The Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, has demanded for full investigation into the recent assassination attempt on Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, his wife and son.
Umahi made the demand on Wednesday at the Government House, Abakaliki when he received in audience the new Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 6, Samuel Ogunjemilusi.
Governor Umahi noted that the South East zone was not satisfied with the police preliminary investigation into the matter, which said the attack was a case of burglary and called for full scale investigation into the attempted assassination.
He emphasized that full investigation into the attempted assassination on the Senator was necessary to rebuild the confidence of the people in the Nigerian Police as an institution changed with the responsibility of protecting lives and property of all Nigerians,
He warned that failure to do justice to the matter was capable of puncturing the people’s trust in security institutions in the country.
Umahi further opined that the police report concerning the attempt on Ekweremadu was not acceptable as true, adding that a case which almost led to kidnap of the senator’s son and forcing him to open the door leading to his father’s room was not a mere burglary attempt.
Concerning the 2019 general elections, Umahi stressed that Nigeria’s continued existence will be determined by free and credible polls, adding that the Police has a major role to play.
He said Ebonyi State would resist any attempt to rig election in the state.
Umahi srressed: “We demand as people of South East that Police should do thorough investigation and bring those behind the attack to book.
“I also on behalf of the entire South East Governors call on the police to try and protect the lives of our people anywhere in the country
“Let votes of Nigerians count; let us not do something that will endanger the lives of the people or the lives of our security agents because the people are going to resist any form of intimidation to rig election in 2019.”
Earlier in his address, the AIG described Governor Umahi as a man of peace and a security conscious person, assuring him of credible and peaceful general election in 2019.
The AIG assured that the police would remain neutral in the coming general election, adding that they would uncomprmisingly uphold their constitutional responsibility of maintenance of peace, law and order throughout the exercise.
Describing Governor Umahi as security-loving leader both in words and actions, he condemned the practice whereby people by-pass Police bosses in their States to make petitions to the AIG in their zones and to the Inspector-General, describing such as a breach of Police organogram.
He said: “It is very important to ensure free, fair and peaceful election.
“It is our promise to assure you that police will be neutral.
“We don’t have any political interest and we are impartial umpire.
“All we need is your corporation and encouragement to us with logistics like vehicles to work for effective policing.”