Abia State governor, Theodore Orji, has described General Azubike Ihejirika, as a great soldier who represented Abia State to his best, stressing that his removal as the Chief of Army Staff was a normal thing in the military formation and that it is part of the re-engineering in the military by President Goodluck Jonathan.
“General Ihejirika was appointed by Mr President and the same man that appointed him has the right to also remove him, therefore it is a normal process that will help to strengthen the military,” Orji said.
The governor added, “He was not removed for incompetence as he was a fine officer and a gentle man who performed his duties
as COS creditably well and his removal was the prerogative of the President. We are nearing election year so that President needs to re-engineer the polity.”
On the resignation of the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, few days ago, the Abia State governor said it was voluntary and in the best interest of the party to ensure internal democracy as well as strengthen it.
He made these statements while speaking with newsmen in Umuahia when he returned from Abuja after the caucus meeting of the PDP.
According to him, the mature move by the former national chairman will help to re-engineer the party and also give credibility to democracy of the country.
“It is rare in this part of the world to see public office holders resign in order that the institution they represent will succeed and it is a great gesture and a sacrifice for the benefit of all,” Orji said of Tukur’s action.
The governor used the forum to assure that the governors and lawmakers who left the party will soon come back to the party, adding that other political parties should emulate what Tukur did as his own sacrifice to move the party forward.
He denied any gang up against President Goodluck Jonathan to deter him from continuing his good work for Nigerians and urged Abians to remain steadfast in giving their support to the PDP, “As it is determined to change the lives of the citizenry at all times.”
Orji added that no amount of gang up against both the PDP and Mr President will stop him and the party from succeeding and making the country great and for the benefit of the people, stressing that the problem in the PDP will make it better.
