suswam’s ADC, DSP Dickson O. Pawa, was recently arrested with a cache of arms, but the Governor ordered his immediate release.
We have dwelt on these incidents to illustrate a pattern of official complacency, especially by the Police, concerning the security of our members. Our members are running out of patience. We are afraid that if the official attitude does not change for the better, we may be unable to control the anger and reaction of our members.
There is no doubt that over 90% of the people in Benue State are ACN supporters. The whole country knows that the ACN won the just concluded elections in Benue State. Governor Suswam, the PDP and the INEC conspired and continue to manipulate the figures to declare Suswam as the winner. We have consistently appealed for calm by our supporters. Dr. Suswam the Chief Security Officer, should be held responsible for any reaction to the murders he has carried out or is planning to carry out. As responsible leaders, we shall continue to appeal to our followers to remain calm. But there is a limit for everything. Enough is enough. I cannot guarantee that I can restrain our teeming supporters any further.
Professor Steve Torkuma Ugbah
14th May, 2011.
ACN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE 2011 