Gunmen set Monarch, Deputy Speaker’s houses ablaze in Anambra

Gunmen have set ablaze buildings belonging to the Anambra State Deputy Speaker, Pascal Agbodike and one of the traditional rulers in the state.

Also, two buildings belonging to the President-General of Osumoghu, Nze Denis Muomaife were not spared.

As a result, stakeholders from Anambra South senatorial zone and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), met in the state over the 2023 general elections.

The importance of the meeting was the issue of voter education and how to review the security situation in the state.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Queen Elizabeth Agwu, asked the stakeholders whether elections would be held in those communities because of their current volatile state.

In his response, the President-General, Osumoghu community in Nnewi South, Denis Muomaife, said that two of his buildings were burnt two weeks ago by some unknown persons.

“Not only that, the house of the traditional ruler of the community and that of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly representing Ihiala II Constituency were equally set ablaze,” he said.

However, Muomaife said the community had set up a Peace and Reconciliation Committee in making sure that such issues were tackled in no time.

Addressing the stakeholders, the REC, Queen Elizabeth Agwu, said it was time the youth in Anambra State take possession of their lands and protect the people.

She said insecurity in Igboland was caused by the indigenes and not imported persons, adding, “We must hold the 2023 election, it must be credible and the votes must count. This is the time for the youth to rise up in different communities to protect their people.

“We have prepared for the election with materials and men. What we need from communities is to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). Non-sensitive materials have been distributed already.

“Anything that is done that will make the election not successful in Anambra South should be resisted. Anyone caught doing abnormal things during the election will not be alive to tell the story.

“I’m relying on the President-Generals in all the communities and traditional rulers to secure their areas during the election. Let us avoid suppressing ourselves,” Agwu said

The REC further said that the corporate existence of Nigeria depended on the 2023 election. “This nation is seriously depleted today and that is why we are talking about unity.

“Voter education concerns and affects everyone in this country. There are so many ways it affects us, but the problem we have here is our penchant for pursuing money,” she said.

(Daily Trust)