THIS DAY
Onitsha — Elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State have cautioned the presidential candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2007 election, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, for threatening to drag Igbos to another civil war should the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu grant the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the April 14, 2007, governorship election in Anambra State, Dr. Andy Uba.
Uba is seeking a revalidation of his mandate to enable him occupy the Government House, Awka, after Peter Obi’s tenurein 2010.
The state PDP Elders Forum (PEF) yesterday berated the Ikemba Nnewi and his party, advising that the Igbo should be allowed to pursue their goals peacefully in the country.
While condemning the statement, the forum, in a statement signed by the Chairman, Chief P.C Agu, and Secretary, Rev. Canon Chris Orajekwe, said Ojukwu should be sober and reflect over the fate of war lords in Yugoslavia, Liberia and Sierra Leone and not abuse the magnanimity of the federal government in granting him unconditional pardon upon his return from exile in 1982, 12 clear years after the end of the civil war in 1970.
By Ojukwu’s statement, the forum noted in an eight paragraph statement that the former Biafran leader was threatening the eminent jurists of the Court of Appeal and expressed the hope that he would understand the grave implications of his actions. The forum called on the law enforcement agencies to call him to order.
The elders noted that it was sub-judice to discuss the issue of the case before the court of appeal and advised Ojukwu to leave the courts alone to adjudicate on the matter before it.
The forum expressed surprise that at a time the entire nation is talking about the success of the president’s seven-point agenda that will propel the nation to the gains of Vision 2010, Ojukwu wants the Igbo to go to “his war with himself as “Commander-in-Chief,” describing the thought as “mere delusion, and treasonable which are repugnant to the Igbo.
“An old man like him should be talking peace and not war and should reflect on the futility of the ego propelled war he dragged the Igbo to fight in 1967.”
The forum further said,” No sane Igboman will ever go to war again, under any circumstance. Can Chief Ojukwu tell Ndi-Igbo what we gained from the avoidable civil war of 1967-1970, which he guided us into, because of his personal pride? How did he end the war? He scurried away to the relative safety of Ivory Coast, leaving the hapless Igbo to their fates. Since he came back from exile in 1982, has the Ikemba thought it fit to apologize to Ndi-Igbo, who lost relatives and loved ones, lost properties and their future in a country they helped to nurture? Why can’t he borrow a leaf from Gen. Gowon.
“What is wrong with Dr. Andy Uba seeking redress from the law court, established by the Constitution? What does he expect the young man to do? We the Elders most wholeheartedly support him for his consistent efforts in this regard,” the statement added.
Rather than accuse Dr. Uba, it is the Ikemba that is bringing the courts to ridicule and dragging its integrity to the mud. Ikemba is advised to leave Dr. Andy alone and carry his war chant to other climes.
“We take great pity on the Ikemba for allowing political prostitutes to operate statements only for him to append his imprimatur. We cannot easily forget his role in the Emeka Etiaba and Peter Obi debacle.
“When the entire nation is talking about the success of Mr. President’s Seven (07) Point Agenda that will propel us to the gain of VISION 20:20, Ikemba wants us to go to his Civil War, with himself as “Commander-in-Chief.” What a delusion? What treasonable thoughts? His thoughts are repugnant to Ndi-Igbo. He is advised to keep quite permanently. An old man like him should be talking peace and not war, at all times.
“We the Elders will want to advise the Ikemba to shun the toga of WARLORD, as it is not the in-thing now. Where are the Ex-War Lords of Yugoslavai, Liberia and Sierra Leone? He should not abuse the magnanimity of the Federal Government in granting him unconditional pardon.”, the statement said.
kenneth uwadi