How I was beaten up, dehumanised, assaulted and Teargassed by the order of the Deputy Governor — Hon Etiokwe.

It is a known facts that the Honourable Member representing Ohafia South in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Kalu Mba Nwoke ( Etiokwe) was assaulted and taken to an unknown destination from his own constituency where he represents.

This assault on the Member representing Ohafia South is also an assault on the constituency he represents.

Etiokwe who found himself in the police station in Umuahia on Saturday 2nd November 2024 on an LGA election day was alleged to have been taken away in a “disgraceful” and “razmatazz” manner under the instructions of the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu, whose actions has been condenmed by many Great minds and illustrious sons of Ohafia including Etigwe Uwa (SAN) a seasoned lawyer and a Senior advocate of Nigeria who has a history of advocating for electoral integrity and accountability and who also have been commended for not hiding himself in speaking out for fairness, equal Justice and against intimidations of his people.

However, in response against the condemnation of the actions of the Deputy Governor in the arrest and intimidation of his own member representative. His Chief press Secretary however, made an unnecessary vituperations in his defense which many equally condenmed.

Trustbase News in a chart with the embattled House Member, Hon Kalu Mba Nwoke shortly after his release from the Police detention in Umuahia at about 2pm Sunday 3 November 2024, to know from him what actually transpired had made these revelations.

According to Hon Etiokwe, who said he left his house in Umuahia to go and vote in Ohafia, on his way he received too many calls that the LGA secretariat’s main gate was still under lock and key at about 8:30 am, which ordinarily should be open in an election day as all adhoc workers are expected to be in their polling units atleast by 6 to 7am after collecting voting materials from ABSIEC office in the council secretariat. As the member representing that constituency, he reached out to the former mayor (Bordeaux) to enquire what happened. The mayor who expressed surprises that the gate was still locked requested to contact the chief security officer of the council to know why, as he assured to get back to Hon Etiokwe shortly.

The law maker maintained that as he reached Ohafia without the calls from the Mayor, he  decided to go to the council secretariat but fortunately the gate has been unlocked and preparations for the polls were underway.

Therefore he decided to meet with the EO to know what actually transpired that had raised the people’s concerns. The EO according him clarified that no result sheets were given to him and his bid to sorting out the problem from Umuahia caused the delay in opening the council secretariat gate.

He stated that, he saw many people who are of diverse party’s interest in the council Secretariat that came as observers and agents in LG headquarters  including Engr Obinna Odum whose name is on the list as the YPP Chairmanship Candidate in Ohafia LG and Nelson Anya a Councillorship candidate for another party, which Hon Etiokwe queried their presence and adviced  for their agents to represent them.

In his statement, the House member revealed that he first sighted a security attaché to the Deputy Governor as he was dragged inside a waiting bus on his way out from the mayor’s office by masked security personnel including the police, Army and the DSS who were already waiting in a parked bus.

The member representing Ohafia South raised concerns that after his identification as a House of Assembly Member, they ignored him and forcefully arrested him with all manners of brutalisation, maltreatment and dehumanisation as they drove him towards Umuahia direction with an accompanying tinted vehicle with the deputy Governor.

He emphasised that he was called with so many derogatory names such as an “idiot”  and his phones seized and was beaten up and teargassed by the order of  his dear brother the deputy governor. Etiokwe hinted.

Our political class should not descend as low as this by using our mandate to exhibit brute forces on fellow leaders who equally have our mandate as the duo has same prerogative responsibilities to provide dividends of democracy as expected. Hon Etiokwe represents an interest which is his constituency therefore any intimidation or suppression on him no matter the provocation   is seen to be against the good People of Ohafia South which he represents.

The local government elections give citizens the opportunity to elect their leaders and any emperor mentality on the part of  political leader may be viewed by voters as exhibiting executive rascality.