A socio-cultural group, North West Good Governance Forum (NWGGF), has berated a popular online newspaper Premium Times for what it called ‘political reportage’, asking the newspaper to stay away from politics.
Recall that Premium Times had on Monday published a story with the title ‘Why we’re yet to re-arraign Orji Kalu — EFCC’ in which EFCC was said to have responded to its enquiry on why the former governor is yet to have his days in court five months after he was discharged by the Supreme Court.
Responding to the report, the President General of NWGGF, Abubakar Hamisu and General Secretary, Noma Ibrahim in a statement issued on Monday wondered why Premium Times has allowed itself to be used by political interests ahead of the 2023 election.
According to Hamisu, some individuals whom he did not mention their names are afraid of Sen. Kalu’s skyrocketing popularity ahead of the 2023 political permutations, adding that they are deploying all evil tools to smear his character, including Premium Times whom he said has abandoned their professional calling in pursuit of evil agenda in the hands of politicians.
“At a time when all hands are on deck in delivering in the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate Chief Whip cannot be distracted.
“It is most unfortunate that people are still talking about a case that has since been laid to rest by the highest court in the land. Their action is akin to flogging a dead horse.
“We’re mostly saddened that a supposedly respected newspaper has made itself a pawn in the chessboard of desperate politicians for a peanut, sacrificing its professional calling.
“We are not perturbed, neither is Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. We must, however, state that the more they gather to perfect their evil machinations against the anoint of God, the more they are disgraced.
“Severally have they failed and more shall they bow their heads in shame. For the record purpose, Sen. Kalu has been declared innocent by the highest court in the land and that still stands.
“It is also on record that during the period Sen. Kalu held sway as Abia governor, he used his personal funds to run the state as a man who was already made before venturing into politics. Abia was in dire financial strait and couldn’t muster reasonable resources for the running of its affairs. How could a man who used his personal resources to run his state have stolen from it too?
“We know Nigerians who have looted the country blind. Today they walk about freely even when there is no trace they have managed any business in their entire life. We expect the anti-graft agencies to go after such individuals and leave Sen. Kalu alone to face his national assignment.
“Premium Times should advance development with their professional gab instead of promoting Machiavellian political agenda of those who ordinarily should be cooling off by now. They are scheming for 2023 they are not even sure they will see. They have already arrogated themselves the power of tomorrow. We in NWGGF, we are committed to a Nigeria that works for all and one major way to achieve this is by ensuring justice for all” Hamisu said.
