They wore long faces, looking anything but hap­py. In fact, the map of hunger was etched on some of their faces. Dressed in black outfits to reflect their mood, they painted a pathetic pic­ture of frustration and helplessness. As they marched through the major roads of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, they sang songs of solidarity even as they displayed placards that conveyed their messages including the fact that about 56 of them are now dead without getting their entitlements.

Last week Thursday, some of the disengaged non-na­tive civil servants in Abia State again took to the streets to express their displeasure over the way and manner they were relieved of their positions by the state govern­ment and the way they are being treated afterwards.

Why they were sacked

The workers in the public service, numbering about 3,500, were sacked in 2011 by the Abia State government because they were not indigenes of the state. Interesting­ly, the disengaged workers are mainly from sister-Igbo states namely; Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi.

Justifying the action of the state government, Gover­nor Theodore Orji had reportedly said: “If Abia is chas­ing other people away, we are only copying what others have done to us. It was a question of observing fairness and equity. When I have the opportunity to serve the Abia State people, I have no apologies to make to anybody. What I want to place on record is this: I wonder where people were when Abia-born people were being chased away from other civil services.”

However, following strident condemnation of the ac­tion, the state government announced the recall of the sacked workers. It was gathered that what the state gov­ernment did was merely to recall a handful of the disen­gaged workers. By so doing, the government effectively broke the ranks of the affected workers.

“The picture being painted is that the workers, who were sacked because they are not indigenes of Abia State, have been recalled by the government. The purported re­call was on the internet and reported by a section of the media. But the truth of the matter is that only a few of us were recalled. The purported recall was aimed at break­ing our ranks. So, you can meet somebody who will tell you that he or she was dismissed at that time but had been recalled by the state government as promised. Many people out there do not know the true situation of things because of the propaganda machinery of the state govern­ment. Instructively, some of those who were purportedly recalled are still not getting their entitlements. The public is being deceived by the state government. Many of the sacked workers no longer come out because of sickness and hunger,” volunteered one of the sacked workers.

Investigation revealed that the non-recall and non-payment of their entitlements has taken a grave toll on the affected workers. Many of them can longer play their natural role as breadwinners of their families even as their children have dropped out of school. When sickness comes, they only pray and expect divine healing because going seeking proper treatment is out of it. Because of hunger and sickness, about 56 of them have died as at October last year and still counting. And if there is any plan by the state government to actually recall or pay them their entitlements, there is nothing to show.

A civil rights activist, Comrade Chukwuemeka Mba, told Saturday Sun: “I was informed that about 56 of the sacked workers have died as at October last year. Some died out of frustration; some died of shock of losing their jobs, particularly in the manner it happened.”

Demonstration

On February 4, the sacked workers went to town in a peaceful manner to bring their plight to the knowledge of the people as well as appeal to the government to have a change of heart. They took off from Asa Triangle by Christ the King’s Church (CKC) and marched along Asa road through Jubilee road, passing through York to Ahia Ohuru and Ehi roads.

People trooped out to catch a glimpse of the protesters even as many were shocked at the development because of the propaganda in government media to the effect that all the sacked workers had been recalled.

However, the demonstration did not end without any incident. It was gathered that an attempt was made to disrupt the outing by people suspected to be agents of government.

According to Comrade Mba: “Some persons suspect­ed to be agents of the ruling clique attempted to halt the protest but were ignored by the protesters as they quietly marched along distributing fliers with the title: How long shall our plight continue. A young man also came, asking one the protesters some questions. I asked him if he was a journalist and he said that he was a State Security Service (SSS) officer.”

The protesters ended at CKC where they assembled to send a petition on their predicament to God in prayers. The prayer session was, indeed, a solemn exercise as they poured out their hearts in supplication. It was heart touch­ing seeing the men and women shedding tears openly.

Mba further said: “The disengagement of over 4000 workers from the Abia State workforce constitute not only violation of fundamental right, it is also fraught with many implications to any society where such injustice is allowed to stand. Hence people have a right and duty to protest wherever human right is violated.

“The purported recall of less than 10 per cent was in partial compliance with the advice of a judge at the Na­tional Industrial Court Enugu, in a stalled court proceed­ing on the issue. Over 3000 of the sacked workers are passing through the agony of the freak incident.”

One of the leaders of the protesters, Mr Ugochukwu Unogu, said that they were resolute in their demand for the workers’ recall. “We ask for total recall, not selective recall. We are really suffering in our father’s land,” he stated.

Commenting on the development, human rights activ­ist, Barrister Prince Ukaegbu called for the resolution of the matter without further delay even as he regrets that Igbo could be so badly treated in Igboland. His words: “Their plight requires immediate and unconditional res­olution. It is a tragedy that Igbo could do that to their brothers and sisters. In fact, all forms of injustice being meted out to Igbo must be stopped forthwith.”


http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=104862

The words of Theodore Orji shows he is out to punish the innoscent for the sins of others. According to Muhatma Gandi, 'an eye for an eye will make the world go blind'. If you dont want them, compensate them for thus far they have served.

Yet they blame fashola for reuniting their miscreants and insane colleagues with their loved ones, while a T.A Orji freely sacks non-indigenes, even of Ibo extraction, from public services.

