By Chukwudịmma Aaron-Okonkwọ

Mother Africa is a continent whose children are naturally endowed with resources they could utilize toward fulfilling their inherent potentials. She bequeathed her children an enormous amount of wealth with which they should use to establish themselves as self-reliant, self-sufficient and greatly developed nations.

Nigeria, as one of Africa's children, is extremely blessed by every mean. She is so blessed that she was seen as an indisputable leader in the second largest continent of the world. Our dear country, Nigeria used to offer development aid to her siblings in the continent. Such aids are usually in the form of making huge investments of financial, human, material and military resources - all aimed at promoting Africa's development, peace and security.

Yet, as Nigeria is and were busy offering aid to other African nations, her very own family in name of citizens are not being taken adequate care of. The citizens are gnashing their teeth in sorrowful state occasioned by unbearable pains of suffering, starvation and stagnation. In Nigeria today and in spite of its bountiful natural resources that have always seen its crude export as a leading country in terms of Gross Domestic Products (GDP), poverty is widespread.

For such a country as ours that has been adjudged by the World Bank to be not only an emerging market, but also the biggest economy on the African continent, to be recently ranked the poverty capital of the world predisposes the fact that something is seriously wrong with our leadership. The developmental system of our national life is in dire need of a new development strategy for the changing realities and needs of the 21st century world. Nigeria is very much yearning for a brand new leadership and the upcoming general election is the only opportunity we have to right all the wrongs we have been making in choosing leadership.

The kind of leadership we need to elect in the 2023 general elections for the betterment of our future generations is one that aims at defining an agenda that meets the needs of the people and puts national interests above personal interests. For us to build transformative, good governance and democratic institutions, which our conscience have been yearning for, requires only strong leadership such as can only be found in the duo of Labour Party candidates, HE Mr Peter Obi and Sen. Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.

#LetUsTakeBackOurCountry


Aaron-Okonkwo writes for PO Express Media, POEM.

By Chukwudịmma Aaron-Okonkwọ

The morning of Sunday 17th July, 2022 was not much of a surprising moment when it was heard loud and clear from the mouth of the National Chairman of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdulai Adamu. Responding to an interview question on AriseTV, Alhaji Adamu frankly spoke out his mind on what he knew about the Labour Party presidential candidate, HE Mr Peter Obi.

"I know Peter Obi since he was governor, he means well for his people and I can never underestimate him...Those are people who mean well. As far as I am concerned, from their outbursts, they mean well. They are well grounded, I don't have doubts about that...so I have no reason whatsoever to underestimate their ability to lead their people to victory.", Alhaji Adamu said.

It is a well established and thoroughly verified facts that Peter Obi who was born 10 months immediately after Nigeria became an independent nation genuinely mean well for his people, for Nigerians. He means well for the poverty eradication in our clime that has abundance natural resources. He means well for zero hunger in our environment that has arable land. He means well for positive economic growth in our developmental system that has brilliant brains.

The man fondly called Okwute means well for the innovative development of our deteriorated industries that have displaced our people out of jobs. He means well for the infrastructural development of our dilapidated roads that have been death traps. He means well for sustainable cities and communities, for responsible consumption and qualitative production; for peace, justice and strong institutions; for the partnership of our overall good.

Nigerians, the Obi-Datti candidacy is the only partnership that puts us in everything they do. They have put our poverty index into consideration and are ready to work toward ending it. They have put our condition of hunger into consideration and are now ready to end it. How they will attempt to achieve this is very simple: achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

#LetUsBeOBIdientAndYUSful

Aaron-Okonkwo writes for PO Express Media, POEM.

By Chukwudịmma Aaron-Okonkwọ

On Tuesday, July 12th, 2022, a short post went viral on social media which read, "Obi was said to be the first African to visit Kenya and invest with Naira. That's why the city is named after him as Nairobi. Go and verify." The short message invariably cracked ribs in laughter. But beyond the surface of its humour lies verifiable facts that the Labour Party, LP presidential candidate truly has invested in the East African country, Kenya. It is not an investment that yields him personal profit in return but unequivocally one that impacts lives and building a learned society.

