Former Anambra State Governor and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi, has condemned the attack on the residence of a national leader of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

Obi spoke in Edo State, where he attended the defection of former Labour Party governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, to the ADC. He also visited St Philomena College of Nursing in support of ongoing projects at the institution.

Reacting to the attack, Obi said it was time for the government to speak out and take decisive action.

“It is time to speak up. It is time those in government act. They will not be there forever. What is allowed to happen in the country today will ultimately affect all of us and the nation,” he said.

In his remarks, Odigie-Oyegun warned that such incidents, if unchecked, could plunge the country into chaos.

According to him, “I am afraid that our leaders, both at the centre and in this state are playing with fire. The consequences could be terrible, much more than any of you expect. I will still talk to the media.

“All I wish to say is holding a meeting, scheduled meeting, everybody informed, duly informed, normal meeting in the premises of the party secretariat today, halfway through the proceedings, we got intelligence report certainly from one of the security agencies that they have information that the place is going to be attacked, so we should please try to wind up.

“Well, you can’t ignore information. So we cut short our proceedings and I think we were just barely lucky to have left there in time because thereafter it looks like all hell broke loose. People arrived here in about 10 vehicles shooting all over the place, people injured and so the question is clear between the intel coming and our finishing the making.

“There was known cooperation, coordination between the security agencies such that that venue at least will get emergency protection. People were able to come in so many vehicles, shoot their way, break into the building, break the office, property and the rest of it and go away and this is a state where we have a governor and where the first duty of any government is to protect us?”

On the attack on his residence, Odigie-Oyegun said, “They came here. I don’t know if it is a very interesting thing, but we had a guest, of course. The former governor of Anambra and one of the prominent leaders of the ADC. From all indications, an aspirant.

“So whether that was what attracted the attack on my premises and my property because the government here had threatened that if he came to Edo State without permission, his security cannot be guaranteed. He was paying a courtesy visit to me and bullets started raining all over the place in my state where I was governor. Edo state. When did we degenerate to that kind of level? So I am still putting my thoughts together. But these are very dangerous, but not good for anyone.” (Text, excluding headline: The Nation)

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