Metuh, Chidoka condemn military/IPOB fracas at Kanu’s home

FORMER National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh and the gubernatorial candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Osita Chidoka, have condemned the fracas between the Nigerian Army and members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

The clash occurred at the vicinity of the family home of leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu in Umuahia on Sunday.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the former party spokesman, said the clash was “indeed traumatic and completely unacceptable.”

He said even if the various accounts of the events given by both sides were true, wrong had still been committed against the people as he observed that there was no such thing as “show of force” as claimed by the military in a peaceful environment.

He said: “I have read, severally, the press statement from the Nigeria Army and that of the Nigeria police in their attempts to rationalize the violence.

“Assuming, but not conceding that all they have said is true, there are still evidential wrongs against the people by the security team.

“First, there is no such thing as ‘show of force’ in a peaceful part of our country. It is a provocative taunt and insult thrown at the face of the elected, appointed and anointed leaders as well as the people themselves.

“When you taunt and mock a people because you control instruments of brute force, yes, you can arrest, humiliate, handcuff, maim, imprison or even shoot and kill them at will, but then, you cannot kill the spirit of their struggle and resistance. Provocative and brute show of force does not hold the answers.”

Metuh admonished that provocation and brute force was not the answer to the problem.

He further stated: “Moreover, we are in a democracy and actions as these are at complete variance with the tenets and credentials of a democratic state.

“The security forces should not under any guise whatsoever be used or allow themselves to be seen as being used as political weapon on a people.

“The military high command should therefore not stretch the nation to the limits. It should forthwith withdraw soldiers from the streets, except if truly the intention is to intimidate the people.

“On our own part, we will continue to advice our people to remain peaceful and continue to be law-abiding at all times.”

In a similar vein, Osita Chidoka Campaign Organization has noted the heavy deployment of troops and weapons to the southeast states by the military for its operation, code-named “Exercise Egwu Eke II” (Python Dance II) in the region.

Chidoka is the UPP candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election of Anambra state.

In a statement issued by Viola Okolie, Director of media of the campaign, the former Minister of Aviation, noted whereas his campaign was not against any genuine effort to ensure security of life and property and rid the region of criminal elements, it was equally concerned about the safety and wellbeing of our regular citizens “who are now falling victim of reported abuses and infractions by unscrupulous uniformed men as usually associated with such operations, some of such resulting in avoidable loss of lives, as now being witnessed in the region.”

It therefore stated its intention to monitor the military operations with a view to noting human rights violations.

The statement added: “While we call on all our citizens to be peaceful and law-abiding, we will definitely not accept any deliberate act of provocation, harassment or infringement on the constitutionally guaranteed rights of our people by uniformed men, and for this we demand from the military high command, assurances of utmost professionalism and strict observance to international best practices and approved rules of engagement.

“Consequently, our campaign has set up strong machinery that will closely monitor issues and ensure that cases of infraction against the constitutionally guaranteed rights of our people are immediately taken up whenever and wherever they occur during this trying time.

“Already, we have lawyers and human rights activists who have volunteered to work with us on pro bono basis to ensure that any act of infraction against the constitutionally guaranteed rights of any of our people is immediately taken up through legal and constitutional means.”