BREAKING NEWS: Alex Otti withdraws from Abia guber race

Information reaching our news desk indicates that the APGA Gubernatorial candidate for the Abia State supplementary election may have decided to throw in the towel. According to some sources in his team, Dr Alex Otti appears to be uninterested with the supplementary election following the refusal of INEC to cancel the results of the following Local Government Areas: Osisioma PDP 42,122 APGA 1017 Obingwa PDP 82, 240 APGA 1952 and Isiala Ngwa North PDP 19798 APGA 6853.

We had reported earlier that Dr Alex Otti and his Party, APGA filled a protest to JEGA when the results of Osisioma, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North which were erroneously cancelled and reversed by the INEC RO in Abia following an observation made by an Observer during the State Result Collation. As it stands, Supplementary Elections will be held only at those Polling Units and Wards in Abia State that were cancelled by the RO, this was made clear by INEC as confirmed by JEGA at a press briefing during the week.

Breaking News!!! INEC Abuja disqualifies APGA candidate in Aba North state constituency

INEC Abuja has disqualified Emeka Nnamani APGA candidate for Aba North state constituency. Emeka Nnamani aka Labi, an indigene of Enugu resident in Aba, is among the names of candidates disqualified ahead of tomorrows election.

According INEC on its website, Mr Nnamani after thorough investigation over petitions filed against his eligibility, was discovered not to have a degree from Absu as he claimed. Nnamani was rusticated by the school authority in 1993 over his involvement in cult activities that resulted in the death of two students.

He is also said to be a well known ex convict and a drug dealer. Nnamani has been on the wanted list of the police the website stated

Abia Central: A clap for Gov. T.A Orji

By Madubuko Hart

 

Abia State is agog as Governor Theodore Orji has won the Abia Central Senatorial District seat in the March 28 elections. His winning has shown that victory comes with it many followers, but the defeated is like an orphan. It was B. Justin Shier who wrote in “Zero Sum”, saying, son, when lives are being spent in the battlefield – actual human lives – those high-minded concepts lose their meaning. 

 

 

Governor Orji did not spend any life to win. He made sure that the state was peaceful and calm. There was no politically motivated killing in the state. And Abia people reciprocated his gestures and have said with their votes that what matters in any competition is victory. According to B. Justin Shier, if you have blades, you’ll use blades. If you have rocks, you’ll use rocks. If there’s nothing but sand, you’ll throw the damn sand. A true war is only waged when men don’t want to live to see what failure looks like. You do what it takes to win. You go wherever necessity takes you.

 

 

The governor defeated his opponents without hiccups, because he is loved by his people and is very popular. He attained the victory under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that declared him winner said that he sampled a total of 65,653 votes to defeat other contenders.

 

 

The former contenders included Ahamdi Nweke of the All progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) that scored 46,070 votes to place second; Iheanacho Obioma of the APC scored 10,204 votes; Daniel Nnanna of the Labour party got 351 votes; Onyekwere Chris of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) 1,429; Chuks Chimereze of the UDP 591 and Enyinnaya Agu of the UPP 289.

 

 

According to the information by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, the result of the election was announced at the Umuahia North Local LGA Headquarters, by the senatorial collating officer, Prof. Innocent Aja Okoro. 

 

The true character of Governor Orji has been revealed in victory. Those who worked for him are the statement of Theodore Roosevelt, which is that the credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worthy cause; who at best know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. 

 

When the governor actually made a statement in February 2014 that his people encouraged him to run for the senate, some discordant voices thought that he was dreaming. But here is the result of that encouragement – victory. He made that declaration at a civic reception organised in his honour by the people of Ikwuano, Umuahia North and Umuahia South LGAs. 

 

Ordinarily, the governor did not want to contest, but for the pressure from his people towards that angle. In the words of the governor on the day he was declaring: “For some time now, there has been so much pressure coming from different groups, communities, individuals and organisations that I should run for the senate. Since this is coming from my people, I have no choice than to accept the demand.” 

 

Today, the governor has proved his authenticity and pointed out the inability of those who wanted to pull him down before the election. The truth remains the truth. No amount of dick swinging, pussy licking or ass kissing by the opposition could smear the governor. People like Ajunwa are celebrating this victory; he is not losing the power of celebration. Ajunwa was among the persons who fought media-wise in seeing that the governor was elected senator instead he would be amused or entertained. Ochendo’s boys and girls all over the world are celebrating reverence and appreciation.

 

Governor Orji has the grace, which is the celebration of life. His win has made his political foes to take out their fingers out of their ears. The story of the success of Governor Orji would be told a million times in different ways and different persons might start to know and understand what grace and victory means, what to be loved by a person’s people mean, what to be a true leader means and what to clap for Governor Orji means. He is a winner beyond measure.

 

Hart writes from Lagos

Analysing the Chances of Ikpeazu's Candidature

By Martin Eze

IN 1991, the administration of Major General Ibrahim .B. Babangida created additional states including Abia State, God's Own State. Administrators were appointed to run the state's affairs until 1993 when Dr. Ogbonnaya Onuh became the first democratically elected Governor of the state. He couldn't complete his term because of ministry intervention.

Abia State is divided into three electoral political zones, Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South. Since the creation of the state nobody from Abia South has ever Governed the state either as an administrator or as Executive Governor. In 1999, the north through Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu governed from 1999 - 2007 and Chief T.A. Orji from Abia Central took over, but by May 29, 2015 his administration comes to an end and a successor must emerge. The question is from which zone? That is the issue of the moment. Zoning, though not written in our constitution is one of the major factors that will influence the electorate come April11, 2015.

When it was time for aspirants to emerge,a man from Abia South, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu indicated interest on the platform of People Democratic Party, PDP. After a well conducted and contested primary with other aspirants from all the zones in the state, Victor emerged, a first stage in the race of Government House. As we enter the next phase which is the general election were other political parties will present their candidates, surely the issue of zoning will likely play a major role in the voting of the electorate.
It is unlikely that Abians will vote for a candidate from the same zone with the present Governor Chief T.A. Orji, that equally extends to any candidate from Abia North.

Although, Abia State is largely a people democratic party state but there are some other parties with some presence such as the PPA which is a poster & billboard party. In All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, with less than forty days to general election, the electorate is not sure who the governorship candidate is. Some people say it's Alex Oti while others mention the name of another candidate. If it's Alex Oti, where is he from, is he from Arochukwu (Abia North) or from Aro-Ngwa (Abia Central). Some say he was born in Arochukwu but grew up in Ngwa while others claim he was born in Ngwa but grew up in Arochukwu, with this ambiguity, either way, he is certainly not favoured by the zoning permutation.

Secondly, the performance of the present administration which is a PDP government should have some bargaining chip for its candidate. Many are of the view that with Chief T.A. Orji, who also doubles as Chairman of the Eastern Governors forum , Abians have had a good taste of real dividends of democracy. All the previous government carried out the business of State from Temperance government House while the new Government House he started is almost near completion. He also built a modern state secretariat for office complex unlike his predecessors who made use of scattered rented building as offices which was siphoning the state money. The roads, education, health care, spots etc, all got the attention of the government space will not allow me to enumerate all.
In fact, he ended the reign of kidnappers and robbers thereby making the state a safe haven for private investors from within and outside the country. Ikpeazu as a PDP candidate will likely benefit from these legacies of Ochendo.

