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GROUP PROTESTS ORJI KALU’S INCARCERATION -by Olufemi Soneye
Washington DC- Monday July 23, 2007- Members of the Organization of Nigerians in Diaspora (ONID) staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the White House in Washington DC to protest the continued incarceration of the former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Uzor Orji Kalu.
The protesters, numbering hundreds arrived at the Lafayette Park Opposite White House at 10 am and left at 3.30pm Eastern time.
According to Dr. Richard Ngwu, the President of the Organization, they decided to stage the demonstration to protest the “unjustified denial of Dr. Orji Kalu’s bail.” He said that Dr. Kalu was in the United States and went back home and if he is a flight risk, he would not have traveled back to Nigeria.
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, Dr. Ngwu said that ONID’s next line of action is to write to the Chairmen of US House and Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs. He said that the same demonstration will take place in Europe in coming weeks. Ngwu said that the hurried arrest of Dr. Kalu on a quashed indictment represents a clumsy means for silencing opposition leaders who possess a characteristic the government of the day is seeking to suppress by means of intimidation and punishment. In his response to our correspondent’s question, Mallam Yakubu Kazaure said that the continued detention of Dr. Kalu is a set back to the recognition being sought by President Umar Yar’Adua from the international community. ONID Secretary, Mr. Tola Mabogunje told our correspondent that the Organization will mobilize its members and other friends of democracy and rule of law to launch series of peaceful protests in other major cities of the United States. “ ONID will fully employ the instrumentality of diplomatic, legal and other conventional means to fight this cause and oppose any further violation of Dr. Orji Kalu’s right both as a citizen and Presidential candidate in a contest that is yet to be concluded,’ Mabogunje conluded. He said that what ONID is asking for is justice and they will not stop until they get it.
Mr. Orji Kalu and some other former Governors were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on allegation of corrupt practices while they in public office. Others are Saminu Turaki, former Governor of Jigawa State, Rev Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, and Mr. Joshua Dariye of Plateau State. In their court appearance, the presiding judge ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.
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