Our correspondent
A telecommunication expert, Chinedu Anaukwu is lying critically at a hospital in Awka, Anambra state following varied degree of injuries he sustained in attack while allegedly defending a former governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano
He was allegedly attacked by the lawmaker representing Anambra East/West Federal Constituency in the National ssembly, Chinedu Obidigwe and those suspected to be his thugs.
The victim who is also a business partner with the MTN was allegedly punched to coma by Obidigwe and his thugs inside the residence of Rev. Fr. John Manafa at Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra state, the hometown of immediate past governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano
Though, the cause of the attack on Anaukwu was not ascertained as of press time, sources said it might not be unconnected with a power tussle about Obiano’s wife’s ambition to contest the Senatorial seat of Anambra North Senatorial District in next month’s poll.
Anaukwu who spoke to newsmen on his hospital bed , admitted that he criticised the likes of Obidigwe and other Aguleri indigenes who benefitted a lot from the former Governor Willie administration and turned round work against the senatorial bid of the wife.
According to Anaukwu, “In my social media critic, I did pointed out that if there is anybody to fight Obiano or his wife as their fellow kinsmen, it should definitely not be the likes of Obidigwe or some other youths from Aguleri because Obiano picked them from the bin and made them whatever they think they are today”.
“So, as an MTN trade partner, I supplied a certain telecommunication gadget to Chief Primus Odili, former Chief of Staff to Obiano who also was a beneficiary of Obiano administration like Obidigwe. When I took the gadget to him, he requested me to accompany him to a meeting at Rev. Fr. John Manafa”s house at Aguleri which I obliged him”.
“As soon as Odili and I reached Fr. Manafa’s place, Obidigwe sighted me and turned to tiger by confronting me with why I chose to criticize him in Aguleri forum and other social media and I replied that it was not fair for him and others who had benefitted immensely from Obiano administration to turn round and castigate Obiano or his wife or even to constitute a clog on the wheels of Obiano’s wife’s Anambra North District Senatorial ambition under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance,(APGA)”.
“At that point, Obidigwe started pushing and hitting me left and right before Odili and Fr. Manafa separated him from me. As I left the compound to go, Obidigwe communicated his thugs waiting outside the gate to deal ruthlessly with me and one of the thugs hit me at the back of my neck and I stumbled and fell down”.
“As I laid flat on the floor, as a result of the club they hit me with, the other thugs pounced on me and hit me constantly at my chest and face and as I was wearing eye glasses, they smashed the glasses into my eyes until Fr. Manafa and Odili came out and separated them from me”.
“As soon as I stood up, I ran for my life as I almost became blind and the pains held me back until I barely managed to find myself here in the hospital, got admitted, called my younger brother to come to the hospital and I went into coma”.
“This incident occurred at Aguleri between 9 and 10 p.m and I reached this hospital in Awka at 11.55 p.m.”
Anaukwu further stated that he would report the matter to the police as soon as he regained consciousness and then others steps would follow as he would not allow what he described as rascality to be swept under the carpet.
Efforts to get in touch with Odili and Obidigwe did not yield any fruit as they did not take their calls.
However, Fr. Manafa who spoke to our correspondent on telephone said he would not like to comment on the incident.
The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) South-East Zone, in a telephone chat, condemned the incident and described the action of the thugs and their principal who incidentally is a member of the parliament as barbaric and uncalled for.
CLO’s South-East Regional Chairman, Comrade Emeka Attah, in a statement, said it was worrisome that such an incident would take place at a time Nigerians were occupied with how to elect a new set of political leaders that could rescue the country from disintegration, economic comatose and political instability.
