‘Miniature Hitler’ – Lawyer Idam slams Ebonyi Gov, Nwifuru

Activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam on Wednesday described Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State as a “miniature Hitler.”

Idam made the remark while reacting to Nwifuru’s warning to council chairmen in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Nwifuru had warned that any council chairman who failed to deliver his area to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2027 would be removed.

However, the constitutional lawyer said the governor’s warning was crass and should be condemned by Nigerians.

In a statement he signed, Idam said: “A crude and crassly undemocratic statement that must be condemned by every well-meaning democrat in Nigeria.

“Nwifuru has never pretended to be anything other than a miniature Hitler. For him, caution and decent politicking seem to belong to Alice in Wonderland.

“He dishes out war and violence almost every time he addresses the people, despite being the Chief Security Officer of the state.

“His utterances show little regard for decorum, restraint or civility. Yet, his puppets and puppeteers are always eager and ready to hail him with little or no consideration for the consequences of such utterances on the security of lives and property in the state.

“Even more worrisome is that, through his posture and actions, he appears to have recruited and mentored followers who believe that his re-election must be achieved by every means, whether holy or unholy, both possible and impossible.

“The reason he can issue such a mandate to elected council chairmen in the state and not even a single stakeholder in the state will condemn that.”

The constitutional lawyer said Nwifuru’s statement that council chairmen who fail to “deliver” the APC would be removed is not “merely reckless; it is, for want of a better explanation, a dangerous assault on democratic principles and the constitutional independence of elected local government officials.”

He added: “If such a riot act is ignored by President Tinubu in the name of political expediency, the rest of the world should be prepared for a possible surge in security concerns in Ebonyi State. Such utterances can embolden political violence, intimidation and rascality within the councils.”

He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to regulate elections and prevent incitement.

“INEC must take necessary measures to regulate electioneering in Nigeria and prevent electoral incitement,” he added.