A nascent socio-political group, Democrats for Justice, Equity and Fairness (DJEF) has alleged that certain interests in the National Assembly are pursuing devious plots against the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, to discredit his personality.
The DJEF in a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Dr John Hassan, and made available to newsmen in Abuja, said “there are devious plots being hatched by certain interests in the National Assembly to rubbish the achievements of Emmanuel as governor and bring his personality to a public odium”.
The group noted that those behind these callous schemes have hired nebulous groups to write frivolous petitions to anti-corruption bodies, making unfounded allegations against former Governor Emmanuel.
The DJEF stressed that it could not have been a mere coincidence that a wave of media attacks is being hauled at Elder Emmanuel about the same time when a purported joint account committee of the National Assembly has been created to conduct investigations into projects that were appropriated for and legislatively passed by the State House of Assembly.
It described the investigation by the said National Assembly committee as an “unconstitutional scheme fraudulently designed and tailored as a witch-hunt to achieve a pre-determined result against perceived enemies of some high placed persons in the National Assembly (See bromides).
“For the record, the Emmanuel Administration left behind audited accounts of every money spent, on every single projects, ministry by ministry, in fully bounded formats for emphasis and reference purposes,” the DJEF further stated.
According to the group, “this illegitimate pattern of using the privileges of office to engage in personal squabbles with perceived enemies is totally undemocratic and constitute an abuse of office.
“At this critical time in our national history, the National Assembly ought to lead a course of action that will prosper our nation and not being used to harrass, intimidate and discredit innocent Nigerians”.
The group cautioned against such and urged the National Assembly not to allow itself to be used as instruments of intimidation against Nigerians, especially individuals that have meritoriously served the nation in various capacities.
