- Deploy more police, soldiers –Ikedife
By Razaq Bamidele (Lagos) and David Onwuchekwa (Nnewi)
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to intervene in the political and legal crisis rocking Abia State before it degenerates into blood bath of an unimaginable proportion.
The call was contained in a statement signed on behalf of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) by its President, Mallam Yerima Usman Shettima, who said, “a stitch in time saves nine.”
According to him, Nigeria has enough crises on her hand and cannot afford more crises, just as he asserted that, “what is playing out in Abia State now is nothing but an unacceptable coup against democracy and President Muhammadu Buhari must act fast.”
The youth leader added: “What is happening in Abia State today is a travesty of justice, a smear on decorum and an attempt to rubbish the democratic ethics and principles as well as the rule of law that we Nigerians have worked for.
“In view of this, and many other tangible reasons, we condemn without reservation the attempted civilian coup in Abia State. The events we witnessed in Abia are unprecedented and purely the civilian version of a military coup to remove a democratically elected governor without allowing due legal process.
“We therefore call on President Muhammadu Buhari to take necessary measures to ensure that Abia State does not implode with avoidable violence and bloodshed, and intervene in the political crisis in Abia State and ensure that the rule of law is followed.”
Yerima advised that the judicial process should be allowed to be completed without further interference and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission “to immediately withdraw the certificate of return wrongly and hastily given to Sampson Ogah who is seeking to reap where he did not sow.”
While urging the people of Abia State to resist any attempt to use them to foment trouble in the state, he reminded them that “no development takes place in a state of anarchy,” adding that Okezie Ikpeazu was given the mandate because of the belief that he has the capability to perform.
In a related development, former President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo and chairman of Anambra Elders Council, Dr Dozie Ikedife has advised the Federal Government to deploy more policemen, soldiers and other security agents to Abia State to avert likely breakdown of law and order in that state as the governorship crisis heats up the state.
Ikedife made the call in Nnewi, Anambra State, yesterday, while fielding questions from newsmen on the way forward concerning the political crisis in Abia State. He warned elders of the state who are reportedly divided into two camps to be careful not to allow the situation to degenerate into fist cuffs, destruction of property and loss of lives. He said his fear was that miscreants might highjack any chaotic situation to unleash mayhem.
He noted that it was unfortunate that many elections in the country ended up in tribunals or courts where 3,4, 5 or more judges would take a decision and pronounce judgement on who won an election instead of the electoral mandate of the entire population that chose their leader. Ikedife said that such a system that is not clear, right and untidy should be changed in the nation’s politics.
He, however, insisted that when the court has given an order that it should be obeyed to avoid the consequences of disobeying a court order.