|
BNW |
|
B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SSS insists on Odumegwu-Ojukwu's appearance, Afenifere wants allegation probed
FOLLOWING the refusal of Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, to honour an invitation for dialogue in Abuja for fear of his personal safety, the Department of State Security Service said yesterday that the objective was not to arrest the former Biafran leader but to have a dialogue with him.
But the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has warned that the matter should not be dismissed with a wave of the hand, and called on President Olusegun Obasanjo to investigate the allegation in the interest of peace, national unity and stability.
Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu who refused to honour the invitation by the SSS yesterday had on Monday in Enugu alleged that the Federal Government had planned to assassinate him and the arrowhead of the Movement for Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazurike.
He also alleged that he had intelligence report that the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) had detailed people to kill him and Uwazurike.
In a statement yesterday, Mr. Ezra Tobechukwu, on behalf of the director-general of the SSS, said the intention was not to arrest Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu. The statement was, however, silent on the allegation of the All-Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) presidential candidate that the plan was to kill him.
The defunct Biafran leader said he refused to honour the invitation because "it has come to my notice that the government has detailed people from the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) to assassinate the leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike and myself."
Displaying a one-way economy ticket No 551273 of the Sosoliso Airlines issued from Enugu to Abuja, in the passenger Name of Dim Ojukwu and slated September 12, 2004, the former Biafran leader pointed out that he was not expected to return from the trip alive.
"This morning, the SSS presented me with a one-way economy ticket to Abuja. You can now read your own meaning to this. It is intended that I go to Abuja without honour and never to return. Consequently, I wish to state before all of you that I have no intention whatsoever of going to answer this spurious call of the SSS in Abuja."
But the SSS said the issue had been turned into an object of "public drama and blackmail", adding that as far as security was concerned, the corporate existence of Nigeria was a matter well beyond politics.
"The reality today is that while some leaders are striving assiduously to build a better Nigeria for all, some are committed to dismembering the country, through violent or non-violent means, and disturbing the peace which all enjoy.
"In accordance with the mandate of the service as enshrined in the laws of the Federation of Nigeria, if for any reason, the conduct of an individual is inimical to peace and stability, the service has a duty to call that person or group to order through lawful means," the statement said.
In their interaction with Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Tobechukwu said the service had detailed one of its senior members to invite the politician because of the delicate nature of the issue.
He said: "Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu was accorded all the courtesies and respect due to an elder statesman. He was even encouraged to come along with his lawyer and any other person he wishes to be present during the planned interaction.
"Apparently, Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu misunderstood the gesture and took fright out of concern for his personal comfort, which unfortunately is consonant with his character, over the years.
Tobechukwu said the SSS would not join issues with Chief Ojukwu, but since he had apparently rejected the option of dialogue, other ways would be sought to address the issue.
Also, the Administrative Secretary of the Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who spoke on behalf of Chief Abraham Adesanya, said the allegation should be investigated considering that there had been several unresolved political murders in the country in the last five years.
Afenifere pointed out that since Odumegwu-Ojukwu is a known political figure in the country, the Federal Government should not dismiss the allegation "just like that."
His words: "Afenifere is calling on President Olusegun Obasanjo to quickly set machinery in motion to investigate the allegation of Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu. We believe that Odumegwu-Ojukwu, as a notable political figure, would not have made such allegation without knowing its implication."
Odumakin said Odumegwu-Ojukwu's allegation had further exposed the fact that the socio-political and economic problems facing the nation cannot be resolved by the present civilian government, but that the problems, including the national question, could only be resolved through a sovereign national conference where every Nigerian will have the opportunity to debate the future of the country.
Urging the Federal Government to ensure the safety of the lives and property of its citizens, the Afenifere reminded the President that the killers of Bola Ige, Harry Marshal, and others who had suffered political death are still a national riddle.
Political associates, retired military officers and numerous sympathisers have continued to throng the residence of Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu in solidarity with him over his refusal to honour the invitation by the SSS.
When The Guardian visited Independence Layout residence in Enugu yesterday, prominent politicians from various political parties and cultural organisations, including the Afenifere, have called to express sympathy with him.
But the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, yesterday queried the one-way ticket to Abuja given to Odumegwu-Ojukwu by the SSS, warning that the Igbo would not tolerate any further harassment of the Ikemba or any Igbo citizen in the country.
Chukwuma spoke just as an Igbo activist and South-West Vice Chairman of the Bisi Akande-led faction of the Alliance for Democracy, Reverend Okechukwu Obioha, called on Odumegwu-Ojukwu to honour the SSS invitation if his hands were clean, saying that the law would protect him.
At Odumegwu-Ojukwu's residence however, were the former presidential aspirant of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), Chief Nnia Nwodo, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Col. Joe Achuzia (rtd), former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Chukwuma Onoh, who is also the father-in-law to Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Col. Emma Nwobosi (rtd).
The Guardian also learnt that chieftains of the pan-Yoruba organisation, Afenifere, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) and Senator Uche Chukwumerije among others, called on the telephone to express their solidarity with Odumegwu-Ojukwu and praised his decision not to honour the invitation.
But journalists who thronged his house were, however, prevented by Odumegwu-Ojukwu's personal security men from seeing him, claiming that they were under instruction to do so. But Secretary-General of the Igbo National Assembly (INA), Chief Onwuka Ukwa, who said he was with the Ikemba throughout yesterday, confirmed that there was absolute calm at his residence.
"He (Odumegwu-Ojukwu) is okay. Everything is calm. I have been with him since morning. People have been coming and calling on the phone, and he has been talking with them. The callers were expressing their sympathy and solidarity with him. We have not heard any other thing from the SSS," he said.
|
|
||||||||||||
