The 30 members of the Anambra State House of Assembly on Sunday held an emergency closed-door meeting in Awka the state capital.
The meeting was presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Uchenna Okafor may not be unconnected with the gruesome murder on Saturday night of the lawmaker representing Aguata constituency 11, Dr. Okechukwu Okoye by unknown Gunmen.
Members of the house held the closed-door meeting in the personal office of the speaker.
Security was beefed up around the legislative complex during the meeting by the lawmakers.
About four patrol vans with heavily armed men were deployed to the house while the parley lasted.
The over two hours meeting commenced at around 12noon and ended around 2:44 pm when the lawmakers came out, wearing mournful looks.
The legislators adjourned sine die pending the outcome of police and state government action on the death of the lawmaker.
Speaker Okafor however refused to speak to newsmen after the meeting and referred journalists to his earlier statement on Late Okoye’s demise.
It was gathered that Governor Soludo had wanted to meet with the lawmakers on the way forward but the legislators were said to have suspended the idea to respect and mourn their departed colleague.
Dr. Okoye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and chairman, of the Committee on Information, was kidnapped on May 10th with his aide, Mr. Cyril Chiegboka, as both of them rode in a Sienna bus car belonging to the lawmaker.
His decapitated head was discovered while his body missing at Nnobi community in Idemili South local government area of the state.
The terrifying incident of the lawmaker’s abduction saga, ad the sudden discovery of his being beheaded after over one week of a fruitless search by a tactical team of operatives of the state police command and vigilante groups have added a worrisome dimension to the worsening state of insecurity across the state and by extension the entire Southeast geo-political zone of the country.
A source close to the late lawmaker’s family said that a whopping N80 million ransom was allegedly paid to the kidnappers to ensure his release but met the unexpected.
The latest ugly development came about three weeks after an army couple, A. M. Linus, said to be a Sergeant of the Nigerian Army, and his wife said to be a Lance Corporal in the Army, were beheaded after they were shot dead by the gunmen at Orlu town in Imo state.
Sadly, activities of Dare devil unknown Gunmen have unsettled peace across the state as residents now live in fear while businesses, as well as other economic activities, have crumbled with each passing day and week.
The situation is made worse by the weekly Sit-At-Home order by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which onslaught has depleted the fortunes of people in the Southeast region with a weekly loss of over N15 billion to the economy of the five states in the region.
Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo had since his inauguration on March 17, 2022, taken far-reaching measures to stem the tide of insecurity threatening the peace and economy of the state.
As part of steps taken in his search for peace and security of lives and property amongst people of Anambra State and Southeast states, Governor Soludo last week visited the IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the facility of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, where he has a warm discussion on the path to peace in the zone and assurances about his possible release from prison.
Similar efforts have been embarked upon by elders and leaders of Ndigbo including that of Ohanaeze Ndigbo during the recent two days official visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Ebonyi state and that of first republic Aviation Minister Chief Mbazulike Amaechi and former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife with pleas for the unconditional release of the IPOB Leader.
President Buhari had insisted that the Court should be allowed to decide Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case.
Unfortunately, the menacing and penetrating threats, killings, and destruction of public properties by unknown Gunmen are said to have a link with Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant arm of IPOB in Anambra and Imo states, have kept Governors Soludo and Hope Uzodinma on their toes.
IPOB had several washed their hands off all the attacks and destructions visited in parts of the Anambra state.
They also denied the weekly Sit-At-Home even as they vowed to deal with those parading themselves under the guise of unknown Gunmen to disrupt peace across the state.
Recall that the unknown Gunmen had last week vowed to visit an additional ten local government areas after they wreaked havoc in some local areas with huge losses in properties and cars burnt during their attacks estimated at several billions of naira.
This is as the Anambra State House of Assembly has expressed deep shock over the news of the gruesome murder of one of the members of the House, Honourable Okechukwu Okoye by unknown gunmen.
In a press statement by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Uche Okafor, the State Legislature has described the death of Hon. Okoye is unfortunate and heartbreaking.
Okafor who described the late Hon. Okoye as one of the outspoken and articulate lawmakers noted that the Legislative Institution in the state has lost a quality member in the person of Hon. Okoye.
The Speaker recollected the late Hon. Okoye’s sense of humor, hospitality, and commitment to duty among other positive attributes, adding that his demise will be felt in the House of Assembly.
He urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo not to relent in his efforts towards achieving maximum security of lives and property of Ndi Anambra and called on well-meaning citizens to join hands with the governor in that direction.
Hon.Okafor while Commiserating with the late Hon. Okoye’s immediate family, his kinsman, Governor Soludo, and the entire Isuofia community on behalf of the members of the State House of Assembly and the entire Legislature enjoined them to take solace in the fact that the short but eventful life of the late Hon. Okoye was full of quality service to God and humanity.
