…Demands Termination Of IGP’s Appointment For Culpable Negligence
The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has called for the immediate sack of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, for what it described as culpable negligence of duty for failing to effect the arrest of the principal suspect, who has openly threatened to deal with CUPP’s national spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, on January 14.
CUPP’s National Co-Spokesperson, Comrade Mark Adebayo, made the call in a press conference he addressed on Monday January 23 at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Comrade Adebayo said that CUPP frowned seriously at the attitude of the Police authorities, which he alleged borders on criminal conspiracy with those the coalition referred to as suspects in the violent attack against Mr Ikenga, which led to three deaths, including his paternal uncle.
At the roses briefing,
CUPP alleged that the Police authorities are engaging in a cover-up scheme in a criminal incident of that magnitude in cahoots with the Imo State government.
Adebayo complained bitterly that despite that the Police authorities had earlier been alerted through a petition on the alleged threats to Ikenga’s life by an aide to the Imo state governor, one Chinasa Nwaneri, the Police refused to invite him for questioning, neither did they get him arrested after the threats have eventually been carried out, which CUPP alleged was done by none other than the man who had earlier threatened it’s spokesperson.
Adebayo however said that “despite the attack, the coalition still remains confident that its spokesperson, Ugochinyere would win his House of Representatives election for Ideato federal constituency of Imo State coming up on February 25, 2023, despite the carnage unleashed on him.”
He therefore seized the opportunity to thank Nigerians for what it described as overwhelming support for its spokesperson through phone calls and solidarity messages.
Against the foregoing, the coalition therefore vehemently insisted that “should the IGP fail to act on the petition against Chinasa Nwaneri, he should either resign or be fired by Mr. President.”
Below is the full text of the press conference at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Monday January 23, 2022.
“Attempted Assassination Of Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere: The IGP
Must Act Now Or Resign!
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, dear compatriots.
We are gathered here again today to address a critical issue, which is so crucial to the peace and stability of our dear country, Nigeria.
As it has been widely reported in the media, it is public knowledge that the house of my colleague, the leading opposition spokesperson for the past four years, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, located in Akokwa in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, was brutally attacked by armed terrorists suspected to be state-sponsored hoodlums on the 14th of January 2023.
First, CUPP profoundly appreciates the overwhelming solidarity from all across Nigeria and the Diaspora in the aftermath of the carnage unleashed on Ikenga’s country home, killing his uncle and at least two other innocent Nigerians, whose only crime was being supporters and a relative of Ikenga Ugochinyere. Up till this morning, I have been receiving calls from many Nigerians home and abroad who are eager to know about the safety of Ikenga. I wish to assure you all that he is in good spirit, being the courageous fighter that he is. In due course he will speak to Nigerians to address germane national issues as he is wont. Another question that a lot of people have been asking me is what has become of his running for the House of Representatives. I want to answer that unequivocally – Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere is firmly in the race no matter what agents of destruction have done and he will win.
It is because of his decision to honor the memory of those murdered in his house that he has decided to temporarily suspend his campaign and public activities. The show of support by his community, the entire Ideato federal constituency people, the entire Imo State people and far beyond has been overwhelming and CUPP wishes to let you know that he remains strong in the race and he is poised to win by a wide margin. In that federal constituency no other candidate of any other party has the presence, popularity and the acceptability that Ikenga has. It’s like he is the only one on the ballot, actually.
Now to the kernel of this press conference. It is extremely baffling and disappointing that 10 days after those hired terrorists carried out their horrific attacks against Ikenga, no arrests have been made, despite overwhelming evidence as to who could have planned, sponsored and executed that carnage.
Let us make it clear that that the CUPP stands by our earlier allegation that the Imo State government is culpable in this death and destruction that occured that fateful January 14 at Akokwa. The plan was to assassinate Ikenga, but God surpassed them.
It is more disappointing and much painful that the Nigeria Police have refused to play their constitutional role of arresting the suspected sponsors of that crime, despite establishing indubitable premafacie evidence against one Chinasa Nwaneri, who openly threatened Ikenga that he would deal with him among other severe threats on phone.
