The Government of Ebonyi State has reacted to the assault of supporters of Peter Obi.
The government claimed that before the disrupted rally for the Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, in Abakaliki on Saturday, agencies of the government approved the venue for the exercise, but the supporters refused to pay the fee.
It was reported that pandemonium broke out in Abakaliki on Saturday when supporters of the former Anambra State governor gathered for their one-million-man march.
Obi’s supporters, popularly called ‘Obidients’, were to take off from the People’s Club area, but some thugs alleged to be working for another party in the state invaded the venue and disrupted the rally.
However, debunking reports alleging the involvement of the state government in the attack, Chooks Oko, Special Assistant on Media and Strategy to Governor Dave Umahi said organizers of the rally refused to pay for the venue, forcing the supporters into the street where the hoodlums unleashed the attack.
The statement reads partly, “For record purposes, the relevant government agencies had approved the use of Abakaliki township stadium for a rally by the Labour Party subject to the payment of some specified fees.
“Rather than pay the fees, it was gathered, the organizers chose to empty into the streets causing some untold hardships on the hapless citizens going about their daily pursuits.”
Photo Credit: Getty
