By Praise Chinecherem
Stakeholders of political parties in Anambra State have berated Governor Chukwuma Soludo over what they call “gutter languages” used by his aides against a Catholic priest, Fr. Emmanuel Obimma, who spoke against growing insecurity in the state.
Obimma, fondly called Ebube Muonso, on his New Year message, asked Governor Soludo to step up action against insecurity in the state, or resign his position as governor.
His message did not go down well with Soludo’s employees and supporters, including the state’s Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor – a knight of the church – who quickly attacked the priest, calling him all manner of names.
Reacting to the development during a chat with newsmen in Awka, yesterday, chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, described the attack on the Catholic priest as a hight of irresponsibility.
Ozigbo, Anambra 2025 governorship aspirant, who says Anambra presently ranks highest in insecurity in the southeast, expressed worry that no week passes without harrowing reports of kidnapping and violent crimes in the state.
He said, “No week passes without harrowing reports of kidnapping and abduction in Anambra. Shockingly, the state government appears unbothered – carrying out as though all is well.
“When Fr. Ebube Muonso bravely spoke out against worsening security situation, and challenges Soludo’s government to act decisively, the priest was met with insults from government agents – including the Commissioner for Information, a knight of the church, who resorted to the use of gutter languages against the respected priest.”
Former chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra East local government area, Chief Guy Melikam, also criticized APGA led government in Anambra State over “worsening security situation.”
Speaking with our reporter in Otuocha, Friday, Melikam berated Governor Soludo and some officials of his government, who he said, chose to attack a priest instead of attacking insecurity.
He said, “Soludo might not know that kidnapping and violent crime are anything serious. But when Fr. Ebube Muonso reminded him, they attacked the priest instead of attacking the crimes in question.”
The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Anambra State, Mr. Okelo Madukife, also expressed worry over rising insecurity in Anambra; saying that it appears the government of the day does not understand its responsibility.
“There is no conscious effort on the side of Soludo’s government to end this problem. Government of the day has not seen insecurity as a problem. Instead, in more ways than one, government has compounded and complicated the problem by trying to address criminality with criminality.
“Soludo’s government has no clear insight on how to solve the problem, and has not called for help. This is how they opened themselves up for serious criticisms,” he said.
