By Gabriel Elozino
Ambassador Agbah Alex Tobore, a chieftain of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has alleged that the sealing of his business premises by the Ughelli North Local Government Council was connected to his role in organising the party’s 10,000-man march.
Key Highlights
- Tobore says his business premises was sealed a day after he organised an NDC march in Ughelli.
- He alleges the action was politically motivated and denies breaching regulations.
- He says notices were sent to security agencies before the march and claims the police approved its arrangements.
- Ughelli North chairman Jaro Egbo says the premises was sealed over alleged safety and environmental violations, not politics.
- Egbo also alleges that fees for branding a vehicle used at the march were not paid.
Tobore, who spoke to newsmen on Sunday, said the premises was sealed barely a day after the march, which he said he initiated in support of the NDC.
He alleged that during the march, his wife was contacted by individuals he believed were linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that he should expect consequences for his involvement in the protest.
“It was made known to me when the march was going on that someone called my wife and told her that her husband was sponsoring a 10,000-man march against the ruling party and that her husband should be prepared for the consequences,” he said.
Tobore said the timing of the sealing strengthened his belief that the action was politically motivated.
Tobore Denies Violating Council Rules
He rejected the council’s stated reasons for sealing the premises, including alleged violations relating to electricity infrastructure and failure to obtain necessary approvals.
“If they know that they gave me notice and they have proof, let them publish the copy that I acknowledged, or the copy that any of my staff acknowledged on my behalf,” he said.
The NDC chieftain also denied violating regulations concerning the branding of vehicles used for the march, explaining that the branding was completed on the morning of the event.
He argued that if the authorities believed the required fees had not been paid, the affected vehicles could have been stopped and the necessary documents demanded instead of sealing his business premises.
On the allegation that the premises was located near a high-tension electricity line, Tobore disputed the claim, saying the line in question was a domestic electricity line supplying individual houses.
He also explained that the transformer on the property had been relocated there during the dualisation of the road.
Chieftain Says Security Agencies Were Notified
Tobore maintained that the organisers of the march followed due process, saying notices were sent to the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) and Federal Road Safety Corps.
He added that the Area Commander in Ughelli was also informed and that he subsequently spoke with the Commissioner of Police, who, according to him, approved the security arrangements for the march.
The NDC chieftain further alleged that he had received threats to his life and property before and after the rally.
He claimed that there was also an attempt to impound one of his trucks and set it ablaze over its branding.
“I am not safe and my properties are not safe because I am being victimised and oppressed,” he said.
Council Chairman Cites Safety and Advertising Issues
Ughelli North Local Government Chairman Olorogun Jaro Egbo has rejected the claim that the enforcement action was politically motivated. In an interview, Egbo said the structure was built under a high-tension electricity line and that council officials had issued notices over alleged environmental violations.
Egbo also said the council had carried out similar enforcement actions against other structures and alleged that a branded vehicle used at the march did not have the required mobile advertising fee paid. He maintained that the action was administrative, not political. These are the council’s stated reasons; Tobore disputes the allegations.
Tobore appealed to the Federal Government and human rights organisations to intervene, alleging that he was being targeted because of his membership of an opposition party.
He said he had never confronted the ruling party or any other political group, describing himself as a peace-loving person.
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