Abuja — The managing editor of Weekend Mail, an Abuja-based newspaper; Maximus Uba, has raised alarm over a threat to his life by the governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim.

In a petition to the inspector -general of police, entitled 'Plans to Eliminate Me by Mr. Ohakim Ikedia, Mr. Goodluck Oppiah and Nnanna Igbokwe,' and made available to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, Uba alleged that several attempts had been made on his life by unknown assailants working for the Imo State government.

He said in his petition: "strange cars with tinted glasses have been going around my wife's official quarters which have been a home to me since the Imo State government thugs made me relocate from Owerri. A black jeep has been following my wife each time she goes to drop our little daughter in school."

He also narrated how he was kidnapped by three young men disguising as youth corps members but was later allowed to go after he was warned to leave town or face being kidnapped again.

He said, I was driving in my Mercedes-Benz when three corps members flagged me down for a lift and as a former member who served over 20 years ago, I gave them a lift not knowing that they were not real corps members. The boys armed with dangerous weapons now made me stop before the waiting bus with Imo State number inscription and drove me away towards Gwagwalada (Abuja)

"Somehow, the boys, now five, including the driver, became confused on what to do with me despite a promise of one million naira each by an undisclosed fellow working for the above mentioned trio.

"They agreed with themselves that I was fighting for Imo people, fighting for its development and would rather not be part of the plot as young men despite the one million naira

"Somewhere after Gwagwalada, the boys then dropped me, gave me N1,000, and further gave me a phone to call somebody to pick my abandoned Mercedes Benz and then advised me to leave my present abode in Bwari and if possible leave the town."

According to Uba, his trouble with the Imo governor started when he questioned Ohakim's commitment towards advancing the cause of the state.

Uba claimed that he drew the wrath of the government after he published an advertorial seeking clarifications on the number of projects the government claims it has executed and spent billions of naira.

He said the plank of his petition was for police protection at his present residence and the investigation of Mr. Ohakim Ikedi, Mr. Goodluck Oppiah and Nnanna Igbokwe to determine their involvement in his brief kidnap by boys disguised as youth corps members and also the investigation of the owners of GSM number 08066248878 and 08033962901.