The third determinant factor will be the position of the political stake holders in the state. It is not in doubt that almost all the political bigwigs in Abia State are members of the People Democratic Party. Some of these bigwigs influence the voting pattern of the electorate from their constituency because of their past achievements. In Abia Central, we have the likes of Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, former NDDC Chairman who presented a formidable opposition during 2007 election. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, minister of Finance and co-ordinating minister of the economy is also from the central. Some families are benefiaries of the scholarship scheme of some of the bigwigs. Some got employment through their assistance, widows are equally catered for. Some built boreholes and other developmental projects.
The fourth index that could crown it all is the pedigree of the candidates. For Dr. Alex Oti, he is relatively new in the politics of Abia, nothing much is know about him accept that he is a retired banker. His political platform APGA is unpopular in the state. His candidature is still been contested for by another candidate. This crack will certainly affect him negatively.

Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is the only candidate that is sure of a hundred percent vote from a political zone, the Abia south.

He has held political positions in the past and impacted the life of many citizens, built bridges across all strata. He is not a new entrant into Abia political firmanent.

Mr. Martin Eze, a political analyst, wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.

Orji Uzor Kalu and his many faces of lies and deceits

Couple of months ago, the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu made a public declaration through his SUN Newspaper that he is back to PDP and that he never belonged to PPA. He went as far as lying before the people that his PPA Senatorial form was purchased and filled by one of his aides who he demanded to make a public apology for getting a form for him without his consent.
For some of us who are familiar with his tricks and deceptions, knowing his criminal activities in the past and present, we concluded that OUK is applying his usual Gamji way of life in an era of political sanity in Abia State.

Nevertheless, a man who cannot change will never change and thank God the PDP leadership at the National level and President Goodluck Jonathan accepted the rejection of the chameleon by Abians facilitated by Abia PDP stakeholders and other well meaning Abians.

However, it is now made open to the General Public that the Man who castigated the leadership of the PDP in Abia State for letting the world know that one person cannot belong to two different political parties at the same time. Especially into a strong a Party that won all the elections in Abia State in 2011 without a mediocre going about with a virus with intention to destroy that which he couldn't build.
Now it is officially official that Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) is the Abia North Senatorial Candidate for the PPA, the Party he founded and funded. As usual, he sneaked into his Igbere Country Home few days ago to begin his campaign for the Senate.

Interestingly, he is a candidate that saw a big disgraceful defeat in 2011 when he contested for Senate under his PPA Platform and in 2015, my very good friend and a credible candidate from Arochukwu, Mazi Mao Ohuabunwa, the PDP Senatorial Candidate for Abia North will finally facilitate his final political burial.
Orji Uzor Kalu must be in another world if he ever think that Abians that rejected him and his mother wouldn't reject him again. Nonetheless, the people of Abia North especially the great people of Abiriba that he caused so much pains upon by destroying their beautiful community are fortunately alive to pay him back once.

We will all live to celebrate yet another political defeat of a man who ruled a State without a single visible project but left Abia indebted to different financial houses and to the people. 

Nnaji writes from Umuahia

Abia: Orji’s shoes are big but I’ll run faster — Dr Okezie Ikpeazu

Says I can’t be anybody’s stooge

AMID a tight campaign schedule, the Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, in this encounter spoke among others on his plans for Abia and how to actualise them, if elected. He admitted that Governor Orji has set a hurdle in terms of achievements but said he will run faster because he is younger.

BY Clifford Ndujihe

His take on comments that he is a neophyte and stooge of Governor Theodore Orji

I had my doctorate degree before my 30th birthday. I have taught in four universities, including being the external examiner of master’s degree students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It is not possible for someone to think of me as a stooge. All this can only exist within the realms of political propaganda. Almost every candidate in the race was once in the PDP, so apparently they all wanted to be stooges. They started singing different tunes when the PDP people said, “we want change but we want to change into certainty not into darkness’ and the civil servants said, “we want someone who can keep our jobs and pay us, not someone who will do right-sizing or down-sizing and retrench us at the end of the day.”

Okezie Ikpeazu
Okezie Ikpeazu
There is no governor in Nigeria that is anybody’s stooge. And if you played a role in canvassing for votes or helped a governor to be elected, you can’t expect the governor to be your stooge. You can only bring ideas that are beautiful on the table and if its falls into the main frame of a focused administration.

Superior logic

Abia people know that I am the only person that is humble enough to entertain all shades of opinion, logic and suggestions. If your logic is superior we will go and test it. If mine is superior you go with me. I am not coming with any airs of arrogance. I am humble enough to say that I need the support of the people of Abia and hopeful that they will give me.

The challenge of taking over and matching Governor Orji’s records?

The governor has enormous goodwill and he has carried himself as a gentleman. He has a lot of respect among the elders, and the common people of Abia. He is a huge challenge. But I know that by the time the people understand my style, the difference will show. I will try to be as meticulous as Orji but I will run faster because I am younger.

His plans: The first plan is our people. Abia is peopled by people with capacity in various areas. Our human capital is second to none and we are the best traders and very good in commerce. We are also very good with the things we can do with our hands. So in the years ahead we want to leverage on these advantages that God has given us to make sure that the economy of Abia rests on strong pillars of trade and commerce, small and medium scale enterprises.

Of course we are in oil and gas but we want to let the advantage of oil and gas recede to the background because we are just marginal producers. So oil will not be on the front burner of our economic decisions in the days ahead.

We have another advantage. If you look at Aba for example, the city is at the confluence of about seven other cities in the South-East and South-South. The city is about 30 minutes drive to Ikot Ekpene, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Umuahia among others. The strategic location of this city makes it what sugar is to ants and it attracts people. So we must leverage this strategic geographical location of Aba to place world class infrastructure around Aba so that we can return trade and commerce and build industrial clusters using the German model.

What I mean by that is the apprenticeship system where we have family line businesses. But government must intervene in terms of giving access to world class finishing and equipment so that there can be mass production, finished products that can compete for space in shops in top shops in European markets.

European markets

We will also do a mass reorientation of the way our people think. The time has gone when people will talk down on the people of Abia. We want to say that we are the best in the world and that we will attract the attention of not only the best in Nigeria but also in Africa to Abia in the days ahead. This is our focus.

Plans for Aba… People talk about Aba just because they are thinking about votes. I talk about Aba with more passion because that is where I come from. I don’t have a house in any other part of the world than in Aba. Nobody is more interested in the Aba problem as myself, because you can’t be more Catholic than the Pope. And nobody has a better plan for Aba. First, I have a proper diagnostics of the Aba problem. Aba’s problem is rooted in the fact that infrastructural stock, in terms of drainage, houses, roads, have been static for awhile and the population has grown geometrically. And when that happens, it means that there will be more pressure on the roads and the drainages and they will start collapsing.

The drainage system has remained unmanned and unserviced because it is underground. Once you have underground drainage system, you must maintain it. You must go through it every year. And it has been left for almost 50 years and some people have also constructed buildings across the drainage system. We have three storey buildings and churches across the drainage systems.

What we want to do is first of all to do a ring road around Aba. I said earlier that Aba is in the centre of our plans because it is at the confluence of the states in the South-East South-South and our industrial clusters are going to take off from Aba. What you can get in Aba in terms of internally generated revenue can help you develop other parts of Abia including Umunneochi and other places.

