Ojukwu: Group Tasks FG on Due Process
By Ndubuisi Ugah
As more reactions continue to trail the face-off between the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) presidential candidate in the last election, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and the State Security Service (SSS), the Federal Government has been urged to put in place measures that should ensure that laid down procedures are adhered to in the discharge of official duties.
President of the Igbo Youth Congress (IYM), Mr. Bright Ezeocha, who disclosed this in a chat with THISDAY, said had the SSS followed laid down procedures in the discharge of official duties, the face-off between it (SSS) and Ojukwu could have been averted in the first place.
According to him, "there was no formal document indicating the motive why Ojukwu was invited in the first place. This shows that the invitation is suspect. The one-way ticket needs to be examined closely because of previous antecedents".
He said had "the invitation being based on a normal parley, why the one-way ticket? This shows that the whole thing is scripted".
He said that Ojukwu, as a respected statesman was wise enough to have re-examined the invitation based on the fact that the circumstances surrounding the death of notable personalities such as late MKO Abiola, Alhaji Musa Yar'ardua among others remained unresolved years after they died.
"Even though the SSS asked Ojukwu to come with his lawyer, at least, past experience is vital in this context considering the fact that had the SSS channeled the invitation through the right source, nothing would have stopped Ojukwu from honouring the invitation", Ezeocha added.
While decrying the alleged use of uncomplimentary remark by the SSS Director General, Col. Are over Ojukwu's refusal to honour the invitation, Ezeocha said it was important that personalities at the corridor of power should watch out for the kind of remarks passed to people.
"A situation where Col. Are (SSS director general) called Ojukwu a coward is uncalled for. Ojukwu is not the kind of person that should be passed with uncomplimentary remarks like that", stating that "the Federal Government should put in place measures that should check the unbecoming attitude of public office holders, who pass remarks any how".
"Everybody knows that Ojukwu is a man most respected by Nigerians for all that he has contributed towards making the country a united entity. Honour and dignity should be accorded to him at least", he affirmed.
Ojukwu's offence, he said, was simply because he supported the activities of the Movement for the Realisation for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) wondered why such should exist, when ordinarily, the 1999 Constitution guranteed the freedom of speech, association, among others.
He explained that the August 26 sit-at-home call was a demonstration of how marginalised the race is.
He urged the Federal Government to put in place a re-orientation measure for the service going by recent developments as regards the modus operandi of the service.
"I think due to recent developments within the service, there is need for the government to carry out a thorough overhaul of the department. Are we in the era of Decree 2, where views are not supposed to be aired or expressed again", he asked.
The IYC President, however, said that the group will no longer tolerate situations where Ndigbo are intimidated, insulted or harrassed by whoever.
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