Zara Nwachinemere, Abakaliki
The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Ebonyi State chapter on Wednesday reacted to the recent declaration of a former house of representatives member, Hon. Linus Okorie, wanted by the state government.
Okorie, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a known critic of Ebonyi State government, represented Ohaozara, Ivo and Onicha federal constituency between 2011 to 2019 and was declared wanted over alleged provocative statement on his Facebook page by Ebonyi State government.
Reacting to the incident, the state chairman of PDP, Hon. Tochukwu Okorie, maintained that the declaration did not follow outlined procedure for declaring a person wanted, stating that such powers were not giving to any state government or it’s officers.
Okorie, who addressed journalists at the end of PDP’s SEC meeting in Abakaliki, called on President Mohammadu Buhari, National Assembly members and security agencies to step in and avert collapse of democracy in the country.
He said; “The Nigeria constitution and the various criminal justice statutes clearly outlines the procedure for declaration of any accused person wanted, and there is nowhere in the laws of Nigeria that state government or its officers are given such powers.
“This particular declaration as announced by Mr. Uchenna Orji, the state commissioner for information as has been widely noted by Ebonyians is an active Fatwa declaration on Hon. Linus Okorie. In effect, the Ebubeagu militia has just been unleashed on him, his associates, businesses as well as other members and supporters of PDP in Ebonyi State.
“We, therefore, as Ndi Ebonyi, Opposition political party and concerned citizens of the state who believe in constitutional democracy and the rule of law call on President Mohammadu Buhari, the National Assembly and Security agencies to immediately step in and avert the collapse of Nigeria’s democracy by the action of one man whose inordinate quest for power is capable of sinking the ship of democracy and rule of law in Nigeria”.
He reiterated that the Ebubeagu security network, has become an albatross for the people of Ebonyi State, adding that businesses in Abakaliki metropolis have closed down as the Ebubeagu boys are allegedly unleashing terror on innocent traders and business people.
“It is now common place to see Ebubeagu checkpoints on every nook and cranny of Ebonyi State where the only thing they do is to harass and extort money from Keke operators and okada riders, woe betide anyone that refuses to “settle” them as such person may not be alive to tell the story.
“The twin incidents in Akpoha community in Afikpo North and Akaeze in Ivo local government areas respectively where Ebubeagu militia unleashed Boko-Haram like violence on innocent, unarmed and hapless Ebonyi citizens are classic examples of the savage sadism that the Ebubeagu militia employs against hapless Ebonyi citizens”, he added.
