Awka — Condemnations yesterday trailed Sunday's statement by former presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, who said he was ready to lead another civil war should the Court of Appeal declare Dr. Andy Uba governor of Anambra State.

Former vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka (UNIZIK), Prof. Ilochi Okafor, warned Ojukwu to stop making utterances capable of inciting the masses.

His admonition came, even as a group, the Committee for the Defence of Anambra (CDA), a pan-Anambra group of professionals and business people frowned at the strong expression of the inevitability of war in Nigeria by Ojukwu, asking the Appeal Court to ignore him. .

Prof. Okafor described the statement by Ikemba Nnewi as a distasteful breach of traditions of Nigeria's law, saying there would not be another civil war as only rule of law will always prevail.

He said: "Anambra State is already over-charged. There will not be another civil war. Let the rule of law prevail not only when our interest is favoured.

"It will be understood that the great Ikemba is inciting the people of Anambra State to riot, to break law and order in a polity already over-charged.

"The statement is also a clear and brazen attempt by Ikemba to pre-empt the decision of the five Justices of the Court of Appeal and to intimidate and blackmail them.

"The statement is in distasteful breach of the hallowed traditions of our law not to comment on a matter that is pending in the courts, especially at a time the case has been adjourned for judgment.

"Our state is besieged. The polity is over-heated. I know what insecurity of life is. I experience it every day. I live and breathe it every hour. When I say 'bye' in the morning, I do not add 'see you later,' because I may not come back and see my family in the evening; because unlike many of our leaders, I live and work in our state. I cannot afford to move around in heavy military convoys. I do not live in Enugu. I have not migrated to Asaba. Anambra is not my second home. Anambra State is my only home.

"For all common people of Anambra State, we plead for reason, statesmanship, forbearance and tolerance amongst our political leaders. We must as law-abiding and responsible citizens allow the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal to deliberate and reach their judgment. After that, review and analysis, positive or negative will follow.

"But no matter, once the Justices speak, their judgment must be accepted and obeyed. If the judgment is that of a final court, then every citizen must accept the judgment as the law. In that case, the court has spoken the law and the law is as laid-down by the court. No more! No less! It is one of the facets of the rule of law.

The law of the land must always be obeyed, even the law as propounded by a court of law. It does not matter that I (or even the majority) may disagree with the judgment. Or that I do not like the judge that gave the judgment. Or even that I hate the person who obtained the judgment. It does not matter at all, he said.

According to the CDA in a statement signed by its chief promoter and national chairman, Chief Nnama Ofor, such threat by Ojukwu is not only un-statesmanlike but also amounts to a threat to national security.

The group carpeted the ex-Biafra warlord for attempting to use the occasion of the judgement to foment another bout of calamity for the Igbo nation, describing the Ikemba as a dictator who is averse to the rule of law.

The statement read in part: "The statement credited to Ojukwu is unfortunate especially coming from the same man who because of his intemperance mindlessly dragged the Igbo nation into a needless war. We expect Ojukwu to keep quiet at this time as thousands of Nigerian families strive to push behind them the pains of the war.

"The Ikemba is not a true democrat and a genuine respecter of the rule of law; otherwise he shouldn't have seized the moment to intimidate the judiciary into taking the action that would suit his ego. We find his statement utterly seditious and we urge the Appeal Court to ignore his threat and serve justice and nothing but justice".

The CDA wondered why a presidential flag-bearer of a political party in a democracy cannot have confidence in the court of law, adding that the judiciary is the symbol of hope for all democrats.

It said: "If Ojukwu has any virtue of a democrat in him, this is the time to exhibit it rather than his tactless arm-twisting by trying to intimidate the judiciary. We urge the court to stand up for what it believes in and not succumb to the war chants of a man whose only contribution to national development is overseeing the massacre of his own kinsmen", the statement said.

CDA urged all well meaning Anambrarians to shun violence and accept the verdict of the court, stressing that only the judiciary can save Anambra from the brigandage being perpetuated by politicians like Ojukwu. The CDA further urged President Yar'Adua to take judicial notice of Ikemba's threat.