The lawmaker representing Ideato North and South federal constituency of has frowned at the alleged sealing of a venue chosen by his constituents for a civic reception in his honour.

Security agents, including the police and the army, allegedly barricaded the entrance to Isiekenesi Primary School II, Ideato South LGA, the venue for the event.

Hundreds of his supporters and guests, dressed in the Action People’s Party insignia and clutching party flags, had thronged the venue.

They were, however, denied entry by a joint team of security personnel from the Police and the Nigerian Army, a development that sparked tension in the area.

Addressing the supporters at a different location, Mr Ugochinyere described the action as an “unwarranted provocation by the Imo police and state government”.

“I want every Nigerian to see the level we have degenerated,” he said.

He stated that the people of Ideato were simply exercising their “constitutional right” to receive their representative.

According to him, his coordinators received a midnight text message revoking the use of all public facilities. He alleged that the measure was a deliberate attempt to stop the civic reception.

He said that the event was originally scheduled for December 20 but was later postponed to December 23.

“In spite of formal notifications, over 100 police personnel were sent from Owerri to block the venue. They have started again,” Mr Ugochinyere said, while recalling alleged assassination attempts on his life in the past.

He urged the state government to focus on rebuilding primary schools, installing solar street lights, and upgrading health centres. He said that most of the existing social amenities in the area were provided through his personal efforts.

Mr Ugochinyere said that “freedom of association” was non-negotiable.

He therefore called on the inspector general of police to investigate the activities of the Imo police command. He also reported the “barbaric” destruction of his billboards, expressing concern that “such actions create unnecessary tension, given the current insecurity facing the state”.

“If you love my people, build the schools and fix the gully erosions,” he challenged the government.

Mr Ugochinyere also sought the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, describing the current situation in Imo as “political recklessness” that threatened the nation’s democracy.

He commended his supporters for their courage, strength, solidarity and resilience, in spite of the “unwarranted provocation”.

The spokesman for the police in Imo, DSP Henry Okoye, said he was not “officially briefed” and therefore was not aware of the role police played at the reception venue.

(NAN)