Kidnapping: Return or lose your C of O, Orji tells business owners
THURSDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2010 04:44 BIODUN DUROJAIYE
Ayodele Adegbuyi, Abuja


GOVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State yesterday told owners of business premises in the state to either return or be ready to forfeit their Certificates of Occupancy, (C of O) , just as he said he was unsettled by the activities of kidnappers.

Orji, who stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja on the activities of kidnappers, however, said that normalcy had returned to the state and urged workers and others doing business in the state to return.

According to him, the refusal of some business firms to reopen for business is already having adverse effects on the people. For instance, the governor said the refusal of some banks to open for business was causing hardship for the people.

He lamented that the state has been spending a lot of money to maintain security, noting that such money could have been used to provide social services for the people.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government recently deployed soldiers to the state when it was apparent that the police could not match the kidnappers’ superior arms.

Orji said: “It is a great cost to us. We have to buy them (security agencies) vehicles and other exigencies, which we cannot be talking about for security reasons. These monies are what we ought to use to construct roads, build hospitals, schools and other things for the people.

“But, we must also provide security for them; which is the first duty of government. If there is no security, how will the people go about their businesses? How will the students attend schools? How will government even work? Will the investors also come and invest in the state in particular and Nigeria in general?

“We are now on top of the situation, but I must confess that the kidnapper really rattled us.”
Asked how he thought the kidnappers got their weapons, Orji said his suspicion was that they got them either from some militants who refused to lay down all their arms in Niger Delta or from those who imported them.
He said what the state witnessed had shown that those charged with the responsibility of manning the borders must be more alert.

http://www.compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68642:kidnapping-return-or-lose-your-c-of-o-orji-tells-business-owners&catid=43:news&Itemid=799

What about stay and acquire another C of O from kidnappers?

Otobroto:

GOVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State yesterday told owners of business premises in the state to either return or be ready to forfeit their Certificates of Occupancy, (C of O) , just as he said he was unsettled by the activities of kidnappers.

Orji, who stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja on the activities of kidnappers, however, said that normalcy had returned to the state and urged workers and others doing business in the state to return.

According to him, the refusal of some business firms to reopen for business is already having adverse effects on the people. For instance, the governor said the refusal of some banks to open for business was causing hardship for the people.

Na today? Where was the governor when kidnapping started in the state? Abeg, another book of lamentation.

The university has been on strike for up to three months, and you've done nothing. Olodo. Who even has a C of O in Aba? Ishi azu!

slap1:

The university has been on strike for up to three months, and you've done nothing. Olodo. Who even has a C of O in Aba? Ishi azu!

i heard this idiot in some interview yesterday claiming that peace and normality had returned to aba, that all the businesses had reopened - guess they didn't get his memo

Isn't it better to lose a document,rather than playing russian - roulette with your dear life. Businesses can be done in more safer places.

All of Government money is being used for military operations in abia state, Funny. So abians don't expect any infrastructural developments. Lmao

All will be adequately deducted during the next bugetary allocation.

Instead of him to plead,the mumu guy dey show say hin get swagger.

~Bluetooth:

Instead of him to plead,the mumu guy dey show say hin get swagger.

I would rather they have put Arochukwu in Cross River or Akwa Ibom State. This is complete nonsense. Igbos are our own worse enemies.

T9ksy:

Isn't this a clear sign that Orji has no clue how to solve the myriad problems bedevilling his administration? So, does he, in his infinite wisdom believes the best way to bring normalcy back to Abia state is by intimidating the people with their (hard-earned) C Of O? I know the igbos are reputed for their love of money not that i believe this is peculiar to them only, however its disingenous of their govenor to try and capitalise on such fallacy. As if the people are not aware that this same man can not gaurantee their safety, if they do return. Of what use then is their C Of O, if they end up losing their lives to kidnappers or "friendly fires" from JTF?

This is very worrisome.

Why was he briefing journalists in Abuja and not in Abia? One would think that staying home (Abia) to brief journalists about the so called "normalcy" would have given more confidence to the masses.

LG boss, 2 monarchs implicated in Abia kidnappings – Commissioner
NewsOct 19, 2010

Umuahia—Two traditional rulers and one serving Local Government Transitional Committee Chairman have been indicted by security reports on kidnapping and other crimes in Abia State.

Chief Anthony Agbazuere, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Umuahia yesterday.
“Government has shown the commitment to fight the menace of crime head-on by not only pursuing kidnappers, but also their sponsors and collaborators,” Agbazuere said.

He said the onslaught led to the dethronement of two traditional rulers and suspension of five others.
“This also led to the removal from office and arraignment of a serving local government transition chairman from Ukwa West,” the commissioner said.

He said the state government was pursing the arraignment of all those who had been fingered at one time or the other in the crime, stressing that nobody would be spared no matter how highly placed.

He expressed regrets that those who had sworn to protect life and property in the state at one time or the other were part of the problems.
“A former deputy governor of the state and three others were once charged with gun-running and illegal possession of military arms on May 28, 2006, at Umuobiakwam in Obingwa Magisterial District.

“The state, indeed, has a responsibility to ensure that criminals are not only punished, but that their cartels are also dislodged,’’ Agbazuere said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/10/lg-boss-2-monarchs-implicated-in-abia-kidnappings-commissioner/

By day, info like this are coming in, yet they want people to go back to continue thei businesses.

Oboma1:

By day, info like this are coming in, yet they want people to go back to continue thei businesses.

He is just trying to be optimistic, yet, what is on ground is not encouraging.

this man should be slapped across the face twice on both sides, and a well constructed knock dropped on his head for good measure

bibiking1:

this man should be slapped across the face twice on both sides, and a well constructed knock dropped on his head for good measure

bibiking1:

this man should be slapped across the face twice on both sides, and a well constructed knock dropped on his head for good measure

True. Is Orji not worse than these kidnappers? Touts in high places!

jabbok:

True. Is Orji not worse than these kidnappers? Touts in high places!

If Uzor Kalu had attended to this matter long before now, it wouldnt have degenerated to this. That part of the nation was allowed to degenerate to a pitiable state. In fact, it got to an extent, I thought it was no longer part of Nigeria. Aba - Ikot Ekpene road, is a living example of government neglect (even from federal level). Today, all the tiers of government and security agencies are looking for immediate solution over what degenerated over a long period of time. Go to Aba, and see whether water will not come out from your eyes, from years of neglect.

selingel:


If Uzor Kalu had attended to this matter long before now, it wouldnt have degenerated to this. That part of the nation was allowed to degenerate to a pitiable state. In fact, it got to an extent, I thought it was no longer part of Nigeria. Aba - Ikot Ekpene road, is a living example of government neglect (even from federal level). Today, all the tiers of government and security agencies are looking for immediate solution over what degenerated over a long period of time. Go to Aba, and see whether water will not come out from your eyes, from years of neglect.

Good talk.
As for Theodore, will he seize C of Os belonging to America and UK Embassies, if they were to be closed down in Aba?

Hardtalk:

Good talk.
As for Theodore, will he seize C of Os belonging to America and UK Embassies, if they were to be closed down in Aba?

Who will even site any embassy in South Eastern Nigeria, where kidnapping is now a way of life?

Oboma1:


Who will even site any embassy in South Eastern Nigeria, where kidnapping is now a way of life?

the isreali embassy is in enugu or is enugu not part of he eastern nigeria?