A combined photo of Simon Mudi, Reuben Izeze and Gov Sheriff Oborevwori
By Victory Oghene
The members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State who attended the APC Stakeholders meeting held on Sunday at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre in Effurun, a town and the headquarters of Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State did not have the premonition that the meeting which started on a good note would later become bloody
The meeting which was attended by prominent APC leaders and government officials which include the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Senator representing Delta Central, Senator Ede Dafinone, Executive Director of Business Development at NEXIM Bank, Stella Okotete, Governor Oborevwori’s Senior Political Adviser, Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Isaiah Esiovwa; Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze; and other party stakeholders later snowballed into a theatre of violence as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Protocol, Mr. Simon Mudi, popularly known as Temple was entangled in a fight with other party members at the venue.
A party nember who spoke to NATIONAL WAVES on strict condition of anonymity stated that the violence allegedly began when Temple and a young man attending the meeting had misunderstanding over a previous disagreement.
The confrontation further escalated after other nember of the party joined the fray.
According to eyewitnesses, Temple was chased with plastic chairs and bottles before he was allegedly stabbed multiple times in the head, neck and back. He reportedly sustained serious injuries and was rescued from the scene before being rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
However, other eyewitnesses gave a different account, attributing the violence to longstanding political differences between Commissioner Izeze and Temple.
“What actually happened was that there had been growing political disagreements and unresolved issues between Izeze and Temple for some time. Both camps took advantage of the meeting to test their strength. It became a free-for-all fight between supporters of both sides,” an eyewitness said.
“Unfortunately, Temple was stabbed with a bottle on the head, neck, and back while also being hit with a plastic chairs. Blood was gushing from several parts of his body before he was rushed to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.
Plastic chairs, bottles, and other dangerous objects were freely used during the clash.”
Reacting to the incident, Commissioner Izeze denied any involvement, insisting he was nowhere near the scene when the clash broke out.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, he said, “The fight has nothing to do with me. Temple actually started the fight. He used a chair to attack a young man attending the meeting over a previous disagreement.
“Unknown to Temple, the young man he attacked was a member of the Axe confraternity, while Temple himself belonged to a rival confraternity. At that point, other members of the Axe confraternity came out in solidarity with their colleague and joined the fight. Plastic chairs and bottles were used on him while he was chased and stabbed all over his body.”
Izeze further claimed that video footage circulating online showed Temple was more than 300 metres away from the conference hall where he (Izeze) had been seated when the violence occurred.
“So let me reiterate again. Temple has been after me since 2005 over my appointment as Personal Assistant to the late Hon. Dr. Chris Oghenechovwen. This Temple of doom is so satanic and scary that even Professor Indiana Jones, the archaeologist, would not touch it with a ten-foot pole,” Izeze said.
The commissioner also alleged that he was attacked during the incident and accused the Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area, Tony Ofoni, of orchestrating actions against him.
In a letter addressed to the council chairman, Izeze alleged that Ofoni assaulted him and took or damaged some of his personal belongings, including his blue-strapped Guess leather wristwatch, ₦400,000 in cash and his prescription glasses.
He said, “The Honourable Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area spilled my blood and took possession of my blue-strapped Guess leather wristwatch, ₦400,000 in cash, and my prescription glasses. But one million Tony Ofonis and his hirelings cannot spill my innocent blood without facing the consequences in this Federal Republic of Nigeria. To make matters worse, you allegedly told your supporters and PTI Guest House staff that you had the governor’s directive to do what you did.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I sincerely appreciate everyone who has called from around the world to sympathise with me. Nobody sent the council chairman. He became intoxicated by power. He was allegedly shouting, ‘Kill him! Kill him!’ as I arrived at the PTI Conference Centre in reference to another party member with whom he had earlier had an altercation.
“Your Excellency, if I ever steal from you or lie to you, do not spare me. We shall pursue every legal and legitimate avenue to seek justice against you and your hirelings. So help me God.”
In a related development,The Delta State Government has condemned the violent incident describing the attack on Simon Mudi, as barbaric and unacceptable, while directing security agencies
to identify, arrest and prosecute all those responsible.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said the government was deeply disturbed by videos of the violence circulating across social media and other online platforms, stressing that the disturbing scenes do not reflect the peaceful character the state seeks to uphold.
Aniagwu singled out the reported brutal assault on Simon Mudi as particularly reprehensible, stating that the government would not tolerate any form of lawlessness or mob violence, irrespective of the identities or status of those involved.
He said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration remained firmly committed to preserving peace, security and public order across the state, warning that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
According to the commissioner, security agencies have already been directed to investigate the incident thoroughly, identify all perpetrators captured in the viral videos and other available evidence, and ensure they are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
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