The internal ripples of the All Progressive Congress (APC), seem to have taken a new turn as the visit of the party’s presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was almost disrupted as the members of the OUK Movement and the Reality Organization, who came out in mass to welcome their presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, were attacked, in Umuahia township Stadium.
As narrated by one of the victims, who said the attack was melted on them because of the large crowd of members of the OUK movement and the Reality Organization, drawn from various parts of the 17 LGA of the state to the stadium, to support Tinubu.
Mr Josiah Kalu, who is a member of the OUK Movement, and was present at the stadium said that the attacks were from the supporters of Ikechi Emenike and Nkiruka Onyejiocha, the governorship candidate of the APC, who is still in court with Hon Uche Ogah, at the Supreme, for the gubernatorial candidate of the party in Abia state, and the Federal House member representing Isiukwuato and Umunaochi constituency, respectively.
He said “We were there to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the APC, but what we saw was a calculated combat against OUK Movement and the Reality Organization. We call it calculated combat because the attackers were putting on the APC governorship candidate and the Federal house member Isiukwuato / Umuneoche, candidate’s branded face caps and T-shirts.
“We suspected something was wrong when some groups of other APC, supporters tried to stop us as we sang solidarity songs in our numbers. We started to hear violent comments and after which they started attacking us”.
Mr Josiah, also said that they wanted to resist the attack when they saw the brutality of the attackers on the women of the OUK Movement and the Reality Organizations, saying;
“We never prepared for combating battle, Our leader, Orji Uzor Kalu, is a man of peace, he had always told us to be peaceful, so that we are not distracted. we came here to support Bola Tinubu, not to engage in fights among ourselves.
“When some of us wanted to react to their attacks, we called them to order, telling them that two people can’t be mad at the same time and still maintain the peace of this Presidential rally, we encouraged others not give any group the room to disrupt the campaign visit of the APC presidential candidate, to Abia State. Like I said, we never prepared for battle, what we came to the stadium to do is to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
Mr Josiah, also said that the kind of politics played by the supporters of High Chief Ikechi Emenike, and Hon Nkiruka Onyejiocha, can not guarantee the victory needed by the APC, in the 2023 election. He thanked Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, for the wisdom he applied to save the occasion and lives of Abians, saying that had Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, come to the Umuahia township stadium, his presence would have sparked motivations that would have resisted those destructive elements.
He called on members of the OUK Movement and the Reality Organization, to continue their grassroots mobilization and ensure that Tinubu emerged the next President of Nigeria.
“It is disappointing to see politicians play this kind of politics in this era. It is also disappointing that some youths can still be cajoled into violent and nefarious acts against the freedom of association, freedom to canvass and the freedom to show solidarity and our support to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We heard what Hon Nkiruka Onyejiocha said, in the absence of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, at the rally, which really describes her unruly behavior as a woman.
“For all she said about Sen Orji Uzor Kalu, we want her to know that Orji Uzor Kalu, has applied wisdom to scuttle away all the plans to give Abia State, bad name as it concerns the success of the Presidential rally. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha, needed not be told, but should know that Orji Kalu, is a peaceful man by nature.
“Orji Kalu, does not desire to put the lives of Abians, at risk out of desperations. This does not make Orji Kalu, weak. We believe whatever reasons that made Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, not to be at the Umuahia township stadium, was a decision of a wise man, who preferred peace to destructions. We strongly believe it was for the smooth and successful rally of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Safety of those that trooped out to support the APC.
“My appeal to all our OUK Movement members as well as the Reality Organization, is to remain committed to our grassroots canvassing for Tinubu and Dr Orji Kalu’s return to the senate”.
