Ahmed Gulak, a former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was assassinated by a yet-to-be-identified gunmen in Owerri, the capital of Imo state earlier today.

Although several influencers and media outfits, including PR Nigeria, a pro government medium, and one Mr Kayode Ogundamisi, a social media supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, attributed the killing to a pro Biafran separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as being responsible for the willing.

While I am of the view that it is premature for anyone to point fingers at IPOB or anyone without proper investigation, I believe that past events would help give a pointer.

Recall that on October 2nd, 2018, Ahmed Gulak was at the centre of controversy in the gubernatorial primary of All Progressive Congress in Imo state. As Chairman of the APC committee that conducted the primary, Ahmed Gulak announced Senator Hope Uzodinma (now Governor) as winner of the contest and lawfully elected candidate of the party. He claimed that Uzodinma polled 423,895 votes to defeat Chief Uche Ugumba Nwosu, the son-inlaw and preferred of Governor Rochas Okorocha (as then was), and seven others.

Following the declaration of Uzodinma, Rochas Okorocha accused Gulak of not conducting the direct primary election but fleeing to Abuja to fraudulently declaring Hope Uzodinma as winner.

Meanwhile, a second faction of the committee for the same primary declared Uche Ugumba Nwosu as winner.

Speaking about it, Gulak stated that he narrowly escaped being kidnapped by Rochas Okorocha over the same primary.

“Immediately we landed at the airport, that was where the problem started. They wanted to kidnap every member and only God knows where they wanted to take us to, which I refused.”, Gulak stated in an interview with Vanguard Newspaper on 8th November 2018. He further stated that he narrowly escaped being killed by Okorocha's group. This claim was however denied by Rochas Okorocha.

Considering the above, it was clear that the late Gulak had issues with Okorocha due to the 2018 event. In fact, Ahmed Gulak has been a regular guest in Imo state since Senator Uzodinma, an arch political rival of Okotocha, assumed office in January 2020.

We may also recall that at several times, Governor Hope Uzodinma has attributed the activities of the "Unkwown Gunmen" in Imo state state, including attack on his house, to plot by "politicians" to bring trouble to Imo state.

"Preliminary investigation suggests that the foiled attack may have been politically sponsored. The government has directed the relevant security agencies to expedite investigation on the incident and promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice.”, Declan Emelumba, the Imo state Information commissioner stated this on 24th April, in a statement following an attack of the Governor's house.

Unfortunately, Gulak was killed in same Imo state on Sunday (today) in a suspected assassination move. I say this because various media reports neither stated that he was shot by armed robbers nor was it a case of stray bullet.

Furthermore, media reports, including a statement by Dr Umar Ado, Gulak's classmate, confirmed that the former Admawa State House Speaker was killed on his way to Abuja, Nigeria's FCT. This simply points that the assassins had foreknowledge of Gulak's movement.

Although, only a proper investigation can unravel who killed Gulak, I believe that attributing his death to IPOB without any proper investigation, is not only premature but deliberate attempt to heighten already tensed situation in Imo state and create ethnic conflict.

While we await for proper investigation to unravel the culprits, their motive and sponsors (if any), I pray that God forgive Gulak of his shortcomings and grant his soul peaceful rest.

Although, only a proper investigation can unravel who killed Gulak, I believe that attributing his death to IPOB without any proper investigation, is not only premature but deliberate attempt to heighten already tensed situation in Imo state and create ethnic conflict.

Only if it is a Federal Government set up or politically motivated against the people of the South East.

Proper investigation is meant to be done before attributing the killing to IPOB, when IPOB spokesperson hasn’t come out to claim responsibility.

I dey respect this guy write-up but I need to tell us this..it's not too early to point fingers @ IPOB..

IPOB already warned Nigerians in their region not to step a foot outta their lodge until Tuesday or so, or else, "dem go collect"..This is in black and white..it's all over nairaland..so why are we trying to create a debate out of this?

Nnamdi Kanu's soldiers are new to handling guns. They are still wowed by what a rifle can do...on people..They haven't learnt much about what it can do on them

Whatever action the FG takes will precipitate a much more brutal response from its bandits operating in the SE and SS states.


The FG has really shot itself on the foot.

No one fingered to ipob actually.

He's not useful to them.

You have a point.

But Ipob has never taken responsibility for all assassinations linked to them.
They always deny them while celebrating the outcome.

The man was killed on his way to the airport.
He had no security escorts meaning he didn't fear for his life.
Politicians do not joke with threats to life.

