Hoodlums attack Abia House of Representatives lawmaker Convoy

The lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ossy Prestige has expressed fears about his safety after yet-to-be identified hoodlums attacked his convoy.

A child of about four years who was left inside the car by her parents while her younger sibling was receiving medical attention suffered bruises from the pieces of glass that shattered on her while the hoodlums were destroying her parent’s car that was also parked within the area that the attack took place.

Prestige, elected under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had gone to Uratta off Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway with personnel of the Ecological Office of the Presidency and the contractor that will rehabilitate the 3km road that has remained impassible for the past 17years.

The lawmaker after taking the federal government delegation round the project site headed for the palace of the traditional ruler of Okpojiaku community, Eze Onyebuchi Ugwuzor in whose kingdom the project was domiciled.

Our reporter reports that less than twenty minutes Prestige in the company of the candidate for Aba South State constituency, Mr. Obinna Ichita had led the federal government team to the traditional ruler’s palace, information came in that unknown hoodlums had stormed and attacked drivers of about seven cars parked not too far from the home of PDP State House lawmaker representing Aba State Constituency, Hon. Clinton Ebere and when they could not succeed, however resorted to smashing of car windscreens and windows.

The personal car of the House of Representatives lawmaker wasn’t spared as the gang shattered the glasses and windscreen after the driver escaped being lynched by the hoodlums.

“As soon as the Honourable representing Aba State Constituency (Clinton) passed here from his house, some men and a lady numbering over 10 appeared from one of the streets around and started hitting all the vehicles. While they were about to leave, one of them sighted me and they started moving towards my direction. It was at that point that I took off for safety.

“They later turned back when they couldn’t get at me and started smashing my oga’s motor. It was from my hiding that I started making calls to notify my principal of what is happening,” Prestige’s driver narrated.

A deputy Director at the Ecological Office of the Presidency, Mr. Abubakar Takum while commenting on the incident said “we came here to hand over the site to the contractor that will commence work on the road by Wednesday next week.

“Unfortunately, when we were there handing over, the hoodlums came and destroyed these vehicles. It is rather very unfortunate for them to do this because this will discourage people; it will discourage outsiders from coming here (Abia State).

“Thank God for the Police and that we were at the Eze’s palace when it happened because if we were outside, what would have happened, nobody would know. Thank God that no life was lost and the project would go ahead as promised.”

Reacting to the incident, Eze Ugwuzor expressed sadness over the development and called for calm.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting the damage on his convoy, Prestige said what happened is a confirmation of fears which he has expressed at different times.

“I said that there is tension in this city over all the projects that I attracted from the federal government for the people of Aba. It is totally saddening that at this 24^thcentury, people are still playing politics of bitterness. It is totally unfortunate. This morning, I got a call from some management staff of the Ecological fund office under the Presidency, Abuja that they are arriving Abia this morning for handover of the site to the contractor who will work on the Uratta road.

“While in the traditional ruler’s house, we now got information that some people who were identified by some of our people who were around came here and smashed all the windscreens and glasses of all the cars that we came here with including those who parked around us.

“One of them is a woman that brought a child to the hospital and the child, according to them, was even inside the vehicle. They didn’t even care about the little child that was inside the vehicle but went ahead to smash car glasses and windscreens park around our vehicle. I quickly informed the police about the unfortunate incident who are here to take on the spot assessment.

“I am sure that you have gone round to see the level of damage on the. What we have come here to do is to put together a road that has been impassible for over 17years which I attracted its reconstruction.

“I think that the offence I committed is that I kept attracting federal government projects that will be for the interest of my people. It is good for the Aba people to know that the enemies of people are at work. They should be able to know the person who has come to work for them and those that have come to work.

“I don’t think that anyone that loves his people will resort to this action over a project that would be sighted in this area.

And for anybody to engage in this and support this, because I know that it is not the ordinary man on the streets that did this, it must come from high area; those who believe that they are fighting me because I stand on the path of truth. Iw ant to liberate Abia. Aba must be fixed.they don’t want Aba to be fixed. They  want to continue to be the trash can of this Nigeria and in this, it is obvious to the average Aba people to know those who are their friends and enemy. It is also good that they started this time around that electioneering campaign is on. It is high time Aba people speak. I will drive these vehicles all over Aba for the people to see and know that the enemy of the people of Aba is at work.

“This goes to confirm that most of the projects that I attracted were being attacked by this same people who went to Ovom to bring down a water stanchion after they poured a chemical on it. It is this same people who after doing 85 percent work on Salad market went and chased away workers on the site and carted away all the sand that were on that road.

“It is the same group of people who believe that nothing good can come from Aba. I know that God sees and judges. Posterity will judge us and Aba people will start from now knowing people who are for and against them. What they did is just like a boost. They want me to do more and I can never relent. They can’t cow me. They can’t make me lose sight or focus of the dream and what I want Aba people to get from me as their representative.

“It is for Aba people to judge whether I have lived up to their expectation or not. I know that they are very rational people. They know who is for them and who is against them. It is boost to me, and I want to assure Aba people that I am not going to relent. Let my enemies do all that they like, I am sure that God will see all of through.

“I have already reported the case to the law enforcement agencies whose duties are to bring the perpetrators to book to serve as a determent to others.”

The Aba Area Commander of Nigeria Police Force, Peter Okpara who was at the scene to take inventory of the incident said that the police would further investigate the incident and promised to ensure that anyone found culpable of the crime would be made to face the consequences of his or her actions.

Okpara who described the incident as despicable, warned youths against being allowing themselves to be used as political thugs, adding that any politician who enjoys thuggery should use his children for such purpose.