Sen. Abaribe
Senator representing Abia South Senatorial Zone, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has been described as innocent over his alledged failure to produce IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu in Court.
This assertion was made by a Pan-Igbo social group in a statement signed by the National President of the group, Dr. Chuks Orji and Secretary, Mr. Theo Nwoba and made available to the media.
The statement held inter alia that the military invasion of Mr. Kanu’s house was ill advised and had spoiled the chances of getting across to him as no one could guarantee that he was not in the custody of the military or government.
Below is the full statement:
ABARIBE HAS NO HAND IN KANU’S DISAPPEARANCE
It has come to our notice that the FG is claiming that Abaribe is in the know of Nnamdi Kanu’s whereabouts. Based on this, Ochie Igbo has decided to inform as follows;
a. Kanu was granted bail like every other Nigerian citizen. The bail conditions required a surety. Abaribe obliged to stand surety for our brother, in line with our culture as Ndigbo – in the spirit of ‘onuru ube nwanne agbala oso’ – be thy brother’s keeper.
b. While Nnamdi was on bail, the Federal Government became unnecessarily desperate to drown the voice of self determination in the Southeast. They resorted to self help. The magnitude of mechanical force exhibited by the military in Aba and Umuahia remain obscure to democratic principles.
c. The military were brought in to do an odd job which has belittled that highly respected profession. They invaded the privacy of Kanu at the expense of all natural and national laws known to man. His human rights were deflated and his humanity trampled on. His Nigerian citizenship was brutally suspended as the army reduced him to infra dignitatem. Admittedly, Kanu has not gotten everything right. But it is incomprehensible how the Nigerian army staged what looked like a Hollywood show with daft impunity.
d. The Nigerian military usurped the constitution, judiciary and the law. They descended into the arena and exhibited a Stone Age force. The unarmed agitators whose message was centered on the unjust structures that have made Ndigbo outcasts in Nigeria were debased, crushed and killed.
e. Ochie Igbo wishes to educate that the Nigerian army has unknowingly opened its tactlessness to the global intelligence community. The implication is that more organised military, outside the shores of this country, after watching that clip on military abuse on harmless civilians will conclude that the Nigerian army is a glorified “mai guard”. This perception opens us up for military invasion.
f. Since that pristine act at Afaraukwu, Nnamdi Kanu has been missing. His Lawyer has approached the court accusing the military of keeping Kanu. It is on record that Zakzaky has been held for nearly 20 months now.
g. From the foregoing, it is clear the Federal Government wants to pitch Igbos youth against their elders. Ndigbo must understand and guard against this plot. We are more united now than ever! You don’t use the head of native doctor’s son to test charms.
Therefore, it is preposterous for the army to connive with the judiciary and be asking Abaribe to produce Kanu. What would a distinguished Senator in the standing of Abaribe gain by keeping Kanu? Why should the Federal Government be mute on the sudden disappearance of a bonafide citizen of this country? This inordinate gimmick explains how responsible our government is towards its oath to protect lives and properties.
Finally, distinguished Senator Abaribe is one man whom we hold in highest esteem. With a political career spanning two decades of untarnished service, Abaribe has not been found wanting in the exercise of his duties or charged with any corruption case. We stand with Senator Abaribe, under the sun or in the rain. We are Igbos we don’t abandon our own.
