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Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2007 elections, Prof. Pat Utomi, has urged the Presidency to intervene in the assault case involving Miss Uzoma Okere, Rear Admiral Henry Arogundade and six naval ratings in the admiral's escort.
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2007 elections, Prof. Pat Utomi, has urged the Presidency to intervene in the assault case involving Miss Uzoma Okere, Rear Admiral Henry Arogundade and six naval ratings in the admiral's escort.
While condeming the action of the naval ratings, Utomi asked Arogundade to resign or risk being 'dishonourably discharged from service.'
Utomi said this in a statement by his media aide, Kila Odunayo, and which was made available to THE PUNCH in Lagos on Tuesday.
The statement reads, 'We have followed with great pain and a sense of shame, the saga of Okere in the hands of members of one of our armed services; the navy.
'We find it noteworthy that we have not heard any firm statement from the Presidency on this matter whereas even with the internal intervention of the naval four-man board of enquiry which commenced sitting on the issue just yesterday, it is important for the Presidency to set the moral tone for the country.
'We, therefore, urge them to state their views clearly on this matter now, just as the National Assembly had done.
'We are of the opinion that had they reacted as they should, perhaps the savaging of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Bureau Chief of THE PUNCH newspaper, Mr. Ibanga Isine, by policemen, which followed almost immediately, would not have occured.
'These matters are particularly distressing and challenging to progress in our country.
'This is an illustration that Nigeria as a country of the big man has been the ruin of all of us and part of the reason we have made very little progress.
'So, we insist that the full weight of the constitution of Nigeria and the authority of the Nigerian state must come to bear on holding all responsible accountable, and ultimately, Rear Admiral Arogundade be made to resign his commission or be dismissed and dishonourably discharged from service.