Wilson Adekumola
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Ebonyi State, Prof. Benard Odoh, has debunked the alleged killing of his traditional rule, Ezeogo Ewa, by the Ebonyi State Government.
He said the Ebonyi State Government had claimed he was behind the death of the monarch who was killed by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.
According to The PUNCH the traditional ruler was gruesomely murdered by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in his Umuezeokoha community home at about 8:30pm on Monday.
The unfortunate incident had thrown the communiyy into mourning mood.
It was gathered that coming up after the incident, the Ebonyi government through the Commissioner for Information, Barr. Uchenna Orji, described the situation as sad and accused rivals of being behind the killing.
In the same vein, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Simbad Ogbuatu, while speaking with journalists, in a statement, on Tuesday, alleged the APGA governorship candidate of being behind the death of the traditional ruler.
Meanwhile, in an interview with journalists in Abakaliki, on Tuesday, Odoh denied the allegations, ststing that it was a desperate move by the state government to smear his character.
According to him, “It is hard that at a time I’m mourning the death of my traditional ruler, His Royal Highness Eze Igboke Ewa, the APC government is doing everything possible to destroy my reputation. Anybody who knows me knows my records. I have read what was written by one Ogbuatu Chidi Simbad. I have also read the one written by the APC State Working Committee. I don’t have any issue with HRH Eze Igboke Ewa.”
He, however, described the late monarch as a father figure to him adding, he visited him two weeks ago after he was attacked at Ezillo.
“Before I took off for this political journey, I went and consulted him as my Eze and he blessed me. So, this is strange.
“What’s going on in Ebonyi today is a political witch-hunt. I have had a running battle with this government since I left as Secretary to the State Government and all of you are fully aware of it. I have been attacked seven times since we started our campaign, none was investigated including the one I lost two officers. I was attacked at Okposi two weeks ago where we have video clips of APC people with branded APC vehicles who came to attack us. No investigation was made,” he said.
He noted the APC was doing everything possible to distract him but vowed not to give room for such.
He promised to seek legal redress against the accusation, noting that those plotting the accusation must prove the matter beyond any reasonable doubt.
“It’s strange that at a time the entire community is mourning, this is what’s coming out from the APC government,” he lamented.
He urged residents of the state to patiently await a full investigation as appropriate action would be carried out
“Let’s be calm and hope that Justice will be served in the end,” he implored.