Juliana Nwachukwu | MoI | I-Witness News
In accordance with Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo directive to All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA members in all the 21 Local Government Areas to nominate three persons for the position of Local Government Chairman, the Onitsha South LGA has concluded their meeting.
Onitsha South LGA stakeholders, leaders and members in unison nominated the the following persons; Hon Emeka Orji, Hon Onyebuchi Obi and Hon Barr Mrs Anthonia Tabansi Okoye.
Though there was a plot to disrupt the scheduled stakeholders meeting but was foiled following the intervention of the Local Government Boss, Hon.Emeka Orji.
It happened that on Saturday morning before the time of the meeting, a detachment of the Nigerian Navy stormed the Council headquarters brandishing guns and took over the area which caused apprehension at the Council premises.
Party members started leaving the area for fear of being hit by stray bullet as they took cover at nearby buildings watching the episode from a distance.
The Local Government Boss, Hon.Emeka Joseph Orji was seen appealing to the party members to keep calm as everything is under control noting that as the Chief Security Officer of Onitsha South Local Government Area, it is his duty to protect lives and property of the people.
The contact made by the Local Government Boss to the Army Commander yielded result as the soldiers left the local Government premises by the reactions of their commander who told Hon.Orji that soldiers have no right or reason to be at a political party meeting.
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Speaking on the incident, The Secretary of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Mr Paul Onuachalla described it as highly unconstitutional contending that soldiers do not have any right to be present at the stakeholders meeting of the party but the police if needed.
“It is clearly a surprise one to us as a Council hosting the stakeholder meeting of our party the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA in Onitsha South Local Government Area”
“We had already informed the Divisional Police Officer DPO of Fegge Police Stations here in Onitsha South and he sent officers and men just to witness the meeting”
“Strangely this morning more than half a brigade of Navy officers and men came into the Council heavy armed and we enquired about what is going on and they refused to talk to us ”
On our investigation we confirmed that the Soldiers came to the Council Headquarters on the orders of a former House of Assembly member and now a serving Commissioner Mrs Beverly Nkemdiche .
“Then having looked at the Constitution in Chapter 6 Section 217 it stated that election duty even if it is a general election soldiers are not required to present let alone a mere stakeholders meeting of a political party ”
Onuachalla noted that the meeting was to sit and make recommendations to the Governor who has the free will or right to chose a candidate from the three names or even make his appointment outside the three names recommend to him .
He explained that those recommendations are not binding on the governor adding that this is an act of brigandage being displayed by the former House of Assembly member and now a serving Commissioner in the state Mrs Beverly Nkemdiche.
Onuachalla further narrated that after contacting the Army Commander in Onitsha he ordered the recall of the soldiers who had earlier refused but later left the Local government Headquarters.
