- Safiu Kehinde
The Labour Party has decried the assassination of Anambra lawmaker and member of the party, Hon. Justice Azuka, while condemning the spate of insecurity in the state under the leader of governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Azuka’s decomposing body was found along the 2nd Niger bridge on Thursday.
NPO reported that the Anambra State House Assembly lawmaker representing Onitsha 1 North Constituency, was abducted at gun pont on the 24th of December 2024 while heading home for Christmas.
His body would be found along the Niger bridge by joint security operatives.
Reacting in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary today, Obiorah Ifoh, Labour Party expressed shock over Azuka’s murder.
The party condemned the Soludo-led administration over the spate of killings in the state, stressing that his leadership has completely lost the will-power to enforce law and sanity.
While recalling the abduction of its governorship Obiora Agbasimelo whose whereabouts still remained unknown, Labour Party maintained that the essence of a government is to provide security and well-being for the people which it claimed is lacking in Anambra State at present.
Labour Party, however, chose to dispel suggestion on Azuka’s murder being political motivated as it acknowledged the circumstances that brought him to power.
NPO reported that the late lawmaker was brought to power after a court ruling ousted the initial winner of the 2023 election.
Labour Party expressed condolences with the late Azuka’s family while urging it’s members to remain calm.
The statement read in part; “The leadership of the Labour Party is shocked to hear the assassination of one of our leaders and a lawmaker representing Onitsha 1 North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon.Justice Azuka.
“The lawmaker was abducted on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 by gunmen while returning home on Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha and his decomposing body was found around the 2nd Niger Bridge on Wednesday.
“We are presently traumatized by this death and that of other deaths that have become a daily occurrence in Anambra State, a state that is gradually assuming a hobbesian status under the administration of Prof. Charles Soludo. Anambra has fully assumed the state of war, where life has suddenly become nasty, brutish and short because the present leadership has completely lost the will-power to enforce law and sanity.
“We are pained because not long ago, the Labour Party candidate in the last governorship election in Anambra State, Obiora Agbasimelo was abducted while campaigning and as we speak, his whereabout is still unknown. Neither the security agencies nor the government could account for his disappearance and his family is left traumatized.
“The whole essence of a government is to provide security and well-being for the people; that constitutional provision is lacking in Anambra State at present. It is unbelievable and unspeakable that a personality as high as a legislator could be abducted for over a month and the government was incapable of rescuing him.
“Though, information has it that the police has made arrests of some suspects, we are however calling for a proper and deeper investigation to unravel the real culprits. We are not by anyway suggesting political motive.
“That would be left for the security agencies to determine, however, we are not unmindful of the circumstances that led to his regaining his mandate after a court ruling ousted the previous winner, from another party who was initially declared the winner of the 2023 election.
“We are therefore calling on all our party members in Anambra State to maintain peace and allow the security agencies to diligently carry out their duties. We also encourage them not to be dampened by this unfortunate incident but rather remain focused on the activities ahead.
“On behalf of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, National Executive Committee and the state executive committee, we pray that the Almighty God will grant the deceased eternal rest. We also condole the immediate family and pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”