The claim by arrested kidnapper, Chukwudi Dumeme Onwuamadike (aka Evans), that he relocated to Lagos from Anambra when the heat on criminals became unbearable under former governor, Peter Obi, has pitched supporters of Governor Willie Obiano against those of Obi over who actually restored security to the state, writes David-Chyddy Eleke
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The news of the arrest of Mr Chukwudi Dumeme Onwuamadike, by men of the Lagos State Police Command brought relief to families, and joy to the police, who believe that their nightmare has at last come to an end. Onwuamadike, who hails from Nnewi in Anambra State was described as the most intelligent kidnapper in history. He was said to be super rich with choice houses in the city and outside the country too.
Videos showing the kidnap kingpin allegedly making confessional statement have gone viral on the internet. In one of such videos, he said that he started his infamous business of kidnapping in Anambra State, during the tenure of Mr Peter Obi as governor, but could not stay as the then governor declared war on kidnappers, forcing him to relocate to Lagos.
This confession has been trending on the social media, especially around Anambra State, where supporters of the former governor, Peter Obi have given him (Obi) credit for the secured environment being enjoyed by the people of the state. Supporters of Obi and those of the incumbent governor, Willie Obiano have been at loggerheads over who between the two, is responsible for the security in the state. Obi’s supporters believe that he initiated the security through support to security agencies, and the eventual decision to pull down houses and other investments made by kidnappers from proceeds of their crime.
On the other hand, supporters of Obiano insist that security during the time of Obi was so porous that Anambra became the unofficial headquarters of kidnapping and other violent crimes. They argue that it was Obiano who deserved the credit. They cited his decision to convene security summits for governors of the southeast states and Delta in which an Israeli security expert Morshe Kennan was brought down to the state to brainstorm with the people on how to secure the state.
Evans’ arrest has provided another topic for the supporters of both men, who have been using the social media to attribute the relative peace being enjoyed in the state to either of the two depending on whose side they are.
A social media commentator, Mr Stanley Chirah, who first circulated the video of Evans’ confessional statement said that the truth had at last come out, as the confession by the kidnap kingpin that he had to escape from Anambra during the Peter Obi era to Lagos, showed that Obi should take the credit for the security being enjoyed in the state.
Chirah, using Facebook and WhatsApp hailed Obi for his work on security, arguing that if Anambra was not secured by Peter Obi, Evans would most probably have settled in Anambra to carry out his trade. He also argued that lots of kidnappers had to flee Anambra after Obi gave support to the police through donation of security gadgets and automobiles, which aided the police in smoking out kidnappers, whose houses were also pulled down.
On the other hand, Chief Ifeanyi Aniagor, Senior Special Assistant to Anambra governor on New Media has released a new video of the kidnap kingpin, while being interviewed by journalists in Lagos. In the new video which is being circulated by Aniagor, Evans stated that he never did any form of kidnapping in Anambra state. With this video, he hoped to contradict claims by Obi’s supporters that Evans was forced out of Anambra by the security measures put in place by the Obi. Aniagor said, “I am sharing this video to serve as deterrent and put to shame a few online blackmailers peddling lies about how and who sanitized Anambra State.†He added further that in doing this, he was trying to show that even though he lived in Lagos and carried out his trade around the country, Evans could not penetrate Anambra State because of the security Obiano had put in place.
Obiano has always harped on the fact that he was the one who secured the state through his purposeful leadership. While addressing a conference of the National Association of Law Teachers recently, Obiano said; “We placed law and order as a precondition for growth and development. Today, Anambra State stands out as a shining example of what a people can achieve if they make unrelenting efforts to place law and order and national security first.
“Anyone who is familiar with Anambra’s narrative would remember that for decades, our beloved state was held down by lawlessness and insecurity which made all efforts at meaningful development totally impossible. At a point in time, Anambra could almost pass for a postcard of disorder and insecurity, but our story has changed within just three years. We have made rapid progress from being an address for lawlessness to an oasis of peace and a destination for wise investors.”
But people who spoke to THISDAY said the bickering over who initiated security in the state or not, should not be an issue. Mr Toochukwu Eze, a lawyer told our correspondent that what was playing out between both men was just the normal politicking, which Nigeria politicians have become used to. “They politicize everything for their own gain, but that is not supposed to be so. Obi was here, an even though there was high crime rate then, he did his best to combat it, to the point of signing a law that anyone caught engaging in kidnapping would forfeit his property, which is deemed to be proceeds from crime.
“Government everywhere is a continuum, more so in Anambra, where Obi worked very hard to give us Obiano, who had also promised to continue the good works he inherited. Both men in reality should join Anambra people in rejoicing that the state has at last achieved security, rather than working to discredit each other over who made it happen.â€
Another respondent, Mr Uchechukwu Nwamadi, a commercial motorcyclist is of the view that Obiano has done very well in the area of security. He recalled that before he was elected governor, there were all manner of ‘small’ crimes around cities in the state, especially Onitsha. “That was when Upper Iweka became the den of robbers, and they operated freely in broad daylight without interference, even though there were usually police checkpoints around the area. But I also recall that before Peter Obi left office, he sanitized Upper Iweka and other dangerous spots in the state. Obiano on his part has done well, so, it is not a matter of who did it, but has it been done in Anambra State? And the answer to that is yes.
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Government everywhere is a continuum, more so in Anambra, where Obi worked very hard to give us Obiano, who had also promised to continue the good works he inherited. Both men in reality should join Anambra people in rejoicing that the state has at last achieved security, rather than working to discredit each other over who made it happen.
