Orji raises alarm over electoral reforms

Biola Azeez, Umuahia - 01.11.2009

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia state has raised an alarm over the on-going attempt to review the 1999 Constitution, saying some greedy and selfish but powerful Nigerians are not comfortable with the review because it suits them as it is.

Governor Orji, who said this at the 2009 annual alumni lecture of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association in Ibadan at the weekend, informed that the people had mapped out a well articulated plan to sponsor social unrests, perpetrate heinous crimes against humanity and the nation, all targeted at thwarting the reforms.

The governor warned Nigerians to wake from their slumber and take their destiny in their own hands, adding that parochial interests of a few people should not be made to override public interests.

Delivering a lecture titled: ‘Political and Electoral Reforms: Imperatives for Survival of Nigeria’s Democracy’, Orji lamented that hunger and poverty had contributed in equal dimension to the instability and corruption that ran ring around our polity. He assured that manipulations of the citizenry, especially the youth, by politicians would be curtailed when these problems were addressed.

Governor Orji also would want the mentality of the political and elite classes, which constitute infinitesimal percentage of the overall population, but would like to acquire and control power, considered before a reasonable reform programme could be implemented.