In The Crux Of The Charlie Boy Vs. Gov Okorocha spectacle

The Charlie Boy/Governor Okorocha  face-off in  Oguta refers  to  what  transpired  at Sacred  Heart Catholic Church, Oguta during  the  funeral  Mass Service in  honour  of  the  Late Supreme  Court  Judge,Chukwudifu Oputa on Friday, 27TH June,2014.In  the abnormal  incident,Charlie  Boy, the  son  of  the Late Jurist, Justice  Chukwudi  Oputa, humiliated  Governor  Okorocha  of Imo  State when  he  walked  up  to  Governor Okorocha and  angrily  snatched  a  microphone  which  was  handed  over  to  him  to  make  a  speech to  the  congregation who  graced  the  occasion. On  a  general  note,the  bizzarre  episode should  be  seen  as a confrontation  between  two  people  who  have  no  regard  for  rule  of  law. Governor  Okorocha  has   always  told  Ndimo  that: “I don’t  believe  in  rule  of  law  and  due  process; it  slows  me  down”,  while the entertainment  supremo,  Charlie  Boy  Oputa, is also  not  interested  in the   rule  of  law   and  due  process. Most  people  describe  him  as  a  deviant and  an  iconoclast on  the  grounds  of  his  deviant  social  behaviour. In  fact, in Imo  State, we  are  used  to  such  power  shows  between Governor  Okorocha  and  others. One  of such  instances is the power show  between  Governor  Okorocha  and  Hon  Eugene  Dibiagwu which  took  place  on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at AWA community Oguta-yes, in  this  very controversial  Oguta  Local  Government Area. On  that  face  off,  the  convoy  of  Governor  Okorocha ran into  that  of  Hon Eugene  Dibiagwu, the  candidate  of  the  PDP in  the then  oncoming  State  Assembly  election  into  Imo  State  House  of  Assembly for  Oguta  LGA. .Both  Hon  Dibiagwu  and  Governor  Okorocha  were  running  their  campaigns for  the rerun  election  when  both  groups  ran  into  each  other  in Awa, Oguta. While  the  security  personnel  attached  to  Governor  Okorocha  were  poised  to  use  firepower and  paraphernalia  of  office  to  subdue  the  HON Eugene Dibiagwu  boys,  the  Oguta  boys  became  so  daring  and  poised  to  confront  Okorocha’s  security aides  in spite  of  their  automatic  rifles and  sundry   facilities which  they  brandished. There  is  a  need  to  emphasize  at  this  point  that  in  the  27 Local  Government  Areas  of  Imo  State,  the  youths  in  the  axis of Oguta/Ohaji/Egbeme  LGAs  are  the  most  daring, combative  and  militant. In  the  case  of  Awa,  any politician  who  thinks  he  can  subdue  then  through  intimidation and  harassment  does  so  at  his  own  peril. Governor  Okorocha  was  full  aware  of  the  risk  of  using  force  on  Dibiagwu  Boys,  hence  he  ordered  his  boys  to  back down   and  let  go.
But HON. Eugene  Dibiagwu  boys  wanted  the   show  to  go  full  circle  as  it  would  afford  them  an  opportunity  to  take  their  pound  of  flesh on  the  Governor  who  most  of  them  have  some  grouse  with. Even now, Oguta  Local  Government  Area(LGA) in Imo  State  appears  to  be  the  only  LGA in Nigeria  that  does  not  have  any legislator  in  the  State  House  of  Assembly. The  people  of  Oguta  feel  humiliated  about  this  situation  and  they  use  every  available  space  to  vent  their   sadness over  this barefaced  dichotomy on  the  Oguta  clan.

