The Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) yesterday demanded the immediate release of former Secretary to the government of the federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission( EFCC).
Ohanaeze Youth made the demand in a Statement signed by its National President, Igboayaka Igboayaka,describing the arrest of Senator Anyim as an act of political intimidation by the APC led Federal Government against opposition voices in Nigeria.
The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari government to desist from the intimidation, victimisation and witch-hunt of a selected region through the anti-corruption body.
The Ohanaeze youth wing also charged the EFCC to refrain from being used by the government to intimidate, harass and embarrass prominent leaders of the southeast region, especially Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and other Igbo sons ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general election.
The statement reads in part: “EFCC has been characterized with political conspiracy to witch-haunt the perceived opposition members of other political parties or those that are not in the corridors of power with APC led federal government.
“Selective fight against corruption is the worst corruption ravaging the political cum economic growth of Nigeria,EFCC ought to be an independent institution, but the principle of its establishment has been messed with by APC government. Although PDP did obviously the same thing when they were in power, but APC carries out its own with impunity.
“APC led government of President Mohammadu Buhari, should as a matter of urgency desist from intimidating the perceived opposition members, and use EFCC for the purpose for which it was established.
“It is unfortunate that this was the same treatment that was meted out to Sen. Orji Uzo Kalu, and, therefore, OYC is urging the EFCC to immediately stop intimidating, harassing and embarrassing Sen. Anyim and other Igbo prominent sons.