The Abia State government has described the purported suspension of Governor Alex Otti by the Julius Abure faction of the Labour Party as a joke taken too far and an affront to democracy.
The government, in a statement signed by the special adviser to the governor on media and publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said the Supreme Court of Nigeria has rightly and unambiguously stated that Julius Abure is no longer the national chairman of the Labour Party.
He noted that the judgment, which is in agreement with the Constitution of the Labour Party, formed the basis for the setting up of the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee, stripping Abure of every authority to parade himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
The statement, however, enjoined Nigerians to disregard Abure’s laughable statement and continue to see him and his co-conspirators as a group of clowns in desperate search of a crown they do not deserve.
The statement reads: “The attention of His Excellency the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, has been drawn to the news of his purported suspension alongside other eminent leaders of the Labour Party from the Party by the former National Chairman of the Party, Julius Abure.
“The statement by Abure and his gang of comedians is not only a joke taken too far but an affront to democracy by a group of inconsequential irritants who are desperate to use Governor Otti’s name to advance their self-serving economic agenda.
“For the record, 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 the Labour Party.
“The judgement, which is in agreement with the Constitution of the Labour Party, formed the basis for the setting up of the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee and stripping Abure of every authority to parade himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
“Just a 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.
“We enjoin Nigerians to disregard Abure’s laughable statement and continue to see him and his co-conspirators as a group of clowns in desperate search of a crown they do not deserve.
“Finally, we call on the Inspector General of Police to quickly arrest Mr Abure for impersonation, while 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.”
