By Udo Akam-Alo, ABAKALIKI
No fewer than 20 Suspected hoodlums were on Friday, alleged to have attacked and disrupted a gathering involving on a Non-governmental Organisation, Ebele/Anyi Chuks foundation in the State.
This is even as the Nigeria Youth Organisation, South East zone called on Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, the Director, Department of State Service, DSS, Ebonyi State Police Command, Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area and other security agencies to immediately commence investigation into the alleged attack.
The suspected hoodlums numbering over 20 were said to have disrupted the foundation’s planning meeting at Galaxy Hotel, Nkwoagu-Isu, in Onicha LGA of the State.
The meeting which was supposed to pave way for deliberations on the best way to roll out the Organization’s empowerment program for 2020 as it has always done in the last 13 years of its existence was disrupted by the hoodlums.
The meeting was attended by both stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC in the State.
In a statement titled “Unfortunate attack on the peaceful gathering of Ebele/Anyi Chuks foundation; my response, stand and position” and issued by Comrade Okorie C. Okorie, the National Vice President, Nigeria Youth Organisation (NYO) South East Zone, the youth leader expressed surprise that a gathering that has no party affiliation could be disrupted in such manner by hoodlums.
Okorie, who was an APC House of Assembly Aspirant in 2019 in the State noted that the NGO has been touching lives through the provision of basic amenities, empowerment programmes and donation of items to the less privileged in the society at large.
According to the statement: “In a peaceful disposition, the leaders of Ebele/Anyi Chuks Foundation gathered to deliberate on the best way to roll out her empowerment program of 2020 as has always been done since the past thirteen years.
“To the best of my knowledge, the programmes of the foundation led by the illustrious son of Isuokoma kingdom; Chief (Dr.) Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii FHL (Anyi Chuks) cuts across party line and has no political attachment thereto was surprisingly attacked by hoodlums during our meeting.
“Let it be on record that I, Comrade Okorie C. Okorie (Peace Ambassador); an APC Chieftain in Onicha LGA alongside, DCP. John S. Nwele (Rtd.), Hon. Agwu Okoro Uchenna – APC Chairman of Onicha LGA, Hon. Princess Victoria Ogudu amongst other stakeholders of our party attended the said meeting.
“On the other hand, the Chief of Staff to the National Vice Chairman of PDP, South East Zone; Chief (Hon.) Ani Chinedu Felix (Ukpabi Ukpabi) and other stakeholders of PDP was also in attendance.
“This is to show that Ebele/Anyi Chuks Foundation does not have any political attachments to the core value of the foundation and have demonstrated that over time sharing life touching programmes which includes but not limited to: Building of over seventy houses for the people across Ebonyi State, building and donation of ultra morden two storey building to a primary school (now secondary school) l in Isu, empowerment of youths in different fields of trade, uplifting the down trodden and empowering the people.
“To the best of my knowledge, the foundation is known across the continent of Africa and have peacefully organised and carried out their life touching programmes without party affiliation. It is with utmost surprise that the attack we witnessed yesterday by some uniformed hoodlums was devastating.
“I, therefore seize this opportunity and call on Engr. Felix Ogbonnaya Igboke – the Executive Chairman/Chief Security Officer of Onicha LGA to take immediate action and bring the culprits to book. Hoodlums must not be allowed to unleash mayhem on the masses especially now that our wonder working Governor His Excellency Apostle David Nweze Umahi has connected Ebonyi State to the centre under the Leadership of All Progressives Congress APC.
“The Chief Security Officer of the State, His Excellency Governor David Nweze Umahi fnse, fnate, the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State, the Director State Security Services, Ebonyi State and other security agencies are hereby implored to investigate this unholy act in order to avert future occurrence.
“I’m of APC and I owe no apology to anyone on why I choose to be a Member of Ebele and AnyiChuks Foundation.
“Conclusively, I wish to state that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones, those who resort to violence and hooliganism should count the devastating consequences of the law on themselves as we will do everything humanly possible to bring them before the law.”
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer DSP Loveth Odah confirmed the incident.
