*Teargas their supporters, as #Obidients regroup, continue with million-man march
*Umahi accused but denies responsibility
The Police in Ebonyi on Saturday teargased and violently dispersed residents who gathered in Abakaliki, the State capital to stage a one-million-man match in support of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The supporters, however, quickly regrouped in another part of the city and continued with their march.
The Obidient movement, as the supporters are popularly called, had gathered at the Pastoral Centre, Abakaliki for the march when police stormed the area and dispersed them with teargas.
The incident caused human and vehicular traffic on the popular Old Enugu road in the capital city on Saturday morning.
One of the marchers, Steve Ugama, alleged that aside dispersing and tear-gassing the supporters, about five of his colleagues were arrested by the police.
He said: “This is inhuman and undemocratic. We have gathered here this morning for our peaceful march, all of a sudden, the police came and started tear-gassing us and arresting our people.
“They said we can’t hold the march, because Governor David Umahi asked them to stop us, that we can’t hold it. About four of our colleagues have been arrested. We need help here.”
The police are yet to react to the allegation.
When contacted, Mr. Chooks Okoh, aide to Governor Umahi said he was preparing a press statement.
“Give me some time. I will issue a press release on the matter and I will send it to you,” he said.
Later in a press statement, the governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, has explained why a rally by the supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, in the State capital on Saturday was disrupted by the police.
Umahi, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), however, dissociated himself from the disruption.
Umahi, who said he is a democrat and believes firmly in the rule of law, explained that 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, the governor said the organizers of the rally chose to empty into the streets causing some untold hardships on the hapless citizens going about their daily pursuits.
Umahi said the police, whose responsibility it is to maintain law and order, stepped in at that point to do the needful, hence the disruption.
But he insisted it had nothing to do with him.
“If it is true that the police dispersed people, the answer will surely rest with the police,” the governor said.
“The Governor appeals to all citizens to always abide by the dictates of the law and decent living so that law and order will always reign supreme.
“He wishes all political parties and their candidates well and enjoins all to play the game by the rules.”
However, the Obi supporters later regrouped in another part of the town and continued with the march.
At the time of filing this report, they were seen on the Enugu-Abakaliki highway.
One of them who pleaded anonymity said: “They cannot stop us from exercising our right. We have the freedom of movement and association. This is a peaceful rally. We are not rioting and I don’t understand why the police will exhibit such brutality against the people.
“It is sad that this is happening in Ebonyi. This State is not the only one controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC). But if Umahi thinks he can intimidate the people, he is mistaken.”
