Our attention has been drawn to threats by Chief T.A. Orji, Executive Governor, Abia State Government to assassinate Comrade Chidi Nwosu, President, Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation [HRJPF].
It is no secret that since Nigeria returned to civil rule; Nwosu has been a strong critic of the Abia State Government, which has been run under the dark. Although Nwosu has proved beyond all reasonable doubts that his criticisms of the state government has been engendered by an indelible love to bring the best out of the managers of the state, officials of the state government and their agents have labeled him an enemy of the state that must be eliminated at all costs.
Last weekend, Nwosu whose organization has his men everywhere raised alarm over plots by Governor Orji’s administration to Islamize Abia State by building 17 mosques in each of the local government areas. It should be recalled that sometime in 2007, the Centre for Human Empowerment, Advancement and Development [CHEAD] in a similar manner drew the attention of the general public to the unlawful harassment of women wearing trousers in the state, which clearly was Governor Orji subtle way of testing the ground for his proposed plot to Islamize the state.
But in a swift reaction to the allegation, Governor Orji threatened to “handle Chidi Nwosu”, which has been interpreted by all and sundry to mean, eliminating the human rights activist. A member of the dreaded Bakassi boys who has sympathy for Nwosu told us in confidence to warn him to “be careful” because they have been detailed to kill him to avoid further embarrassment from his group [HRJPF].
It beats our imagination that, rather than resort to civilized means of resolving conflict, Governor Orji has resolved to put Nwosu out of circulation. We therefore condemns this nefarious plot against a man whose ‘sin’ is fighting for social change.
Should anything happen to Nwosu, the International Community should hold Governor Orji responsible.
Comrade David Kalu,
Regional Secretary [South-East],
Campaign for Democracy [CD]
Mrs Fidelia Ibekwe,
President,
Centre for the Advancement of Children’s and Women’s Rights [CACWR]
Mrs Anwuli Madubuogwu,
Secretary,
Delta Youths Initiative for Democracy [DFID].
Engineer Amaka Biachi
Executive Director
Centre for Human Empowerment, Advancement and Development [CHEAD]
Ms Meg Chukwu,
Secretary,
Centre Against Human Rights Violations and Corrupt Practices [CAHVCP].
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