So we want to do a ring road while we revisit the existing roads, remodel them and redesign them.

We have two options on draining and de-flooding. One, there is an underground drainage system, which has been silted to the brim and that is why each time it rains there will flooding.

Underground drainage

So, do we open up and use open drainage system or do we continue with the underground system where we have to get experts to open the underground drainage for it to enter into the Aba River? But draining straight into the Aba River is also not environmentally sustainable. So we are thinking about a secondary water plant around Aba River that would capture the storm water, treat it up to secondary level and then return it to the river so that aquatic life can thrive.

Do you have the political will to redesign Aba given the houses that will be affected?

Politically and socially, you have to localize your strengths and weaknesses. What did it take the incumbent governor to remove the market in Umuahia to Ubani? He is a son of the soil. His people are the people that own shops there and he found the political will.

For those who have constructed buildings across the drainages, those buildings will go. One kilometre of drainage will serve the entire city of five million people but a single house will serve just a family. We can’t allow your selfishness to put us all at risk. So we must do what we need to do when we get there.

Okezie Ikpeazu PhD makes a triumphant return to the class room

 

* Delivers lecture at Abia State Polytechnic
* Promises to review fees 

The PDP Governorship candidate for Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD, returned to the classroom today to teach students of Abia State Polytechnic Aba. 

A former lecturer at Calabar Polytechnic and former Head of Biochemistry Department at Enugu State University of Technology, Okezie Ikpeazu  was the guest lecturer at a seminar for science students organized by Grace Uduma Foundation in conjunction with the School of Science of the institution. 

His presentation which lasted for more than an hour focused on "Effect of garlic extract on body fat" and "Waste to wealth: a biochemical perspective". The renowned scientist and researcher kept the enthusiastic students spell bound as he reeled out scientific facts based on the research he co-authored with an Indian national on the efficacy of garlic extract in reducing body fat, especially when combined with exercises.

Speaking on "wealth to waste", the frontline gubernatorial candidate in Abia who was the immediate past Deputy General Manager of Abia State Environmental Sanitation Agency (ASEPA) told the students that Aba currently generates more than 5000 tonnes of waste daily. According to him “this waste can easily be converted to wealth by the citizens from collection at homes to the anaerobic and alcoholic fermentation of the waste to produce fertilizer, methanol, biogas etc through recycling, reuse and sorting”. The former lecturer who obtained a doctorate degree in Biochemistry at age 30 highlighted the biochemical processes involved in the anaerobic and alcoholic fermentation reactions that converts waste to other useful products. He explained to the students how they can make enormous wealth by keying into the available opportunities within the waste management systems as the volume of waste is expected to increase with improvements in income.

Answering a question from one of the students, Okezie Ikpeazu encouraged the students to see themselves as the best and work hard towards their life goals. He promised to ensure that the students receive bursaries regularly as well as get large multinational corporations to partner with Abia tertiary institutions in supporting education through endowments, sponsoring beneficial research work and supporting infrastructural development at the schools. According to him: "education is the key to guaranteeing the present and future of Abia State and no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that education at all levels is prioritized with no child left behind and the welfare of teachers taken care of as a matter of priority".

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Dean of School of Science & Industrial Technology, Rev. Engr. David Dimoji informed the students that Okezie Ikpeazu with his vast experience in the educational sector, public service and private sector possesses all the relevant skills and capacity required to transform the fortunes of the institution and Abia State rapidly. He further appealed to  Okezie Ikpeazu to make the lecture an annual event to enable the students benefit from his wealth of knowledge and experience.

The Rector, Prof Uche E. Ikonne, presented a special award to Dr Okezie at the end of his presentation and urged him to treat Abia State Polytechnic as his own institution and partner in manpower development in the State. He prayed God to grant him success at the polls as according to him: “ Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD possesses the required humility, intellect and energy to take Abia to the zenith in Nigeria”

Other notable attendees at the massively attended lecture include the immediate past Rector of the school, Elder A. A. Onukaogu, President of the students Union, Comrade Maxwell Eze as well as lecturers and management staff of the institution..

However, after the lectures, the excited students led the PDP candidate, who is also an Aba resident, with chants of "Okezie is our Governor" to the school pavilion where he addressed thousands of students of the school. Dr Okezie promised to review fees payable by the students, if elected as Governor, as well as ensure uninterrupted academic calendar at all State owned educational institutions. He asked the students to reciprocate by taking their studies serious with a view to graduating in flying colours and make their Parents, School and Abia  proud.

Abia guber candidate outline his social, political and economic Programmes

The PDP Abia Gubernatorial candidate, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD on Monday, 23 February 2015 at the Aba Chamber of Commerce (ACCIMA) unveiled his policy thrust to the Aba business community.

The Abia Gubernatorial candidate, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD outlined his social, political and economic Programmes that will drive Abia to greater height once elected the Governor of the State.

According to the PDP gubernatorial candidate, his administration will be propelled by the Private Sector driven economy as transparency and service delivery shall be instituted in the system without being compromised. While reassuring the members of ACCIMA that he is the right person with full knowledge of Aba and the right person to fix Aba, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu reaffirmed that his administration shall leverage on those areas that Abia State can boast of comparative advantage, like agriculture, trade and commerce, SMEs & natural endowments. 

He further reiterated that his administration shall look beyond oil as other areas will be explored, maintaining that Abia State during his time, will be projected beyond the boundaries of Nigeria.

Breaking News! Abia2015: APGA Merges With PPA As Otti Steps Down For Udensi

Information just reaching our news room from a very reliable source indicates that the Abia state chapter of APGA has reached to a consensus agreement with PPA for the guber election coming up on 11th April. The APGA candidate Otti who has been having a running battle with Diamond bank lately agreed in principle to step down and support udensi while Udensi will provide funds to assist him offset his debt with Diamond Bank . Otti had approached Udensi for assistance following repeated threats by Diamond bank to drag him to EFCC if he fails to recover the Bank’s funds borrowed to Abia state government under Otti, before the end of this February. The Bank is afraid that the next government may refuse to redeem the debts if Otti fails to win the gubernatorial election as the deals were executed under questionable circumstances and without following due process.

Abia state government had on 6th February denied owing any bank but insisted that Alex Otti was heavily indebted to many banks including Diamond bank. In a swift reaction on the number of claims raised by the state APGA governorship candidate including the challenge thrown by Dr. Alex Otti on the state government to make public the debt profile of the state under the administration of Governor Orj, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. ACB Agbazuere, debunked the claim saying that the state was not indebted to any bank.

"Alex Otti is talking like a politician not as a banker, who is just coming up in the game of politics. He thinks that politics means lying and fabrication of stories. Abia State has no debt profile; we do not owe. If we are owing, let him tell us, Alex Otti is owing, he is owing most of the banks; Abia State is not owing,' the commissioner stated.

Abia State government is alleged to be indebted to Diamond Bank PLC to the sum of N8.5bn accruing from N500m loan granted to each of the 17 local Governments of the State. This amount is alleged to be exclusive of $250m bond given to Abia State government in 2010 by Diamond bank PLC under Otti’s watch as the managing director.

