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Liberation day: Ngige defies PDP
John Ameh
Anambra State Government on Saturday defied the order of the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stopping its Liberation Day rally, to commemorate the abduction of Governor Chris Ngige on July 10, 2003 and went ahead to mark the day.
The PDP, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Venatius Ikem, had ordered the rally stopped, on the ground that it could erode whatever gains so far made in the efforts to resolve the political crisis in the state.
The rally, which was attended by thousands of indigenes, civil society groups, civil rights activists, the clergy and politicians, started with an inter-denominational church service at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Square, Awka by 10.45am.
The government had defended its resolved to continue with the rally as scheduled on the explanation that �it is a state affair.�
Speaking in an interview with Sunday Punch on why it ignored the warning of the PDP�s National Secretariat, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Mobilisation and State Orientation, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuka, said the Liberation Day celebration was not a party affair, adding that the government did not need to consult the PDP before conducting �what is purely a state affair.�
He said: �The greatest problem we have in this country is that of insincerity. The planning of this event has been on for weeks, but nobody saw the threat to peace in it until 24 hours to the day.
�That is the kind of country that we have. But we are going ahead. It is a state affair. We don�t even have to consult the PDP.�
Ngige drove into the square at about 12.10pm in a long convoy, heralded by about 200 motor-cyclists, clad in vests with the inscription, �Governor Chris Ngige, carry go,� before the commencement of the prayer and thanksgiving service.
Methodist Bishop of Onitsha Diocese, Rt. Rev. Chibuzo Okpoko, in a sermon, called on politicians, particularly those holding public offices at the federal, state and local government levels, to always embrace peace and honesty in their decisions.
�Unless there is a clean heart, our leaders at all levels will be wasting their time,� Okpoko added.
Ngige, while defending the celebration of a day, widely viewed by many people in the country as a disgrace, recalled that one year ago, he was �whisked away from my office and held at gun point for over three hours and all I had left was prayers to God.
�There is a reason for the government and the people of this state to dedicate the day as a prayer and thanksgiving day to God.
�That July 10 was marked without bloodshed, is an indication that the people cherish their freedom from captivity. We shall not surrender to injustice,� he maintained.
Human rights activists such as Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo and Chief Mike Ozekhome and the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), gave differing views on the event.
While Keyamo and Ozekhome joined the people of the state in celebrating the day, the state chapter of the CLO, in a statement by its chairman, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalase, described the day as �a day of slavery in Anambra State.�
�Democracy has been so battered that its principles are now being applied in the most despicable and negative circumstances, such as the so-called �Liberation Day.�
�It is extremely ironic that a cabal that heartlessly murdered peoples� conscience in the 2003 elections in the state, is today organising a liberation day,� the CLO added.
But a stalwart of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), AVM Canice Umewalia (rtd), who attended the event, was diplomatic when Sunday Punch sought his comments.
According to Umewalia, only the government could explain its choice of the day.
Sunday Punch, July 11, 2004
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