The governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra, Andy Uba and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Valentine Ozigbo, have postponed their campaign flag-off following the upsurge in violent attacks and killings in parts of the state.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists last night in Awka, Uba said the postponement was in sympathy with families of those killed and wounded in the violence.
The APC candidate’s campaign flag-off was slated to take place in Onitsha on Saturday.
He said: “Like every other well-meaning member of the public, I have followed with sadness and grief, the recent, unfortunate and mindless spate of violence and insecurity in Anambra state.
“I have also watched with disdain obvious breakdown of institutional capacity and the inability of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-led state government to address security challenges and prevent the state from further descent into anarchy and chaos.
“As a mark of respect and honor and in consultation with both APC and his campaign council leader, the campaign flag-off rally scheduled for October 2, 2021, in Onitsha has been shifted to a later date.
“I, Senator Andy Emmanuel Uba, will be the last person to sacrifice or play politics with the lives of our people. Neither will I allow anybody to do so under my watch.”
Uba, therefore, called on the state government to address the problem.
Similarly, in an independence anniversary message issued by the Director of Media and Communications of his Campaign Organisation, Mrs. Aziza Uko, the PDP candidate called for an immediate end to the violent attacks and killings of innocent Nigerians in different parts of the state.
He condemned the development and commiserated with the families of those who were either killed or maimed by the unidentified assailants.
Ozigbo described the spate of violence in the state ahead of the upcoming governorship election as alarming and having huge consequences on the lives and property of the people.
He said: “In the past few days, we have witnessed an alarming escalation of deadly violence in Anambra.
“We lost an eminent son and several others in what appears to be a renewed violent campaign by bandits.
“Yesterday (Thursday), a prominent Nigerian public servant, medical doctor, and a stalwart of PDP, Lawrence Ezenwa, was killed in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state.
“Ezenwa, who is from Abia, was visiting his wife’s village, Ukpo in Nnewi South, when he met his untimely death. His driver was also shot and killed.
“On the same day, a vehicle belonging to a federal lawmaker, Chris Azubogu, was attacked and his driver killed in cold blood.
“As a leader, I find the latest violence disturbing and condemnable and I call for a stop to all acts of violence, particularly against the innocent.
“Due to this development and in line with my belief that no life is worth anybody’s ambition, I suspended all my campaign rallies and public appearances scheduled for this week.
“Every life is precious and ought to be protected and preserved.”