Again  on  December 26th,2012 there  was  another  convoy face  off  which  pitted  the  convoy  of  Governor  Okorocha with  that  of  Senator  Chris  Anyanwu,  the  senator  representing  Owerri  zone  in  the  Senate. Both  politicians won  their  elections  under  the  platform  of  All Progressives  Grand  Alliance(APGA),  but  today  they have   abandoned  the  APGA in  preference to  other  parties. The  Okorocha/Chris  Anyanwu  power  show  took  place  on Azaraegbelu section  of  the  very  busy Owerri/Unuahia Expressway. Governor  Okorocha  caused  panic  when  he  described  that  convoy  incident  as  an assassination  attempt on  him. Reports  on  that  episode   confirmed  that  the  senator’s  driver  was    severely  manhandled   by  Governor  Okorocha’s  security   personnel. It  is  pertinent  to  note  that  on  the previous  evening  ,Senator  Chris  Anyanwu  had  paid  a  courtesy  visit  on  Governor  Okorocha  in  the  Government  House  in  deference  to  his  status  as  State  Governor. Yet,  Governor  Okorocha  accused  her  of  plotting  to  assassinate  him  when  the  convoy  incident  occurred. Senator  Anyanwu  is  a  ranking  senator  who  is known  for her cool  and    calm disposition. In fact, most  people  see her  as  a  recluse and  an  introvert. There  is  nothing  in  her  person  that  suggests  she  can  hurt  a  fly, more  so  , she  is  a  female  politician  and  Mass Communications guru .In  fact,  Senator (MRS) Anyanwu  is  as  peaceful  as  ribbon.
On  another  occasion, April 19th,2013,  Governor  Okorocha   had  another  convoy  clash  with  one Chief Osita  Nnawuihe whose  car  allegedly  rammed  into the  governor’s car on  the  Owerri  Orlu Express way. Mr  Osita  Nnawuihe  was   cruising  a  Mercedez  Benz  saloon car when  the  incident  happened. Reports  said  that  Governor  Okorocha  sustained  a  head  injury  for  which  he  was  swiftly  flown  abroad for  medical  attention. He  spent  several  weeks  in  America  or  London(almost  one  month)  before  he  returned  to  Imo  State. Immediately he  returned,  he  organized  a   ceremony and  ordered  the  immediate  release  of   Chief  Nnawuihe and  even  rewarded  him  with  a  cash gift  of  N200000 for  his  upkeep and  repair  of  his  car.According  to  reports  from  impeccable  sources, he  was  even  appointed  to  the  position  of  the Governor’s  Senior  Special  Assistant  (SSA)  on Accident. What  a funny  portfolio! But  one  curious  fact  about  this  episode  is  that  I  do  not  know  anybody   who  has  seen  the  Mercedez  Benz  car  which  was  alleged  to  have  rammed  into  Okorocha’s  personal   car  in  the  governor’s  convoy. I  have  not  been  able  to  see  the  wreckage  of  this  Mercedes car and   I  doubt if  any newspaper  has  ever  placed  its  photo  in  the   press. Even  now,  the  office  of  the  SSA Accident  which  was  given  to  Chief  Nnawuihe  appears  to  have  become  moribund .

Further more,  there  are  other  flashpoints  in  regard  to  Governor  Okorocha’s  relationship  with  other  political  bigwigs  in the  country .Some  of  them  include   a  face – off  between  the  protocol  aides  of  Governor  Okorocha  and  those  of  former  Anambra  State  Governor ,MR Peter  Obi, on   a  dispute  about  who  should  sit  on  a  reserved   sofa  in  a  public  function  in  Enugu. The  organizers  of  the  event  said  that  they  did  not  know  that  Governor  Okorocha  would  be  in  the  event, hence  no  seat  was  reserved  for  him  ahead  of  his  arrival. Before  the  problem  was  resolved,  the  aides  of  both  politicians  had  raised  eyebrows  and  even  thrown  some  punches in  order  to secure  the  controversial  sofa  for  their  principals.

