Abia North Unity Group, ANUG, has declared that the “media trial” of Senator Theodore Orji and his son, Chinedum Eyinnaya Orji, as the handiwork of those opposed to the chances of Abia North producing the next governor of Abia State in 2023.
The national coordinator of the group, James Kwubiri Okpara, made the declaration on Saturday saying that his group’s findings over the allegations of impropriety against the people were false and ill-intended.
Said he: “The group took time to reflect, consult and research on the strange development and discovered to its shock, disbelief and consternation, the deliberate orchestration and manipulation of the main media (Radio, TV, and Newspapers) and social media with fabricated, false, untrue and prejudicial comments all aimed at grabbing the Governorship of Abia in 2023 as the alleged figures are not only fabricated but the accounts are non—existent”.
According to him, ANUG frowned at the media trial of the immediate past former governor and his son, describing it as “unacceptable to ANUG.”
He argued that such a practice was “at variance with the rule of law and due process.”
He also noted that “the whole essence of the orchestrated and coordinated media trial is to occasion public anger and hatred on them.”
According him, “while we declare our total commitment and acceptance of accountability in public offices by people who hold such offices, we say the public should be wary of certain elements who reside outside Abia State who are trying to destabilize the state by bribing and procuring young men and women to engage in violent mass protest without lawful authorization.”
“Our children are not canon fodders that can be wasted whilst yours are nowhere near Abia State or Nigeria, not to talk of participating in violent mass protest,” the ANUG coordinator said.
“What we in ANUG believe in is that our laws presume the innocence of an accused person until pronounced guilty by a court of law with competent jurisdiction and our laws recognise that the accused person must be allowed to defend himself/herself. In this case, neither of the two individuals has even been charged to court not to talk of trial and conviction
“So, we are calling on everybody to allow the institutions established by law in cases relating to allegations of malfeasance by public officials to do their work.
“Organising trial by media on fabricated figures and non-existent bank accounts and trying to use violent mass protest and rioting to compel and force elected public officers to resign their positions is uncivilized, barbaric and unknown to law and we reject them.
“The Constitution of Nigeria and other extant laws provide the means through which elected public officers can cease to hold office, we say lets follow that process”.
“We are sounding it loud and clear now. The quest for a son or daughter of Abia North to be governor of our state in 2023 is based on our unequivocal stand on fairness, justice, equity, merit and competence. It’s a fact that Abia North Senatorial Zone actively supported governorship going to Abia Central and South zones. When we were supporting these zones, nobody mentioned the fact that whether they had money or not, we were concerned with equity, justice and fairness.
“It is therefore annoying, insulting and disrespectful that some will have the effrontery and arrogance to brag that ‘Abia North does not have the money to be governor’. Who told you? Are you in our pockets? It’s neither a favour nor a privilege for Abia North to get governorship in 2023. It is a right, which is over merited,” he said.
“We are saying that the essence of the sponsored media attacks on Ochendo and Ikuku is to cause confusion and unrest in Abia polity and therefore scuttle power returning to Abia North in 2023. They have failed and will continue to fail.
“On our part, we have called on everybody and we still use this medium to call on all our parents and guardians in Abia North Senatorial Zone to enjoin and advise our sons and daughters not to participate in any unlawful gathering or protest. They should not join anyone to subvert, undermine or short circuit Abia North’s chance. Whatever they offer them today is Greek gift,” Okpara added.
