•Governor says kidnap claim laughable
Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has called for the arrest and prosecution of Ahmed Gulak for his “ignoble” role in the cancellation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary.
Gulak chaired the Governorship Primary Election Committee in Imo State, but absconded after he rescheduled the primary, only to declare one of the governorship aspirants, Senator Hope Uzodinma, winner.
Okorocha, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said: “We call for the arrest and prosecution of Alhaji Gulak because there is punishment for his anti-democratic action and his false claim of kidnap attempt. We must begin to tell men like Gulak and Senator Hope Uzodinma that it cannot be business as usual.
“Gulak, former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and of course, the Chairman of the disbanded Imo State Governorship Primary Election Committee, told the media on October 2 that he fled Owerri at 4 am because agents of Governor Rochas Okorocha tried to kidnap him and three others of the 12-member committee. The media reported what he told them.
“If you ask me, men like Gulak can’t build a country. They not only constitute serious threat to our promising democracy, but also a danger to this great country. Giving men like him national assignments like the one he was sent to Imo State to do was just licensing him to blackmail the country and put our democracy to ridicule.
“And there are certain lies or actions a man who had been the Political Adviser to a former President of the nation should have overgrown, no matter the temptation. The childish tale of his attempted kidnap was just an afterthought. He knew he didn’t act well his part and was only trying to see how he could come out from the tight corner he had boxed himself into.
“Gulak flew into Owerri by 12:45pm on Monday, October 1, being the day slated for the primary. Let him publish his flight documents to prove us right or wrong. They went straight to the Police Headquarters where they deposited the election materials. After that, the committee members entered into a lengthy meeting with the candidates, stakeholders, and heads of security agencies…
“The question Nigerians should ask Gulak is that if he left Government House by 9.55pm, and fled Owerri by 4am, and considering the location of Rockview Hotel where they lodged,
when and where did the kidnap attempt take place?
“And why should he be kidnapped when the materials for the primary were kept at Police Headquarters. And of what value would have his kidnap served anybody since he didn’t have any material and the primary hadn’t been conducted.
“It is now left for Nigerians to ask him where he got the results for which he declared Senator Hope Uzodinma winner. In fact, we do not subscribe to people talking about PDP when men like Gulak who left the party just few months ago act funny. It is a personal thing. It has nothing to do with PDP. Some people live. Some others exist. Those who just exist do not have souls, and for them, anything goes…”