Again,  there  was another  power  show  between  Okorocha  and  Governor  T.A. Orji  of  Abia  State when   Imo  State  Government  suddenly  shut  down  the  motor  part  of  Abia  State  Transport  Service  on  Wetheral  Road,  Owerri,  even  though  the  facility  of  Peace  Mass  Transit  Transport  Company  on  the  same  location  was  allowed  to  operate. In  the  same  vein, there  was  any  conflict  with  the  Abia  State  Government  when  a  group  labelled  “Rescue  Missionaries  “ organized a  reception to  honour  Governor  Okorocha  at  the Abia  State  Polytechnic  in  Aba even  though  Governor  T.A.  Orji was  not  given  the  benefit of knowing  that  such  an  event  was  to  take  place  in  his  State.This  triggered  off  another  uproar  between  the  two  states.Governor  T.A. Orji  cancelled  the  event  at  the  last  minute  in  order  to  avert  a  breakdown  of  law  and  order, more so,  since  adequate  security  arrangement  was  not  in  place and  the  authorities  of  Abia State  Polytechnic  said  they  did  not  grant  any  authorization for  the  use  of  the  Polytechnic  to  organize  an  event  for  any  State  governor. Again,  Governor  Okorocha  caused  a  stir  when  in  a chat  with the  press ,he  said  that  Governor  Peter  Obi  and  Ndi  Anambra  are  the  people  causing  all  the  political  crises  in  Igbo  land. Such  an  inflammatory comment is  not  supposed  to  emanate  from  a  State  Governor. There  is  a  consensus in Igbo  Land  that  Governor  Peter  Obi was  a highly  performing  governor  who  quietly  transformed  Anambra  State,  even  without  stepping  on  anybody’s   rights and  sensibilities. Most Igbo  people  place MR Peter  Obi  on  the  same  pedestal  with  the  like  of DR. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Michael  Okpara and  Akanu Ibiam. Again,  most  people  do  not  know what Ndi  Anambra  did  to cause  the  political  crises  in Igbo  land.

Finally  in  the  case  of  the  Oguta  episode, it  is  pertinent  to  state  that  Governor  Okorocha  has  a  penchant  of using  various  public  fora  to  launch  inflammatory  and  toxic  attacks on  innocent  politicians  especially  the  like  of President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan,   HON. Emeka  Ihedioha,   Senator Ararume, , Chief  Ohakim, Chief  Achike  Udenwa, MR. Peter Obi, Governor  T.A. Orji ,Sir Victor Umeh, Chief Martin Agbaso and  several  others. I  am  sure  that  Charlie  Boy  would  not  want  his  father’s  final  rites  of  passage  to  be  hijacked  by  Governor  Okorocha  to  launch  attacks  on  his real  or  perceived    political  opponents including  the  President  and  Commander  -in –Chief, DR. Godluck Ebele  Jonathan  who  was ably    represented  on  that  event. This  is  in  tandem  with  the  exalted  status  of  his  father  who  was  a  revered  Jurist, an  incorruptible  judge who  did  not  identify  with  any  political  party  throughout  his  illustrious   existence  on Planet  Earth. Rather  than  blaming  Charlie  Boy on the  so-called  humiliation  of  Governor  Okorocha,  we  should  be  interested  to  know  why  Governor  Okorocha’s  security  personnel  abandoned   the  Governor  at  a  time  he  was  confronted  by  the pugnacious  looking   Charlie  Boy Oputa. A  more  incisive   analysis  of  the  Oguta  episode  will  be published  on  this  website soon. But  even  before then, kindly Goggle and read  my  viewpoint  entitled  “Imo  Governors  not  United-Okorocha: How  feasible  is  Igbo Presidency  in 2015”? which  was  published  on  this  website  a  short while  ago. Till  then.

BY JOHN MGBE

Chief Larry Essien blasts the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu

Former Chairman of the PPA, Chief Larry Essien has again stated that the ambition of former Governor of Abia Orji Uzor kalu to become a senator in 2015 is a big joke

Reacting to the publication Essien maintained that he stands by his earlier statement as he insisted that kalu remains a political leper and fraud symbolized

Orji Uzor Kalu

Chief T. A. Orji, Best Governor Abia Has Ever Had says Ohaneze Chieftain In Spain

The Secretary General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Spain, Hon. Uchendu Precious Onuoha has commended the good works Governor T.A. Orji has done in Abia state. Hon. Onuoha who spoke with Nigeria Masterweb publisher, Chief Charles Okereke after their fact finding mission to Abia where they toured and verified the various projects the state governor has executed and the ones proposed to carry out in his legacy projects, highly commended the Governor for his visionary and result oriented leadership.

According to the Ohaneze chieftain, “Ola agba naka ejighi enyo ele ya” meaning, a ring in the hand does not require a mirror to see it. He said that since 1991 when the state was created, from the era of the military governors to the civilian, none has done for the state what T.A. Orji has accomplished notwithstanding the state of rot he met Abia during inception.

