Ijeoma Agudosi
The Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative (CRGI) has condemned in strong terms, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party’s statement in London at a parley when he reportedly said people of the South-South will shutdown Nigeria if president Goodluck Jonathan should lose the presidential election next month.
CRGI, in a statement signed by Nelson Ekujumi, its Executive Director described Agbaje’s statement as reckless, provocative, inciting, irresponsible, undemocratic, assault to human sensibilities and threat to national security.
“We at CRGI regards this statement as not only a threat to democracy, national unity and peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections, but a revelation from a member of an anti democratic and evil gang which deserves the attention of the security agencies.
“We are not unaware of the inciting and provocative statements from political gladiators which is heating up the polity and threatening national security and thus, we want to call on the security agencies to live up to their constitutional responsibility of maintaining law and order before, during and after the polls.
“We are also aware that Mr. President gave assurances during his New Year Day speech to ensure peace in the country before, during and after the elections by directing the security agencies to arrest trouble makers and this provocative and inciting statement by Mr. Jimi Agbaje presents a perfect opportunity to test the sincerity of Mr. President and the professionalism of the security agencies,” it stated.
In the light of this, CRGI demanded that the security agencies should immediately invite Mr. Agbaje for questioning to give more light on his people who have the power to shut the system.
It added that the security agencies should make their findings public in order to reassure Nigerians whose sensibilities has been assaulted by Mr. Agbaje’s reckless and threat to national security statement.
“The security agencies have a constitutional responsibility to the people of Nigeria to be impartial and professional in the discharge of their functions and it is hoped that they will take this task as a national assignment,” it said.