Stop Campaigns of Calumny Against OUK, Other Abia ex- govs, Lawyer Tells Otti

By Ranmilowo Ojalumo 

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has been warned to immediately halt alleged harassment and intimidation of former governors of the state, particularly Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

The call was made in an open letter by a legal practitioner and human rights advocate, Eze Chikamnayo, who accused the governor and his agents of orchestrating a sustained campaign of persecution against past leaders of the state.

Chikamnayo alleged that the harassment intensified following a recent gathering of former governors and political associates at the residence of former governor Theodore Orji.

He said, “I write… to urgently demand that you promptly desist from the ongoing, petty campaign of calumny and continued harassment against Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and all the former elected governors of Abia State.”

The lawyer noted that upon assumption of office in 2023, Kalu and other former governors had extended goodwill and cooperation to Otti in the interest of peace and development in the state.

He, however, expressed concern that the current administration had allegedly resorted to “mudslinging, character assassination and defamatory publications” against its predecessors and their families.

According to him, the actions of government officials and spokespersons have become “a major affront to the sensibilities of decent, discerning and well-meaning Abians all over the world.”

Chikamnayo cited relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, stressing that the alleged actions violate citizens’ fundamental rights to freedom of association, personal liberty and expression.

“It is very alarming that your government officials have extended their menacing smear campaign to yet another innocent citizen just for exercising his constitutionally guaranteed freedoms,” he said, referring to Prof. Nnamdi Nwaeze.

The lawyer further alleged that certain government aides, including Dodoh Okafor and Ferdinand Ekeoma, had been disseminating false information across media platforms to intimidate critics and suppress dissent.

He described the alleged actions as a deliberate attempt to instill fear among citizens and warned that such conduct could undermine democracy and turn Abia into “an enclave of tyranny” if not checked.

Chikamnayo also raised concerns over transparency in governance, alleging that the administration had failed to publicly account for large sums of public funds while engaging critics in verbal confrontations.

He claimed that the attacks on Kalu were largely due to the former governor’s calls for accountability and transparency.

“The current deployment of government agencies and agents to override the fundamental rights of citizens is a bad omen and a dangerous and imminent threat to our democracy,” he added.

The lawyer warned that the continued targeting of former governors and senior citizens could set a dangerous precedent capable of destabilising the state’s political environment.

He urged Otti to uphold the rule of law and immediately cease all alleged acts of persecution, both directly and through proxies.

Chikamnayo further cautioned that failure to address the issues raised could prompt him to take further legal steps to resist what he described as continued intimidation.