Hon. Onuoha lamented on security in Abia State before Orji. In his words: “Before T.A. Orji came in, the information and report daily received about Abia state here in Europe and America was lamentable. Security of lives and properties, which are among the fundamental things any purposeful leader should pursue, was zero in Abia state.

“Anarchy, hailstorm and disaster were let loose on Abia people. Murder, assassination, robbery and their big brother kidnapping like a hurricane swept across Abia state. Things really fall apart in a state that hosts the great Achebe’s alma-mater and the center could no longer hold. It was a daily experience coming across Abia citizens, aged parents, traditional rulers enroute Madrid airport to America on involuntary and forced exile to stay with their siblings abroad. Others relocated to other cities in Nigeria. And many of them could not survive the sudden change of environment at old age and died. Kidnapping was like an institutionalized arm of the Government and the likes of the dare devil kidnap kingpin Osisikankwu held sway.”

The Ohaneze chieftain stressed that Abia was held ransom by mother and son and was run as a kitchen cabinet. Above all, a state that is depicted to be God’s own state became devils own state under an evil dynasty. And eventually Abians, God’s own state and people were subjected to the worship of the “ Baal” of Okija. That would give a picture of the state of things before the arrival of T.A. Orji. That is the state of Abia the Governor inherited on inception. It was like a life snake been handed over to somebody. And it takes a wise, courageous and determined man to handle such a scenario.

According to the Ohaneze chieftain, surmounting these state of chaos wouldn’t have been easy. The chieftain said the first four years of T.A. Orji’s government was spent to disentangle himself and the people of Abia from the grip and bondage of the evil dynasty of his predecessor. Hon. Onuoha continued: “The governor within that period, embarked on a rescue, deliverance and salvation mission to dismantle the high places of Baal in Abia state and set the people free. It is said in Igbo “Ndu bu isi”, meaning life is the head. Governor T.A. Orji has fought a good fight and has restored the security of lives and properties and the people of Abia are no longer embarking on forced exile, but have returned to dwell in their own domain. Abians abroad can come home and stay with their people without fear.

“The dialysis hospital he built is a new innovation in the history of health projects in the country. Even the Federal Government has not done that. Knowing that our people thrive on trading, he relocated the old markets in Umuahia and put up modern structures. New estates have been built, Government secretariat has been built, Government college Umuahia has a new edifice added, not minding he was not an old boy of this highly respectable college. He has not left Aba in the scheme of things; among his legacy projects include rebuilding Ariaria and Ahia ohu markets. Also the Abia airport and sea ports are laudable plans and projects that he has lined up to pursue. Though because of time he may not be able to accomplish all, but he has laid the structure for whoever that may come behind him if a good leader like him should pursue.”

“Though he may not have been perfect in all, but he has done very well and need to be commended.”, the Ohaneze chieftain enthused.

 

Proposed Obuaku Seaport in Abia Will Open Up Igboland To International Trade Billions

Igboland is not landlocked at all. By God’s special grace, we have an defunct ancient port in Abia State that if rebuilt can open up Igboland to international trade and the accompanying billions of dollars.

It is in the Obuaku, Ukwa West LGA, and the site lies by the Azumini River that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. And what is more, since it is just five nautical miles from the Ocean it qualifies technically as a seaport, not a river port, going by the UN’s laws.

Stalled Efforts To Dredge
Many administrations in the old Imo State and current Abia State stated their intentions to dredge that river to allow for ships to berth, but strangely something always seemed to stop them from completing it.
The truth is that dredging Azumini will cost a whole lot of money, but I would say I have not seen a serious effort to garner the money needed to dredge it.

Commercial Viability
There is no doubt about the commercial viability of the proposed Obuaku port, as the Igbos are a trading people.
If reestablished, it will not take much effort for the port to become a thriving commercial centre. Already, plans have been made for a planned city in Obuaku to be built to service the port, but it is still not yet operational.