The two-term former governor of Anambra State famously noted for his unrelenting support to the education sector had, on the invitation of Build Africa (BA), extended same passionate support to schools in Kenya as well as Rwanda. It was in February, 2017 that he visited Kenya with Lynda Edwards, the Chief Executive Officer of Build Africa, a world-acclaimed non-governmental organization. Based in the United Kingdom, BA is mainly in the forefront of supporting education in many countries.

Recognizing that the man fondly called Okwute is a firm believer that education is the bedrock of development in any society desirous of modern civilization, Lynda was urged to work with HE Peter Obi and therefore in Kenya, they visited many schools. During the visiting to schools, the man who has been consistent in support for education was pleased with two modern classrooms and places of convenience which Build Africa erected at Kanana Genesis Primary School in Msambweni, Kenya. He then urged them to show presence in his dear country Nigeria for similar support to the poorest part of the country.

The great philanthropist known for donating cash in support of the education sector has been investing in some African countries through Build Africa by means of erecting structures, providing learning infrastructure, facilitating exchanges among schools. This is a serious fact and by no means any joke. Go and verify in Kenya and Rwanda!

It is no doubt that when he become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through our voting powers in the February 25th, 2023 presidential elections, he will, in the company of his highly cerebral vice presidential candidate, Sen. Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed who is himself a strong believer in education, thoroughly revamp our educational sector and permanently solve the problems that make our teachers and academic lecturers embark on needless strikes in which resultant effect is stagnation on the knowledge development of our young generations.

Yes, the LP presidential candidate has done it before in his dear home state of Anambra as governor while, on the other hand, his VP candidate has also done his part in building Universities where he is a Chancellor. Therefore, it won't be rocket science for both to achieve commendable feats and turnaround in our educational system as president and vice president of our dear country.

#LetUsBeOBIdientAndYUSful

Aaron-Okonkwo writes for PO Express Media, POEM

By Tai Emeka Obasi.

Joe Igbokwe started it, amplified by Omoyele Sowore and his Sahara Reporters...then caught on by some people like Kamal in the attached tweet.

Some people took Igbokwe seriously, believing he's from Anambra State and hence in a position to have known what HE Peter Obi did for his state in eight years. While Obi was busy recreating Anambra, Igbokwe was busy recreating his state of origin from Anambra to Lagos, and evidently hadn't visited home during those years. If he had, he wouldn't have asked what Obi did for the state.

What the man we also call Okwute did for his dear state cannot be a matter of reeling out in 24 hours. It will take not less than 24 days.

I will start by republishing Peter Gregory Obi's public handover address few months to the end of his tenure. Then follow with all he did for Anambra in all sectors with clear pictures, starting with the Security Sector.

Take time to read the former governor of Anambra State and think of Nigeria in Anambra's shoes while you do.

Enjoy.


OUR VISION - MISSION STATEMENT.

By HE Peter Obi, 2014.

Our vision was to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, by 2015 as stipulated by all the 192 United Nations member-states and at least 23 international agencies, using our internally designed strategy: the Anambra Development Strategy, ANIDS.

On August 27, 1991, a new state full of hope and bright prospects was born. Inhabited by one of the most industrious and entrepreneurial people in Nigeria, Anambra State derived her name from one of the major rivers of the state.

Twenty-three years after creation, my special thanks goes go to all those who worked hard for her creation. I thank organisations and individuals which and who have continued to work assiduously for the progress and development of the state. I particularly thank the Elders, Advisory Council, the Traditional Rulers' Council and Association of Town Unions, ASATU.

At inception, the state was administered by Joseph Abulu, a Navy Captain, who was on the saddle until December 1991. He was succeeded by an elected civilian governor, Dr. Chuwkuemeka Ezeife, who governed from January 2, 1992:to November 18, 1993 - when his government was truncated by a military takeover. Consequently, Colonel Mike Attah became the military administrator from December 13, 1993 to August 20, 1996. He was succeeded by another military governor in the person of Wing Commander Emmanuel Ukaegbu, who held sway from August 10, 1998 to May 29, 1999.

It was at this time that Nigeria transited once more from military to democratic governance with Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju becoming the state's first elected governor in the Fourth Republic. His regime lasted from May 29, 1999 to May 28, 2003.

