ENUGU— THE Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, speaking, yesterday, for the second time this week on his invitation by the State Security Service (SSS) declared that he was not afraid of arrest, and told security agents hunting him to stop “pussyfooting,” They should arrest him if they think he has committed an offence, Chief Ojukwu said.
Receiving a delegation of the National and South-East executives of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) who went to solidarise with him, the Ikemba said various events under the Obasanjo government had a sort of military reflex which must be halted.
Meanwhile, former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Eze Ozobu (rtd), warned that the Igbo would not allow anybody to arrest or humiliate Ojukwu especially when the manner of his invitation did not conform with the law.
On its part, the APGA delegation led by the Deputy National Chairman, Chief Maxi Okwu, indicated that it might head to the court to stop further harassment and intimidation of Ojukwu and vowed to stop the “diabolical plot” against their presidential candidate as well as the dictatorial tendencies of the Nigerian security agencies against the citizenry.
Ojukwu, recounting his experience with the SSS since the issue began Wednesday last week to the delegation and other prominent Igbo who thronged his residence said: “We are here looking at and considering something which on the surface is very simple but in actual fact, something that is very deep. I live here as a free citizen of Nigeria and as I always say, judge me by what I do, by what I say, but don’t judge me by what you think I will do or say and don’t judge me by what others have said about me.
“I was here, suddenly a young man who was sent from the security service said he would like to see me. With my clear conscience, I asked them to let him in. He came in and said his name was Duru, that he came from SSS and that his director-general would like to see me tomorrow. I said okay, that is fine, but he told me that it is in Abuja. I then said that was a bit odd. Just like that? He said yes, I said okay, do I go by foot or donkey?
“So, I told them look, let’s get this straight. If your director-general wants to discuss anything, he can come here at anytime, I will grant him audience. If the matter is so serious and that I need to be arrested, here we are. There is no middle course. He said it does not warrant an arrest, I said go back and tell them it was not convenient. We can talk about it on Monday or Tuesday. But as it happened, on Monday he phoned me and I asked him what the problem was again. I told him that it was not my intention to go to Abuja on such a spurious invitation and that I couldn’t understand why they themselves don’t know how to handle matters of this nature.
“I don’t know, but whoever was the director-general, I am older probably than his father and he can’t treat me in that offending manner. I told them that in case, they didn’t know that it is for situation such as this, that he has a deputy and many assistants and that he has people in various states, talk to them, give them the message and they will come and see me. But I have no time to go to Abuja and they should tell him so and I reminded them again, that unless the matter is so serious I have to know, in which case I should be under arrest and I will cooperate.
“By this time, news had started filtering out as to what is happening and eventually, the next thing I knew was that he (the SSS operative) came to this place and provided me a ticket for myself and one aide to go to Abuja. It was Sosoliso; it was economy ticket for both myself and my aide. But the one that I really found amusing in a situation like this is that it is a one-way ticket.
“Then I prepared and began to take stock. Too many things have happened in Nigeria under the Obasanjo government. So many people in the political scene have been rubbed off, killed, assassinated. One thing goes to all of them, till now we are talking, nobody has ever found the culprits. It is feared that you don’t ever take a chance with the government. People have been killed in the hospitals, in their own houses and so on. I said no. I made an indication that if you have something to discuss with me and it is not of a serious matter worthy of an arrest, you are invited and I will guarantee the safe departure of your agent or yourself. So here we are.”
Continuing, Ojukwu said: “I am so ashamed of their response. Somebody was writing from the SSS and said so many rather insulting things, but I will not trade insults with minions and beyond that, I have not got the habit of coming back from Sierra Leone in handcuffs. I served in the Nigerian Army; I was never court-martialled. So, I will not relegate myself to start exchanging words. I told them that it is most unfortunate that the name of the director-general doesn’t strike me because in my service to Nigeria, I appointed so many directors-general.
“So, I really don’t know why there is crisis, discussion vis-à-vis an invitation or arrest if it is a matter of arrest. A lot of people have been coming, trying to console me, I said no, this is Nigeria and I make it very clear that whoever is planning all these, will take personal responsibility because I have done nothing. I have been very careful not to do anything, I have a right. They said I support Biafra, how can’t I? I declared it. How can’t I? I ruled it for so many years, it is not hidden. That I support MASSOB, why not? It is an opinion, and you say to us, this is a democratic government, no. If you say okay, by so doing I have committed treason or act of treason, then whoever he is, is irresponsible for not arresting me. So this is actually how we are, what we are doing.”
Ojukwu later fielded questions from newsmen:
Since the invitation and your decline, has there been any further development?
No, I have heard a lot of rumour and the rumour is that everybody in the country is against the government and what they are trying to do. There have been general solidarity and support from people over the position I have taken.
Do you fear as to whether they would want to arrest you.
They could but I have already told them that there could be a better way if the matter was serious enough.
Why do you think there could be a better way?
It should be clear. I am a citizen, I have rights. We have constitution. It says exactly how these things should be dealt with. Why are you then pussy-footing around? If I have committed any offence, arrest me.
Do you suspect the hand of the president in this matter, bearing in mind that you are in court with him?
I hope he is not. President Olusegun Obasanjo is my friend. I think I know him and I will just, for the sake of our republic and for the happenings and developments and the unity of this country, I hope he doesn’t have a hand.
Do you see a return of despotism with the clampdown on the Insider Weekly Magazine and journalists and the passage of the Labour Bill?
I would wish you didn’t ask me the question, but actually, this is at the bottom of the conflict. Are we democratic or are we not? I have seen so many activities of the present government that will make me believe that if nothing else, they have got a sort of military reflex, but they have got to be halted. But what I am trying to do is to halt them, to tell them you cannot, I am a citizen and you Mr. President is my servant.”