A petition to that effect was sent to the police authorities, but without any action until that fatal arson was carried out and even till now, Chinasa Nwaneri, an aide to the Imo State governor, who called Ikenga Ugochinyere on his phone to threaten his life and family days before the heinous attack, is still walking free and boasting about that he would not rest until Ikenga is finally silenced. A premafacie evidence of threat to life and property has been established against Mr Chinasa Nwaneri, prior to the actual execution of the arson, murders and attempted assassination of Ikenga. No action was taken by the Police to prevent Chinasa from carrying out his threats and the Police have not deemed it fit to invite this suspected murderer and arsonist after he made true his threats.
The CUPP suspects an attempt by the Police authorities at the highest levels to cover up these heinous crimes in cahoots with the Imo State government. This is especially as the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, has publicly claimed that he knows those who unleashed the terrorist attacks on Ikenga that claimed the lives of his supporters and his uncle. The governor claimed that he had security reports that revealed that a meeting held with the purpose of carrying out the violent attacks against Ikenga before it happened, but chose to do nothing about it. It is only an irresponsible or a criminally culpable governor who can do this. We challenge Governor Uzodinma to publish the names of those involved, dates and locations where the pre-attack meetings held and to also explain why he didn’t take any action to forestall it, if he didn’t know anything about it.
The Police authorities have no reason whatsoever not to have arrested Chinasa Nwaneri for questioning up till now, even after proofs of him threatening Ikenga have been made available officially to them before he executed his satanic, murderous mission.
Therefore, if the Imo state Police Commissioner and the IGP wouldn’t act on this horribly condemnable criminality, bordering on politically motivated terrorism, the CUPP demands the immediate resignation of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, or he be fired by the Mr President, who has pledged a level playing field for all in the coming elections. But the number one man whose responsibility it is to execute that presidential commitment, the IGP, doesn’t seem concerned about the lives and properties and supporters of the opposition, as demonstrated in this reprehensible negligence of these terrible attacks against Ikenga by the Police authorities. Something as simple as even inviting the number one suspect in this arson and murders, Chinasa Nwaneri, for questioning has not taken place.
Is there a complicity between the police and the Imo State government to cover up this crime? No invitation, no arrests, no investigation and, in fact, no categorical statement from the Police authorities with regard to a ferocious attack of that nature where citizens were violently murdered.
This suspicious attitude by the Police authorities gives an air impunity to murderers, who would threaten murder publicly and get away with it afterwards. That’s a mass failure on the part of the Police and we daresay it is deliberate. A Police IG who protects a clearly identified suspect in a case of murder and arson, with the threats of more to come is not worthy to remain on that seat. He cannot be trusted to continue superintending the Nigeria Police at this sensitive time of a crucial election that his principal has given a direct order to service chiefs and Police IG to ensure total impartiality in carrying out election security assignments.
The CUPP restates our call for the IGP’s resignation or he be fired by the President immediately, because this IGP cannot be trusted to deploy the humongous police infrastructures at his disposal during the elections impartially. Chinasa Nwaneri does not have constitutional immunity and, therefore, nothing prevents the Police from arresting or even just to invite him for questioning on his viral threats against Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, that later led to Ikenga’s attempted assassination and burning of his properties and killing his people.
The CUPP categorically accuses the Police of culpable negligence of duty by not even making an attempt to investigate the crimes committed by those terrorists masterminded by Chinasa Nwaneri as the execution of his threats against Ikenga just days earlier.
Make no mistake about it, Ikenga remains the most popular candidate in Ideato federal constituency of Imo State with wider acceptability than his closest rivals in the field. No matter what the powers that be do, he will win by a wide margin unprecedented in the political history of Imo State.
We heard that Governor Hope Uzodinma has threatened that in order to see to it that Ikenga does not win the election, in addition to burning his house and cars and killing his people, he would carry his chair and seat in Ideato federal constituency to make sure that Ikenga’s victory is truncated. That’s an open threat of rigging and that’s a planned scheme of voter intimidation powered by executive recklessness.
But the determination of the people of Ideato federal constituency is bigger than any power-drunk governor and the repressive weapons of state. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere will win that election and the people will protect their votes. Hope Uzodinma is the most unpopular governor in the history of Imo State, because of the corrupt process that produced him and his horrific performances as a governor who stands aloof from the people he governs.
CUPP remains strong, consistent and determined to continue exposing every evil plan and election rigging schemes of power desperados and Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere remains the powerhouse of opposition activism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, no matter the orchestrated attempts to frustrate and silence him.
Thank you all for your listening attention.
Comrade Mark Adebayo,
Co-National Spokesperson, CUPP.
January 23, 2023, Lagos.
