Chancellor Mefor, others mourn, pay tributes to aides of Senator Ubah Killed in ambush attack
By Chidi Omeje
Chancellor of the foremost Igbo think-tank, Igbo Bu Igbo Socio-cultural Organisation, Dr Law Mefor has described the attack on the convoy of the Senator representing Anambra South, Ifeanyi Ubah, which claimed the lives of his aides as nightmarish and most tragic.
He joined in the calls from all over the country for the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to launch speedy investigation and arrest the gunmen as it was clear it was a well-planned ambush meant to take maximum lives.
Ubah’s convoy was attacked around Nkwo Enugwu Ukwu Market axis of Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA) of the State on its way to Nnewi, his country home on Sunday night.
Obum Ikechukwu, Senator Ubah’s oldest staff and his Regional Manager for South East and Goodnews Mathias, a Personal Aide who joined him in 2012 were killed on the spot, along with some police orderlies.
Dr Mefor, a public affairs commentator and close ally of the Senator said of the attack: “It is like a nightmare and I just wish somebody will wake me up. Senator Ifeanyi Ubah attacked in his own state where he has laboured so much, by yet-to-identified assassins? And six of his aides felled, including Goodnews Mathias and Obum?
“I enjoyed deep personal relationship with Goodnews Mathias who shared the same block with Igbo Bu Igbo (IBI) National Secretariat where I operated from for quite sometime. Like his principal, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Goodnews was such a good, kind-hearted man, who has left behind very young widow and a son.
“I share the pain with Ifeanyi Ubah political family and the families of these noble victims, and believe that God will heal the deep wound. As Ndigbo would say, oburu na nkea emeghi, nke ka nke eme”. He said Igbo Bu Igbo (IBI), which he leads, will issue a formal statement on the unfortunate incident in due course.
Read Also:
Mefor urged Governor Soludo of Anambra State not to be deterred in his drive to rid the state and indeed the entire South East of crime and criminality.
“While praying God to grant Goodnews and other heroes who fell in the hail of cowardly bullets, we also pray that God will expose the demons who carried out the dastardly act for the full wrath of the law to take its course”, he concluded..
Meanwhile, tributes have started pouring in from friends and associates Odum Ikechukwu and Goodnews Mathias who died in the ambush.
Dr Bibian Okorafor, a financial development exert and a fried of the Senator Ifeanyi Ubah wrote: So sad! Goodnews has ever been a faithful and lotal aide of the Senator. May God Almighty heal the wounded and grant eternal rest to the deceased. We are indeed in difficult times in Alaigbo”.
Late Goodnews Mathias
For Chief Edwin Igbokwe, a long-standing ally of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and member of Igbo Bu Igbo Socio-cultural organisation, the attack is most unfortunate and despicable. Why would anybody want to harm Sen Ubah and kill his aides? Why? May the souls of the fallen heroes find eternal rest in the bosom of the Almighty.
Adichie Izuchukwu, Special Assistant to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on New Media who had worked with Senator Ubah wrote: “On Thursday, we were all together in Ekwulobia for the reception of Cardinal Peter Okpaleke and yesterday being Sunday, I was with Goodnews Mathias in the morning before I went to church.
“Late Odum Ikechukwu was Senator Ubah’s oldest staff, his Regional Manager and Goodnews, a Personal Aide who joined in 2012/2013.
“May the souls of my former colleagues and the souls of the security details that lost their lives yesterday RIP, Amen”
Chinazor Ajumorah, one of the longest serving personal aides of Ubah wrote on her Facebook post: “I am so pained! No one deserves such a death! Not like this!
“Few days ago, Oga cancelled his birthday celebrations and called on his fans to pray for the security situation in Anambra State! Thank God he is safe but this hits home!