Alex Otti as a political 419ner

By Madubuko Hart

It has become obvious that the charade governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has been making promises upon promises in his continuous efforts to mislead the people of the state.
As if there is such a thing going on in the state, he recently said that he would abolish multiple taxation in the state if he is voted into power. But the truth is that Governor Theodore Orji-led government of the state is innocent of all the mudslingings from Otti against him.
If Orji were wicked as Otti had made many people to believe in his brigandage called campaign, Otti would have been on the run in Abia State by now, hence he should be praising Governor Orji instead of castigate an innocent man because of the lucre for power.
From the same Ubakala in Umuahia where Otti had gone to address party supporters during his campaign tour of Bende and Umuahia South Local Government Areas of the state and showed his utter hatred for Orji, was from where news filtered into the air later that both traders, market men and women, artisans, transporters, industrialists and other business concerns, said that Governor Orji is the best and that Otti was making noise that they were being over-taxed.
What a better way to become a political 419ner if not the lies by Otti that businesses are particularly affected in Aba and Umuahia, for who knows what Otti was talking about. He should name any teacher in the state that said he or she is being owed salary in the state before talking trash that salaries of teachers are withheld in the state.
When was Otti employed by the Abia State Government to be its auditor before lying himself badly that arrears of pensioners and teachers’ salaries are owed? We have in other articles informed the world that Otti is running issue-baseless campaign just to score cheap publicity; but he is doomed and he knows about this. This is the major reason he is biting left, right and centre like an entrapped snake.
His boast that he would take over power by May 29 this year is one of his numerous tactics in his continuous ways to be milking his donors he has been sulking dry. Otti is a man that has been gasping for breathe knowing that Ndi-Abia have rejected him woefully because he is not transparent at all.
Imagine a man like that came through the APGA’s backdoor and hijacked the party and divided it abysmally. This is the character of a man who wants to rule Abia State? It is laughable when one reads or hears Otti saying that he will do this or that come May 29,2015.
Which administration was he talking about? Otti continues to lie that he was going to deploy “his international connection and exposure in attracting investment to the state”. This is a man who has not helped his impoverished siblings making such frivolous promises. If he had any connection, let alone, international connections, he would not have allowed his siblings to be roaming the streets poor.
Otti continues to lie, saying this time that he will transform Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia. How can a man who is still fighting a pedigree problem know his left from right? The truth is that Governor Orji has fulfilled all his electioneering campaign promises and stands tall to boast that he has governed Abia State according to his conscience. The likes of Otti are political 419ners.
.Hart writes from Lagos

Gov Orji: I Won’t Pass Debt Burden to My Successor

Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, on Tuesday explained why he had continued to resist the temptation of going to the bond market to raise funds despite the financial challenges facing the state. He said he cannot afford to create a situation where his successor would inherit debt burden.

Orji bared his mind at a meeting with teachers following complaints over the irregularity in the payment of their salaries, saying he could have taken bonds and pay salaries and when his successor takes over he would be serving the bond instead of paying salaries.

“I don’t want my successor to suffer what I suffered,” he said, adding that he was saddled with huge debt burden when he took office hence he had decided to break the cycle.

The governor told the teachers that the fall in the revenue of the state, especially the ones accuring from federal allocation was impacting negatively on the ability of government to meet up with its financial obligations to the teachers regularly.
“We are incapacitated financially and finance is the engine room of governance,” he said.

According to him, there was need to explain the real situation of things to the teachers and appeal to their conscience and make them understand that everything does not end in demonstration of protest.”

He said the arrears of salaries were already being cleared, adding, “We will continue paying you all the debts we owe you. We will pay.”

Orji assured the teachers that he held them in high esteem that was why the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state chose a teacher, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who also came from a family of teachers as the party’s governorship candidate. He urged Abia teachers to support him.

Earlier in his remarks, Ikpeazu assured the teachers that he would take care of their welfare and asked them to back his governorship ambition as the future would be made bright for them.

He said while he would strive to pay their salaries and allowances as at when due, the teachers should brace up to reciprocate by increasing their productivity and increase the quality of students and pupils that come out from Abia schools.
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state, Dr Alex Otti, has promised to abolish multiple taxation in the state, if elected.

Otti, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) made the promise at Ubakala in Umuahia while addressing his party supporters during his campaign tour of Bende and Umuahia South Local Government Areas of the state.
He expressed concern that the residents of the state, especially the traders, market men and women, artisans, transporters, industrialists and other business concerns, were being over-taxed.

He said many businesses, particularly in Aba and Umuahia, were adversely affected by the development and that many of them had relocated to other states.
The APGA governorship hopeful decried the non-payment of teachers’ salaries, as well as pensions and gratuities by the government.

“I use this opportunity to call on the outgoing administration to pay the arrears of pensions and teachers’ salaries. “But if they failed to pay, by May 29, when we take over government, I will pay the salary and pension arrears.’’

Otti promised to deploy his international connection and exposure in attracting investment to the state, so that jobs would be created for the teeming unemployed youths

He promised to transform Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia, saying that he would redesign and rebuild Aba.

He also promised to build a “state-of-the-art’’ specialist hospital in each of the three cities to enhance efficient healthcare delivery and check medical tourism outside the state.

He promised that the condition of service and salary of medical doctors would be attractive to lure back home Abia-born medical doctors plying their trade outside Nigeria.

The former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank, who attributed his success in life to the quality of education he had, promised to introduce free and compulsory education in the state, if elected.

He promised not to receive any salary for the period of his tenure, if elected governor, as he would forfeit it to the development of the state.

“I believe that why God blessed you is for you to be a blessing to others,” he said.

Opposition Politicians and their worthless propaganda...Madubuko Hart

The opposition politicians in Abia State are playing dangerous politics of blackmail and propaganda against the government of Governor Theodore Orji. In their desperate quest in the smear campaign, they would bomb their political offices and label the government as the perpetrator.

They would want to plant dangerous weapons in the state to cause chaos and would run to the media shouting that the government was it that wanted to do so. They would not have money to pay for their children’s school fees and you see them shouting that teachers in the state are on strike.

Then it baffles one to pause how a government that had spent billions of naira in fighting insecurity that it met in the state would go back to abet it. Impossible! It will never.

It is the sheer crassness of the opposition politicians to sully the government of Governor Orji and, they are not succeeding. Governor Theodore Orji remains the only honest and sincere governor of Abia State since its creation 23 years ago. The state did not take off till Governor Orji came to power.

Because the governor has a listening ear, many people who absconded to other states like Enugu, Port Harcourt, Abuja are now returning to the state, creating full action in urban life in all areas of the state.

Governor Orji is so transparent that Abia people had wanted him for a third term in office if the constitution had allowed that. He is an honest and visionary leader. He is not into politics like some people to steal but to leverage the state from the level of woes; and he has achieved that.

One aspect of Governor Orji that is so alluring is his love for education and making sure that education in the state tops in his priorities. Youth empowerment has become his trademark, and the youths in the state would be missing him as his tenure as governor is fast approaching.

Government is continuum. I was so elated when the PDP delegates elected Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (PhD), as the party’s flagbearer in the state. Ikpeazu is a man that knows administration and cares.

He would create a lot of job opportunities and see to the welfare of pensioners and sundry. So, Ikpeazu would be improving on the areas that the present government has laid the foundation and map out other measures on the areas where the present government is yet to carve a niche.