Proximity To Other Ports
A lot of noise is also made by naysayers who don’t have Igbo interest at heart about the fact that the port is ’30′ minutes drive from the proposed Ibaka Seaport in Akwa Ibom State. These deceivers say it will be an erroneous duplication to build another port 30 minutes from the proposed Ibaka Seaport. But apart from the fact that there are many rich countries that have ports close to each other, the naysayers, whom I would prefer to call enemies of the Igbos do not know or are not willing to acknowledge the great commercial prowess of the Igbo.
If a port is built today at Obuaku, it will become an international hub, receiving goods directly from Japan, Germany, US, China and other industrialized nations. It will also promote trade withing the Gulf of Guinea with countries like Gabon, Sao Tome, and Equatorial Guinea.
And at the same time, neighboring ports like Ibaka, Calabar, PortHarcourt(Igwe Ocha), Bonny and Onne would not suffer but instead the resulting competition would create innovation and therefore increase in quality in these ports.

Whats Happening Now
The current Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, has stated his commitment to build the Obuaku Port as a legacy of his administration, but one thing I regret is that this new initiative is coming about one year to the end of his administration, so I doubt if he will have the time to do much. I would have preferred a situation where he started this project long before now, considering the financial and other complexities of such a project.
So, what Ndigbo want from him as compensation is that he starts something significant quickly. Something that his successor will have no option but to complete.
The truth is that if we can build ports in Igboland and other parts of the Lower Niger like Ibaka, it will go a long way to turning the zonal economy and even Nigeria’s economy itself around. It will provide jobs, businesses, and boost international trade.

Another day, I’ll talk about another Igbo port; I mean Igwe Ocha also known as Port Harcourt. But for now, send me your thoughts and comments about how this port (Obuaku) can become a reality.
What do you think this port will mean to the Igbo economy? What do you think various Igbo stakeholders; the politicians, philanthropists, investors and you can do to make it come alive? Please drop your comment.

Igbo Is The Strongest Pillar Of My Administration - Jonathan

Seven states; Rivers, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Delta converged yesterday in Enugu under the auspices of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo to mark this year’s Igbo day at the Micheal Okpara square.

The annual event which is stipulated to commemorate the efforts of Igbo heroes who contributed steeply in championing the cause of Igbo had as its theme, “uplift the homeland” with an inter-denomitional service.

While presenting President Goodluck Jonathans’ address, his representative, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo expressed profound gratitude to Igbo for,”being the greatest pillar of support to my person and administration. My administration have taken cognizance of the unalloyed support of the Igbo. Igbo is the ethnic group that has supported my administration greatly and I promise that it will not be taken for granted”.

“This is evident in the level of Federal attention the infrastructure in the south-east is receiving as examplified and in the roads, commencement of international operations at the Akanu-Ibiam airport, Enugu, the dredging of the river Niger to boost inland water ways transport. The Akanu-Ibiam airport will have all the trappings of an international airport. Federal Government is working assiduously to build Aerotropolis and inject vibrancy at the cargo terminals, befitting of international standards” said the President.

President Jonathan disclosed that Igbo has been frontal in the believe of the co-operate existence of Nigeria adding that the Igbo is the highest investor in Nigeria’s economy even as he explained that,’Igbo carry the banner of Christianity and culture as they traverse the country in search of greener pastures typical of a republican’.

He further urged Igbo youths to eschew the vices of kidnapping, armed robbery and assassination while appealing to them to imbibe the virtues of their forebearers in their various endeavours.

Contributing, the Governor of Enugu state, Barr. Sullivan Chime represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Joe Mamelu urged,”Igbo to uphold the practice of speaking Igbo language wherever they find themselves to forestall the language from going into extinction”.

In his remark, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey poisted that the way forward for Ndigbo is,”to speak with one voice in a clear direction. Emphasis must be in generating and directing these energies towards growth poles. We must unite in pursing commercial and industrial objectives and much more importantly, political challenges”.

“We reiterate for emphasis that Ndigbo must seek the Presidency of this country at the expiration of the tenure of the south-south. This is in keeping with our stand that equity,justice and fair-play demand that we, the only zone remaining to hold the prime office in the country, should be allowed by our fellow Nigerians to so occupy it in unbroken succession after the south-south. This is an appeal to the political class of Ndigbo to put their house in order. We cannot afford to play a second fiddle forever” Igariwey noted.