The proposed probe of a former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, by his successor, Chief Theodore Orji, has been described as a witch hunt, a means of diverting attention from the lacklustre performance of the Abia State Government and a plan to frustrate the ambition of the Igbo to produce the next president of the country.
This position was taken by a pro-democracy and development focused Non-Governmental Organisation, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, and the United Kingdom chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
In a statement on Tuesday, HURIWA expressed its displeasure at what it suspects to be a “carefully choreographed” and “graphically plotted” political witch-hunt of Kalu by the Orji-led administration.
HURIWA also questioned the timing of the proposed probe of the eight-year administration of Kalu, advising the government “to face the very arduous and challenging task of pragmatic governance and provision of basic amenities to the good people of Abia State rather than dissipate scarce resources of the state to embark on politically-motivated witch-hunt in the guise of probing the immediate past administration in Abia State.”
HURIWA said it is a notorious fact that Kalu has faced consistent politically-orchestrated media war-fare from those it described as ‘political fair weather friends’ of Orji since he left office.
The group said it is seriously concerned that any investigative probe initiated by the current Abia State Government will at best be a ‘kangaroo’ proceeding and will be in total violation of Section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which prescribes fair hearing to all parties whether in or out of government.
“We believe that a politically tainted probe targeted at reaching pre-determined conclusion against a person already identified in the media by serving Abia State functionaries as a political adversary of their boss – the serving Governor, is ipso facto unconstitutional, illegal and undemocratic,” HURIWA affirmed.
The statement, signed by HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the National Media Officer, Zainab Yusuf, equally expressed apprehension that the timing of the public disclosure of a proposed probe of the immediate past administration in Abia State may not be unconnected with the ongoing global advocacy by Kalu alongside other patriots from the South East to convince the rest of Nigeria to support a candidate of South East origin to emerge as president of Nigeria in 2015.
HURIWA stated that information available to “our team of field researchers” shows that some powerful interest in Abuja, who are bent on retaining power by 2015, may have gone to work to scuttle the democratic worldwide peaceful and constructive advocacy championed by Kalu to ensure that the rest of the geopolitical zones see reason in democratically supporting the emergence of a president from the South East Zone in 2015.
Citing section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), HURIWA said the ongoing peaceful, constructive and right-based global advocacy by a group headed by Kalu for the South East to be favoured to produce the successor to the current President in 2015 is in line with the law.
It cited Section 14 (3) of the constitution that provides: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few States or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”
HURIWA added: “For avoidance of doubts, we are not opposed to following due process of the law to probe or prosecute any Nigerian citizen alleged to have breached the law, but in this instance we suspect that there is more to it than meets the eye. Why wait for several years after to initiate a probe of the immediate past administration even when the agencies of the Federal government are already in court with the same subject-matter? We hereby advise the Abia state government to provide the much needed good governance and functional infrastructure in places like Aba, Umuahia rather than waste tax payers’ money chasing shadows which would be diversionary and cosmetic.”
In its reaction to the proposed probe, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, United Kingdom chapter, said it suspects that the probe was just to scuttle the move of the South East to produce the country’s next president, which Kalu has been championing.
APGA, in a statement on Tuesday, said: “APGA UK has made it clear to all that we would not trade the 2015 Igbo Presidency for anything. We do not want the repeat of 1999 PDP convention where Dr. Alex Ekwueme was sold out by Jim Nwobodo.
“The press release made by the Abia State commissioner for information and strategy Mr Eze Chikamnayo on His Excellency Orji Uzor Kalu is a distraction towards 2015 Igbo presidency and we should disassociate ourselves from a government that has neglected the plight of her people.
“We shall continue to discredit sycophants that are blowing trumpets for a failed Government in Abia State. Ndigbo will not spare any group that will undermine our ambition in 2015 presidential election.
“Governor Theodore A. Orji should concentrate and redeem the image of his government and leave Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to do his wonderful work in uniting all Ndigbo.
“The unity among C21 President Senator Annie Okonkwo, Chief Sir Victor Umeh (APGA National Chairman), Governor Rochas Okorocha and Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu in uniting Ndigbo for the battle ahead is a big worry to the whole Nigeria. I urge everyone to understand that APGA will be the ruling party in Nigeria come 2015.
“We urge all Ndigbo to rally around each other to actualise this dream because other tribes in Nigeria have done it and it is not a crime if an Igbo man becomes the President of Nigeria in 2015. Ndigbo should not be used as a tool to destabilise each other.
“APGA still remains the number one political party that its ideology is the hope for all.”Women Groups launch guidelines in response to cases on violence against women.
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