From Paul Ibe, Enugu
The anti-Jega protests across the country seem to be assuming an interesting dimension, as security agencies now provide cover for established outlawed organisation, provided they do the bidding of authorities interested in securing the removal of INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.
Day by day, what began as mere speculation that the Presidency is playing hide and seek with the issue of Prof. Jega’s future in INEC is becoming authoritative. The dimension this time is the rallies and protest matches staged in various cities in the country.
South east zonal office of the Civil Liberties Organisation, has raised an alarm over what it described as alleged selected justice by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s led federal government, as it concerns the advancement of Biafra activism in Nigeria.
The group noted that while some members of Movement for the Actualisation for the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, that protested the removal of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, chairman, Mr. Attahiru Jega last weekend, were left untouched, some of their colleagues in the same struggle, led by Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, are currently facing a treason offence.
Zonal Director of CLO, Olu Omotayo, stated this on Sunday in Enugu, following a demonstration carried out simultaneously in Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo states by MASSOB, calling for the sack of INEC national chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, on the ground that he was not capable of conducting free and fair polls.
The protest, though peaceful, attracted a large turn-out of MASSOB members who disrupted vehicular movements in Enugu, especially on the major roads.
Mr. Omotayo who was reacting to the protest, via a statement, said: “It is no news that Benjamin Onwuka and 10 other Biafra activists are standing trial for treason before an Enugu Federal High Court presided over by Hon. Justice D.V. Agishi.
“It should be noted that part of the offences leveled against the activists was raising of the Biafran flag at the Enugu State Broadcasting Corporation and the state Government House.
“The Attorney-General of the Federation had maintained before the court that the Biafra activists belong to an outlawed violent group and also maintained that Biafra flags and other emblems depicting the state of Biafra are outlawed.
“The most surprising thing in Enugu city today was the full police protection accorded a faction of Biafra activists campaigning for the removal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.
The protesters in Biafra Army uniforms, carrying Biafra flags and other Biafra emblems protested round Enugu city.
“What happened today at Enugu shows that the country has actually jettisoned the rule of law which is the cardinal principle in any civilised democracy and we are now operating the Rule of the Jungle” Omotayo stated
