Progressives Congress, APC, publicity secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe,
seven days within which he must apologize for his comments on the
organization or face the wrath of Yoruba gods.
The Director, Media and Publicity of the OPC, Yinka Oguntimeyin, said
Mr. Igbokwe while speaking with newsmen over OPC's withdrawal of its
men from securing NNPC pipelines in the South-West geo-political zone,
had described the Yoruba group as "hoodlums and outlaws".
"Why should hoodlums be used in securing pipelines…using OPC is a
primitive way of securing pipelines. You don't give sensitive jobs
like pipelines to outlaws", Mr. Oguntimeyin quoted the Lagos APC
spokesman as saying.
OPC pointed out that the contract was a duly-signed one between the
OPC and NNPC and was supposed to last between March 15 and June 15,
2015.
"Igbokwe needs to take a tour to the communities where the pipeline
runs through and speak with the residents on their experience since
the OPC started watching over the facilities. Our men have brought
some sense of safety and security to the people of the areas where
these pipelines pass through.
"On this note, I wish to say that Mr. Joe Igbokwe withdraws his
comments and apologize to the OPC within seven days or risk the wrath
of all the deities in Yorubaland. Igbokwe's latest statement is seen
as an insult on the entire Yoruba race and would be punished by Yoruba
gods and our ancestors if he fails to apologize within seven days.
"In our land, it is an insult to speak to an Oba in that manner. Even
if the Oba makes a mistake, you do not stand in the public gallery to
insult him", the group said.
OPC said the statement coming from Mr. Igbokwe was not only shocking,
but also regrettable.
It, however, said it is not surprised that he would insult and cast
aspersions on members of the group, who it said were in the forefront
for the enthronement of democracy in the country.
"Though it is easy for him and others like him who are benefiting from
the struggle to enthrone democracy in our country, he needs to tell us
where he was when members of OPC, alongside other activists like Chief
Gani Fawehinmi, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti and Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana,
took on the military after the annulment of the June 12 presidential
election.
"Igbokwe should tell the world what role he played in the struggle to
revalidate the annulment of the election and subsequently enthrone
democracy in our country. We need to know where Igbokwe was in 1995
when civil society groups in the country, under the command of
NADECCO, organized what was called the 'mother of all rallies'. Where
was Igbokwe in 1996 when Olisa Agbakoba led a rally against the
military?" OPC asked.
The Yoruba group said it is on record that most of these activities
were led and indeed commandeered by members of the OPC.
OPC referred Mr. Igbokwe to a judgment of Justice Anwuli Chikere of
the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered on December 19, 2006,
during the detention of Gani Adams and Fredrick Fasehun.
"In the judgment, the revered justice ruled that the OPC was not an
illegal organization, and ordered that nobody should refer to it as an
illegal body.
"Aside from this very important ruling on the status of the OPC, we
would have expected Igbokwe to know that, as enshrined in the Nigerian
constitution, every Nigerian has the right of association and the
freedom to associate with one another without molestation.
"It is not on record that Igbokwe suffers from memory relapse. But I
would like to refresh his memory, hoping that it would do him some
good.
"Among our members are medical doctors, lawyers and technocrats among
others. Also, across Yorubaland, we have initiated and organized more
than 18 cultural festivals as part of the efforts to promote Yoruba
culture and traditions", the OPC said.
—INFORMATION NIGERIA
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