| Even God backs Ojukwu,
says Gani Fawehinmi
By JAMES EZE
Monday, September 27, 2004
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•Gani
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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The face-off between the standard bearer of the All Progressives
Grand Alliance (APGA) in the last presidential elections,
Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and the State Security Services
(SSS) has attracted critical views from Lagos human rights
lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi who told Daily Sun that even
God would have blamed Ojukwu if he had answered the invitation
from the SSS.
Chief Fawehinmi who berated the leadership of the SSS for
its alleged shoddy and disrespectful handling of the matter
declared his support for Ojukwu’s position on the matter.
According to him, it has become clear to Nigerians that the
SSS does not fully understand the demarcation between what
is the interest of President Obasanjo and national interest.
Arguing in his characteristic fiery manner, Chief Fawehinmi
said the SSS operatives have often equated the interest of
the ruling PDP and President Obasanjo with national interest.
He wondered why Ojukwu should be given a one-way ticket to
Abuja for restating position over an issue he fought and went
on exile for.
Ojukwu’s invitation
I was not here when Ojukwu was invited. If I had been in the
country my reaction would be - SSS should realise that
it’s not a sectional or ethnic organisation. It should
not appear to be an ethnic organisation. Col Are should not
take the interest of President Olusegun Obasanjo as national
interest. He should not take the interest of PDP government
as national interest. There’s a world of difference
between PDP interest, President Obasanjo interest and national
interest. The interest of the Nigerian people may be different
sometimes from the interest of the government and that of
President Olusegun Obasanjo.
For Col. Are to invite Ojukwu on the basis that he openly
identifies with the cause he has been fighting over the years,
I think it’s an insult to the integrity and respectability
of Ojukwu. It offends against the freedom of expression we
have in chapter 4 of the constitution. Ojukwu is a Nigerian
citizen. He has a right to express opinion that he believes
in. Everybody identifies Biafra with him. He fought on the
Biafran issue, went on exile on it. The Igbos after 30 years
are still being treated as the scum of Nigerian political
life. They use them when they want. They used Kalu Idika Kalu
and Okongwu during IBB’s regime to propagate useless
Structural Adjustment Programme. Now President Olusegun Obasanjo
is using Okonjo-Iweala and Soludo to propagate this National
Economic Enslavement and Dehumanising Strategy. Whenever the
Igbos aspire to rule Nigeria, they are cut down, by the same
system that uses their brains, ingenuity and expertise. So,
if they are good for the purpose of advancing the economy
why are they not good in leadership of our country?
The role President Olusegun Obasanjo played in the last PDP
convention when he rigged Ekwueme out has shown everybody
that the Igbos are wanted to advance Nigeria but despised
in leading Nigeria. And President Olusegun Obasanjo is one
of those who despise the Igbos so much. It’s a hang-over
from the role he played in the 3rd Marine Command which he
took over from Adekunle.
So he should not please bring back this memory of the attack.
First look at how the man was invited. A non-return ticket.
That’s one-way ticket to death. How can anybody, no
matter how courageous take a one way ticket to hell?
Honestly, these people don’t think at all. Can’t
they use their brain? That when you send a non-return ticket
to someone, it means that you have already prepared for his
departure? If Ojukwu had taken that ticket, even God will
blame Ojukwu for taking it. God would have told him, you must
be a stupid man. You knew they had given you a ticket not
to return. I will put you in hell for taking that ticket.
So I think Ojukwu was right, I support him totally on this
call and I think he should remain wherever he is and not honour
that invitation.
Where was the SSS when President Olusegun Obasanjo has been
flouting that constitution of the country? Where was SSS when
President Olusegun Obasanjo in November 1999 killed 2,452
people in Odi simply because he was looking for 80 policemen?
Where was SSS when President Olusegun Obasanjo forged the
Electoral Act and put a clause which was never debated in
the National Assembly? Where was SSS when President Olusegun
Obasanjo flouted section 61, 64 section 2 of the constitution
by giving 40 billion to Ghana and Sao Tome?
Where was SSS when Obasanjo gave a salary of $36 million to
Okonjo-Iweala as against N769,80, the salary of a minister?
And then N17 million to his friend Chief Adeniji?
Look at the attack against Insider it’s reminiscent
of what happened under Abacha when Concord and Punch were
shut.
SSS is always anxious to support the unconstitutionally of
President Olusegun Obasanjo. But when people attack the regime
they would say it’s treason. Ojukwu has not committed
a single treason by identifying with a cause he has always
believed in.
What is wrong with Colonel Are? Is he not aware that some
other people are talking about the Yoruba nation? Is Gani
Adams and Fasehun’s OPC not talking about Yoruba nation?
What has Ojukwu said that’s different from this. Hasn’t
there been threats even from the North? Are the Niger Delta
people not fighting on daily basis?
Honestly, if the country wants to be stable, let’s realise
that nobody is good to be used but not good to lead. |
