By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Justice For All (JFA), a socio-political advocacy group, has urged the leadership of the All Progressive Alliance (APC) to ensure that justice is done with regards to electing a representative for Ebonyi South in the South East zone for the Senate following the appointment of Engr. Dave Umahi as Minister for Works. According to the group, the party should be progressive in its conducts in line with the spirit of its motto.
Maintaining that all eyes are on the party, the group appealed to the leadership to do justice and uphold the will of the people because, according to them, the voice of the people is the voice of God.
A statement issued in Lagos at by Sam Imodibe, Project Co-ordinator, and Francis T. Nyame, Director of Press, said: “We preach peace, equal right and justice all over the country because we believe that no country can develop without peace, equal right and justice. Justice in this case is that the original candidate of the APC for Ebonyi South senatorial election, Deacon Austin Umahi, should be given his ticket to run.
“This is because Deacon Austin Umahi displayed uncommon loyalty when it mattered most. Men of lesser reasoning could have caused some problem in the state. So, it could be said that this arrangement is divine; let him have it.
“We believe that anything short of handing the ticket to the original candidate, Deacon Austin Umahi, is unacceptable and it is against natural justice. It is not expected that APC will prevaricate on this or choose a different path, but if that happens, the party will contend with a heavy moral burden.
“Most importantly, we believe that Deacon Austin Umahi will represent the people effectively. Our investigation shows as follows: He is tested and trusted. He is a man of the people. He is celebral and connected. He is the right man for the job.Everyone says he has the capacity or credentials to deliver.
“We are concerned and, indeed, shocked about the strange or nebulous argument in some quarters that he should not be considered because of his relationship with the minister. We think it is a function of dysfunctional social complex to entertain such thought. The question to ask is, should someone suffer unjustly because his brother is holding an office. Or he should not have any aspiration because someone else is in office.
“For us, those canvassing such arguments are being mischievous or silly. We are bewildered that in today’s society, people are still so pathetic in their thinking and display of abject poverty of the mind. It is advertisement of a sense of victimhood while playing politics of sentiments.”
The group urged the constituents to reject politics of bitterness for the overall good of the zone.
Indeed, political and non-political actors in Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone and beyond are clamouring for Deacon Austin Umahi to represent the zone in the Senate considering his antecedents.