The Metuh family, the Obi-Ezeani-Nnewi, has noted with grave concern the continued incarceration of Chief Olisa Metuh (Ugochidebelu Nnewi), their Diokpa and spokesperson of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), since he was arrested Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The statement by Chief Gilbert Metuh on behalf of the family noted that ‘whereas the charges for which Chief Metuh is being detained for over 48 hours now have not been formally made known to the family and the general public, we have noted some sensational publications in the media claiming that our son collected N1.4 billion from the arms deal cash and has been collecting N4 million monthly from the Office of the former National Security Adviser’.
“We have confronted our son with these allegations and he assured us that they are completely false.
“However, he acknowledged that in the course of his duties as the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the then leader of the party and ex-president of the country directed him to carry out some urgent national assignment relating to his office, which the former president duly funded and which he duly carried out to the satisfaction of the former president.
“The family therefore views the publications bandying the figure of N1.4 billion and alleged collection of N4 million stipend from the Office of the NSA as deliberate blackmail aimed at inflaming public sentiments against our son.
“Our biggest concern for now is the health and safety of our son, who even before his arrest has alerted the nation about various threats to his life, a stance that is not unconnected with his position as the spokesperson of the opposition. Our position is more so as he has refused to eat following fears of intentions to poison him in detention”.
“In view of the above therefore, we DEMAND that the EFCC immediately release our son, Chief Metuh (Ugochidebelu Nnewi) from detention or charge him to court”.
Lagos PDP, APC trade words on Metuh’s arrest
The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Demcoratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of instigating the persecution of the PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh.
But in a swift reaction, the APC in Lagos described the PDP’s allegation as unfounded.
In a statement by its publicity secretary, Mr. Taofik Gani, the party noted that the arrest of Metuh “is only being made convenient by the issue of money allegedly involved.”
The PDP accused APC of its resolve to “clamp down on the PDP publicity office superintended by the now arrested Metuh.”
PDP must re-examine itself—Joe Igbokwe
Publicity Secretary of the APC in Lagos, Mr. Joe Igbokwe said “opposition must be real opposition and not a band of looters of the common patrimony. They must not be wreckers of Nigeria and not partakers in the destruction of everything we hold dear.”
Igbokwe added: “PDP can be a real opposition if it chooses to be, but you cannot give what you do not have. The APC is not stopping PDP, but it must first of all, redeem itself. PDP must re-examine itself and call a spade, a spade. The PDP needs our help.”
Biafra: CD gives Buhari 7-day ultimatum to release Kanu, Metuh
…accuses FG of cracking down on Igbo leaders
Campaign for Democracy (CD), South East Zone has joined other human rights bodies in the call for the immediate release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, the Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisah Metuh and the former National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
In a statement in Onitsha, Anambra State, CD also expressed concern that Buhari had formed the habit of cracking down on Igbo leaders at any slight provocation.
In the statement by its Chairman in the zone, Dede A. Uzor, CD recalled that Kanu was arrested on October 17, 2015 and a court of competent jurisdiction granted him bail, yet Buhari refused to release him, just as he also refused to obey the court order which granted Dasuki bail to travel abroad for his medical check-up.
CD regretted that up till date, the duo are still languishing in the dungeons of the Department of Security Services (DSS), adding that Tuesday’s arrest of Metuh was viewed as a clandestine move to silence the opposition.
CD, therefore, gave Buhari a seven-day ultimatum within which to release the detainees or else CD would mobilize more than 70 million Ndigbo, both home and in the Diaspora, to carry out a mass protest against their continued detention.
The statement noted that CD was not against arresting any corrupt public officers, but reminded Buhari of the need to obey the sanctity of court orders or rulings, which he swore to uphold, adding that it was very dangerous when leaders like Buhari disobey court orders.
“Buhari should tell us how many All Progressives Congress (APC) members he has arrested for corrupt practices or does it mean that APC members are all clean, including the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who allegedly spent over $16 billion on power sector reform without anything to show for it?”
Kanu played into the hands of his persecutors —Chief Odukwe
One of the persons that contested for the throne of Obi of Onitsha, Chief Godwin Odukwe, has said that the leader of IPOB, and Director, Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu personally put himself into the trouble he is currently going through, saying that he does not have the right to breach the norms and the unity of Nigeria.
The Onitsha chief spoke as Nigerians continue to react to the continued incarceration of Kanu, despite the protests for his release, in South East and South South states by pro Biafra agitators.
Speaking during the celebration of his 50 years of marriage, the Obi stool contestant, who is still pursuing his case for the stool in the court, said he felt very bad over the agitation for Biafra actualization.
“I personally believe that Mr. Kanu personally got himself incarcerated, his coming back to Nigeria, the abusive words and speech by him through Radio Biafra was unnecessary and uncalled for, it amounts to fanning the embers of war.
“I feel very bad over their agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra. Igbo suffered during the war, younger men who never knew what war looks like, are the people who have started talking about war by agitation for sovereign state of Biafra,” he said.
Admitting that the South East zone was marginalized in all ramifications, he advised that dialogue and round-table discussion should be used, instead of being confrontational over the poor condition of the zone.
Chief Odukwe stressed the need for the Igbo to be at the same level with other ethnic groups and states, adding that the infrastructure decay was a source of worry that prompted the agitation.
“We have to be at par and on equal level with other parts of the federation. Look at the condition of South East roads, this country belongs to all of us, the money in this country belongs to all of us, and therefore, we should not be going through the marginalization we are seeing now,” he said.
He thanked God for making it possible for him to attain the level of celebrating golden jubilee, adding that it was achieved through prayer, perseverance, love and hard work.
-Leadership/Vanguard/NAN