Abia people are not playing the ostrich and the state is not the worst state in Nigeria. It is propaganda when critics write that Aba is one of the worst towns to live in, in the world. If it is so, then the millions of people we see residing and doing business in Aba would not have been living in that place. Opposition politicians should desist from their worthless propaganda.

Hart writes from Lagos

Abia PDP guber candidate denies evading tax, certificate forgery

Abia State governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has debunked allegations that he forged his first degree certificate and has irregular tax papers.
He noted at his campaign office in Umuahia yesterday, that those who went to court with the allegation were misguided and bad losers, saying that the Abuja court vindicated him by dismissing the allegations and awarding cost to the applicants when it was proved that it was a case of mistaken identity.

The PDP candidate however, said that there was another Chief Okezie Ikpeazu, a businessman and a farmer, who also hails from Obingwa but whom they mistook for Dr. Ikpeazu, stressing that he is not addressed as a chief.
He explained that as a civil servant for 12 years, he paid his taxes as the tax of a civil servant is deducted at source and therefore could not be evaded.
“Payment of tax was not a matter of choice but I paid compulsorily as a civil servant, therefore payment or non-payment cannot be an issue for a public servant, every public servant pays tax on pay as you earn system,” the PDP candidate said.

He stated that he had submitted the requisite documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the issue of tax evasion came up in court. He however, added that the constitution and the Electoral Act have nothing against tax evasion, saying that even if it were true it was not enough to stop him as a candidate of the party.
In his remark, the legal adviser of the Okezuo Abia campaign organisation, Mr. Teddy Eruba, INEC has not withdrawn or disqualified any candidate, let alone Ikpeazu who emerged through a transparent process.

Answering questions on other allegations of forged certificate and god- fatherism, Ikpeazu noted that he consulted all the major stakeholders in the state before the governorship primary and has the assurance of Governor Theodore Orji that he would not suffer what he (governor) suffered. He added that he could not have taught in four universities and risen to the rank of head of department with forged certificates.

Otti’s Issue-baseless Campaign

By Madubuko Hart

When the former Group Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti resigned his position to contest for the 2015 governorship of Abia State, many of us thought that an intellectual had come to the contest. But when he started his venoms against the government of Governor Theodore Orji by calling it names, we know that he had nothing to offer.

Otti who was originally from Arochukwu with his state-of-the art building built there ran away from his aboriginal village to claim Ngwa person when he heard that the governorship in the 2015 elections was zoned to the Ukwa/Ngwa area. Nonetheless, Otti was at the same time speaking from the sides of his mouth that the zoning formula had been killed. That was when he wanted to contest from his Arochukwu village. But when he saw that the governor was head bent on that Ukwa/Ngwa must produce the next governor, he shifted gear.

Otti’s initial stand was his warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the idea of zoning, and he said: “I learnt that you people said you have zoned the governorship to Abia South. No, it is wrong because the national leadership of the PDP had already killed the zoning arrangement in 2011. Remember, that at that time the office of the president was zoned to the North, yet the South is occupying that position today. So, the contest must be thrown open.”

Those clamouring for Otti to succeed the present governor are just doing so based on sentiment. A severe examination of the man called Otti attests that he has dubious gesticulations for power than people know. This is a man who contested the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) primary in a hotel along Aba Road, Umuahia and used faked document to announce himself winner after he was deliberately blindfolded by the so-called Victor Umeh-led national leadership of APGA to the tone of $3m.

While Otti was seeing himself as the winner of the primary election of the party, the true winner emerged in APGA in the person of Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba, who is the only credible candidate in the Abia APGA to contest the governorship election in 2015 with other political parties’ candidates.

With what Otti is causing in the state has shown the man as an unintelligent person, no matter the three doctorate degrees his garrulous campaign team has been hyping that he has. His campaign is issue-baseless and one will not restrain to qualify him as an agent sent by his paymasters to make sure that he deconstructs the government of Governor Orji, which he knows that it will be difficult for him to achieve.

In that highlight, one observer had this to say: The various political parties should come out clean with their various programmes on how to build on that foundation and make the state one of the best. But instead of seeing such discourse, the factional APGA governorship candidate, Alex Otti and his camp… have continued to insult the sensibilities of Abians by making frivolous claims and propaganda that do not hold water or contribute to the uplifting of the political debate. For instance, how can anybody in his rightful senses claim that Governor Orji, who has provided a number of legacy structures that are visible everywhere, has not done anything?

It is pertinent to write that Otti is dead on arrival and his political coffin would be nailed in the 2015 general elections. He knows that he is not heading to anywhere; hence he resorts to throwing stones by saying that the PDP candidate in the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu was being sponsored by the state government. What Otti did not realize, according to a critic, is that Dr. Ikpeazu, as a bona fide citizen of Abia State, is free to contest any election of his choice, provided he is qualified to run in that election.

However, in the light of that, the Government of Abia State through the sociable Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, had described the likes of Umeh and Otti as pathological liars and agents of destruction masquerading as politicians. The question that the governor had asked through Ajunwa is: “Where were Umeh and Otti when His Excellency Governor Theodore Orji through his inspiring doggedness restored sanity and peace in Aba in particular and Abia in general by ending kidnapping which completely brought all activities in the state to a standstill? Where were Umeh and Otti when Governor Theodore Orji started and completed the hitherto impassable Aba/Owerri Road?”

The puzzle continued: “Where were Umeh and Otti when His Excellency started the de-silting of drains in Aba? Where were Umeh and Otti when Governor T.A. Orji constructed the Uruakpa Road in Aba South? Where were they when Governor Orji started and completed the reconstruction of Ukwu Mango section of Faulks Road Aba (1.2km)? Where were Umeh and Otti when Governor Orji started and completed the access road to Geometric Power Plant Aba? Where were they when Governor Orji restored the manhood of Abians? (To borrow the insightful words of Chief Ojo Maduekwe) Just to mention but a few.”

Ajunwa had seen that Otti and his co-travellers were economic with the truth about the government of his boss, because they were jealous of Governor Orji’s laudable and verifiable achievements, which put him ahead of other past leaders of the state. Ajunwa was of the opinion that Governor Orji’s remarkable achievements have won him uncountable awards and laurels from all parts of the world.

He described his boss as one leader who does not believe in propaganda as a tool for governance, rather he believes in hard work and selfless service to humanity. Therefore, it’s evident that Otti who aligns with Umeh to smear Governor Orji cannot be trusted, because as Nigerians knew, Umeh is a man that cannot be trusted, because he is gullible with power.

Umeh’s tenure as APGA’s chairman had expired since 5 years ago, yet Umeh clinched unto the leadership of the party for selfish reasons. This is a man that Otti has embraced. Like father, they say, like son. It then means that Otti can never be trusted.
 
Hart writes from Lagos

Breaking News: OUK'S MOTHER RUNS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

Barring any last minute change of mind Orji Uzor Kalu's mother Eunice popularly called Odiuko will be running for the Abia state House of Assembly on the platform of PPA. Recall that Kalu and Mascot are also in the race for Senate and House of Representatives respectively.

Checks at PPA office Umuahia revealed that Odiuko through a proxy called Ekeoma picked the form for her this morning amidst protest. Our source said that the Secretary of the party Uche Enyioko refused to give Ekeoma the form.

