Supporters of Peter Obi's movement has successfully held a massive rally inspite of police disruption and attack in Ebonyi State
Different supporters of the Obi-Datti, numbering thousands had early hours Saturday gathered for a solidarity march for the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi in the State but were dispersed by the men of the Nigerian Police force
The security operatives stormed Pastoral Center, Abakaliki where the crowd had gathered and fired teargas and shot sporadically on the air.
This development caused heavy human and vehicular logjam at the capital city while people scampered for safety.
Many of the Obi-Datti supporters including some journalists, covering the event were affected by the spread of the teargas.
It was gathered that the disruption was a directive from “State Government quarters”.
Speaking on their behalf, an activist, Barrister Luke Chibueze Adonwe described the attack against the Obi-Datti supporters as another form of police brutality and a rough deal to murder human rights in Nigeria, particularly in Ebonyi State.
Adonwe insisted that despite the attack, no Jupiter would stop the Obi-Datti movement in the state, as the supporters had continued with their peaceful walk in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Aso one of the leaders of the group Mr Linus Abba Okorie said it was a sad day for democracy in the State.
Okorie said: “Dear OBIdients, please be safe. This March must eventually hold. As law abiding citizens, please go home and be safe. Power for Peter Obi and all #OBIdients is not worth the blood of any Ebonyian”.
“Democracy is a state of mind and your resolve to support Mr. Peter Obi cannot be disrupted or broken by intimidation and subterfuge”.
“To the police authorities, you are a creation of the law and should not have pandered to the whims and caprices of other subjects of the Law”.
“For those that think the #OBIdientMovement in Ebonyi can be intimidated out of existence, know ye that today’s disruption shall be an energizer and catalyst to its greater ascendancy”.
“To all the youths who stood up to police teargas in front of the pastoral gas, know it that you are the heroes of democracy and shall be fully rewarded with a #ANewNigeria and a tolerant government in Ebonyi”.
Also speaking with newsmen, a public affairs analyst, comrade Franklin Nnamdi said this callous action has presented Ebonyi in a negative light before the moving world.
Nnamdi said: "It's unfortunate that Wike who's adjudged a no- nonsense governor allowed Obi's rally to hold in Rivers without any obstruction, but police men in Ebonyi State are dispersing peaceful supporters of Peter Obi. This callous action is presenting Ebonyi in a negative light before the moving world".
However, the crowd defiled the police action and relocated at the Peoples Club event Center where they continued with the match
Reacting to the development, governor David Umahi through his Special Assistant media and stratagy Chooks Oko said he never ordered any distruption of rally.
According to the statement,
He said: the attention of the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State has been drawn to some online publications and rumours making the rounds that he ordered the disruption of a gathering in support of one of the presidential candidates in the 2023 elections. This is not true".
"The Executive Governor of Ebonyi state is certainly not aware of any disruption of any gathering as he didn't order any".
He is a democrat who believes firmly in the rule of law. He wishes every contending politician the very best and will insist on a level playing ground for all. If it is true that the police dispersed people, the answer will surely rest with the police".
"For record purposes, the relevant government agencies had approved the use of Abakaliki township stadium for a rally by the Labour party subject to the payment of some specified fees. Rather than pay the fees, it was gathered, the organizers chose to empty into the streets causing some untold hardships on the hapless citizens going about their daily pursuits".
"The police, we are told, had to step in to restore law and order".
"The Governor appeals to all citizens to always abide by the dictates of the law and decent living so that law and order will always reign supreme".
"He wishes all political parties and their candidates well and enjoins all to play the game by the rules". The statement stated.
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