MEET FRANK OSHANUGOR
By Usman Bello
Sequel to what may be described as a defiance to Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the chairmanship of the Labour Party (LP), Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest Barr. Julius Abure, former Chairman of the party for still parading himself as the Chairman.
Governor Otti, had reacted to the reports of his suspension by the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party and did not have alternative than to call on IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to quickly arrest Abure for alleged impersonation.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, on Wednesday, Otti described the news of his suspension as a joke taken too far and an affront to democracy.
According to the Abia Governor, the Supreme Court had ruled that Julius Abure is no longer the National Chairman of the LP, while the Nenadi-Usman-led Caretaker Committee had stripped Abure of the authority to parade himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
“For the records, the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has rightly and unambiguously stated that Julius Abure is no longer the National Chairman of Labour Party,” he stated.
Otti urged Nigerians to disregard the news of his suspension by Abure.
“Just few hours after being summoned by a Committee set up by the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee to come and respond to allegations of gross misconduct bordering on financial misappropriation, impersonation and anti party activities levelled against him, Abure decided to be smart by half by rushing to the press to announce the purported suspension of Governor Otti and other eminent members of the party.
“Finally, we call on the Inspector General of Police to quickly arrest Mr. Abure for impersonation, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should ensure full implementation of the Supreme Court judgement as a way of preserving the integrity of the Supreme Court and protecting our democracy”, Ferdinand Ekeoma said on behalf of Otti.