However after Odiuko called him and tongue lashed him, he released the form. Odiuko it was learnt told Enyioko that he was picked from the gutter and who is he to challenge her.

Mweanwhile, OUK has warned the mother to stop this moves as he put it,"this woman is the cause of my political woes, what does she want?"

Kalu is expected in Igbere this weekend to submit his forms.

BREAKING NEWS! 2015: PPA ADOPTS Orji Uzor Kalu AS SOLE SENATORIAL CANDIDATE FOR ABIA NORTH

Few weeks ago Southeastnewsonline reported exclusively that former governor of Abia state Orji Uzor Kalu will be running for Senate on the platform of PPA. Today that story has been confirmed by PPA as the party has adopted OUK as sole candidate of PPA for Abia North Senatorial Zone.

This also goes to confirm that Kalu has never been a member of PDP as all attempts he made were rejected by PDP. Meanwhile, our source said OUK has asked his brother Mascot not to contest for House of Reps. As OUK puts it, Mascot is not marketable and he is not a politician.

Abia Govt Threatens to sue Kalu, Sun Newspaper over Publication

Abia State government has denied the statement allegedly made by Prince Arthur Eze against the state during its 23rd anniversary published by Sun Newspapers, Monday, saying the Anambra State born billionaire was quoted out of context.

Prince Arthur Eze was quoted by Sun newspapers to have said at Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia the Abia State capital, venue of the 23rd anniversary which held Wednesday, that Abia is stinking, and the dirtiest in the country; garbage everywhere, along with bad roads; the people are really suffering, and you see it in their faces.

He was said to have further asked if there are no elders, senators and State’s lawmakers in Abia again and questioned their role in the development of the State.

He was also said to have told the Governor, Chief Theodore Orji that If he doesn’t know what to do again, he should please write to President Goodluck Jonathan, and let him come to his aid, adding that Abia State needs help.

But reacting to the publication while briefing newsmen in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, Monday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo frowned at the report he described as a deliberate distortion of facts.

Chikamnayo said The Sun newspapers misquoted Prince Arthur Eze who was obviously referring to the deplorable state of the Enugu- Port Harcourt federal road which is currently receiving attention through the intervention of Chief T.A. Orji.

He however accused the immediate past Governor of the State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and the Sun management for unwarranted attack on the people of Abia State.

“The Abia State government condemned the behavior of the immediate past Governor of the state for using his medium, Sun newspapers to attack the administration of Chief T.A. Orji and disparage Abia people especially the elders.

“Prince Arthur Eze never said that ‘Abia stinks’ rather on the said day, he (Arthur Eze) told the audience at the Okpara Auditorium about his awful experience traveling on the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway from Enugu to Umuahia.

“Apart from describing the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway as being impassable, the businessman called on the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the South-east zone as almost all the federal roads in the geopolitical zone are in very deplorable condition,” Chikamnayo said.

Chikamnayo further explained that Arthur Eze said the people of the South-east are suffering because of bad state of federal roads especially those leading to Abia State and pleaded with the Federal Government to urgently do something to alleviate the agonies of the people.

The Commissioner who was flanked by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Charles Ajunwa added that Abia State government will not hesitate to resort to legal measures against the former governor and his medium, Sun if the unwarranted attack continues.

“The Lies And Lies of Orji Uzo Kalu” Is a Reaction to “Reign of Terror

UKPAI UKAIRO ESQ.
PRINCIPAL PARTNER, UKPAI UKAIRO ANDASSOCIATES, LEGAL PRACTITIONERS,
118 TENANT ROAD, ABA,
0803338268

Orji Uzor Kalu, a former civilian governor of Abia State murdered sleep in   REIGN OF TERROR BY ABIA TRIUMVIRATE, Saturday Sun, August 9, 2014, p.71 which appeared in KALU LEADERSHIP SERIES (KLS), a regular weekly column. The need to challenge the preposterous claims and set the records straight is the raison d’être for this intervention. It is my sincere expectation that the conversation will be unhindered in the interest of developmental politics founded on facts and not fiction.  But, first thing first! Let me hoist a tapestry of the character disposition of Orji Uzor Kalu in order to foreground our discussion.

 

I need to state immediately that I do not buy Sun Newspaper. This is because the alter ego of the stable, Orji Uzor Kalu,  for reasons that will appear clear hereunder, is an unserious character with grandiose disposition carefully crafted to hoodwink the unwary.  

 

Again, I also doubt the propriety of a newspaper owner creating a column for himself in his newspaper where he enjoys the uninhibited license of publishing his articles at will, without regard to quality whilst enjoying an unlimited access to those who will permit or deny a rejoinder. This is an issue which I think the NPAN should look at.

 

 Finally, KLS is one of those crafty designs for image-laundering of Orji Uzor Kalu. The truth is that he has no leadership credentials except as is enough to deceive and cheat. When he celebrated his one hundred in office during his first tenure I published a letter to him where I predicted that he will bring unmitigated disaster upon Abia State. I regret that I was proved right.

 

 Leadership is reflected in family and public life. On both fronts Orji Uzo Kalu is not a good market. That is why he cannot teach any positive values. If you listen to Orji Uzo Kalu speak ex tempore in public you will know that even the  KLS is a product of faceless writers who are in his payroll. It is not a case of somebody knowing how to write but being handicapped in public speaking. He simply cannot deliver a coherent message with the same erudition that characterizes KLS.

 

The capacity of Orji Uzor kalu to lie is legendary. But it has served him so well that he has elevated it to an arts form. This was how, growing up in Aba in the 70s’, he grafted  Kalu to his name because he wanted to be seen as the son of Chief Nnanna kalu, a business mogul from Abiriba who at that time was a household name in business circles in Aba. In Igbere, the Village of Orji Uzo kalu, every one knows that “Kalu” does not feature in the family tree of Orji Uzor kalu.

 

 The same trait was again at play when Orji Uzor Kalu mounted the podium in Bornu State of old at a launching of a development fund and made a donation of a sum of money that was mind-boggling. As it later turned out, when the cartons with which the money was delivered were opened, pieces of papers were the content.

 

Of course it is all well known that Orji Uzor Kalu falsely claims to have been a student in University of Maiduguri. According to the fable, which he craftily weaved, he voluntarily abandoned his course of study because some of his co-students who were expelled following a students’ protest were not recalled with him. This story line is of a course a tortoise-said-this-and-that story. It is a historic fact that the students who were expelled went to court and the titanic legal battle they waged moved from the High Court to the Supreme Court.

 

Again, it is an established fact that Orji Uzor Kalu remains the only Nigerian who flaunts a High Court Order that validated a WAEC result in the name of one Orji Uzor Johnson as his WAEC Certificate. For those who might have forgotten, the story is worth retelling, albeit, briefly. While Orji Uzor Kalu was Governor, a certain character whose whereabouts is presently unknown claimed that the WAEC result of Orji Uzor kalu did not belong to him. Pronto, Orji Uzor Kalu approached the High Court presided over by Hon. Justice S. N. Imo, who was the Chief Judge at that time. In the suit he filed against WAEC he claimed that a WASC result in the name of Johnson belonged to Orji Uzor Kalu. In the fastest legal proceedings ever conducted in any judicial system the Chief Judge granted all the reliefs.

