THE DAY EBONYI APC SOLD THEIR CONSCIENCE



By Philip Nweze



T​he All Progressives Congress, APC, Ebonyi state chapter, at the early hours of Monday, September 4, commenced a "walk of shame" along the major streets of Abakaliki to kick against the $150m loan request by the government of Governor David Umahi for the reconstruction of the old Abakaliki ring road.

The shameful road match which witnessed the presence of, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the former governor, Chief Martin Elechi, was intended to ridicule the state.

APC sponsored petty political activists carrying out frivolous noise making gimmicks in motor parks, or simply passing reckless opinions in public drinking places also decided to relocate their nuisances to the city's major streets and highways. The unwarranted overzealousness led to the blockade of roads within the town. The pervading spirit of peace and calm in the capital city took flight. Ebonyians had first hand experience of egregious acts of lawlessness unleashed on them by "obsolete politicians" who shamelessly displayed their vastly crushed faces with those of their band of renegades. Expectedly they painted the state government in unprintable words and presented a portrait of desolateness and neglect about Ebonyi state.

Their anger was the loan request being sourced from the African Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank for the construction of ring roads in the state, by the state government. In a saner environment, this would have been a cause for joy and jubilation given the magnitude and scope of the proposed intervention. For one, this is an unusual feat to be accomplished in the history of Ebonyi state as no administration has conceived any intervention of this magnitude on the road. The chain effect of this singular feat would be evident in multiple brand new access roads in eight agrarian local government areas of the state.

Rather than venerate the man behind the good tidings, APC came up with a very convoluted and baseless claim that the loan was conceived for the 2019 PDP gubernatorial election campaigns. I was particularly appalled by this hateful, obnoxious rhetoric and wondered thickly if the password to the brain of the accusers has been compromised by some malicious hypnotic hackers. I am rather surprised that fellow Ebonyians, including venerated elderstatesmen could make such humongous mockery of the struggle to liberate their state from dearth of infrastructure. I wondered why it was most convenient for them to strangulate the progress and development of our dear state because they are in opposition.

Without any shadow of doubt, The September 4 rally was yet another in the series of half-hearted attempts to discredit the efforts of the government of Governor David Umahi to reposition the state. Truths were turned upside down.The distortion of facts becomes even clearer with the blindfolded analysis of development efforts in the state since governor umahi came into office, by the vociferous critics.

The so called match by APC was simply a culmination of years of disdain and hatred harboured against the state Governor since he delivered a wounding blow to the opposition camp at the 2015 polls which plunged their electoral fortunes. Chief Martin Elechi, an accomplished verbal sniper of the state government withdrew his battle axes in the media this time, and declared a full blown street war against the state government. He spoke arrogantly as if he were Almighty God whose inclination is infallible, unquestionable.

Without any shadow of doubt and fear of contradiction, the statements were borne out of pure dislike for the man whose guts he hates so much. So evident was the unfortunate tissue of lies and deliberate distortion of hard facts that are verifiable even with a simple and cursory enquiry. ADB has operational procedures for administration of loan. For instance, there is no direct link between the benefiting state and the money as the ADB deals directly with contractors. The state merely plays supervisory role. But perhaps, APC in the state already knows this but finds it convenient to pontificate the lies.

However, in a funny twist of fate, a separate faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state embarked on it's own rally too.

While one rally kicked against the loan request, a counter rally by another APC faction supported the $150 million loan request by the state government .


Meanwhile, the Ben Nwobasi’s led state executive committee dismissed the protest, calling on all members of the party in the state to disregard the announcement as the party is completely in support of the loan which the National Assembly and the Federal Executive Council have approved for the development of the state.

A statement from the latter read in part...“We are against the protest. We have told our members to disregard Nwachukwu and his group. They are not speaking for APC. What we want is development and that is why the President is not resting on his oars to ensure that he delivers on his promises. Anybody who is attacking the President for aiding development in Ebonyi state is anti-people. We must not strangulate the progress and development of our state because we are in opposition in the state. The President has that he belong to everybody and belongs to nobody”.

