Anambra: APC Holds Government Responsible for Traditional Ruler’s Murder; Says It’s Political

By Charles Igbo

Anger and shock still reign over the horrendous murder of a politically deposed Traditional Ruler. The humiliation of the former Traditional Ruler, of Nkpunado Community, Anambra East LGA, Alex Edozieuno, turned full circle a couple of days ago when he was murdered on the streets, along with his driver, Chukwuemeka.

Both were fatally shot on the head by gunmen who apparently laid ambush for them, by 10.00am, along Ezu River Bridge, Otuocha.

While his driver was left in his pool of blood, doubled over on his seat,  Edozieuno was dragged out, and kept by the  road side.

The responsibility was immediately put on the table  of “unknown gunmen” who have been wreaking havoc across the South-east for months. But not a few people insisted there was more to the murder of the former traditional ruler than meets the eye. They say it was a political assassination. They have their reasons.

Edozieuno was once the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. But that was before he became a Traditional Ruler. Until he was dethroned, he was, also,  the Traditional Ruler of Governor Willie Obiano’s clan.

Trouble started between both men when Edozieuno joined eleven other Traditional Rulers, on the bill of money man, Chief Arthur Eze, to travel to Abuja, on an alleged thank you visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.  But they embarked on the journey without clearance from the State Government. The State Government promptly suspended them. A couple of months later, a few of them were reinstated after apologies were tendered to the Governor and Government of Anambra State. Edozieuno was not one of them. Another has since been crowned the Traditional Ruler in his stead.

A few weeks ago, he decided to take the bull by the horn. He declared support for the All Progressives Cogress, APC.

His murder happened thereafter.

The leadership of the APC in the State is crying foul. They are laying the blame on  the  Anambra State Government.They say he was killed over politics, apparently, they allege, because he declared support for the APC. It is however, an allegation the State Government has denied. But APC insists on its claims, and has called on Security Agencies to embark on a thorough investigation to unmask those behind the murder of the deposed Traditional Ruler.

The Party said Edozieuno and a number of Party members had been facing threats to their lives because of their political beliefs. The threats they allege, come from the State Government and its cronies.

Addressing a press conference, the state Chairman of APC and the Director General of Andy Uba Campaign Organisation, Basil Ejidike and Paul Chukwuma said the  ex -Monarch’s killing  was political.

They submitted: ”We are here with a heavy heart. We are here to address the press on a very sad event that took place in our dear state on Friday morning.

“We woke up to the devastating news of the assassination of Chief Alex Edozieuno who, until his death was the traditional ruler of one of the communities in Aguleri before he was dethroned by the State Government sometime last year.

“Why this death is of major concern to us is because we consider it a politically motivated killing and we wonder why any citizen of this country, no matter how highly placed could indulge in such act.

“Recall that a few weeks ago, the late traditional ruler joined our political party, the APC in a public function.His reception into the party took place in his hometown and was attended by many Anambrarians.

“We now wonder why, especially against the backdrop of the incessant threats the members of the APC are receiving from the sitting APGA government. We have been receiving death threats; threats to our families from highly placed individuals in APGA including a close female relation to the Governor and a member of the House of Representatives.

“We are calling on the law enforcement agencies – the police, the DSS to quickly move into action and conduct a proper investigation since the threats have now started translating to deaths.

“Our resolve to salvage Anambra State as stakeholders in the state remains unshaken. Recently, it might interest you to note that some members of APGA, six state Assembly members joined our party.

“And each and every one of them has been receiving threats from the wife of the governor and Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe. And we wonder whether these individuals are above the law.

“We could have swept these threats under the carpet but with the way and manner Chief Alex was killed, a few kilometres away from his home, we wonder why we should be in this situation in Anambra State.”

But the Anambra State Government has dismissed the allegation as rubbish.

The State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment,

C-Don Adinuba, accused the APC of being “a group of politicians allergic to peace.”

Adinuba: “Rather than politicise the ex-monarch’s death, the APC should provide whatever it has about the crime to the Nigeria Police Force. After all, the APC is the Federal Government party which controls not just the police force but also the Department of State security.

”It would seem, however, that the APC in Anambra is unable to reconcile itself to the new order in the state. It is guilty of what psychologists call projection. Because its prominent members have a well-established record of violence, they assume that the leaders of other parties have the same proclivity towards violence and murder.”

It is not known if any progress has been made in the investigation of the mindless murder,  but a release by the Anambra Police Command, a few hours after the murder said:

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the victims, one Mr Alex Edozieuno, 62yrs old, a former traditional ruler of Nkpunado Community Anambra East LGA and his driver Chukwuemeka( other names yet to be identified) were attacked and killed by suspected gunmen by 10am ( on Friday) along Ezu bridge, Otuocha.” Nothing has been heard again from the Police.

Edozieuno’s vehicle, an SUV, was not tampered with, nor was anything removed. Not his traditional beads, which he still wore as he lay in the pool of his blood by the roadside, or his crown which was left on his vehicle’s dash board.