 

It is worth recalling that it was the WAEC result and the Court judgment that Orji Uzor Kalu later used to procure admission for a full-time degree course in Abia State University whilst being the visitor to the said University in his capacity as the Governor of Abia State. Interestingly with the severance of his fraudulent influence the Senate of the University has since recalled his certificate.

 

The unimpeachable Truth is that all the core assertions in the said article are false in the extreme. They represent the quintessential trait of the character flaw of Orji Uzor Kalu: a capacity to lie and lie with a aplomb.

 

In the very first paragraph of the article Orji Uzor Kalu claims that Chief T. A. Orji, the Governors of Abia State, is engaging in “campaign of hate against, me and the people of Abia State”. This is an absolute lie. Orji Uzor Kalu is a victim of the repercussions of his misdeeds in Abia State. That is the reason why he cannot freely walk the streets of Aba and accordingly has carefully avoided a visit to the town he grew up and, I dare say, loved to be.

 

 Few years ago he was booed at a popular road junction in Aba-Owerri Road when he was identified in a pothole-induced traffic jam. On that fateful day sachet water and oranges were freely hurled at the vehicle of the former Governor. Trust Aba people in their disavowed of evil! It is the distaste by the people of Aba for the eight years of waste under Orji Uzor kalu that he attributes to the Governor. As I write I challenge any one who cares to visit the numerous drinking joints in Aba and mention either the name of Orji Uzor Kalu’s or his mother.

 

 The claim that Chief T. A. Orji is engaged in a campaign of hate against the people of Abia State is a lie taken too far. There is nothing at all no matter how minor to support such wild accusation. It is thus not surprising that Orji Uzor Kalu could not cite a single example of such campaign. As somebody who has lived in Aba since 1972 I have no hesitation in saying that the assertion that Abia State is under siege is a make-belief.

 

However, one thing is clear. The havoc Orji Uzor Kalu and the mother wrecked on the people of Abia State is far too fresh that they have reason to fear for their lives. What are the facts to back up this assertion? Under Orji Uzor Kalu and mother several hapless political jobbers were railroaded to different shrin where they took oath of personal allegiance. The victims of this idolatry are very much alive and they are bitter.

 

Again, it was Orji Uzor Kalu that masterminded the storming of the Abia State House of Assembly sometime in his first tenure in his office. The House of Assembly was damaged and several house members wounded by the thugs who were openly identified. The reaction of Orji Uzor Kalu was predictable. He donated ten Million Naira only for the repair of the damaged property. No body was arrested and no body prosecuted.

 

Again, Orji Uzor kalu should remember the “Orie Ohabiam 32”. If he has forgotten I need to remind him that thirty two young men died in a cell maintained by a Vigilante group midwifed by him. No body was arrested. No body was prosecuted. The families of the victims were never compensated. Their bitterness against Orji Uzor Kalu is so portent that it can permeate his high security walls.

 

Also, Orji Uzor Kalu should remember the two youngsters from Ubakala, aka the Ubalala two, who were killed at White House, Umuahia. Every hand pointed at the Governor and the mother and until now no body was prosecuted.

 

There are several other cases of mysterious deaths under the nose of Orju Uzor Kalu. However, let me not bore readers with such other examples. Let me just conclude by challenging Orji Uzor Kalu to cite one examples of mysterious death since 2007 which can be traced, even remotely,  to Chief T. A. Orji.

 

Let us remember our initial thesis: that Orji Uzor Kalu is a pathological liar. Thus when he asserts that “what we have in Abia State is total siege”, you can be assured that a spin doctor is at work. When Orji Uzor Kalu and his mother were in charge they looted several lands meant for public purpose. A clear example is the scramble for Ayaba Umueze land which was acquired for a Teaching Hospital. In a brazen display of non-pareil greed Orji Uzor Kalu shared out the land to Slok Nig. Ltd., his company, his brothers, mothers and co-travelers in perfidy.

 

Still in their demonstrable lust for money Orji Uzor Kalu’s mother converted every open space in markets in Aba for the building of stalls which were allotted, for re-sale, to members of Nweke Cabinet – a reference to all the favour-seeking hangers-on who  regularly thronged the residence of Orji Uzor Kalu mother at Nweke Street, Eziama-Aba, a sub-GRA in Aba.

 

In addition open spaces were converted into Motor Parks, Kiosks stands and shops which ensured the environmental defacement of the entire Enyimba City. It is these illegal structures, the manifestation of the debasement of values under Orji Uzor kalu, that are being demolished. Orji Uzor Kalu is only crying because when they erected the structures they knew of the illegality but had proclaimed to the beneficiaries that nothing could happen. In the celebrated language of that accursed time: Usu enwegi onu ( bats cannot bite).

 

Accordingly, when Orji Uzor kalu contends that Abia State is no more congenial he is right in a way. For evil men, fraudsters and idolators Abia State is no more congenial. However, for persons who are genuine in their aspiration for development Abia State remains the destination for good returns on investments. It is a known fact that Aba houses the highest number of SMEI in sub-Sahara which is the reason why the biggest private electric power generating part is being established in Aba.

 

I must, however, concede that the sackking of non-indigenes by the Chief T. A. Orji administration was inconsistent with the status of Abia State as a cosmopolitan state. Accordingly, I was one of those that urged for a reversal of the policy. It is heart-warning that the policy has been reviewed leading to the on-going re-engagement of the workers.

 

 For the umpteenth time let me say that it is not true that we live in fear in Abia State. On the contrary the air of freedom is unprecedented. Today a private radio station in Aba offers every body the platform to air views that were not possible in the heady days of Orji Uzor Kalu’s administration. In 2013 the Aba Marathon became a symbol of the air of freedom in Aba. The claim, therefore, that no where is safe in Abia State is the figment of a mind that is haunted by the evil deeds of the past. Think of Lady Macbeth seeing spots of blood  in his hand or Great Birnam Wood charging towards Macbeth in battle.

 

Let me at this stage address the issue of double-taxation in Aba . I agree that this is a major issue in governance. As a tax practitioner and a legal practitioner it is real. However, two quick points are necessary. It is a national problem as all the states are involved. Again, it was worse during the time of Orji Uzor Kalu. I can recall vividly that the regime of illegal tax started with illegal levies imposed on landlordsin Aba. Without any law in place the agents of Orji Uzor Kalu moved into action and started forcing payments of diverse sums. At the same time commercial bus drivers started paying what then known as thirty naira, for short, which was said to have been approved by “mama” – a reference to the mother of Orji Uzor Kalu. The ferocity with which the payment of levies was enforced, when Orji Uzor Kalu was governor, is still recalled with anger in Aba.

 

Let us fast forward to now. Recently, Governor T. A. Orji convoked a tax summit in Abia State. The summit was a reaction to criticisms of the regime of multiple taxations in Abia State. During the time of Orji Uzor Kalu such a platform was not possible because “bats had no mouth”. The outcome of the summit has not been made public but Governor T. A. Orji has already directed the suspension of all revenue agents pending when all the taxes are harmonized. I dare say that such directive was not possible under Orji Uzor Kalu arising from the insatiable appetite to grab.

