By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—ABIA State chapter of Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, has warned members of both the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, over reckless comments on the Appeal Court judgment that sacked Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and declared Dr. Alex Otti winner of the April 2015 governorship election.

Ikpeazu and Otti

According to CLO, such comments were capable of heating up the polity.

In a statement issued in Umuahia, chairman of the Abia branch of CLO, Mr. Pedro Azuogu, said “the statements and actions of the contending stakeholders on both divides have created a charged atmosphere that has tended to rob the state of its hard earned peace. A situation where little children of primary school ages are exposed to violent marches on the streets portends danger to their future,” even as it wondered whether any of the politicians had their direct children in such demonstrations.

The CLO argued that; “It is not the place of politicians to analyze judgments of the courts and pour vituperations on presiding judges but to appeal against such judgments. We of the Civil Society have intrinsic confidence in the judiciary and therefore advise that it is the decision of the apex court (Supreme Court) that will lay to rest the issues raised at the lower courts”

The statement also raised alarm over alleged military interference in civil matters in the state, saying “our observation has shown that sometimes members of the military delve into civil matters that are the exclusive preserve of the police. Private individuals sometimes prefer to use the military to settle issues. Even communities disputing over ownership of lands find solace in using soldiers to intimidate each other.”

This is a disturbing development as we call on the military high command to call the stationed soldiers in Abia State to order because only the police have the constitutional right to handle civil matters”.

The group also lamented that the “state of federal roads in the South East” and called for immediate intervention with advanced technology that would take into consideration the peculiar topography of the zone.”