Essential Ndubuisi
I read the media statement released yesterday by my brother and friend, Mr Osagie Christian Aburime the Chief Press Secretary to Gov Prof Chukwuma Soludo on the demolition of illegal structures at Onitsha yesterday which affected the church of Prophet Chukwuemeka Odumeje.
I am disappointed that the press statement did not condemn or clarify the incident that happened during the demolition which has gone viral on social media. If the incident where Prophet Odumeje was manhandled, physically assaulted and humiliated by the task force set up by Prof Soludo does not worth clarification from the administration, then we are in for a rough ride.
Prophet Odumeje is a celebrity pastor. He is popular and a socialite. If he can be attacked , beaten and slapped by the agents of the governor and up till now, the governor looks the other side, then am afraid.
In as much as we all want Prof Soludo to succeed, we must not stop at condemning actions of the administration that are undemocratic.
The Chief Press Secretary in his statement only stated that the affected buildings were served demolition notice on April 2022 and that it was not targeted at any particular person or group. And never mentioned the incident that went viral on the course of the demolition.
I commend some leaders like Rommy Ezeonwuka Ogilisi Igbo, the spiritual leader of APGA and a member of the party’s BOT who has issued a press statement condemning the assault on the man of God. Reacting to the incident, Chief Ezeonwuka stated that the incident is unsocial, crude and “very uncalled for” and least expected from government taskforce who were assigned to protect the interest of government and the people noting that such a public assault is against the gods of the land.
“Why beating him in such a disrespectful manners in public? Why not just arrest him and take him to the nearest Police station for questioning instead of manhandling him in public in such a crude manners” he fumed.
Apostle Johnson Suleiman also condemned the attack on Odumeje. He wrote, “I Just Saw A Video Of Pastor Odumeje Being Assaulted By Operatives..That’s Very Primitive And Uncalled For.. Those Operatives Over Stepped Their Boundaries And I Expect Governor Soludo To Condemn It.. It’s Condemnable.Highly!.”
If our leaders are condemning the assault on the prophet, and the governor feels otherwise, it is disturbing and not a good sign going forward.
Prof must conduct his policies and carry out govt activities within the confine of democracy. It is Odumeje today, no one knows who is next.
The video below shows that Odumeje never attacked them. He was not violent towards them. They only intimidated him because they were armed. Sad this is happening in an administration led by a Professor.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.apgang.org/permalink/5622536281144093/
AIF Media
Daily News Reporters
