By  Anayo Okoli

Umuahia—A HUMAN rights group, Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation [HRJPF] has condemned alleged attacked governor Theodore Orji when he visited Aba weekend, describing such action as “irresponsible and unwarranted”.

In a statement signed by the President of the group, Comrade Chidi Nwosu, the attack which happened in a church was the handiwork of “political mercenaries in Christian garbs working for the forces and interests that dread the liberation of Abians from the clutches of godfatherism”.

“My attention has been drawn to the attack on the Abia State Governor, Chief T.A. Orji, by some worshipers at Christ the King Church, Aba, on Friday, 30th July, 2010.

“According to an eyewitness account, when the Governor rose to the podium to address the congregation, some worshippers started calling him all sorts of derogatory names.

 “Although I do not intend to hold brief for Governor Orji, I have no doubt that the assailants were political mercenaries in Christian garbs working for the forces and interests that dread the liberation of Abians from the clutches of godfatherism.

 “It should be noted that since Governor Orji, in a historic event at Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, attended by Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Eze-Igbo Gburugburu, and other notable personalities, proclaimed an end to politics of godfatherism in the state; the retrogressive forces that held Abians hostage for over 11 years have been roaring like wounded lions.

“Like the Biblical Pharaoh who would not let the Israelites go, even after assenting to their departure from Egypt, the Land of Bondage, these conspiratorial forces of greed and avarice have been regrouping to unleash an onslaught against the
Governor in order to recapture in a most ruthless manner their lost privileges.