Is that T.A Orji of a man & governor Still on that seat

Watching to see if, and how this discussion progresses.

#change
#GMB
#APC

We havent seen Ohaneze , Ikenga and all other Ibo activists raise hell over this

Na the reunion wey Fashola do for them matter pass

I have decided to support individuals, not party, even though I know their connections.

I will vote for the president even though he is in PDP, but I will advise those in Abia to reject T.A Orji and his PDP candidate. Orji Uzor might not be a saint, but he cried and apologized with a loud voice, " I regret anointing T.A orji". And the evidence of his regrets is seen in Aba and its environs.

SAY NO TO t.a orji

This is a big poser to those calling for the break up of Nigeria. What hope for a country formed based on tribal settings and ethnic groupings when Abia cannot even accommodate brothers of the same language and culture from neighboring states?

pheliciti:
This is a big poser to those calling for the break up of Nigeria. What hope for a country formed based on tribal settings and ethnic groupings when Abia cannot even accommodate brothers of the same language and culture from neighboring states?

that is for u ibos abeg,their fake unity only comes up when they want to hate other ethnic groups

Ibos can lie ehn!

They said these people have since been called back to work, not knowing that 56 of them have already died of depression.

Ibos do this to fellow ibos, now imagine what they would do to other tribes.

raumdeuter:
We havent seen Ohaneze , Ikenga and all other Ibo activists raise hell over this

Na the reunion wey Fashola do for them matter pass

.bunch of bloody hypocrites they are,they want to have what they cannot give,awon oni yeye

After - all they will still be crying for Biafra state when it obvious that they can't liive together

eighTHREAD:
Yet they blame fashola for reuniting their miscreants and insane colleagues with their loved ones, while a T.A Orji freely sacks non-indigenes, even of Ibo extraction, from public services.

**grins** Tsolaye Arode/Tsolz, our EOD algorithm has detected you tey tey. How is mirabel and Toju?. **LOLS**

Igbos are the only tribe in Nigeria for sale.For me,I don't take them serious with their shop sand politics.

yibobo kwenu.

Are these people cursed? :>(

1toRtoiSe1:
Are these people cursed? :>(

YES

So none of d ibo leader condemned t.a orji and them fit open their big mouth when fashola deport them

Hmmm....Naija!

Wickedness and tribalism everywhere.
God help us

because he has nothing to offer,no plan dat'll give and provide Job opportunities for qualified state residents.
Am glad,your horrible tenure has come to an end TA.
God will not fail to pay you all what you did to Abians.

Seriously am an ibo guy but I hate how greed has eaten deep into my ibo peeps...even in ibo families there is no unity not to talk of the ibo society..its just so pathetic..everyone cares for himself only...hausa peeps are more united...am not suprised when I see stories like these its the norm in the east

1toRtoiSe1:
Are these people cursed? :>(

u think is funny abi...most u show how ignorant and foolish u are always??y call another tribe caused...it shows ur level of understanding

Please where are the Ndigbos.......please explain your brothers action

So many ethic bigots on this thread..

Where are e-ARI (association of ranting ibos), bloody hypocrite so because na chukwu una go forgive am abi?

I wonder how biafra ll be attainable when u guys don't like each other.

Abiagirl777:
because he has nothing to offer,no plan dat'll give and provide Job opportunities for qualified state residents.
Am glad,your horrible tenure has come to an end TA.
God will not fail to pay you all what you did to Abians.

Bla bla bla bla, ibos and abians re naturally for pdp so save ur energy and stop irking our ears abeg

raumdeuter:
We havent seen Ohaneze , Ikenga and all other Ibo activists raise hell over this

Na the reunion wey Fashola do for them matter pass

True talk bro. Its really amazing that none of these Pan Igbo groups have raised dust over this issue.

Bloody hypocrites.

why r igbos maltreating their brothers yet they would be shouting biafra.
APC

nakamora:
Igbos are the only tribe in Nigeria for sale.For me,I don't take them serious with their shop sand politics.

yibobo kwenu.

dude, I have to admit, u got me LMFAO. In fact, u've already made my day.

IBO na only them they ruin thereself. Igbo has no unity and do not trust each other. If you witness two Igbo brothers fighting you will think someone is fighting with the devil. because all you will see in there eyes is pure hatred. And their girls have even worsen there image as they don't portray a good and sane culture only God will help us. if you see the lifestyle of Igbo girls to have a daughter will fear u. Some campus Igbo girls have perform 3 or 4 D & C before going for service.

Talk of wickedness an Igbo girl use razor blade to put her room mate to coma, all because she wore her clothes to class. That is just one of many cases.

Only God will help Igbos to value and respect each other.

In short, Biafra as a nation is not real. SMH for the people championing this cause!

though some state governors absorbed the few they can absorb becos of the high recurrent expenditure hitting national and state budgets. this was done without witch-hunt abians in their state ministries. T. orji is a someone that is laddened with Psycho prob. The Ibo race love and help themselves, the success of one, develop the upcome of another from his low state of affairs Wic hav resulted to the scattered settlement of ibos in d world.