‘Anambra now at war’ — LP tackles Soludo over murder of lawmaker

The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has tackled Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra, over the “alarming rate of insecurity” in the state.

The party’s reaction came on the heels of the discovery of Justice Azuka’s lifeless body, a member of the Anambra house of assembly, on the Second Niger Bridge.

Azuka was abducted by gunmen on Christmas eve along Ugwunapampa road in Onitsha, Anambra, while returning home for the festivities.

On Thursday, Tochukukwu Ikenga, police spokesperson in Anambra, announced the recovery of the legislator’s decomposing body and the launch of a manhunt for the suspects.

In a statement by Obiora Ifoh, the LP spokesperson, the party mourned the death of the late lawmaker while commiserating with his family over the loss.

The party chided Soludo for having “completely lost the willpower to enforce law and sanity” in the state, adding that Anambra is gradually assuming a “hobbesian status” under his leadership.

“We are presently traumatised by this death and that of other deaths that have become a daily occurrence in Anambra State, a state that is gradually assuming a hobbesian status under the administration of Prof. Charles Soludo,” the statement reads.

“Anambra has fully assumed the state of war, where life has suddenly become nasty, brutish, and short because the present leadership has completely lost the willpower to enforce law and sanity.

“We are pained because not long ago, the Labour Party candidate in the last governorship election in Anambra State, Obiora Agbasimelo, was abducted while campaigning, and as we speak, his whereabouts are still unknown.

“Neither the security agencies nor the government could account for his disappearance, and his family is left traumatised.

“The whole essence of a government is to provide security and well-being for the people; that constitutional provision is lacking in Anambra state at present.

“It is unbelievable and unspeakable that a personality as high as a legislator could be abducted for over a month and the government was incapable of rescuing him.

“Though information has it that the police have made arrests of some suspects, we are, however, calling for a proper and deeper investigation to unravel the real culprits.

“We are not by anyway suggesting a political motive. That would be left for the security agencies to determine; however, we are not unmindful of the circumstances that led to his regaining his mandate after a court ruling ousted the previous winner from another party, who was initially declared the winner of the 2023 election.”

The party asked its members to remain peaceful, cooperate with security agencies, and not be dampened by the unfortunate incident.