ACN condemns disruption of Igbo summit
Published on 30 September 2010 with 1 comments   
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The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has strongly condemned the disruption of Monday�s Igbo political stakeholders� conference in Owerri, Imo State, describing it as a clear threat to the country�s democracy and the organisation of free, fair and credible  elections next year.
�Democracy thrives on freedom to associate and hold opinions, take that freedom away, and you will be setting the stage for the collapse of that cherished system of government,�� the party said in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
It said from published reports of how security operatives stormed the venue on the basis of the so-called ��order from above��, it was clear that some powerful people were behind the disruption.
��Who has the powers to deploy security operatives for such operations? Who could order the management of the Concorde Hotel, which is state-owned, not to allow the meeting to hold?�� it queried.
ACN blamed the development on the fact that things have fallen apart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the party prepares to implode over the issue of zoning.
�Apparently, those opposed to the meeting felt it might not be in favour of the trend in the party�s hierarchy to favour certain candidates over others, hence the decision to scuttle it.
�We shed no tears for a party that has chosen to self-destruction. But we must warn against any temptation to resort to Gestapo tactics just to stifle opinions considered unfavourable to certain interests.
�We are worried that the prevailing environment, just like what obtained when a serving minister�s residence was stormed by armed soldiers reportedly searching for �illegal arms and ammunition� in Delta state recently - may not allow  the success of the forthcoming general elections, if left unchecked,�� the party said.
While there is yet no evidence linking the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to the show of shame in Owerri, ACN advised the President not to tow the anarchic line of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who used undemocratic tactics to stifle all dissenting opinions during his tenure.
It said people must be allowed to gather freely to discuss issues of interest to them, without such gatherings being disrupted by security agents.
��We therefore call on the federal government to investigate how the security agents disrupted the conference in Owerri, and to ensure that those behind such anti-democratic act are duly exposed and punished to serve as a deterrent,�� ACN said.

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Let us hope the federal government will investigate how the security agents disrupted the conference in Owerri, and to ensure that those behind such anti-democratic act are duly exposed and punished to serve as a deterrent.