COMMINQUE BY THE SOUTHEAST HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA ON THE STATE OF ABIA AT 21
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF SOUTHEAST HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA (SEHRA) AFTER A MEETING HELD AT ABA, ABIA STATE TO REVIEW THE STATE OF ABIA AT 21
A coalition of human rights and civil society organizations activist met in Aba, Abia State on Monday 27TH August 2012 to review and articulate the civil society perspective on the state of Abia State at 21. The group state among other things that
1. That Abia state has come a long way as state in Nigeria after its creation in 1991 by the government of Gen. Ibrahim Babanigida.
2. That the state has had several military and civilian led government with the current occupier being Chief T.A.Orji (2007-till date)
3. That the state has produced many personalities that have served and serving the nation in various capacities and has made meaningful contributions to the socio-economic growth of the country.
4. That Abia state is also among the oil producing states of the Niger Delta as well as beneficiary of derivation accruing there from.
5. The group further stated that Abia State has two Major cities of umuahia and Abia: the former being the capital city while the latter is the commercial nerve center of the state and indeed southeast of Nigeria.
Southeast human rights Agenda held that in spite of the relative age of the state and resources available to it both material and financial she has been adjudged as one of the least developing state in terms of human capital development and infrastructure like debilitating states of roads at Aba
The state with the high record of human rights violations in terms of social, economic and political rights typified by the sacking of non-indigenes from the state civil service, backlog of unpaid salaries of the civil servants, nonpayment of pensions and gratuities of retired senior citizens of the state.
The state with very high level of fiscal indiscipline and non-implementation of budgetary provision.
State with notorious use of the state apparatus in exploiting the already inflicted citizenry through illegal taxation especially the suffering Aba traders.
A state known to have low tolerance for the opposition and a high record of scuttling the freedom of information and expression regime and media independence which is the beauty of Democracy.
SOUTHEAST HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA resolved that well-meaning Nigerians such as Hon. Minister for Finance Mrs. Okonjo iweala should distance herself from receiving awards/Title from non-performing government of Chief T.A.Orji because such title/Awards will definitely erode her hard earned reputation and pedigree.
The Group further advised the Governor to immediately resign for his inability to perform the functions of his office in accordance with section 17 sub sections 3, and section 20 and 21 of the 1999 constitution as Amended or mass action for Abuse of office.
SIGNED; BY THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMINQUE DRAFTING COMMITTEE...