“The loan has been approved by the national assembly that has the largest numbers of APC members. The same loan was deliberated in the federal executive council and approved. Then, to whose interest is Nwachukwu serving? We must unite for the development of our state and Country. APC in Ebonyi state is solidly behind President Muhammadu Buhari and we want him to continue to support us in any measure for the development of the state”, Nwobasi said.

Nwobasi noted that APC is in support of any programme that would lead to the development of the state, stressing that the ring road if constructed would boost the economic fortunes of the state and alleviate the sufferings of the people.

I sensed nemesis at work.

However, as the factional protesters gathered at the party’s office, a team of armed policemen were deployed to the area to forestall breakdown of law and order, which culminated to the heavy traffic logjam along the ever-busy Abakaliki-Afikpo federal highway. Commuters were the hardest hit. The security officers also barricaded one of the double lanes to ensure free movement of people along the road. When the atmosphere was charged, youths suspected to be members of Nwobasi’s faction blocked another section of the road with trips of sounds and created burn fires. The youths were aggrieved that the factional party headed by Nwachukwu has allegedly constituted social menace in the state since their leadership battle started in the state. These parallel rallies and protests affected human and vehicular movements in Abakaliki, the state capital despite the presence of policemen.

The clash itself was the high point of a lingering feud between different political forces within the party fold.Two factions loyal to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya and governorship candidate of the party in 2015 general election, Senator Julius Ucha, have been battling for supremacy since the conduct of the last congress in the state. Onu’s faction of the party has Eze Nwachukwu as its chairman while Ucha’s faction has Ben Nwaobsi as chairman. Ucha’s faction had distanced itself from the rally against the proposed $150 million loan by the state government and called on its members to disregard the rally. Again, validating the fact that APC in the state has been torn into disagreeable pieces.

Governor Umahi may not be perfect but he serves as the messianic figure pioneering what you and most so-called intellectuals and leaders of APC can’t afford – and I mean this both literally and figuratively. It is not enough to speak grammar and quote the dictionary like you’re some descendant of William Shakespeare. Many of us, the younger generations would have expected a bit of decency from the Minister of Science and Technology. It is true that he reserves the rights to say whatever he likes, regardless whose ox is gored but I hope that the violence he orchestrated in his own state leaves him with the taste of his own medicine. I am not asking him and those who resonate with his ideals to support the struggle or believe in it, or approve the loan. I know he has always shied away from the truth as a person.

The leadership crisis that has divided the Ebonyi APC down the middle makes mockery of their desire to rule the state. How can we imperil the future of the state to these vicious fighters. Since what increasingly appears like a renegade segment of the APC, led by Dr Ogbonnaya onu, took on the leadership of the party, things haven’t been the same again in the APC. The APC under the Onu faction had exhausted all avenues to assert control over the rebels in their fold.

His last resort to a rally, at best is a sign of political immaturity. This reckless act might be an open invitation to political annihilation for all those involved in this show of shame. Politics is nothing without ideals. They have simply shown that they are betrayers of their people and people without ideals and principles. This is the time for the APC to stop holding Ebonyians to ransom, move on and stop beating a dead horse that will only end up driving their supporters into the waiting hands of the PDP.

More importantly, the match was uncalled for, reckless and capable of derailing our democracy and creating chaos in the land. Such display of violence and defacement of the state capital is a sign of depravity and moral bankruptcy by all those involved. On the other hand, the only way to stop the rebellion in the party is for leaders of the APC in the state to accept the status quo and guard their misguided members right.

It is easier as matters stand for the APC leaders to accept the reality on the ground than to continue to chase after a long gone animal by insisting on cancellation of the loan.

The PDP government is not clueless. It is on course to creating an inclusive and broad based economy that offers opportunities and jobs to all our people. The PDP government remains focused and visionary. Thats why EbonyI state is moving at multiple levels. There is a concentrated consistent effort to purge underdevelopment from the state. Before now, there was poverty, falling living standards of the ordinary people, environmental destruction, trouble in Ezillo, broken infrastructure and massive corruption. There was decrepit in health and educational institutions, all these are history today.

