In a WhatsApp message on most Imo state biased groups, the Peter Obi Solidarity Front (POSF), has given Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi 24 hours to effect the release of Hon. Roland Obiyo, Owerri Zonal Vice Chairman.
According to the message signed by Kingsley Ogbu, State Coordinator and Williams Eke State Public Relation Officer, Sen. Onyewuchi, “Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi accused Mr Obiyo of saying that the Imo People are only interested in the candidacy of Mr. Peter Obi in the Labour Party, and that other Candidates in the party will be voted based on consideration of their, records, pedigree and competence but not based on party sentiments.”
Responding to the POSF, a group Imo East Coalition For Accountability And Good Governance accused POSF of being “pedestrian”, “unintelligent” frustrated and jittery over the continued relevance and rising profile of Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi in Imo politics and Imo East Senatorial Zone.”
The two statements are hereinafter reproduced:
PETER OBI SOLIDARITY FRONT, ( POSF) IMO STATE CHAPTER*
PRESS STATEMENT
WE GIVE SENATOR ONYEWUCHI 24 HOURS TO RELEASE HON ROLAND OBIYO, LABOUR PARTY OWERRI ZONAL VICE CHAIRMAN.
OR BE READY TO FACE THE WRATH OF THE MEMBERS OF POSF.
The attention of Peter Obi Solidarity Front, Imo State Chapter has been drawn to the recent arrest of Labour Party Owerri Zonal Vice Chairman, Mr. Roland Obiyo by the Police under the directive of Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi.
Mr. Roland Obiyo was arrested yesterday, 19th September 2022 by the Police under the directive of Senator Onyewuchi.
According to confirmed information, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi accused Mr Obiyo of saying that the Imo People are only interested in the candidacy of Mr. Peter Obi in the Labour Party, and that other Candidates in the party will be voted based on consideration of their, records, pedigree and competence but not based on party sentiments.
For the avoidance of doubt, the above statement credited to the Vice Chairman should not in any way warrant such harassment and threat by Senator Onyewuchi to the extent of getting him arrested by the police. There is no justification for such recklessness.
We are indeed saddened by Senator Onyewuchi’s uncoordinated and queer judgemental pessimism.
We are uncomfortable with his uncontrollable desperation and antics to amputate or bring opprobrium to the image and candidacy of Mr Peter Obi in the Labour Party.
Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi has really confirmed that he is indeed a bad and unmarketable product, which we will not allow to drag us into the cesspool.
We recall that he tried to unlawfully gag his Orji PDP Ward Chairman prior to his failure at PDP Senatorial Primary Election where he was trounced before decamping to Labour Party.
Imo state Labour Party cannot be a dumping ground for the likes of Senator Onyewuchi who was rejected by the PDP in the state.
Since Senator Onyewuchi came into Labour party in the state after his shameful defeat in the PDP, he has continued to inject bad blood into the party confirming the general belief that he is an unelectable Candidate.
His presence is causing odiferious nuisance in the party.
We are giving Senator Onyewuchi 24 hours to release Mr. Roland who he ordered his arrest or be ready to face the wrath of our organization.
Signed:
Kingsley Ogbu.
State Coordinator
Williams Eke.
State Public Relation Officer
Counterattack:
IMO EAST COALITION FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE.
Press Release.
RE- WE GIVE SENATOR ONYEWUCHI 24 HOURS TO RELEASE HON ROLAND OBIYO, LABOUR PARTY OWERRI ZONAL VICE CHAIRMAN.
Our attention has been drawn to an unintelligent and unguided blackmail being peddled on the media by a faceless organization whose sponsor is well known to us.
We could have chosen to ignore this pedestrian trajectory but for the sake of the teeming supporters of Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi’s Peoples Movement, members of the Labour Party and indeed the general public who might be swayed in thoughts by this barefaced lies and obvious misrepresentation of facts.
The purveyors of this blackmail are only frustrated and jittery over the continued relevance and rising profile of Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi in Imo politics and Imo East Senatorial Zone in particular, having failed miserably to stop his reelection bid in the grossly flawed and hugely manipulated primaries of the PDP.
Their only mission this time is to unsettle and cause disaffection within the Labour party.
It is important to let them know that Sen. Onyewuchi has moved on in his Labour party and it is expedient for them to do same and prepare for the general election and desist from meddling in the affairs of another party.
Sen. Onyewuchi has carried himself with dignity and aplomb with enormous public goodwill which is brought about by his humongous achievements in the National Assembly, and one can only ignore him at his or her own peril, thus the heightened struggle to malign him and bring him to public vilification.
They have forgotten that the reward for hard work is more work.
For the records, we wish to state that Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi did not direct the arrest of any Roland Obiyo and had no reason to do so. Sen. Onyewuchi is not a party officer and could not have involved himself in such an infantile matter that would warrant directing the arrest of a party member. We therefore challenge this faceless organization to prove otherwise or forever remain silent.
Sen. Onyewuchi’s endorsement and reaffirmation as the Apex Leader of the party in the State by the Imo State Chapter of the Labour Party is a confirmation of the confidence the party repose in him as well as an eloquent testimony of his leadership potentials, impeccable character and competence to lead the party to electoral success in the 2023 general elections.
We wish to remind the sponsor of this diatribe and his co travellers that Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi has remained a serial election winner to the Glory of God and no amount of shenanigans would change the narrative in the 2023 election. To state that the people of Imo East are very proud of his accomplishments is to state the obvious.
We can clearly understand the frustration and angst of the sponsor of this press statement and we further sympathize with him because the people of Imo East has variously rejected him through his colossal failure in past elections and the 2023 attempt will not be different.
One wonders what he would be saying to the people to justify their votes in the coming election when he cannot point to a single project he facilitated during his tenure in the National Assembly.
Like a drowning man, he has rather resorted to throwing of tantrums and sponsoring of frivolous and vituperative press statements and constituting himself a nuisance in the political space.
We are also not unaware of the so many dead on arrival court cases the sponsor of this ludicrous statement instituted against Sen. Onyewuchi using pseudo names even when he lacks the locus to do so.
However, our gratitude goes to God Almighty because Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi’s tenure in the Senate can be ranked as perhaps the most glorious and eventful in the recent history of representation in Owerri zone. Sen. Onyewuchi has risen above obvious opposition challenges to bring about visible democratic dividends to his Imo East constituents.
We are optimistic that the ultimate celebration shall come in the 2023 election when all evil forces must have been defeated.
Finally, we need to reiterate that Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi’s reelection ambition is the peoples movement. He is expected to bring new ideas and fresh approach and the people of Imo East will emerge the biggest beneficiaries. No amount of blackmail or press statements can stop an idea whose time has come.
Signed;
Arc. Emmanuel Ejimkonye.
Coordinator.
Bar. Ndubuisi Igbokwe.
Director Media and Publicity.
