Obi's Supporters Surmount Police Attack, Embark On One Million Match In Ebonyi

--As Umahi Denies Disruption

From Our Correspondent Supporters of Peter Obi and Yusuf Ahmed-Datti otherwise known as Obi-Datti movement, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Ebonyi state Saturday defiled security threat as they sojourned on peaceful one million movement.

Members of the various support groups were dispersed at the party Headquarters, Mile 50, Abakaliki where they gathered to kick off the peaceful movement by suspected men of Nigeria Police Force who used tear gas on them. However, they defiled the security molestation and continued the road walk which lasted for hours at the center of the metropolis.

Reacting on the development, the state governor denied the disruption of the Obi-Datti movement and described the rumour as unfounded. The Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Strategy, Chooks Oko noted that the state governor is a democrat who believed in the rules of law, hence, was not involve in the said disruption. "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. He added, "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.

Meanwhile, 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 the country and Ebonyi State in particular.

Adonwe said that supporters of the movement are citizens of the state who deserve every rights to express themselves and charged the concerned persons not to be detered with the molestation as the Obi-Datti movement is a crusade that's beyond personal or political interest.