Since he currently hold no sensitive political position, it is unlikely that he was
killed for political reasons.

It is either he is a victim of random violence or he ran into Ipob on patrol.

If you have any Igbo relatives up north, now is when to let them know how careful they should be.
May God help us all.

With the kind of government we have at the center coupled with the laziness of our security operatives expect the investigation concluded by tomorrow with the killers known as UGM declared the IPOB. This is the sorry state we find ourselves now.

GOATandYAMtheory:
I dey respect this guy write-up but I need to tell us this..it's not too early to point fingers @ IPOB..

IPOB already warned Nigerians in their region not to step a foot outta their lodge until Tuesday or so, or else, "dem go collect"..This is in black and white..it's all over nairaland..so why are we trying to create a debate out of this?

Good submission but also know that Gulak wasn't the only person on the street that defied the sit at home by IPOB. Meanwhile, the Governor has repeatedly attributed UGM group to politicians... Anyway, let police do their job properly.

....I read all you said here but in a way,you were trying to point a finger towards Rocha's direction.

I can't and will never trust any politician but you should also have it in mind that the people he always come to see and dinne together can equally take him out due to blackmailing from him.

Let's look at it this way. Assuming he submitted the fake results and Hope was declared winner on the day of primaries. Now after the supreme court decided in favour of Hope, Don't you think that he coming out now to say the truth might make Hope to be thrown out for being the wrong A P C govonorship flag bearer?

And if such is the case,don't you also think he might be using this to blackmail the govonor?

Don't you also think that when such becomes unbearable to the person to take,he might decide to knock him off?.

@TonyBarcanista

Sammy07:
No one fingered to ipob actually.

He's not useful to them.

PR Nigeria, a pro government blog, attributed it to IPOB..

This is front page material

Admin please do the needful

It is not on IPOB or ESN agenda to take out gulak, he and his friends shud go and sort themselves out, he is not of any political value , what will his death do to further the biafran cause ? Nothing . What is Kayode Ogundamis an ethnic warlord doing in the corridors of power? That shows the clouding of the government in power.

JONNYSPUTE:
....I read all you said here but in a way,you were trying to point a finger towards Rocha's direction.

No, I didn't point at Rochas, I only pointed the events to show that he had issues with some APC faction in Imo state... You know in investigation every angle must be looked at.

I can't and will be never trust any politician but you should also have it in mind that the people he alawzy comes to see and dinne together can equally take him out due to blackmailing from him.

Let's look at it this way. Assuming he submitted the fake results and Hope was declared winner on the day of primaries. Now after the supreme court decided in favour of Hope, Don't you think that he coming out now to say the truth might make Hope to be thrown out for being the wrong A P C govonorship flag bearer?

And if such is the case,don't you also think he might be using this to blackmail the govonor?

Don't you also think that when such becomes unbearable to the person to take,he might decide to knock him off?.

While I can't fault you, you should also know that the issues on Imo state governorship candidacy has been foreclosed by Supreme court ruling in December 2019, which affirmed Nwosu as winner but went ahead to disqualify him for double candidacy.

However, Gulak could have been killed for other reasons such as deal gone bad, political blackmail, revenge/avenge etc. It is least likely that IPOB (as an organisation) would be behind it knowing that there isn't any relationship between Gulak and Biafra as he isn't a state actor.

TonyeBarcanista:
Ahmed Gulak, a former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was assassinated by a yet-to-be-identified gunmen in Owerri, the capital of Imo state earlier today.

Although several influencers and media outfits, including PR Nigeria, a pro government medium, and one Mr Kayode Ogundamisi, a social media supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, attributed the killing to a pro Biafran separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as being responsible for the willing.

While I am of the view that it is premature for anyone to point fingers at IPOB or anyone without proper investigation, I believe that past events would help give a pointer.

Recall that on October 2nd, 2018, Ahmed Gulak was at the centre of controversy in the gubernatorial primary of All Progressive Congress in Imo state. As Chairman of the APC committee that conducted the primary, Ahmed Gulak announced Senator Hope Uzodinma (now Governor) as winner of the contest and lawfully elected candidate of the party. He claimed that Uzodinma polled 423,895 votes to defeat Chief Uche Ugumba Nwosu, the son-inlaw and preferred of Governor Rochas Okorocha (as then was), and seven others.

Following the declaration of Uzodinma, Rochas Okorocha accused Gulak of not conducting the direct primary election but fleeing to Abuja to fraudulently declaring Hope Uzodinma as winner.

