Okeechukwu Isiguzoro, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Thursday, called for calm from warring parties in Abia state over recent inauguration of a judicial probe panel by Governor Alex Otti.
AFRIPOST recalls that Otti had in June inaugurated a five-man judicial panel of Iniqury with the charge to recover all properties and public funds allegedly looted by former aides and all other political appointees who served the administration of ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu between 2015 to 2023.
The inaugural event took place at the banquet hall of the State Government House in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
Isiguzoro, while decrying the controversies generated by the governor’s latest action in a statement on Thursday, reminded the warring political players and their teeming followers on the important need to desist from exchange of political brickbats and blame games which according to him, are capable to truncate the peace and security of the state.
He noted that he was not opposed to the set up of the judicial probe panel by the state governor to recover properties and taxpayer’s money allegedly siphoned by political appointees who worked under the immediate past government, but cautioned against exchange of brickbats and continued attacks on integrities of the former governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and the incumbent, Governor Otti by loyalists and teeming followers.
The Ohanaeze chieftain who hails from Ukwa/ngwa ethnic extraction of Abia south senatorial zone in Abia state, also noted that the two worthy leaders of the state must be accorded respect, and be allowed to rest and focus on delivering good governance to every doorstep of Abia citizens, rather than this latest resort to throwing of tantrums by respective loyalists.
Isiguzoro, a former national President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), worldwide, called on loyalists and supporters of these two Abia leaders to ceasefire and allow the judicial panel of inquiry to carry out its assignment devoid of political interference, intimidation, threats and undue pressures from any quarter.
His words: “This ensuing argument and verbal attacks among supporters of these great leaders do not mean well to existing peace and political stability in Abia. And it equally do not augur well to current political harmony among the major political players and critical stakeholders in the state. Members of the panel should be allowed to do their work. They’re not expected to carry out anybody’s bidding or act written scripts of mischievous politicians.
“So, this continued instigation and fuel embers of discords between these Abia leaders by their respective followers in order to deliberately heat up the state is unnecessary and uncalled for. Not only that, these unwholesome and uncivilised practices amount to deliberate distractions, if not brought to order and curtailed, are capable to jeopardize efficient and effective security architecture put in place in every part of the state which the people and residents of the state and the environs.”
While calling for ceasefire by warring parties in latest ensuing exchange of political brickbats by warring parties over the recent constitution of the 5-man judicial probe panel by the government of Abia state, Mr. Isiguzoro urged Governor Alex Otti to abhor bitterness and vendetta and resist any attempt by mischievous individuals to lure him into interfering in affairs of the state judicial panel of Iniqury on recovery of looted government-owned properties and public funds.
The Ohanaeze Secretary-General reminded the governor that he was elected by the people as majority population of citizens of the state expect fairness and justice from the panel members hence the need he must shun evil antics and pressures from some state government officials who would want him to use state power to maliciously cage critical opposition leaders from Abia state.
Isiguzoro further used the medium to task panel members to ensure they uphold truths and justice in their findings at the conclusions of the assignment and sittings, urging critical stakeholders (past and present administrations) in the ongoing recovery of looted government properties to give their maximum cooperation to panelists so as to achieve a just and acceptable outcome at the end of their proceedings.