 

I am honestly amazed at Orji Uzor kalu’s complaint about the air waves being inundated with praise-singing and booth-licking. When he was Governor his mother became on radio, a political Amazon of our time. She was daily equated with having equal intellectual and political prowess with every great woman in history. Such was the time! Today, while it is generally accepted that the tone of some pronouncements on the air waves are handiwork of over zealous fans of the Ochendo Magic there is nothing near the absurd level that heralded the Orji Uzor Kalu era. It is not for nothing that the NBC, at that time, imposed a fine of =N=500,000.00 on the state radio station in lieu of revoking the license.

 

I dare say that the comparison of Abia State and Bornu State is absurd in the extreme. This is the reason why I can safely say that Orji Uzor Kalu is living in a make-belief world. The camaraderie in Abia State is palpable. The Youth Empowerment Scheme of Chief T. A. Orji has put smiles on the faces of uncountable families. Orji Uzor Kalu,, as governor distributed wheel barrows, old vehicles abandoned by his aides and motorcycles. Today, what Chief T. A. Orji is distributing are vehicles that are in good stead for transportation. The difference, as they say, is clear!

 

Orji Uzor kalu claims that when he was governor he “treated people with dignity, respect and love”. This is absolute nonsense. We need to know whether oath-taking before diverse shrines was consistent with respect for the dignity of the human person. It is also worthy to recall that Orji Uzor Kalu insulted every known politician in Abia State. His caustic attack on Chief Ojo Maduekwe is a metaphor for the point I am making. In this respect it will be recalled that, out of clear mischief, he stoutly claimed that the name “OJO” was not of Igbo origin and therefore that Chief Ojo Maduekwe was not an Igbo man.

 

While America was fighting the evil of Taliban, Orji Uzor kalu conjectured it as a fitting name for all other politician who refused to kiss the poisoned chalice of mother and son for filthy lucre. With the toga of Taliban stuck on every politician, except his ilk, the message to his agents was clear: treat the opposition in the same manner Americans were treating the Taliban in Afghanistan! For Orji Uzor kalu to turn round few years later to claim a behavioral pattern that is inconsistent with his avowed public stance is another manifestation of the lies and lies of Orji Uzor kalu.

 

It is laughable that Orji Uzor Kalu can claim he groomed Governor T. A. Orji. As I write this piece Orji  Uzor Kalu has no graduate certificate from any University in the world. Yet he has the effrontery to claim that he groomed a graduate of a foremost University in Nigeria, the University of Ibadan! This is absolutely unbelievable. Orji Uzor Kalu grew up in the ghetto of Aba and by the time he became Governor all he had to his name, as shown in his certificate with which he contested elections in 1999 and 2003 is his WAEC certificate. Another known attribute then was that he was wildly traveled and a close friend to some military autocrats. Some also falsely thought he had money, not rich, because even today his character flaws betray him as being poor. How then it is possible that Orji Uzor Kalu groomed Chief T. A. Orji. On the contrary, it was Chief T. A. Orji that did all he could to attain a turn-around of Orji Uzor Kalu from seeing everything as “business”  and “game” to the real issues of governance. Regrettably, Orji Uzor kalu was and remains merely a “game man”: somebody who cheats, deceives and lies for personal advantage or gains!

 

That Orji Uzor Kalu attempts to stick on Governor T. A. Orji the “traits of arrogance, meanness, brutality or greed” is shocking because there is no action of the Governor that can be cited in support except in respect of the absolute and damning rejection of the Orji Uzor kalu’s negative tendencies. It was the negative tendencies highlighted by Orji Uzor Kalu that garlanded his administration. Every Abians recalls that at the height of his infamy Orji Uzor kalu asserted that his family will be in charge of Abia Governance for   fifty years. It was also at this time that he threw up his brother, over night, to run and win election under Action Congress to represent Aba North/South Federal Constituency. The hapless brother, thrown up to highlight Orji Uzor Kalu”s political dexterity was later referred to as “deaf and dumb” because not for once did he make any contribution in the House of Representatives.

 

Let me remind Orji Uzor Kalu that rejection of evil is obedience to God. And he who loves God has no business with die-hard sinners. The position of Chief T. A. Orji, as I understand it, comes to this, metaphorically speaking, : I either serve (nay work) with God or mammon and because I am serving (working) with God I will show absolute and irrevocable rejection of mammon.

 

Orji Uzor kalu claims he openly fraternized with everybody when he was Governor. This is absolutely false. I can attest that he once attended Chief Ojo Maduekwe’s daughter’s traditional marriage when no invitation was extended to him. That was a clear example of an uncivilized man who saw the whole thing as a game to bemuse his host. It is remarkable that even after that visit the political darts they landed at each other because more furious. So, what was the aim of the visit? Pretended love by a hypocrite. I do not think a well bred technocrat like Chief T. A. Orji, is caught out for such charade!

 

One of the attributes of Orji Uzor Kalu, as earlier highlighted, is the un-canny ability to make assertions that will appear true to the unwary. He came up with this strategy  when he rhetorically asked if Chief T. A. Orji “will have the courage to walk the streets as many of us do today when he leaves office as Governor?” inherent in this statement is that Orji Uzor kalu can walk the streets freely. I know he can do so in the streets London, New York Washington and even  Lagos. Let him try it in Aba or any other part of Abia State except Igbere.

 

Before Orji Uzor Kalu became governor he was the poster boy of good life in Aba. He was the stand-by boy of the rich with whom he enjoyed to associate with. Because he attended Primary School in CKC, Aba, Secondary Schools in Eziama High School, Aba and Government College, Umuahia he walked the streets with joy filled approbation. Even as governor he enjoyed this sociable image which he cultivated as a façade of deceit. But that was then. Today, his person throws up disdain and opprobrium. I challenge him to test the water.

 

For clarity it needs to be said that each of the assertions of Orji Uzor Kalu in his article are either premised on false ground or intentionally skewed. He claims he never visited government house after he left office. That may be true. But he always desired Government House to be visiting him and his mother. The competence and moral fortitude of the Governor are evident in his ability to reject such contraption; an attitude that Orji Uzor Kalu calls meanness.

 

 

It is right to underscore the fact that Orji Uzor Kalu claims that he does not embark on wild-give chase. But that is exactly the opposite of Orji Uzor kalu. While Governor of Abia State he demonstrated this character flaw. In his first 100 days in office he set up a committee headed by the venerable Chief Akwuiwu (SAN) to investigate illegal sale of property in GRA, Abia State. The report was never made public. Also, Orji Uzor Kalu, as governor, set up a Panel of Inquiry into what was known as Igbere crisis. Of course not a word was heard of the report. Also, it was the same “game-man”-trait that made the Governor to set up a committee on hand over of Schools to their owners. Of course no School was handed over to the original owners until the end of his tenure. Several other examples could be pointed out but the above three are, in my view enough, to support our contention.

 

It is right that Orji Uzor Kalu is preaching moral rectitude, peace and harmony. But he has to step out now and apologize to Ndi Abia. His Government of deceit, blood-letting and idolatry are still fresh. His was the typical Egypt. His write-up shows that he is an un-repentant sinner. He needs our prayers only but not our association. We in Abia State have long left Egypt. There is no going back “Enyi Abia Alawala! .

 

Finally, it is apt to stress that Chief T. A. Orji is humane, honest and caring. These are attributes that are rare is most leaders. He should not be distracted by the likes of Orji Uzor Kalu. As the great Zik said History shall vindicate the just.