…as PDP candidate calls for release of IPOB leader
The senator representing Anambra South, Ifeanyi Uba, has sought an order of a Federal High Court, Abuja to visit leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at the Department of State Service (DSS) facility..
Uba, who is also the candidate of Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the Nov. 6 Governorship Election, said he filed the application so that an order of the court could be obtained to direct the DSS allow him access to the detainee.
The lawmaker, in a motion on notice with suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 dated and filed on Oct. 15 by his counsel, Agugoesi Ikem, sought three orders.
He said as a senator from the zone, he took it upon himself to carry out his oversight legislative functions to visit the Kanu at the detention facility to ascertain from him “if he is involved in any way in what is happening in the South East.
“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court granting Leave to Sen. IfeanyiUba to visit thé Defendant, NnamdiKanu, as part of his oversight legislative function.
“AN ORDER of this Honourable court directing the Complainant and/or the Department of State Services(DSS) to allow the said Senator Dr. IfeanyiUba access to their detention facility for purposes of visiting the Defendant, NnamdiKanu.
“AND OTHER ORDERS OR FURTHER ORDERS as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circ instances of the case,” it read.
In the affidavit in support of the motion, Uba said that as a lawmaker from the South-East Geopolitical Zone, he was bound by the oath he took to ensure peace and security not only in the region but entire Nigeria.
It reads in part: “That I state that as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is one of my responsibilities to ensure the promotion of the Constitution of Nigeria and other laws of Nigeria.
“That I know that the Defendant in this matter was arrested and brought into Nigeria by the Department of State Services(DSS) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and since he was brought into Nigeria, he had been detained at the detention facility of the DSS pending his trial.
“That I know that by the Constitution of Nigeria every citizen, including the Defendant, that is charged with an offence is presumed innocent until the charge is proven.
“That I know that the Defendant was charged with several offence and the DSS had only produced him on one occasion in court.
“That there is an allegation that criminalities are being championed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra under the leadership of the detained Defendant; an allegation which has been denied severally; yet the situation continues to worsen. .
“That I visited and intend to visit the Defendant in my capacity as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and for purposes of attempting to ameliorate and fashion a meeting point or create a discussion table aimed at reducing tension and quelling the agitation and killings in the South East,” Uba said.
However, no date has been fixed to hear the application.
Meanwhile, Valentine Ozigbo, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the upcoming November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, has called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Ozigbo made the call when he spoke at the 2021 Anambra Gubernatorial Debate hosted on Anambra Broadcasting Television, ABS, Awka Sunday night.
Asked about his position on the incarcerated IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Ozigbo said that Nnamdi Kanu should be released by the APC government and non-violent and diplomatic means of addressing the calls for secession should be adopted.
‘Indeed, Nnamdi Kanu should actually be released while we go back to the root cause for the agitation,” Ozigbo boldly said.
‘I always focus on the root causes of problem-solving. We can’t be addressing a problem from the symptoms. An efficient way to address any crisis is to deal with the root.
‘Why the agitations? If you think deeply, you’ll understand that it is because Nigeria is not working. Our leaders have failed us. The sense of hopelessness brought about by poor governance pervades the land.
‘There’s a lot we need to do to get Nigeria working again. The poor road networks, decayed infrastructure, failed social systems, a devastating healthcare sector, a shrinking economy, lack of opportunities, and many more manifestations of poor governance leads to the question of ‘Is there any need to be part of Nigeria, anyway?’
As a way out of the current crisis, Ozigbo called for a fresh approach to leadership. He said that Nigeria must focus on raising the competitiveness of the country, among other solutions. “We must do away with nepotism and entrench competency.
‘We must restructure Nigeria to be more just, more competitive, and more inclusive,’ Ozigbo demanded.
Ozigbo was the only candidate of a major political party who attended the hour-long event debate, which had in attendance only four of the eighteen candidates who would be on the ballot in November.
Noticeably absent from the ABS studios were Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC). None of these men has attended any manifesto presentation or debate since the campaigns begun in August.
