Uwazurike: Crisis in Abia, Ploy to Declare Emergency Rule

Ejiofor Alike

The President of Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, has raised the alarm that the present crisis in Abia State was simulated as a ploy for the federal government to declare emergency rule in the state.

Uwazurike has also called on the federal government to withdraw soldiers from the South-east as demanded by the apex Igbo cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

In a statement issued yesterday, Uwazurike stated that if the Nigerian Army was so powerful as to engage in arrogant display of weaponry, they should be deployed to fight Boko Haram in the North-east or even the armed herdsmen ravaging the southern part of the country and the Middle Belt.

He argued that it was well known fact that IPOB members do not carry weapons and are only known for holding rallies and punching the air with a black power salute.

“If any of these two actions is a crime, then they should tell us whether the constitution of Nigeria should be obeyed. Today, the people of Abia State and indeed the whole of Igboland is being provoked by the arrogant and callous display of weaponry by the Nigerian Army in a way that sane people will rightly interpret it as the action of an army of occupation. Are we already at war? If the army is so powerful, why can’t they be deployed to fight the Boko Haram in the North-east or even the ubiquitous herdsmen who are ravaging the southern and middle belt parts of this country? This is because soldiers in a battle mood must have enemies to fight,” Uwazurike explained.
He called on those who sent the soldiers to withdraw them as the Ohanaeze has demanded.

“It is a notorious fact that the governor of Abia State has spent the last two years in court trying to retain his post .This present simulated crisis is just a ploy to impose military rule in the state just to have a war commander in the government house. The people are not interested in military democracy. This government should not forget that progress can only be made in a time of peace and not in war time. War is an evil wind that blows no one any good. The arrest of Nnamdi Kanu was a mistake but his rearrest will be a disaster,” he added.

Uwazurike noted that the federal government has charged Nnamdi Kanu to court but wants to take the extra judicial action of simulating a situation which will lead not only to a state of emergency but also violence.

“This was what it did the Elegant Zaki zaki case. I call on all men of good will to prevail on this government to learn from past governments on how to handle a civil situation. A word is enough for the wise. It is instructive to note that the last time we had this kind of scandalous action was when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo invaded Odi and Zaki Ibiam,” he added.

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