Labour Party has berated the government of Anambra State over the murder of the lawmaker representing Onitsha 1 North Constituency, Hon. Justice Azuka.
Azuka was reportedly abducted on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 by gunmen while returning home on Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town.
His decomposing body was discovered around the 2nd Niger Bridge on Wednesday.
LP in a statement on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said “The leadership of the Labour Party is shocked to hear the assassination of one of our leaders and a lawmaker representing in the Anambra State House of Assembly . . .”
Ifoh disclosed that the party was traumatized by Azuka`s death and that of others, regretting that such incidents “have become a daily occurrence in Anambra State, a state that is gradually assuming a Hobbesian status under the administration of Prof. Charles Soludo.”
He stated that the state 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 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 anyway 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.
On behalf of the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, National Executive Committee and the state executive committee, we pray that the Almighty God will grant the deceased eternal rest. We also condole the immediate family and pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”