Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The Abia State Goverment has called on the Inspector General of Police Mr Kayode Egbetokun,
to investigate a group that accused Governor Alex Otti of sponsoring the Indigenous People of Biafra.
The special Adviser to the governor on Media and publicity Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, in a statement on Tuesday stated that the group made up of strange fellows in a viral video had called on the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia to deliver its judgement billed for Friday October 6, via zoom.
Recall that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Okey Ahaiwe and the All Progressive Congress standard bearer in the March 18 governorship election in the state are currently challenging the declaration of Otti as the governor.
Ekeoma said the group alleged that the state government had concluded plans to intimidate the Justices of the tribunal to deliver judgement in favour of Gov Otti, adding that the judges would be killed if they fail to favour the governor.
He stated, “The attention of the Abia State government has been drawn to videos arising from two press briefing conducted by individuals suspected to have been hired by opposition elements who were roundly defeated in the last governorship election in the state.
“The first group called Abia Youth Interest Group had alleged that Otti was using Abia funds to sponsor the litigation of the Labour Party presidential election of Mr Peter Obi.
“In the second conference, another group of strange fellows alleged that the four months old government of Gov Alex Otti is sponsoring the Indigenous People of Biafra.
“Because these allegations are weighty and have the propensity to cause disaffection, insecurity, breakdown of law and order and order, and even endanger the lives and property of innocent citizens, we strongly and most respectfully called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the chief of Army Staff, the National Security Adviser and the Inspector of Police to use their good offices to cause immediate and through investigation into the allegations.
“The young men who organized these press conferences should be invited by security agencies to come and throw more light on their allegations to enable law enforcement agents carry out thorough investigation that could lead to the arrest of culprits.
The hate, anger, bitterness and the trademark of terror contained in the text of the press conference and on the facial expressions of the accusers showed a despicable design to subject the government and people of Abia State to dishonor.
“The two opposition parties that are in court against Governor Otti and who are suspected to be the brains behind thiese allegations know very well that they have terrible cases and that their suits would be thrown into the thrash bin on the 6th of October, hence the resort to this panic and desperate strategy of deceit and destabilisation. They should be exposed and punished for chosing the perfidious path that seeks to advance their selfish interest against the genuine interest of millions of innocent Abians”.