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The Militarization of Aba in Abia State, Owerri in Imo State, Onitsha, Nnewi & Awka in Anambra State, Enugu
in Enugu State, Uyo, Eket & Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State, Calabar, Ogoja and Ikom in Cross River State, Port
Harcourt, Elele, Bori & Choba in Rivers State, Yenegoa in Bayelsa State, Warri, Ugheli, Abraka, Sapele and
Asaba in Delta State and Other places in the former Eastern and Delta regions of Nigeria, violates the spirit of
the Nigerian Constitution and democracy.
The recent militarization is being justified by government apologists as necessary to ensure a hitch-free transition
from civilian to civilian rule given the background of the call by some politicians for a mass action and civil
disobedience to protest the outcome of the April- May 2003 general elections and a further call by the Chief Rotimi
Williams led National Patriots for the inauguration of an interim government and the convocation of a Sovereign
National Conference (SNC).
On May 27, 2003 a meeting of Shoe Markers Association at the Ariaria Market Branch of the Association at Aba was
violently disrupted by a team of Mobile Policemen and Soldiers.We recalled with pains that in the last four years
of the Obasanjo mis-rule, the soldiers had been used to invade many communities in Nigeria, particularly in the
Eastern part of Nigeria, prominent among them are, Choba, Okigwe, Odi and Owerri.
CRIDO contend that the length and breath of the former Eastern Region is not under a State of emergency and the
deployment of the military cannot be morally, politically and legally justified.
It becomes pertinent to state that the entire elections and their outcomes subverts the spirit and provisions of
the Nigerian Constitution and Article 13 of the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples� Right. Article 13 (1) of the
said Charter provides that �Every citizen shall have right to freely participate in the government of his country,
either directly or through freely chosen representatives according to the rules stipulated by the law� and section
14 (2)(c) of the Nigeria Constitution provides that �the participation of the people in their government shall
be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution� furthermore, section 1 (1) of the Constitution
of Nigeria provides that �This Constitution is supreme and its provision shall have biding force on all authorities
and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria� and section 1 (2) provides that �The Federal Republic of
Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria
or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution� and finally, section 14 (2)(a)
of the Constitution provides that �sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this
Constitution derives all its powers and authority�.
The General elections are tantamount to a coup against the Constitution and the will and wish of the people and
any Government drawing its �legitimacy� from the elections is illegitimate and illegal as the processes violated
the laws, conventions, procedures and civilized norms regulating the conduct of elections in any Democracy.
The Nigerian people must be allowed to exercise their democratic rights to reject a coup and the imposition of
an illegitimate government.
The Federal Government is inviting a state of anarchy by its present actions and omissions to secure an excuse
for the further repression and killing of the people and to divert attention of the public particularly the international
community from the real political issues at stake occasioned by the mis-rule crisis ridden and fraudulent general
elections.
NwaMazi Obinna E. Okoro,
Head, Democracy and Good Governance Bureau (CRIDO)
Directorate for Democracy and Good Governance Bureau (CRIDO)
Obinna Okoro
Rescue Chambers, Port Harcourt.
Militarization of the East and Delta
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