Defection: Ebubeagu operatives besiege Ebonyi Deputy Speaker’s house
Suspected operatives of Ebubeagu Security outfit, in Ebonyi State, on Wednesday, besieged the house of the embattled Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Odefa Obasi Odefa.
Odefa’s seat, was, on Monday, declared vacant by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Francis Nwifuru, who equally said he had, in a letter, resigned from being a member of the House.
But Chief Odefa and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, maintained that both the speaker and the entire House leadership were acting on the instruction of the executive, stressing that such move by the House was impunity against Nigerian democracy.
PUNCH Metro reports that Odefa’s house was cordoned by armed operatives of the Ebubeagu Security outfit, who monitored and questioned passersby, within the Ogbaga Avenue area of Abakaliki, on Wednesday evening.
A source, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the Ebubeagu Security operatives were detailed to retrieve official vehicles and other pieces of property at the disposal of Chief Odefa.
Speaking on the development, Chief Odefa alleged Governor David Umahi and the Commissioner of Police, in the state, CP Aliyu Garba, were working towards eliminating him.
“My life is in danger. I want to use this medium to state that Umahi and the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State want to kill me.
“Their plan is to kill me and the world should take note of this. What are those stupid Ebubeagu urchins doing in my house? They are a threat to my life. My kids, my wife, and other dependents of mine are in that house and those operatives are grandstanding. What are they doing in my house?
“This is the plot of Umahi and the Commissioner of Police in the state, to kill me and my family. I am talking about the Police Commissioner, because I have severally told him about this clandestine plot by the governor, but he has not done anything. Rather he is relaxed and is waiting till when I’m killed. Umahi and his agents are out to kill me.
“What is my offence? They should let me be because I don’t see anything in my decision to remain in the PDP. I am PDP and PDP is me. I hate APC and can’t join them.”
Reacting, the Chairman of All Progressives Congress, in the state, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, who doubles as the Security Consultant to the State Government, said Odefa was the cause of his current ‘ordeal’.
He added he was not under any kind of duress to denounce the PDP and declared his joining to the APC, last year.
According to him, “If Odefa is a real man, he should come out and swear with his children and his life that he didn’t resign from the PDP, in a letter he addressed to the speaker, which he copied so many of us.
“He is not a man. We have about 8 members of the house, who didn’t write a letter to the speaker indicating they are joining the APC and as we speak, we have nothing against them (because they are still in the PDP) and we don’t remember them. Chidi Ejem and others are among them.
“So, we have documents showing he actually resigned from the PDP and joined the APC. We pity him, because he thought he was wise, but he is not. He should go and face his problems.”
On whether Ebubeagu Security operatives cordoned Odefa’s house, the Security Consultant said, “They are there to maintain law and order. We don’t just act based on nonsense information. We act with information. We had information that the PDP is mobilising dangerous men and ammunition into the state to cause mayhem. That’s why our men are there. We are not after Odefa, because he is no longer with us.” (Punch)