Athan Achonu, the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party for the November 11 off-cycle governorship election in Imo state, recently had an interview on national TV where he spoke about issues bordering on the internal wranglings of the party and the security situation in the state.
During the interview, Achonu made multiple claims regarding the level of insecurity in Imo state, while talking about his governorship bid and his plans if elected.
When asked to speak to the security crisis rocking many parts of the state, Achonu described the situation as unbelievable, claiming that ceremonial events such as burials and traditional weddings are no longer held in Orlu zone.
“The situation is unbelievable, you see dead people everywhere. People don’t go to Orlu any longer. You have a sitting governor that people from his senatorial district zone, don’t go home. No more burials in Orlu zone. No traditional weddings in Orlu zone,” Achonu said.
Claim: Ceremonial events such as burials and traditional weddings are no longer held in Orlu zone
Verification
Orlu is a senatorial zone comprising 12 local government areas which include Ideato North, Ideato South, Isu, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Oguta, and Ohaji/Egbema. Others are Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, and Oru West.
In an effort to verify this claim, we reached out to multiple sources across various local governments in Orlu zone. The responses we received affirmed that traditional weddings and burials continue to take place in some areas within the zone amid the insecurity plaguing the state.
Ogechi Okehielam, who is from Nkwerre LGA under Orlu zone, noted that ceremonial events are still held daily across the district. “Those activities happen every day in Orlu zone, nothing stops it”, she said.
Another resident from Orlu LGA, Michael Nnaji, also confirmed that ceremonial events are still held in Orlu zone. He, however, noted that “places like ISU LGA are not safe.”
Also, Nzube Maduagwu explained that ceremonial events are still held in Oru West LGA, where he is from, and places like Oru East and Njaba LGAs even though “there are minor insecurity outbursts once in a while”.
He said, “Where events rarely hold is in places like Orsu LGA. This place is the most hit. Last year, events were not holding at all. People were doing traditional weddings in Owerri, Abuja or Lagos. It calmed a bit this year.”
Verdict: All We Know