Then came what was supposed to be another bold step in the country's democratic journey, when elections were held throughout the country to elect another set of civilian leaders. At this point, it was clear to everybody that something had gone wrong. Anambra State was lagging behind most states of the Federation in the performance indices of good governance and development. That was when I decided to come out from the secure and organised private sector to delve into the murky waters of politics with all its uncertainties. Driven by a burning zeal for a corrective mission after my experience at Kellogg Graduate School, North Western University, USA and observing the obvious decay in the politics of our dear state, I could neither say "No" to myself nor to the desire of our people for change.

I contested for the position of governor on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. Following an extensive issue-based campaign that was acclaimed as unprecedented, I was overwhelmingly endorsed by the electorate to govern the state. Regrettably, that unflinching verdict of the people was thwarted by anti-democratic elements, who declared another candidate the winner of that election.

Rather than give up and surrender to fate or resort to violence, I saw the journey as part of my raison d'être for being in politics and therefore a challenge to be confronted. I initiated proceedings at the Election Petition Tribunal, where I eventually reclaimed my stolen mandate after three grueling years of political and forensic battles. The verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal was subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME A SITTING GOVERNOR WOULD BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE BY A LITIGANT.

However, I was barely seven months into office when the same anti-democratic forces struck again and illegally impeached me. Part of the reasons adduced for my illegal impeachment was that I was frugal in pruning the cost of governance by reducing previously hyper inflated cost for the building of the Government House and Governor's Lodge burnt by the same undemocratic forces. Interestingly, reducing cost of governance and efficient management of resources, which contributed to my jungle impeachment, formed the need for my involvement in politics. Was it then time to say "Enough" is enough and pack my things and go?

AGAIN I RETURNED TO THE COURT AND MADE HISTORY ONCE MORE AS THE FIRST GOVERNOR IN NIGERIA TO UP-TURN AN IMPEACHMENT.

Incidentally, the state had suffered another setback in her deployment journey as the midnight impeachment came just as I was fashioning out a blueprint for her restructuring.

Having come back from the illegal impeachment, I was confronted by yet another obstacle. This time, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the body charged with conducting elections in Nigeria, wrongly ordered the conduct of gubernatorial election in Anambra State, despite the constitutional provision that any person elected as governor has a four-year tenure, which begins from the day he takes the Oath of office. Worse still, I was even excluded from contesting this controversial election for fear I would win.

Eventually, somebody was declared winner. This forced me to vacate office on May 29, 2007. I once more returned to the courts and doggedly pursued the case from the High Court to the Supreme Court, while the public doubted the validity of my conviction. Again I won.

THIS CASE CHANGED THE TIMETABLE FOR THE CONDUCT OF GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA, AS I WAS REINSTATED ON JUNE 15, 2007...17 DAYS AFTER BEING FORCED OUT OF OFFICE.

This judgement opened the doors for some other governors to benefit from similar situations. Such governors include: Adams Oshiomhole, Olusegun Mimiko, Rauf Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi, Liyel Imoke, among others.

However, despite returning to office, my troubles were far from being over, with a State House of Assembly that was made up of 100 percent members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. By the time I was able to make them see reason and key into my people-oriented programmes, 2007 had already gone. Suffice it to say that while I was sworn in on the 17th of March, 2006, my actual service to the state started in 2008. The 2008 budget was thus first budget that I presented to the House of Assembly as governor. It was based on the vision of achieving the Millennium Development Goals by year 2015 as stipulated by the United Nations during the Millennium Development Summit in the year 2000.

The strategy for achieving this was christened Anambra Integrated Development Strategy, ANIDS, which is a process for planning, budgeting and implementing all sectors of the Millennium Development Goals simultaneously. Hence, the budget of 2008 was tagged 'Budget of Integrated Development', which was principally anchored on the need to turn Anambra State around and commence visible and sustainable development that would permeate all sectors. Thus, today, ANIDS has transformed Anambra State and made it a destination for donor agencies/development partners.

