By Gerard Okalla
Today, 14th January, in history, is the date Ideato people, Imo state in particular and lovers of democracy in Nigeria, would remember as the day marking the failed assassination attempt on the life of one of the country’s vocal voices, Hon Barr Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere. who hitherto, ran a burgeoning campaign to represent his Ideato federal constituency in the federal House of the Representives, Abuja, Nigeria..
Certainly, on that fateful day, 14 January 2023, the major aim of the merchants of death was not completely achieved but they left rivers of blood, tears, hues and cries in their trail as they brought everything on sight to rubble and made sure they left nothing with breath to live. It would be safe to say that Hon Barr Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere escaped death by whiskers, but his uncle and two other persons were less fortunate.
Mr Dan Ikeagwuonu was found in the pool of his own blood with gunshot induced holes all over his body, suggesting he was shot on close range amidst his plea for the assailants to spare his life.
Having not found their prime target in the person of the present day, Ideato Rep, Hon Ikenga Imo ugochinyere, the assailants reportedly went berserk, shooting sporadically before setting his campaign vehicles on fire. The conflagration that followed sent panic into the air, prompting Umukegwu residents to flee their homes for safety. A total of 36 vehicles designated for empowerment of the Downtrodden went up into flames as the gunmen had a free day detonating explosives on his buildings unchallenged.
The carnage on Hon Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere’s Akokwa countryhome was unprecedented that it sent shockwaves throughout the state and the whole country, drawing public outcry and condemnation.
After the attempt on his life, many public analysts have wondered why someone would want a Barr Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere dead. Or could it be that some forces were afraid of his definite emergence as representative of his own people in the Green Chambers, a position he was passionately and vigorously campaigning for at the material time resigning his opponents and their enablers at the throes of defeat.
Today, as Ndi Ideato and Nigerians praise God Almighty for sparing the life of their beloved Hon Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere , whom they affectionately call the People’s Messenger , they count the gains emanating from the quality representation offered by him within just 19 months of his emergence as member representing Ideato North and Ideato South Federal constituency in the Federal House of Representives. They reflect on what would have been the fate of Ndi Ideato should the merchants of death have succeeded in snuffing life out of the vibrant Umukegwu born politician on that fateful day.
The quality representation outcomes seen in his people -oriented bills and solution driven motions, his various scholarship grants to over 230 ideato secondary and University students, the agricultural training and skills acquisition programs, the massive solar light initiatives, his motorised boreholes facilitation efforts , his systematic construction and reconstruction initiatives in ideato North and South schools, his mini grid electrification program, his ambitious electric Transformer revolution for communities, construction and supply of study desks to Priimary schools and massive empowerment initiatives targeting the needy to mention but few are signposts to a unique representation that has changed the constituency’s legislative governance trajectory under Hon Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere from negativity to positivity. .
Sad as the deadly attacks would look. it becomes very worrisome that two years after the fatal invasion of the Ideato Reps member’s home, Imo state government, contrary to its own laws, has not published the reports of the Investigative Panel it set up to unravel the circumstances behind the dastardly act neither has the Imo state police Command found it noteworthy to release its own preliminary findings on the bloody attack. This suggests the government of the day pays lip service to the issue of the security of lives of its own citizens. It also leaves sour taste in the mouth when one realizes that a lot of millions of taxpayers’ money go down the drain as security votes when there is little or nothing to show for it.
Nigerians have the right to know how they are being governed. Making public the reports of the investigations into the January, 14, 2023 bloody and sordid attacks of such gravity will help citizens and the victims’ families know what actually transpired, who did what and the motives behind the attacks. This is important in the backdrop of the widely held suspicion that the said attack was hatched and executed by the imo state government.
Therefore, Imo state government and her apparatus of power are admonished to dispel these disturbing rumours by not only publishing the report but cause arrest and diligent prosecution of any person or persons found culpable in the arson and bloodbath at Umukegwu.
Government’s positive responses in line with constitutional provisions can help the deceased to find rest and the bereaved to consider the fact that justice has not only been done to their beloved ones who lost their lives but seemed to have been done.
Anything short of responding to this valid demand would simply mean that the state is certainly the killer and tormentor of her own people.
COMR GERARD OKALLA is an Umueshi born Economist, Grammarian, and Thought Provocateaur
