By Amaka Didanda
The Imo State House of Assembly has
once again showed that it is diametrically opposed to the
democratic and constitutional rights of free speech. I have been informed of a
radio announcement inviting me to appear before the Hon. Ikenna Emeh led
House of Assembly Probe Panel on allegations against the Speaker of Imo State
House of Assembly , Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu. The radio announcement was
made today 3/4/14 while I was asked to appear on 4/4/14. No letter of
invitation was dispatched to me.
It is a blatant disregard for the rule of law
for the Imo House of Assembly to invited me via radio
broadcast. Upon that , I am asked to attend a panel within less than 24 hours
of the radio announcement - an obvious attempt to deny me my
constitutional right to seek legal advice and representation.
A source at the Imo State House of Assembly
has informed me of a plot to arrest me at the venue
of the probe panel set up by the Speaker and whisk me to unknown
destination. The first attempt to arrest me was the March 8th
invasion of my residence in Egbema in Ohaji/Egbema
LGA of Imo State by armed uniformed police
officers. The invaders stormed my place in a crude military-like assault asking
for me and ransacking my place but I was not at home.
I have on several occasion
condemned the looting of over 3 billion naira Imo tax payers money by the
Imo Speaker.It is no secret that I am a critic of the Imo State
Government . I write several political articles in several newspapers and
online blogs criticizing the Imo State government . Although i have
proved beyond all reasonable doubts that my criticisms of the state
government is due to my hatred for corruption in government and an
indelible love to see youths of my state get employed and my
quest to bring the best out of the managers of the state but
the Imo State House of Assembly has labeled me an enemy of the
state that must be jailed at all costs.
I stand by my story that the Speaker of Imo
State House of Assembly looted Imo tax payers money and used the money to buy
eye popping mansions in Nigeria . I will not be intimidated.I don’t need to
appear before any panel. The Imo House of Assembly can probe into the
said allegations against the Speaker with the facts and figures made available
in the various allegations.
I say boldly that by setting up a probe
panel to investigate the Speaker with the Speaker’s bosom friend as
chairman the Imo House of Assembly is promoting the very corruption
that it is supposed to fight against. We have today in Imo State a
legislative house that supports corruption , incites hatred against
activists and media men, threatens free media and is viciously opposed to
the articulation of viewpoints contrary to its beliefs and actions – openly and
with total impunity. The argument of the “lesser evil” is contextual and
time-bound.
The Hon. Ikenna Emeh led House of Assembly
Probe Panel clearly is nothing more than a hoax, a big make-belief. A plan to
give the Speaker a clean bill of health. This probe panel is no more than
a smokescreen to divert attention from the monumental and unprecedented
corruption in the Imo House of Assembly. It is a momentary sensation meant to
deceive the public. It insults the intelligence of Imolites and those of us who
called for a probe of the Speaker. The Speaker, under the rules of natural
justice, cannot be a judge in his own case.
Truth is my best defence against
the Imo House of Assembly’s harassment and intimidation. Fair comment and
criticism covers me. The fair comment and criticism law allows columnists like
me to express opinions no matter how scathing or critical. Rt Hon Benjamin
Uwajumogu as a public official and public figure should prove that
my allegation that he (Uwajumogu) looted Imo monies
was false and that it was published with actual malice. Actual
malice means that the story was published with the knowledge that it was false
or that the story was published with reckless disregard of whether or not it
was false.
Fighting me is an attempt
to deny me the fundamental right to speak against
corruption in government . Rt Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu by this plot
to arrest me has moved against free speech in Imo State. His
attempt will not succeed and his excuses will not stand the test of the law,
the test of decency, nor the test of time.
We say NO to human rights violation by those
in authority and their agents. It is ridiculous that while some public
office holders who are expected to be above board but perpetrate
brazen corruption are allowed to live like kings, activists and media men
who are demanding sanity are threatened with lawsuits, police and
dungeons of intimidation and repression. This again shows that despite the
so-called emergence of civilian rule since 1999 and despite the struggle of the
working and poor masses against dictatorship and for good governance,
some public office holding vampires like Uwajumogu who never
contributed to the termination of military dictatorship are the ones throwing
the masses to the gallows. That we are still witnessing a clear attack on
the media and activists in Imo State as clearly displayed by Rt Hon
Benjamin Uwajumogu is a sign of bad omen for the poor working masses of
Imo State.
Any bad policy or corruption of the
government is antithetical to the interest of the poor masses and as such any
protest against such policy by the media or by activists is a protection
of the people’s interest as envisaged and guaranteed by the Nigerian
constitution. The right to speak against the bad policies of any government
is an inalienable right, which no court of the land and which no police
can take away. Some Nigerians fought and died to protect our unique
right of press freedom. We can’t and we won’t forget that. To be an activist or
a media man is not only a great responsibility, but also a high
honour and not a high crime. I call on Imolites to reject the political
repression against me by the Speaker. I call on
Imolites to demand the total withdrawal of all police intimidation and trumped-up
political allegations leveled against me.I call on workers, students,
writers, bloggers , the youth, peasant farmers, artisans, professionals,
traders and other sections of the working people of Imo State to speak
out against corruption. I will not be intimidated.
-Kenneth Uwadi, Mmahu-Egbema, Imo State,
Nigeria
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