By Onuchukwu Hamilton
Again, the petition which was reportedly sent to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission(ICPC) as part of the plots by political opponents, to torpedo Pastor. Chris Mbarie’s re-election bid on the 7th of November, has also hit the rock like the reportedly unsubstantiated one sent to EFCC , as a grapevine investigating officer of the anti-craft commission , studied the petition and hinted that it is both politically motivated and a wild-goose chase .
According to its critique, ” a case of misappropriation of LG council fund, is an interesting criminal trial, but in the said petition against Mr. Chris Mbarie ” non of the petitioner’s points of argument as dispatched and published in the newspaper was backed with a definite claim, a prima facie that can lead the investigation as , all the points which the petitioning group allegedly raised, are based on speculations, coathed with the term “alleged”. The Officer remarks that the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has noticed that when the season of election competition comes, there is a spike in politically motivated petitions for wild-goose chases. In his words, ” Some will be brazen enough to tell you that, ‘ we need to stop Mr. “A” from contesting ” and they will bring a petition forward. ” That is not our job, and we will not get involved in those things”. He exclaims. ” We pack those types of petitions aside basically. ” Even if there is implications of merit within the complain, we will say, ‘ ” go and compete for the election first. ” We are not going to be the one to be used to give you the fair or unfair advantage. “When the competition is over, we will decide on the merit or otherwise of what you have brought forward.
According to the Anti- Craft Agency, politically motivated petitions are usually written against election candidates as to target, harass or stop Political Opponents from contesting rather than reporting actual corruption.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the commission reiterates that petitioners should always ensure that their petitions are genuine as the commission will not allow itself to be used by individuals or group to settle personal scores or to victimise other people. “That the commission will not hesitate to apply the provisions of its enabling law which stipulates harsh punishment for individuals who choose to waste it’s time and resources by making malicious or frivolous petitions against others
Reacting to the issues on these avalanche of petitions against the immediate past Local Government Council Chairman who are contesting to be re-elected as Council Chairmen on the 7th of November, the immediate past ALGON Chairman for Imo, Engr. Adikibe , told Journalists in Owerri that the secret petitions to ICPC and the EFCC by unknown musketeers, have officially been reported to the Imo State Governor and the Governor, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, will ensure that the sponsors are unmasked and proved wrong. Adikibe reveals.
Meanwhile, both the Media Practitioners and the Ezinwanne socio-political cum cultural groups have carefully examined and rated the performance records of the Hon. Mbarie as the best in Imo State.
