Travail, anguish of mother of missing Anambra LP Governorship candidate — HURIWA

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed deep concern regarding the pain and agony that the mother of the missing Anambra Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Ada Agbasimalo, is currently going through as indicated in her open letter to Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, whose help she is seeking to fast track the release of her son, Obiora Agbasimalo.

HURIWA, in a press statement on Thursday, June 2, 2022, signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said Agbasimalo, who was whisked away by his abductors on September 18, 2021, few months to the governorship election in Anambra state has since not been seen nor has anyone heard from him.

The statement reads in part: “We are addressing the case of the candidate of the Labour Party in Anambra State in the last Governorship election. We will let you see the entire story about the Anambra Governorship Candidate of Labour Party in that election that brought in Governor Chukwuma Soludo as the winner. The gentleman was whisked away few months to the actual election. The following is the story about the incident as told by his mother, who has written an open letter seeking the intervention of Distinguished Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah’s help in fast tracking the release of her son, Obiora Agbasimalo.”

Madam Agbasimalo’s letter was published recently in Daily Sun where she stated that Obiora was kidnapped on September 18, on his way to a meeting in Azia, Anambra State.

The letter reads: “Sequel to our phone discussion, whereby I made a heartfelt appeal for you to use your good offices to assist my family in securing the release of our son, Obiora Emmanuel Agbasimalo, from the hands of his abductors, I hereby now send you a written appeal in the active hope that as our Senator (Anambra South), you are well positioned to act on that subject matter, in the spirit of Nnewi North and South; and help rescue your brother, Obiora.

“Obiora Emmanuel Agbasimalo, Labour Party gubernatorial candidate during the November 6 Anambra State Governorship election, was kidnapped on the 18th of September 2021 at Lilu in Ihiala LGA on their way to Azia also in Ihiala LGA. Since that day, we have neither seen nor heard from him.

“As his mother, I have been traumatised and agonised to the extent that I now have serious heart issues. Obiora’s father is managing a chronic kidney issue while his wife has been progressively going in and out of depression. Obiora’s little children need the love, care and support they always got from their dad, prior to his kidnap.

“Distinguished Senator, I have implicit trust that as our humane Senator in charge of our Anamba South District, you will quickly step into this matter and deal decisively with it. I truly trust,” she stated.