THE Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has accused the state government of complicity in the killing of the deposed monarch, Chief Alex Edizieuno.

Alex Edozieuno, (62) and his driver, one Chukwuemeka, were killed by suspected gunmen on Friday along Ezu Bridge, Otuocha.

He was among the 13 monarchs suspended last year for visiting the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in Abuja with oil mogul, Prince Arthur Eze.

He was later dethroned by the state government alongside three others.

In a joint press conference on Sunday, the state Chairman of APC and the Director General of Andy Uba Campaign Organisation, Basil Ejidike, and Paul Chukwuma respectively, described the monarch’s death as “political killing”.

They said, “We woke up to the devastating news of the assassination of Chief Alex Edozieuno, who until his death was the traditional ruler of one of the communities in Aguleri, before he was dethroned by the state government sometime last year.

“Why this death is of major concern to us is because we consider it a politically motivated killing and we wonder why any citizen of this country, no matter how highly placed, could indulge in such act.

“We have been receiving death threats; threats to our families from highly placed individuals in APGA, including a close female relation to the governor and a member of the House of Representatives.

“We are calling on the law enforcement agencies – the police, the DSS to quickly move into action and conduct a proper investigation since the threats have now started translating to deaths.”

Reacting, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba, described APC as a group of politicians allergic to peace.

Adinuba added, “Rather than politicise the ex-monarch’s death, the APC should provide whatever it has about the crime to the Nigeria Police Force. After all, the APC is the Federal Government party which controls not just the police force but also the Department of State security.”

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Ngige calls for justice

Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has condemned the killing of Edozieuno and his driver.

A statement in Abuja on Sunday from Senator Chris Ngige Media Officeurged the  security agencies to track down those behind the murder and bring them to justice.

But Ngige in his statement said, “Long ago while  we were in PDP, he was a field man and a political forte of sorts.

“I recall the last conversation I had with him last year, when he called  to complain about his deposition as the traditional ruler of his community. I  advised  him to take it as an act of God and move on.

“It is quite  troubling Alex was gruesomely murdered by yet- to- be- identified persons…I urge the security agencies to fish out his killers and bring them to justice.”