Meanwhile, a second faction of the committee for the same primary declared Uche Ugumba Nwosu as winner.

Speaking about it, Gulak stated that he narrowly escaped being kidnapped by Rochas Okorocha over the same primary.

“Immediately we landed at the airport, that was where the problem started. They wanted to kidnap every member and only God knows where they wanted to take us to, which I refused.”, Gulak stated in an interview with Vanguard Newspaper on 8th November 2018. He further stated that he narrowly escaped being killed by Okorocha's group. This claim was however denied by Rochas Okorocha.

Considering the above, it was clear that the late Gulak had issues with Okorocha due to the 2018 event. In fact, Ahmed Gulak has been a regular guest in Imo state since Senator Uzodinma, an arch political rival of Okotocha, assumed office in January 2020.

We may also recall that at several times, Governor Hope Uzodinma has attributed the activities of the "Unkwown Gunmen" in Imo state state, including attack on his house, to plot by "politicians" to bring trouble to Imo state.

"Preliminary investigation suggests that the foiled attack may have been politically sponsored. The government has directed the relevant security agencies to expedite investigation on the incident and promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice.”, Declan Emelumba, the Imo state Information commissioner stated this on 24th April, in a statement following an attack of the Governor's house.

Unfortunately, Gulak was killed in same Imo state on Sunday (today) in a suspected assassination move. I say this because various media reports neither stated that he was shot by armed robbers nor was it a case of stray bullet.

Furthermore, media reports, including a statement by Dr Umar Ado, Gulak's classmate, confirmed that the former Admawa State House Speaker was killed on his way to Abuja, Nigeria's FCT. This simply points that the assassins had foreknowledge of Gulak's movement.

Although, only a proper investigation can unravel who killed Gulak, I believe that attributing his death to IPOB without any proper investigation, is not only premature but deliberate attempt to heighten already tensed situation in Imo state and create ethnic conflict.

While we await for proper investigation to unravel the culprits, their motive and sponsors (if any), I pray that God forgive Gulak of his shortcomings and grant his soul peaceful rest.

My opinion also, most of the violence in Imo are being sponsored by politicians

post=102197301:

My opinion also, most of the violence in Imo are being sponsored by politicians

Fact... Not just Imo alone but across Nigeria. Most are politically sponsored

TonyeBarcanista:

Good submission but also know that Gulak wasn't the only person on the street that defied the unreasonable sit at home by IPOB. Meanwhile, the Governor has repeatedly attributed UGM group to politicians... Anyway, let police do their job properly.

what is unreasonable about the sit at home

TonyeBarcanista:

No, I didn't point at Rochas, I only pointed the events to show that he had issues with some APC faction in Imo state... You know in investigation every angle must be looked at.


While I can't fault you, you should also know that the issues on Imo state governorship candidacy has been foreclosed by Supreme court ruling in December 2019, which affirmed Nwosu as winner but went ahead to disqualify him for double candidacy.

However, Gulak could have been killed for other reasons such as deal gone bad, political blackmail, revenge/avenge etc. It is least likely that IPOB (as an organisation) would be behind it knowing that there isn't any relationship between Gulak and Biafra as he isn't a state actor.

..,.Ok bro.
Also from the statement the police made,I saw some loopholes.

1, They didn't tell us why the driver took an irregular route to the airport instead of the normal one. Was he in the know that he was being targeted by enemies for them to take such route

2, Who were the other two occupants with him in the vehicle and where are they?

3, Where is the driver? They should ask him why he decided to take an irregular route. Was he obeying instructions from Gulak?

4, Why didn't he informed the police about his movements? Was he hiding anything?

Police should be holistic in their investigation before jumping into conclusion.

Bethel4Life:
what is unreasonable about the sit at home

Nothing unreasonable in sit-at-home sef

The way they are rushing to finger IPOB gives me more reason to believe they have an axe to grind in this.

Ogundamisi, and the so called Nigerian Intelligence , whatever that means, especially.

It's sad that they're pulling the Akwa Ibom murder card on this.

JONNYSPUTE:
..,.Ok bro.
Also from the statement the police made,I saw some loopholes.

1, They didn't tell us why the driver took an irregular route to the airport instead of the normal one. Was he in the know that he was being targeted by enemies for them to take such route

2, Who were the other two occupants with him in the vehicle and where are they?

3, Where is the driver? They should ask him why he decided to take an irregular route. Was he obeying instructions from Gulak?

4, Why didn't he informed the police about his movements? Was he hiding anything?

