David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
An Igbo youth group, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, (COSEYL), has condemned alleged plot to remove the senator representing Abia North Senatorial Zone, Senator Orji Kalu.
The plot, Senator Elisha Abbo, who was recently removed by an Appeal Court, said that a plot was being hatched against some senators, including himself and Kalu who failed to support Senator Godswill Akpabio, during the Senate’s presidential contest.
The group said that the plot if ever contemplated could amount to a coup against democracy.
A press release that was signed by the President General and Publicity Secretary of COSEYL, Mr. Goodluck Ibem and Mr. Okey Nwaoru, respectively, said that there was no crime in any politician holding a separate view from others.
Part of the release read: “Different and diverse views on issues have always been the beauty of democracy all over the world. Witch-hunting individuals with opposing or different views is dictatorial and a coup against democracy.
“We want to know when it has become a crime for one to air his or her views or opinion on issues. We want to know when has it become a crime for one to support candidates of his or her choice under democracy.”
It alleged that “the urgency at which the Court of Appeal within four days delivered judgment removing Senator Abbo from office is a clear pointer to the fact that the justices are just playing a script handed over to them by some influential individuals somewhere.
“We monitored the last National Assembly and Presidential elections in the entire South-east geopolitical zone and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu convincingly won his re-election based on his performance and popularity among his people in Abia North Senatorial Zone of Abia State.
“The unprecedented performance of Senator Orji in just less than four months in office is a clear testament that he truly loves his constituents and they also love him in return, which was why they voted massively for him on 25 February, 2023.
“Any plot against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is a plot against the collective interest of Ndigbo and we stand solidly behind the mandate freely given to him by our people. Senator Orji is and has always been the voice of the voiceless in our society.
“We warn all those involved in this wicked plot to drop such scheme because Nigerians will not allow it to see the light of the day.”
