By Martin Nwoko
The Orluzurumee Youth Assembly (OYA) has expressed shock beyond imagination to read in some sections of the media that a group known as OPOCA has hijacked the recall process of Senator Rochas Okorocha, an agenda which they initiated as the apex leadership platform in Orlu zone.
In a release made available to newsmen in Owerri, signed by the National President, Sylvester Anyika and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Obinna Nnajiuba , the social cultural organization stated that it is criminal to usurp a project for which they have patent,maintaining that they have begun consultations with Orlu stakeholders to determine their next line of action.
It further stated that efforts have been made to unmask those behind the faceless group and they were taken aback to realize that a band of notorious political jobbers, attack–traders and a few political illiterate political thugs, who make a living by stoking the embers of political violence have chosen to usurp their program, impersonate the respectable identities of our most senior leaders and members and are now spiritedly targeting to dupe unsuspecting members of the public using an agenda which is legally theirs.
Orluzurumee Youth Assembly also stated that what is worrisome is that they are mainly serving appointees under the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma. It maintained that the move is completely unacceptable to them for their program to be deployed as a tool for political vendetta “and never again shall we sit back and watch the political soul of Orlu suffer corruption”.
The group reiterated that on September 1, 2019 they set up a 7-man committee for the recall with the following terms of reference : (a) Interface with INEC for the purpose of the Recall (b) Collation of data, petitions and signatures of the entire eligible electorate in the zone (c) Engaging with all critical stakeholders and creating awareness for the recall (d) ensuring that there is a landside victory during the recall plebiscite (f) and any other thing which the committee shall decide to do in order to achieve the recall.
OYA also disclosed that they have written INEC to inform them of the process and consequently requested the commission to act in line with the provisions of section 69 of the 1999 constitution and open a recall register for the purpose. The letter to this effect was said to be dated, September 27, 2019, and it was received and an acknowledgement copy signed and stamped by the commission. Having accomplished all these fundamental processes, the group maintained that they have become the only legally permissible body with the patent to speak and act on the subject.
It therefore stated that the mischief, the fraud and political profiteering stratagem of the shadowy characters known as OPOCA can now be fully understood. It is criminal for any body to impersonate them and that they will not fail to explore the legal option of deservedly subjecting them to the consequences of their misdeeds. It also revealed that the group have begun consultation with all critical stakeholders in Orlu zone aimed at building a broad-based consensus on the informed position of Orlu people with respect to this question of recall.