Police should be holistic in their investigation before jumping into conclusion.

Unfortunately, dead men don't talk.

TonyeBarcanista:
Nothing unreasonable in sit-at-home sef

The real Barcanista

TonyeBarcanista:

Unfortunately, dead men don't talk.

...I agree with you but based on the statement. He was singled out and shot. The driver and the other occupants should be their to talk.
Well,may his soul rest in peace. Amen.

[s]

GOATandYAMtheory:
I dey respect this guy write-up but I need to tell us this..it's not too early to point fingers @ IPOB..

IPOB already warned Nigerians in their region not to step a foot outta their lodge until Tuesday or so, or else, "dem go collect"..This is in black and white..it's all over nairaland..so why are we trying to create a debate out of this?

Nnamdi Kanu's soldiers are new to handling guns. They are still wowed by what a rifle can do...on people..They haven't learnt much about what it can do on them

[/s]
Shut up

UGM only kill men on uniform.
ESN chase herdsmen in our bushes.

The questions are:

Was Gulak on Military or police uniform when he was killed?

Was he herding cattle?

If the above are No! Then it's neither ESN or UGM.

How do we know this?
Because we still have Northerners doing businesses in the East including the famous Ama Hausa in Owerri and no one is chasing after them.

even the dumbest person knew it's a political assassination.

in politics fork up no dey sour
his killers killed him at the right time knowing fully that fingers will point at ipob thereby limiting the investigation.

politics is a dirty game once you enter it you've automatically loose your freedom it's either kill or get killed.

People pointing hands at ipob are just being mischievous

PRESS RELEASE

IMO STATE POLICE COMMAND
30 MAY 2021
MURDER OF AHMED GULAK BY ARMED BANDITS.

On the 30/5/2021, at about 07:20hrs, armed bandits intercepted and attacked a Toyota Camry cab carrying Ahmed Gulak and two others who were on their way to Sam Mbakwe Airport to catch a flight.
Ahmed Gulak left his room at Protea Hotel without informing the Police nor sister agencies in view of the fragile security situation in the South East and Imo in particular. He left without any security escorts and while the cab driver took irregular route to the airport, six armed bandits who rode in a Toyota Sienna intercepted, identified and shot at Ahmed Gulak at around Umueze Obiangwu in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area close to the Airport.
The Commissioner of Police Imo CP Abutu Yaro, fdc has directed a discreet investigation into the matter as Tactical and Special forces have been deployed to cordone the area and arrest perpetrators.

Sp Bala Elkana
Police Public Relations Officer
For: Commisioner of Police ,Imo State Police Command.

Igbo people should know that they are endangered specie in this country called Nigeria. A lot of forces has risen to impede on their development and growth through any means possible.

This is not the second time something of this magnitude will happen. Within seconds the police will bring out a report accusing the Igbo people through IPOB as carrying it out. Go online they have already released their propaganda machine even before the Gulak hit the ground dead.

Igbo people shine your eyes. One thing is sure, it will end well for ndị Igbo.

ivolt:
You have a point.

But Ipob has never taking responsibility for all assassinations linked to them.
They always deny them while celebrating the outcome.

The man was killed on his way to the airport.
He had no security escorts meaning he didn't fear for his life.
Politicians do not joke with threats to life.

Since he currently hold no sensitive political position, it is unlikely that he was
killed for political reasons.

It is either he is a victim of random violence or he ran into Ipob on patrol.

while the cab driver took irregular route to the airport, six armed bandits who rode in a Toyota Sienna intercepted, identified and shot at Ahmed Gulak

Police report shows he was aware of some threats hence he applied irregular routes to the airport

We still don't know if he took escourt or not but you have to know this was an exit just like he didn't come with security he may not have fancied leaving with it.

Like the article states he had a big squabble with rochas, the fact that he doesn't have a political position now actually makes it a kill against something he did before which makes it a revenge mission

Rochas remain the biggest suspect that have been seeking revenge on him in imo and gulak previous statement validates their has been attempt on his life before by the same rochas

Yes agreed. Gulak was a politician and could have been targeted by political opponents

To simply blame IPOB without investigation is too simplistic and a lazy approach

-The insecurity will reach everyone. Isee!

Xixtie:
If you have any Igbo relatives up north, now is when to let them know how careful they should be.
May God help us all.

No north will wait till elections to respond.

Power is going west or SS. Have a strong feeling its SS.

North will just vote whom will favour them and also their allies for the next 8 years. Any other objective is secondary.