Ebonyians condemn in strongest terms the egregious display of hatred, narrow-mindedness and meanness by these apostles of hate hiding under the guise of APC.

The governor should be venerated for his vision, which is anchored on unity of purpose and the desire to work together in order to move EbonyI to an era of economic and political transformation. Governor Umahi is selfless, disciplined and result oriented. He has become the standard by which political party candidates are measured in and outside Nigeria. The governor is thinking outside the box and thinking ahead of today. His administration is opposed to leadership that focuses on enriching itself. It is giving effect to the will of the people and will continue to do so.

The APC is used to creating imaginary scenario just to whip unnecessary sentiments to sway voters but Ebony people can see through the thick veil of their lies. They should understand that there are couple of things we should not play with. Essentially, they should be careful how they challenge the credibility of institutions that mean well for the people or gamble with policies tailored towards the people.

The recent APC rally is a show of shame and a sign of ingratitude to the laudable achievements of the Umahi-led administration. The proposed bank loan is a social assurance approved for the people of the state to execute a road project which cuts across 8 local government areas.

The perpetrators of the so called demonstration that took place last Monday are enemies of the state, especially those that could benefit from the ring road project and should tender unreserved apology to the Ebonyi people.

Having run out of options Ebonyi APC has resorted to telling open lies. The governor has demonstrated unquantifiable zeal, passion and commitment to the Ebonyi project and no amount of propaganda can change this. Am very confident that fate will surely nail the APC and it's lying spin doctors to the very cross they prepared for the governor.

The same protest that brought Buhari in 2015

150million dollars is almost 55Billion in our local currency...

I'm fully behind him if he will truly develop Ebonyi State without diverting a penny.


But can Ebonyi State repay such a huge loan? How much is the Monthly Federal and Internally Generated Revenue for Ebonyi?

Summary pls

2019 is here

OK

That was when they loose their value

Atiku is livid because he thinks Buhari scammed him to win election and dumped him; is that?
He wants to come back and recoup (his money?) from 2019 till...dunno.
What about Tinubu, Amaechi, Saraki & others. Everyone who brought resources of their own region or State, or from their own past escapades thinks he brought more to the table than others and therefore deserves more?
What about the genuinely and selflessly committed political soldiers who gave all their strength, time, intellectual and integrity resources without looking to be paid personally but for sake of national progress to bring the country back from the wrong path it was back on the right ways?
Those who weren't part of the "gaming" of their State treasury to impress Buhari during the elections but believed Buhari would help bring Nigeria back on right track?
Bros, you only gave back from what you gamed! You don't deserve my country from so doing!
All of you cannot koman share Nigeria among yourselves again in 2019 -Insha Allah!
If all these shylocks who brought resources they "gamed" to the campaign table are asking for pound of flesh by claiming they are "sidelined" or "marginalized", what should the poor us claim ooo jàre; not marginalized?
Atiku has only opened the floor, more of them are expected to start working out too in their droves to claim their right or entitlement over Atiku and the rest, as the days go by. Sheri it is their birthright! They have turned the mumudom of over-200milllion of us to their business enterprises and are declaring on us just anyhow. They are profiting from the gullibility they created in the larger number of populace and the poverty they created to dominate them. But they will be divided and expose themselves so that wee may become wiser.
Go ahead and declare upon yourselves as you may wish! If you don't have our hearts, you can't have our hands.
We shall turn the table -In Jesus name!

Segun O'Law.

Atiku2019:
150million dollars is almost 55Billion in our local currency...

I'm fully behind him if he will truly develop Ebonyi State without diverting a penny.


But can Ebonyi State repay such a huge loan? How much is the Monthly Federal and Internally Generated Revenue for Ebonyi?

Nice one

This guy keeps writing rubbish just because they give him peanuts. Nonsense write up

So, we were supposed to read that long poooo? Who your article don feed? You can't even summarize

Junk

STORY EVERY WHERE

I'm beginning to think you pay the mods to move your trash of a post to front page all time... Besides few people with their conscience still intact know the truth behind all that.

