Foundation for Investigative Journalism in this report, gives an account of Obiora Agbasimalo’s journey to politics and sudden disappearance.
When the idea of contesting for Anambra State Governor was first pitched to Obiora Agbasimalo in early 2021, he turned it down, saying he knew nothing about politics. However, when Godwin Agbasimalo, his uncle, who is popularly known as Oga Ndi Oga, stepped in by offering to render necessary assistance, including the provision of logistics and guidance, throughout the campaign period, the seasoned banker had a change of heart and accepted the offer. Upon becoming the Labour Party candidate for the November 6, 2021 election, Godwin became his campaign financier and manager as promised. He planned his meetings, visits and, according to a few sources, what he ate too. The campaign appeared to be going as planned until the unexpected happened. On September 18, while on a campaign tour to Azhia in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Obiora was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. He has not been seen or heard ever since.
A BANKER WITH BRIGHT PROSPECTS
Before joining politics, Obiora, 40, was a senior worker at Zenith Bank PLC. FIJ learned that he worked with the bank for more than 10 years. “When he wanted to go for the elections, he approached the executive director of the bank and requested a leave of three months,” a family source, who asked not to be named, told FIJ. “The executive director refused to grant him the request. It was as if God was using her. Normally, if you have a good reason or cause for your request, you’re expected to get it. “But, in Obiora’s case, he was refused the leave. At a point, when Obiora would not stop going to her with the request, she was forced to ask him if he was sure he had what it takes to contest for an election. “When Obiora tried being clever by saying the reason he wanted the leave was that he hadn’t been promoted on the job in a while, she handed him a promotion letter just to make sure he stayed. “However, despite all the efforts made by the director, Obiora turned down the offer and ended up leaving. This was mainly because he had been assured that he stood a strong chance of winning the election.” According to the source, Obiora was a banker with bright prospects until his exit from the bank.
KIDNAPPED!
On the morning of September 18, 2021, Obiora was scheduled to take his governorship campaign to Azhia in Ihiala Local Government Area, but some unexpected changes were made to the security officers following him. “A surprising incident happened on the morning his campaign train was supposed to visit Azhia,” another member of the Agbasimalo family, who asked not to be named, said. “Without any prior notice, Oga Ndi Oga replaced the driver that had been taking Obiora around since the beginning of the campaign. He told Obiora that the regular driver had an errand to run, and that the new one would drive him to their destination. “Before that day, the convoy would sometimes move with Oga Ndi Oga and Obiora in the same vehicle, while security would be at the front and at the back. Sometimes, the convoy would move with the two men in separate cars. “On the day of the incident, they were in different cars, and Obiora was left alone with the new driver. “All of a sudden, the car carrying Obiora swerved off the road, breaking from the rest of the convoy. Later, we heard that the driver claimed he had to stop because he needed to fix a car fault. He claimed it was when he was trying to fix the car that some unknown men came out from nowhere and kidnapped Obiora. “How is that even possible? You kidnap a governorship candidate from a convoy that has close to 10 cars? A convoy that is supposed to be swarmed with security men? Since that incident happened, the strange driver has disappeared. Something is definitely not right.” That was the last time anyone ever heard from Obiora.
AFTERMATH OF THE KIDNAP
After Obiora was kidnapped, the Labour Party, through Godwin Agbasimalo, reached out to his family to tell them not to worry, and that all hands were on deck to ensure the candidate’s safe return. The family was also told that all relevant security figures, including the Inspector General of Police, had been informed of the incident. “As things progressed however, we did not see any signs that things were being done like they had promised,” another member of the Agbasimalo family told FIJ. “So we started wondering why concrete steps were not being taken to ensure Obiora’s safe return. At a point, some party chieftains even told us that it was just a political move, and that after the November 6 elections, he would be released. “I was even shocked that the INEC could organise the signing of a peace pact a few days to the elections without insisting that the Labour Party candidate be present. INEC never really bothered and they went ahead with the election.” However, Obiora was still not released after the November 6 election. “A week passed by, two weeks, three weeks, a month, same story from the party: he will come out, he will come out. But till we speak, he has not been reunited with us. We are tired of the long wait. It has led to most of us, I mean his family members, being frustrated and depressed. Both his parents are also now critically ill as a result of the development.”
GODWIN AGBASIMALO
Godwin Agbasimalo is a successful businessman and philanthropist, who controls a non-governmental organisation called Oga Ndi Oga. He also goes by the same Oga Ndi Oga as nickname. He is the sole financier of the Labour Party in Anambra State. FIJ learned that he was responsible for the party’s decision to choose Obiora as its flag bearer during the Anambra governorship election. “After Obiora’s abduction, Oga Ndi Oga claimed he had been in constant touch with the kidnappers. He has also consistently told us that we should not raise the alarm about the issue, as that might upset the kidnappers and make them harm Obiora,” the first family source said. “The most frustrating part is that he also claims he has paid ransoms to the kidnappers on several occasions. If that is true, and if there is no foul play on his part, how come he has refused to give out the account number or numbers of the people he claims he has been making payments to for tracking? He has continued to discourage us from taking steps that could ensure Obiora’s safe return. “He keeps saying we should not talk to anybody, yet, we are not seeing any positive result. He keeps stopping everybody, including the Labour Party in the state, from talking or taking steps. “This is also making us doubt if his claims of working with relevant security agencies are actually true. We are tired!”
A CONVERSATION INVOLVING THE LABOUR PARTY NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
FIJ got hold of a recorded conversation between Julius Abure, national chairman of the Labour Party, and a member of the Agbasimalo family. “You have to rise to the occasion and take up the fight yourself. As a party, we will queue behind you and support you in whatever you want to do. Do your petitions to the IG; do your petitions to all relevant agencies,” Abure can be heard saying in the audio. “I believe I have done my best on the matter. Now that my best has not yielded any result, and you people are the ones wearing the shoe, you can take up the matter from here. “The very first week this incident happened, I advised that we made as much noise on this issue as possible, but nothing was done in that direction. Now that we have managed it to this point and nothing has been forthcoming, I think it is best we shout. It is time to try something else. “Though I don’t have the money to support you, I will support you in any other alternative way I can.” FIJ made several phone calls to Godwin Agbasimalo, but they were not answered. A text message sent to him was also not responded to. It has been 160 days since Obiora was abducted. His family members are still hopeful that he would one day come back to them.
