By Chinedu Adonu

ENUGU—THERE is tension in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, following the abduction of Chief Lawrence Eya, father of a senatorial aspirant.

The kidnappers are now demanding N15 million ransom for his release.

Kidnap

Eya, who is about 68 years old, was trailed to Kogi State and abducted two days ago.

His son, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senatorial aspirant for Enugu North District, Mr. Chinedu Eya, who confirmed the incident, begged his father’s abductors to release him.

Eya, who said political colouration might not be ruled out, said it was unhealthy for any person to introduce brigandage into Enugu politics.

According to him, “right now, I really feel pains as a man.  I cried because the old man should not be suffering. He put his life on the line for some of us to survive. Now that he should be benefiting somebody is coming to intimidate him.

“I don’t know where it is coming from, but I am only saying that people should change their style of politics. Let’s do politics with that mindset of sportsmanship, where the loser is still a winner.

“We can see ourselves, greet ourselves, hug ourselves and do other things. We must not become enemies because there is something. I am not concluding yet; it may be political, it may be anything. I think it is targeted at me, but it will not affect me.”

He confirmed that the family was in talks with the kidnappers, stating that “yes, they asked us to bring N15 million. We believe God that something great will happen.

“But we are begging them to release him even without ransom, because he is a father; he is a father to those people holding him and they should treat him as such.

“My father is a very easygoing man. Since I was born, he has never been invited to a police station, he has never had issues with anybody. So, he does not deserve this kind of treatment.”

Enugu State police spokesman, SP Ebere Amarizu, said he is not aware, but will communicate with Vanguard immediately he gets same.