Appeal Court ‘ll vindicate me - Orji

By Eric Ikhilae, Lagos - 09.03.2008

Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has expressed hope that he will be favoured when the Appeal Court decides his appeal against the last decision of the state’s Electoral Tribunal which annulled his election.

The Governor, while speaking in Lagos on Thursday, said he will be vindicated as the issues on which the tribunal based its decision were unproven by the complainant.

“I will be proved right by the Appeal Court. I am certain about that. The judiciary in Nigeria had come to my aid before. And I believe that the wrong done to me at the tribunal will be rectified by the Appeal Court.

Alluding to his experience prior to last year’s election, Chief Orji said, but for the judiciary, he would not have been admitted to bail even when he won the election while in prison custody.

He reiterated his denial of being a member of any cult group including the said Okija shrine. He argued that unlike the popular belief, Okija shrine is not a cult body but a shrine which is a common feature in most African communities.

“Surprisingly, they said I am a member of a cult group. I am not a cultist and have never been one. Even when I was in school, I did not venture into such things because I know it was wrong. Why will I resort to cultism now when God has helped me to the pinnacle of my career?”

He assured of his commitment to serve in his state and ensure that his government left behind a great impact.

He enjoined well meaning Nigerian professionals, particularly, media practitioners, to get involved in partisan politics to ensure that the reins of government and decision making in the country is retrieved from mediocres.