Suleiman Anyalewechi, Aba
The Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum has issued a 7 -day ultimatum to Rt Hon Emmanuel Emereuwa, speaker and the leadership of the Abia State tate House of Assembly within which to take steps, and swear- in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Hon Aaron Uzodike as member representing Aba North State constituency, warning that it would not guarantee peace in the commercial hub of the state if the good people of Aba North are continued to be denied representation.
The Forum which also accused Governor Alex Otti of complicity in the whole plot to frustrate the swearing – in of Hon Uzodike in clear violation of Appeal Court ruling, said security agencies in the state should note the potential threat posed to the peace and security of not only Aba, but the entire Abia by the wilful disobedience of a court judgment by Speaker Emereuwa.
It will be recalled that an Appeal Court sitting in Lagos had in November last year, declared Hon Uzodike of the PDP as the duly elected member representing Aba North state constituency, after upholding an earlier nullification of the electoral victory of Hon Destiny Nwagwu of the Labour Party, LP, at the March 18 l, 2023 polls.
In a Communique issued on Sunday February 4, 2024 in Aba jointly signed by Comrade Chimezie Nwagba and Arch Chinedu Ahuruonye president and secretary respectively, the Ngwa Forum wondered why after three clear months of being declared winner by court of competent and final jurisdiction in all National and State Assembly Elections Petitions and having been issued with a Certificate of Return, the leadership of Abia state Assembly is still refusing to swear -in Hon Uzodike.
The Forum in the communique, noted that on two occasions the House had scheduled to swear – in Hon Uzodike but failed to do so owing to the alleged influence of Gov Alex Otti, whom they alleged is uncomfortable with the prospect of seeing the ranks of LP shrink further with the coming on board of Hon Uzodike.
“Besides, we have it on good authority that the Speaker ( Emereuwa) has vehemently refused to swear – in Hon Uzodike on the basis of his ambition in 2027.
On this note, we have seen justice and fairness being sacrificed on the altar of selfishness, recklessness and bloated ambition.
While we the Aba Ngwa Peoples Forum respect Emereuwa’s right to vie for and or attain any political heights he desires, we also want to advise him to go about it responsibly, justly and fairly,” the communique noted.
The Forum further noted regrettably, that while the rightful winner of the elections continued to be left in the lurch, the leadership of Abia state legislative body has allowed some one who has since been sacked by a court of competent jurisdiction to occupy the position.
“This is official rascality taken too far and it is only in Abia state that such illegality would thrive unquestioned . This is a clear case of flagrant disregard of court ruling and gross violation of the constitution of the country which Speaker Emereuwa swore to uphold.
We have carefully been watching the rascality playing out in the House of Assembly and seriously view the unlawful action of the speaker as an invitation to anarchy,.
It is disheartening that the speaker has drawn a clandestine plan to throw Aba and Abia state in general into civil unrest.
Disobeying a Court of Appeal judgment is not only contemptuous, but also an invitation to a crisis, and that crisis is already brewing in Aba.
We do not care whether Rt Hon Emereuwa is being influenced, manipulated and or encouraged by a higher authority to foist such illegality on the good people of Aba North state constituency, so long as he remains the speaker of the Abia state House of Assembly, he shall be held responsible for the consequences of this illegality to the peace of Aba”.
In the interest of justice and peace, Hon Uzodike should be sworn – as an Abia House Member, representing Aba North state constituency within the next 7-days, as we may not be able to forestall the crisis that may result from any further delay. This also serves as a notice to security agencies that a crisis is brewing in Aba,” Aba Ngwa Forum stated.
