DTHA Ethiope East Constituency: My Attack Is A Shame To Democracy, Says Ivwurie

-Allegations Against Me Are Unfounded, Untrue, A Political Propaganda— Enamuotor

-We Did Not Invite Thugs Or Youths To The Meeting— Atigogo

By Dafe Rukevwe

The lawmaker representing Ethiope East Constituency, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Evance Ivwurie, yesterday, described the attack on him by youths allegedly loyal to two other aspirants for the Delta State House of Assembly in the constituency, Engr. Blessing Enamuotor and Prince Joshua Atigogo, as a shame to democracy.

Recall that a harmonization meeting was convened on Sunday by a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Judith Enamuotor, and five leaders of the party in the area.

The meeting was aimed at producing a consensus candidate out of the three aspirants for the party from Abraka ahead of the House of Assembly election primaries for the constituency. The aspirants are Blessing Enamuotor, Chief Evance Ivwurie and Joshua Atigogo.

But things got out of hand as scores of youths suspected to be members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, invaded the venue of the party meeting, injuring the lawmaker representing Ethiope East in the state House of Assembly, Chief Evance Ivwurie.

Ivwurie said that the reason he did not repel the attacks was because he was preserving his strength for the opposition parties ahead of the 2019 general elections, noting that it would be unwise to use his might against his own party members.

He said : “I, Joshua Atigogo and Blessing Enamuotor were invited by leaders and elders of the party in Oruaruvie-Abraka so that one or two persons could step down. We were directed not to come to the meeting with any of our associates or loyalists and that it was a PDP family affair meeting.

The lawmaker noted that at the end of the meeting, Enamuotor and Atigogo, were asked to step down for him but the duo declined and same question was put to him (Ivwurie) and he said ” If it is the will of the elders and leaders that I should step down, I will put pen to paper here and now.”

“And they said they would reach a decision and communicate to us. As soon as I came out of the venue, I was attacked by the younger brother to one of the aspirants, my wrist was twisted, my wrist watch snatched and I was injured as well as my car vandalized. While this was happening, they had a camera man there taking record of the assault but by God’s grace, I escaped the onslaught.”

In his defense, Engr. Blessing Enamuotor, described the allegations as unfounded, untrue and a political propaganda. He said: “A meeting was called to decide who will represent the people of Abraka at the state House of Assembly in the next dispensation.

“The people got wind of the information and protested that they don’t want anybody to be imposed on them. How can he now say we brought thugs to attack him; is that not laughable? He asked our correspondent rhetorically.

Also speaking, Joshua Atigogo, said nobody attacked the lawmaker as alleged, adding that the party faithful and youths only protested against imposition of candidates in the areas.

Atigogo said: “The meeting held but we could not reach a compromise because my position is very clear on the election. I’m not going to step down for anybody, instead let everybody go to the polls. As soon as I got out of the meeting, I saw youths outside the venue.”

“We never invited any thugs or youths to the venue of the meeting as alleged. They are bonafide party members and constituents who came to express their dissatisfaction over some issues they have with Hon. Ivwurie and somehow an argument ensued between them and the lawmaker. I later saw the video clip of the confrontation that was trending online.”

Constituents and party faithful reacts

In a statement signed by Akpojivi Williams, on behalf of the constituents and youths at the venue of the meeting, he said: “Hon. Evance Ivwurie chose to harass the true sons and youths of Oruarivie-Abraka.  The youths are bonafide and grassroots members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in wards 1 & 2 of Abraka.

“We have always given our lives and all towards the party’s elections in the two wards. We have suffered great pains, deprivation and defeats in elections due to impositions of unsellable and unwanted candidates on us. Imposition of unsellable candidates in time past resulted to the party’s defeat during the elections and we will no longer condone this.

“For the past three years, the same Hon. Evance Ivwurie, has nothing to show in any form as his contribution to the people of Ethiope East unlike his other colleagues across the state.

“The party elders will never be allowed to trade with the destinies of the people of the party under the cover of harmonization anymore. If power belongs to the people as they always claim, then the people must be allowed to choose whosoever will represent them through true, fair and just party primaries.”