Anambra’s politics got deadlier Sunday with an attempted assassination on the Media Director of Godwin Ezeemo campaign organization, Mr Okey Nwoke.
Nwoke was attacked by gun wielding young men who he said numbered about six and drove in two cars- an SUV and a Toyota Camry car which sandwiched him at Igbo Ukwu as he drove to his principal’s (Ezeemo’s) house at about 8am.
Nwoke who escaped unhurt had his silver coloured Toyota car riddled with bullets, and still looked badly shaken as he addressed journalists at the home of Mr Godwin Ezeemo.
Narrating his story to journalists, Nwoke said, “I left my home in Enugwu Adazi in Anaocha Local Government Area for Mr Ezeemo’s place as we had a scheduled meeting today, and all the directors of Ezeemo campaign were supposed to meet in his house.
“As I drove through Igboukwu, I noticed a Toyota Camry car painted in ash colour following me. I did not suspect anything until I noticed another jeep in front of me which was not speeding as it should. It was when I made to overtake it that the jeep blocked me, and before I could realize it, the two back doors of the car were open and two boys carrying AK 47 riffles stepped out and aimed at me”.
Nwoke continued that immediately he sensed danger, seeing that they had blocked his way, engaged his gear in reverse and waited to see their reaction.
“One of the two men shouted that, ‘he is the one, he left APC, this is the man’, that was when I sensed danger and immediately, I stood on my gas pedal and began driving backwards. The men started shooting at me and running after me on foot.
“Their cars also reversed and raced towards me and as they slowed for the two gun men to enter the cars, I also took the opportunity to reverse and started speeding away, while they pursued and shot at me. It was like something from the scene of a movie”.
Nwoke continue that from all indication, the assassination attempt on him was motivated by politics as the men who tried to killed him clearly stated that they were carrying out the attack because he left the APC for PPA where his principal, Ezeemo who ran on the platform of APC against Ngige decamped after he lost at the primary election.
In a press conference last week to state the reason why Ezeemo dumped APC for PPA where he is today the flag bearer of the party, Nwoke stated that he joined the APC from ANPP after the merger deal, but left the party to join Ezeemo in PPA because he was rigged out of the primary election unjustly.
When our correspondent called Emeka Chukwuemeka, the Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command for confirmation, he said that he was not aware of the incident as he had not been briefed by the Area Commander of the Aguata Division.
The victim, Nwoke however told journalists that he had made entry at Nnanka police station and had been assured that the matter would be investigated.
Speaking on the incident, the chairman of PPA in Anambra State, Mr Kanayochukwu Obidigbo condemned the action in totality, calling on the Inspector General of Police to order a thorough investigation of the matter.
“We want the police and other security agencies in the country to take this seriously. I did not know that people will go to that extent in politics. Since Ezeemo joined PPA and started his campaigns, other aspirants have noticed that he is the man to beat, and they have been working to bring him down. The IG must ensure security for our candidate and even Nwoke who they are targeting now”.
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