…Politicians should endeavour to accommodate themselves and avoid shedding blood.
The clash between the supporters of Uche Ekwunife, Senatorial candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and her rival, Hon. Dozie Nwankwo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), at the Enugwu Ukwu Igu Aro festival ceremony in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state has been condemned by stakeholders from the zone describing it as a show of shame.
According to an eyewitness the fracas started when Dozie Nwankwo came earlier and waited to enter the arena for Igu Aro, while waiting, the organizers announced that no politician will be allowed into the main arena with political flags. Dozie Nwankwo and his supporters agreed and waited patiently for them to be recognized.
While they were waiting, Uche Ekwunife and her supporters enter the main gate and matched to the arena with numerous PDP flags and umbrellas, they were probably oblivious of the standing order by the organisers who earlier warned that politicians will not be allowed to enter the arena with party flags.
In a quick reaction, Dozie Nwankwo supporters seeing that Uche Ekwunife and her people had gained entrance rose in anger and matched forward to the arena which made everything chaotic, the atmosphere was charged, which sparked up aggression that led to violence and open fight.
The traditional ruler of Enugwu-Ukwu, His Royal Highness Igwe Ralph Obumneme Ekpe, while condermning the act stated that such political rascality was unbecoming considering the fact that it occurred at his 2023 Igu-Aro cultural festival.
Leader of the elders, Okeke Nwoye-Kwalu and Chief Chika Nwana, Chairman Umuagwu village Enugwu-Ukwu in there separate reactions said no one ever expected that such would happen noting that even though it is the season of political activities, that politicians should endeavour to accommodate themselves and avoid shedding blood.
“Someone sustained a very serious injury from the fight that erupted between supporters of both candidates. He said the young man’s head was broken in the course of the fracas. He however advised politicians to tolerate one another as only one person will emerge winner in every contest.
