The Labour Party has expressed shock over the assassination of one of its lawmakers in Anambra State.
The LP lawmaker, Hon.Justice Azuka, represented Onitsha 1 North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly until his abduction on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 by gunmen while returning home on Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha of the state.
His decomposing body was found around the 2nd Niger Bridge on Wednesday, according to the statement by the police in the state.
Soludo has come under criticism over his failure to rein in insecurity with Anambra accounting for 60% of abductions in the South East geopolitical zone and the most violent in the southern part of the country currently.
The Labour Party in a statement signed by its spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, on Thursday said it is “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 whereabouts are still unknown.
“Neither the security agencies nor the government could account for his disappearance and his family is left traumatized,” the party said.
It further noted that “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 any way suggesting a 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,” the statement added.
