Mr Alex Otti,
Governor of Abia State.
Nvosi,
Isiala Ngwa South Local Government,
Abia State, Nigeria.
Sir,
DEMAND FOR THE IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF UNWARRANTED HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION AND BLACKMAIL AGAINST SENATOR ORJI UZOR KALU AND OR ANY OF OUR FORMER GOVERNORS BY YOU AND YOUR PAID AGENTS.
I write in my capacity as a legal practitioner, human rights advocate and a concerned Abia Statesman to urgently demand that you promptly desist from the ongoing, petty campaign of calumny and continued harassment against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, OUK, and ALL the former elected Governors of Abia State by several of your Officials especially after the gathering of these elders and their Associates at the residence of Chief T A Orji, a few weeks ago.
I am not unaware of the fact that on your assumption of Office in 2023, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu alongside all these former Governors extended their goodwill and co-operation to you in particular and your administration in general – in realization of the need for peace for the sustainable development of our dear State.
Unfortunately, to the utter suprise of many Abians who did not know your antecedents and in furtherance of your trademark vindictive penchant to maliciously witch-hunt the very citizens you are obligated to protect, you have continued to exploit state apparatus to persecute, denigrate, undermine and humilate Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and your predecessors in very parochial and primordial manners.
Indeed, the nauseating, despicable descent of your government’s known spokesmen to the depths of mudslinging, character assassination and defamatory publications targeting your predecessors and even their families on daily basis is now becoming a major affront to the sensibilities of decent, discerning and well meaning Abians all over the world.
Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees every person the right to assemble freely and associate with others, including forming or belonging to political parties, trade unions, or any association for protecting their interests. This fundamental right is essential for democratic participation, allowing individuals to collectively voice opinions and pursue common goals
Section 35(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) guarantees the right to personal liberty and provides that no person shall be deprived of such liberty except in accordance with a procedure permitted by law.
Furthermore, Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees every person the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions, receive, and impart ideas and information without interference.
It’s is, therefore, very alarming, for example, that since after the last graduation ceremony of the Abia State University, your Government officials have extended their menacing smear campaign to yet another innocent citizen , Prof Nnamdi Nwaeze as the usual prelude to his eventual victimisation, just for exercising his constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
The sustained media trial, blatant bullying and impulsive battering of senior citizens like Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and other former Abia State Governors together with many others is a ploy meant to instigate fear into the psyche of ordinary citizens who have asked for accountability.
Particularly, Mr Dodoh Okafor, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma and a horde of your other agents on various social media, conventional and even government platforms are on daily basis, dishing out all manner of falsehood to shame and silence Abians, for exercising their democratic RIGHTS.
This raises serious concerns, as your deliberate infringement on citizens rights is a clear abuse of office which, if not promptly arrested will convert Abia into an enclave of TYRANNY.
With almost three years gone, the people of Abia State are in SHOCK to realise that you, Mr Alex Otti is unwilling and unable to openly, publicly and transparently account for over a trillion naira of government funds entrusted to your care without resorting to war of words with courageous citizens whose only offence is simply that they demanded for accountability.
Similarly, in ALL of the vituperation against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the common denominator emphasized by your PAID AGENTS AND KNOWN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS is their grievance against the former Governor for daring to ADVICE AND CONVEY TO YOU and your government the legitimate concerns of his constituents for TRANSPARENCY and PROBITY.
The current deployment of Government Agencies and Agents to override the fundamental rights of citizens is a bad omen and a practice inimical to our growth as a State which is a dangerous and imminent threat to our democracy.
The continued desecration of the hallowed status of former Governors and several other eminent statesmen and women who have meritoriously served our dear State, ostensibly, for immediate political gains, is a dangerous precedent that could trigger a vicious cycle in Abia State to the detriment of our common good and peaceful co-existence.
A Governor must be seen to be driven by higher ideals and execute the functions of his office in good faith and not use same as instruments to attack constitutionally guaranteed rights.
The resources of Abia State must not be used directly or indirectly to undermine the much needed unity that is a sine qua non to any meaningful progress.
It is , therefore, on the above premise that I am compelled in good conscience to publicly raise these issues again and avert your mind to the consequences of your overt and covert support to the decimation of the dignity of the very office you presently occupy.
Mr Alex Otti, no condition is permanent.
Your present office, is undoubtedly the highest office in Abia State and this inadvertently mandates every occupant to uphold the rule of law, promote justice, and avoid conduct unbecoming of the office of Governor.
The ethical requirements of the office of Governor binds you, Mr Alex Otti, to STOP IMMEDIATELY, THESE ONGOING PERSECUTION OF SENATOR ORJI UZOR KALU both in your personal pronouncements and through your proxies.
In the likely event that you respond to this message with your usual knee jack resort to intimidation and subterfuge, I will immediately unfold other legitimate measures at my disposal to resist this continued persecution which is practically undermining public confidence in that esteemed Office.
The struggle against injustice ,corruption and intimidation must be firmly and justly pursued in the defence of public good.
The preservation of peace and fundamental rights remains the pivot of all democratic societies and must not be sacrificed at the alter of self -serving political expediency.
I hope that you will urgently retrace your steps and withdraw all hostilities now before my next line of well considered actions.
Abia deserves better.
Yours faithfully,
Eze Chikamnayo , Esq.
Legal Practitioner & Human Rights Advocate
