Government clears way for security investigation into attack on Governor Oborevwori’s protocol aide, Simon Mudi
The Delta State Government has indefinitely suspended the Commissioner for Works, Highways and Urban Roads, Hon. Izeze Rume Yakubu Reuben, following allegations surrounding the violent incident at the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Effurun, in which a senior aide to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was seriously injured.
The suspension takes immediate effect and is intended to allow security agencies to conduct an independent and unhindered investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Protocol, Mr. Simon Mudi, popularly known as “Temple.”
Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, announced the decision in a statement, saying the government considered it necessary to remove any circumstance that could potentially interfere with an impartial investigation into the incident.
The development represents a significant escalation in the state government’s response to the violence, which erupted during a Delta Central All Progressives Congress stakeholders’ meeting at the PTI Conference Centre in Effurun.
Violence at APC Stakeholders’ Meeting
The incident occurred during the political gathering attended by several prominent party leaders and government officials.
Reports from the meeting indicated that violence broke out following a confrontation and subsequently degenerated into a wider disturbance involving several individuals.
Mudi was attacked during the melee and reportedly sustained serious injuries. Videos of portions of the incident subsequently circulated on social media, drawing widespread attention and condemnation.
Different accounts have emerged over what triggered the confrontation and the roles allegedly played by individuals present at the venue.
Some reports attributed the violence to an earlier disagreement involving Mudi and another individual, while other accounts suggested that underlying political differences between rival camps may have contributed to the confrontation.
Izeze had earlier denied responsibility for the attack, maintaining that the altercation had nothing to do with him and that he was elsewhere within the venue when the violence erupted.
The commissioner also claimed that he was attacked during the disturbance.
Those competing claims have not been conclusively established, making the ongoing investigation by security agencies crucial to determining what happened and identifying those responsible.
Government Had Ordered Arrest, Prosecution of Culprits
Before Izeze’s suspension, the Delta State Government had condemned the violence and directed security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for the attack.
Commissioner for Works, Rural Roads and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, had described the violence as unacceptable and a threat to public peace.
The government expressed particular concern over footage showing the assault on Mudi and insisted that violence would not be tolerated regardless of the political status or affiliation of those involved.
The latest decision to suspend Izeze therefore marks a further step by the administration as investigators seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Government Insists on Impartial Investigation
Explaining the decision, Emu stressed that the state government remained committed to protecting lives and maintaining public safety, law and order.
He said that commitment would apply even where institutions or officials of the state were involved.
By suspending the commissioner while investigations continue, the government said it was creating an environment in which security agencies could examine the allegations without interference or perceptions of official influence.
The suspension itself does not constitute a finding of guilt against Izeze. Responsibility for determining whether any individual committed an offence rests with the relevant investigative and judicial authorities.
Spotlight on Accountability
The development has placed renewed attention on the conduct of political office holders and their supporters, particularly as Delta State’s political environment continues to evolve.
The PTI incident has generated concern because what was expected to be a political stakeholders’ meeting descended into violence involving individuals connected to the political establishment.
The government’s decision to suspend a serving commissioner pending investigation sends a signal that allegations involving senior public officials will be subjected to scrutiny.
Security agencies are now expected to establish the sequence of events leading to the confrontation, identify those directly involved in the attack and determine whether any individual instigated, aided or participated in the violence.
The government has not announced a timeframe for completion of the investigation.
Izeze’s suspension will remain indefinite pending further action by the Delta State Government and the outcome of the investigation.
