30 YEARS ON: WHAT ARE ABIANS CELEBRATING?

The Holy book admonishes us that "cleanliness is next to Godliness". It is therefore not wrong that in line with the sobriquet of "God's own state", Abia state should be a place of cleanliness, but environmentally, physically, morally and spiritually. It should be a state where the conduct of the leadership and the people will not only be examplery but can stand up to any scrutiny.

But this is not the case. For a first time visitor to the state, especially if one is travelling from the southern borders of the state, the sight of a failed section of the Enugu -Port Harcourt expressway after Obehie, where a state government managed landfill has taken over one lane is unnerving. The filt that has been allowed to erode the section of that road pales into insignificance compared to the stench that oozes out of that environmental nightmare. This stench is so tick that not even the tight confines of wound up glasses can stop. It is a stench that follows you around the state.

Metaphorically, this stench is the stench of corruption and atrocious incompetence that have suffused and enveloped Abia state from inception. The series of military administrators that goverened the state owed no allegiance to anybody save for their military overlords and cared less how they fared as administrators.

But from 1999, with the dawn of democracy and the enthronement of a new leadership paradigm across the country, it was expected that Abia state will pick up it's boostraps and join other states in the race to deliver the dividends of democracy to her citizens. In an ironic twist of fate, while other states were surging forward, Abia state, starting from governor Orji Uzor Kalu, was running in the opposite direction, backwards! This downward drift to abyss of hopelessness continued through Theordore Orji, to the incumbent Okezie Ikpeazu. Abia today holds the unenvievable record of being the most governance deprived state in Nigeria, if not the entire world.

At every part of the state; every strata of governance, every sector of human engagement, one is confronted with a debilitating leadership failure of epic proportion.

It therefore did not come as a surprise when a member of the House of Assembly in a surprise move queried the Ikpeazu government to account for over 56 million Dollars loan it sourced from the World Bank to fix roads and other public infrastructure in Aba and environs.

But this pales in comparison to the unconscionable sqaundering of the over 16 billion Naira Paris Club refund to the state by the Federal Government. In one of the most devious finincial heists known in history, the money developed wings and has not been accounted for till date.

The stories that come out of Abia state, remian distasteful and stand as a ringing indictment on all the past and present leaders of the state. Recently it was the arrest of a former governor of the state T. A. Orji for stealing 525 billion Naira belonging to the state, by the EFCC.

According to the EFCC, the monies were N383bn revenue from federal accounts, N55bn excess crude revenue, N2.3bn Sure-P, N1.8bn ecological funds, N10.5bn loan from First Bank of Nigeria through the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs, N4bn loan from Diamond Bank, N12bn Paris Club refund, N2bn agricultural loan for farmers and N55bn Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC).


Since it's creation in 1997, Abians have been inflicted with the most backward looking leadership in recorded history. Like it's predecesors, the Okezie Ikpeazu administration only arises from it's deep slumber to influct further pains on the already traumatized psyche of the people. If it is not owing a record 30 months salary to her poor workers, it is owing pensioners a backlog of unpaid pensions strechting into years.

Delipidated roads lither every nook and cranny of the state. The education sector in the state has all but collapsed. Healthcare is non existent.

Aba, the economic powerhouse of the state bears the brunt of the failure of governance in Abia state. The internationally recognized Ariaria Market is an environmental nightmare. Filth and dirt compete with goods and services for space. The images coming out of the market is a devaluation of the proud heritage of Abians and indeed Ndigbo as an industrious and decent people.

Okezie Ikpeazu's caricature of a flyover at Osisioma has not only failed to live up to any geo-technics and structural integrity tests, but today is the oldest flyover still under construction in Nigeria. Interestingly, nobody knows how much the flyover is costing the Abia tax payer.


From every perspective one looks at Ikpeazu's Abia state, the result is the same. A linear descent into utter hopelessness and chaos.

But 30 years is enough time to endure any malady. The serial misgovernace of Abia state like any malady has a cure.

Those who have held Abia down for 30 years only succeeded because the people acquicized and became willing accomplicices in the decimation of their commonwealth and their collective future.

It is our sacred duty to rise up and oppose this oppressive and suffocating government of looters. We must insist that they be held accountable for their actions.

Go out today and take part in the ongoing Continuos Voter Registration (CVR) www.cvr.inecnigeria.org . The idea that our votes do not count is a disempowering concept promoted by criminal politicians to stop us from participating in elections. We can vote and protect our votes. We can leverage technology to defeat rigging.

We must return Abia to its glory as 'God's Own State', because the voice of the people is the voice of God.

Join the New Abia Vision as we commence the processes to reclaim and take back Abia State. Neutrality is not an option.


Chief Bond Ohuche
Convener: New Abia Vision

Abia is a completely failed state. Governance has gone on sabbatical under Ikpeazu.

In a class of 20.somebody must carry dat 20.abia state done carry am.

This is what we are celebrating;

1. Orji uzor kalu's camp neya, enrichment of igberes, goddessification of mama orji uzor, privatisation of ABA newspaper including changing the name to daily sun newspaper, #7billion for the akant. I would have added slok airways but is now moribund, installation of tief A orji as a governor, etc.

2. T.A Orji estate in Umuahia along isiukwuato rd, elevation of ikuku from street stunch niggar to house of assembly member and speaker of the house, over 100 account opening with billions stashed therein, #550billion looted, increment of abia state university school fees from below#50,000 to above #100,000, increment of abia poly school fees from below #34,000 to above#65,000, increment of acceptance fees of abia owned tertiary institutions, owin of workers salaries, pensions and gratuities, nullification of orji uzor kalu's abia state university degree, and installation of Okezie as a governor etc.

3. Okezie Ipkeazu; Fluently and convincingly lieing to Abians on payment of every workers salaries, going to supreme court 3times and won all, ABA center table, rewarding of ikuku with speakership, emela gi, creation of development fees for abia tertiary institutions, being a puppet that refused to break away, reconstruction of ABA Owerri road; less than 5km road for more than 6years, recovering from Corona virus, and building of a new house.

These are the achievement of abia leaders and that is what we are celebrating, come to pH road let's celebrate and drink kaikai, with one emala gi. After 30years, we have a lot to celebrate.

It is sad that Abia the home of the gallant women who chased the British out during the Ava women's riot has become so cowed by the evil trio of Uzor Kalu, T A. Orji and Ikpeazu . Where are Abia youths, intellectuals, the clergy, opinion leaders and the traditional ruling class? They have been silenced by largese and greed. Kudos to NEW ABIA Vision for speaking up for our people. Now is the time to act and liberate Abia state.