Anambra: APC Fires Obiano For Demolition Of Suspected Kidnappers Building

           

The order of the illegitimate Government in Anambra State led by Chief
Willie Obiano directing the demolition of three buildings reportedly
providing shelter to suspected criminals in the state is not only vile
and crude, but patently runs against the grains of the
fundamental human rights enshrined in Section 36 of the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

In our considered view, it could be a deliberate destruction of
evidence which could point to the direction of some of the major
partakers in the demolition process.

For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to emphasize that their cannot be
any justification for kidnapping a fellow human being , and it remains
not just a rime according to the criminal statute, but also a cardinal
sin against humanity.

Our great party recognized this grievous crime which has led even the
valiant  Anambra State sons and daughters to celebrate even the most
valued cultural festivals’ like traditional marriages outside the
state along with other legs of insecurity and thus accorded the
highest priority ,by making it the first of our 12-point platform
,sold to the good
people of Anambra State in the failed gubernatorial election of
November 2013.

odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports that APC says it is needless to restate that  the process of that election is still
on, having been challenged in the Election Tribunal
Hence our exclusive listing of Security as the first and topmost
priority to pay attention to remains fresh and current,
having  been espoused when others  were indolently chorusing the story
of ‘Four Cs’,now jettisoned.

The detailed background has been provided to rub in the fact that there
cannot be a hiding place for kidnappers, or another criminals for that
matter in the mind and soul of APC, including those other the
searchlight such criminalities as those who are registered four times
on the voter register.

However, it remains to our recognition a fundamental hunan right for
every accused person to be presumed innocent until pronounced guilty
by a  court of competent jurisdiction. The Nigerian constitution so
enshrined, The African Charter on Human Right so hold, and so does the
United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.

Nigeria is a signatory to all these charters and no constituent part
bof the nation can afford to act ultra vires  to them as the fight to
fair hearing remains an inalienable fundamental human right that forms
part of the valid and time-tested fundamental principles of Justice.
Hence, we stand in defence of Anambra State presumed innocents  from
any premature punishment without the due process and conviction, even
by a Junta, eager to demolish those to be protected so as to score
cheap gallery points with sacred life and rights of Ndi Anambra.

We have heard sympathizers f this illegitimate Junta,some of them
unfortunate lawyers  refer to ,without citing an Act of House of
Assembly which they claim gives the illegitimate government headed by
one who is under trial for a criminal offence to demolish the
house of another suspected criminal without trial and see this
argument as puerile, in the face of superior laws of the land and the
world.

We will therefore have no reservation in condemning Anambra State in
demolishing the house of those suspected to be kidnappers without
adducing the evidence and allowing a court to decid .
The mere fact that the latest action has taken place in Aguleri, the
supposed hometown of the multiple-registered governor is a pointer to
our worst fears- that tyrannical actions such as this can only provide
fertile ground for men who crashed into power to deal crushing  blows
on their enemies on the basis of local squabbles which which details
have been carefully kept away from public glare, using the
instrumentality of the state power.

Gladly ,we squarely condemned a similar action taken by the government
of Peter Obi at Orifite and a hotel in Onitsha, now contested  in
court,  and challenged he government to pay attention to the sanctity
of due process.


We however observe with pain that these two government are emboldened
to carry on with these brash and primitive ways because of the
docility of the average Anambra State citizenry on matters relating to
the pursuit of their civil rights under the law, including such civil
societies as the church, town unions, age grades and traditional
rulers, who should ordinarily voice out against injustice, rather than
patronizing governments in power.

What ought to be done is that the suspected properties unfortunately
demolished ought to have been placed under surveillance for evidence
that would nail the culprits and ,upon the pronouncement of the court,
the building will find better use in the confiscation of the
respective properties by the government for public use, when the
localities lack many facilities.

This was so in the case of Otokoto Hotels  in Owerri, which long
before the present junta and the rudderless one before it came to
power was reputed and the court found it as a fact that it was indeed a
centre of ritual  murder. No one demolished Otokoto Hotels , after the
culprits were arrested, or even after the pronouncement of the court,
which instead, in line with the prayers canvassed in prosecution
forfeited to the private hotel to Imo State Government.

There is no need for the pot to pretend to be cleaning the kettle
,while returning Anambra State to the path of barbarism where the rule
of law recedes to the background, as such is already beginning to rear
its head in other areas of Anambra State life.

In fact if such methodologies hold the potentials to eradicate or
reduce crime, in a sustainable way, it should have worked with Gov
Chinwoke Mbadinuju’s Bakassi Boys or Obi’s serial demolition of
properties which turned out to be those of his enemies. Instead, such
overreacting has won undue sympathy for genuine criminals.

The above is without prejudice to our rights as a political party to
activate a judicial process that will challenge whatever instrument,
provides the excuse for the latest invidious action of an illegal
government, as what is good for the goose is good for the gander.



--
*Okelo  Madukaife*
Anambra State Publicity Secretary
APC  STATE SECRETARIAT
Glass House
338 Ziks Avenue,
Awka,Anambra State.