Anambra: Gunmen Set Monarch, Deputy Speaker’s Houses Ablaze

The buildings belonging to the Anambra State Deputy Speaker, Pascal Agbodike and a traditional ruler in the state have been set ablaze by gunmen.

The gunmen also burnt the two buildings belonging to the President-General of Osumoghu, Nze Denis Muomaife.

The development led to a meeting between stakeholders from Anambra South senatorial district and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the 2023 general elections.

During the meeting stakeholders of the district and the electoral body review the security situation in the state.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Elizabeth Agwu, asked the stakeholders if elections will be held because of violence in some parts of the state.

The President-General of the Osumoghu community in Nnewi South, Denis Muomaife while speaking at the meeting said unknown persons two weeks ago burnt two of his buildings.

Muomaife said, “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, however, stated that a Peace and Reconciliation Committee has been set up by the community to tackle such issues.

Agwu while addressing the stakeholders charged the youths in the state to take possession of their lands and protect the people.

She said insecurity in Igboland is caused by the indigenes and not imported persons.

Agwu added, “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.”

The REC emphasised that the corporate existence of Nigeria depended on the 2023 election.

She said, “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.”