Sunday Okobi

An Igbo socio-cultural group in Lagos, Nzuko Isiala-Ngwa, has cautioned politicians in Isiala-Ngwa North and South Local Government Areas of Abia State to desist from visiting violence on people who hold political views different from theirs.

In a statement signed by the President and Vice-President Dr. Oluchi Ogwuma and Chief Alozie Jimonu respectively, and made available to THISDAY yesterday, the group said warning was at the backdrop of series of violence in the local government area, especially, the Easter incident where some people were brutalised.

The group condemned the act of political terrorism, saying: “People should be allowed to express their opinions and support for any aspirant of their choice without being coerced or intimidated into supporting any particular aspirant, as this is the hallmark of democracy.

“Nzuko Isiala-Ngwa also believes that political aspirations and offices in Isialangwa North and South local government areas should not be an exclusive preserve of any person or family and therefore warns against intimidation as this could spell doom for the people of these areas as no person or group of person has monopoly of violence.”

The group which is an amalgam of elite groups of Isiala-Ngwa North and South Local Government Areas indigenes resident in Lagos, called on the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji, to intervene by calling on the major actors in this orgy of violence to order.

“Nzuko has therefore called on His Excellency, Chief T.A. Orji, to, without any further procrastination, organise the local government election as it is the right thing to do.

“Moreover, the administration being the third tier of government is too important to be left in the hands of non-elected officials who are not accountable to the people,” the statement said.