Wisdomkosi:
This guy keeps writing rubbish just because they give him peanuts. Nonsense write up

Your English is the reason Nigeria is backward cos of quota system.

Borrowing to construct ringroad?

freshvine:


Your English is the reason Nigeria is backward cos of quota system.

"Kettle calling pot black"

greatiyk4u:



"Kettle calling pot black"

You can't prove me wrong

The only thing these useless and incompetent Buhari ministers know how to do is go and cause trouble in their states. From Amaechi to Ogbonnaya Onu, their work is to take federal might and disturb Governors that are working in their states

This idiot in particular has not even been able to produce the pencil he said they will produce, but he's going to lead protest wey no concern am. Shameless bunch

freshvine:


Your English is the reason Nigeria is backward cos of quota system.

Funny how someone who cannot write a complete sentence will come on social media to showcase her foolishness. You are a compound fool. Warey

Stupidity is when you bribe mods to push your nonsense writeup to Frontpage, thinking that real Ebonyians don't know the truth. Quote me, and I will treat your f..k up

This so called philip nweze is so myopic that he cant even reason,u were given a peanut to write shit ur such an idiot ring road my foot.The gov is playing on the gallery 2019 campaign fund

NgeneUkwenu:
This Nwanze is a tout who hails from Umahi's Village! He litters his facebook page with useless and incoherent write ups about Gov Umahi non -existent achievements....

Seun Should stop bringing his rubbish to the frontpage!

the guy is a useless he goat, who thinks that everyone will buy his writeup. Nonsense, mods be careful how you bring this guy's writeup to Frontpage. Am an ebonyian and can't be fooled.

freshvine:


You can't prove me wrong

Be open to learning young lady. (assumptions sha)

I know we are not that rich like other state but Ebonyi state government should stop disgracing us
our governor's house in his home town is bigger than White House in America and bigger than North Korea blue house
while Obasanjos house in ogun state is a kitchen
mehn am calling on Nigeria journalists to go and visit our governors house in Uburu

What will APC not do in this life in the name of political power.......

This useless Dave umahi's ass licker and co.ck sucker is at it again. I wonder how much they pay this nigga. They removed me from their Facebook group because I was always telling them the truth. We do not need Dave umahi for second tenure in Ebonyi, Umahi is a crook, and the worst mistake Ebonyians will make is allow that man govern Ebonyi again come 2019.

We shouldn't base our political ideology on self centredness. People's view should not be cajoled. That's the beauty of democracy. Everybody is entitled to his/her opinion. I don't know why we should see those opposed to the loan request as enemies just because we are eating from the crooked pot. We are neither practicing anarchy, autocratic or dictatorial system of government.
I don't fan any political party but let the truth be told; I think that the main intention of the loan is ill mannered.

This is a useless write up, we always failed to learn from history. How can he borrow such amount of money from Islamic bank? Does the governor want to mortgage Ebonyi state?

The bank knows fully well that Ebonyi state can't repay the loan. look at Osun state battling with her own case, where public school pupils were being forced to wear hijab and the state government can't do otherwise because it was the term of agreement for the unrepaid loan.

Also read the history of Turkey before it was Islamized, same scenarios will take place in Ebonyi state if she goes ahead to borrow from IDB. The state has already lost Afikpo Local government to Muslims. Virtually all the indigenous people of that LGA have been converted to Islam.

You could recall last year, when all the south eastern state governors were planning on sending away the Fulani herdsmen out of their states, only the Ebonyi state gov. kicked against it.

While can't the gov borrow what the state can repay and should be from either IMF or ADB, who have human sympathy.

After reading all d comments here, I discovered d@ most of the people quoting the OP wrong are not d indigene of Ebonyi State. Anyway, I don't blame them cos "hate and hypocrite" has made many Nigerians to label what they know/see is "truth and right as false and wrong".

@Phillip...Good one, though ur write up lacks summary.