As part of our strategy, we turned our planning/budgeting and implemention from being supply-driven to demand-driven, by involving all stakeholders in planning, budgeting and implemention process. A good case in point is the incorporation of Presidents-General of town unions in the process of governance as experimental 4th tier of Government - an innovation that is fast gaining popular acceptance. It is noteworthy that ANIDS and the sectoral programmes that it contains were borne out of the needs of all stakeholders expressed during the 2008 Budget Presentation and Implemention Workshop sponsored by the European Union. Since then, the state has never been the same again as it turned from a pariah status to a state everybody and group wants to associate with.

Some of the results of this vision can today be seen in the well-articulated and strategised road construction programme that has made Anambra one of the states with the best road network in the country. It can be seen in the revitalisation of such critical sectors as health, education, commerce and industry, institutions of government, sports, to mention but a few.

It was also in tandem with such vision that, for the first time, Structure Plans were produced for Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi by the UN-HABITAT for the all-round development of the state by my administration.

Today, Anambra State has shown that, with a clear vision, proper planning and frugal management of resources, a lot can be achieved. Any wonder that Anambra has fittingly turned from being 'Home for All' manner of people to THE LIGHT OF THE NATION.

As the light has started shinning, I urge all of you, great people of Anambra State, to make it shine brighter by being committed to the state.

Signed:

Peter Obi, CON,
Governor of Anambra State.

Dear Obedient Party members, please share, share and share.

From tomorrow, the World will start seeing most of what this great man did for the state, Sector by Sector.

#WeAreThePeople
#WeAreTheStructure

Thanks Zubby and Subsea.

God bless you both. Amen.

By Chukwudịmma Aaron-Okonkwọ

First and foremost, it is imperative for me to give credit to the Ikemba of Nnewi on whose book, "Because I am involved" I came across the five words: 'What we have we have' that I have used as a title for this piece. May the bravest soul of the former Biafran warlord continue to rest in peace. Iseee.

Since the past seven years when President Muhammadu Buhari took over the administrative affairs of the nation from HE Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, every social and economic life of our people have continued to take a dramatic change in a retrogressive manner. It is befuddling whether or not we have had it this bad. No! Actually, it is worst. I ask, therefore, have we really had it this worst since Nigeria achieved an independence?

Under the very nose of this current administration, thousands of innocent citizens have been murdered and the perpetrators of the deadly crime are not being apprehended; the price of both perishable and non-perishable items on our markets have skyrocketed to an all time high that our fellow citizens who hitherto could barely afford three square meals a day now stay up to two days without food in their stomachs.

Under the 'unaware' leadership of our former military head of state, businesses both startups and existing ones can barely survive their operations in the country - many businesses have packed up while some others remains at the verge of collapsing; employees salaries are being slashed and our pensioners too cannot access their pensions because the machineries of government have pocketed the funds.

Under the lackadaisical attitude of a government that promises its citizens change, millions of our students across federal universities are sitting idle at home today, yet we see the people who are supposed to bring an end to the prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU dancing "Awilo" with the future of our tomorrow's leaders.

Instead of instituting a policy that could put a stop to the senseless killings of our fellow citizens, we are inundated with ludicrous message that the President has expressed shock. Rather than encourage our law enforcement agents to embark on investigations that can lead to the arrest of perpetrators who commit the dastardly acts, we are queried to answer "where are the cows?"

Rather than initiate economic policies that could lead to the stoppage of our over-dependent of importation/consumption and encourage exportation/production, we are ridiculed that "corruption is fighting back". Instead of advising that civil servants, workers and pensioners deserve their pay conformably, we are made to see that N75 million naira can be disbursed to compensate victims of a massacre.

Instead of putting an end to the prolonged ASUU strike so that students could resume their academic activities, we are glaringly shown that N100 million naira can be afforded for presidential nomination forms.

By the way, how could an expression of shock bring back the dead to life and or put a lasting solution to the insecurity situation bedevilling our dear nation? How will the 'where are the cows' of a mischievous question put an end to the condemnable activities of the bandits?

Will blaming the past administration automatically adjust our economic quagmire for good? Is it morally and lawfully right for those who are cabinet members of our current government to come forward with N100 million naira and purchase ambition forms while our university students helplessly sit at home?

For how long are we, as a people, going to tolerate such behaviours from our so-called leaders?

For so long a time, we have been yearning for an ideological revolution - an overhaul of Nigerian politics. And now that we are bequeathed with the golden opportunity of this new ideological revolution through the emergence of the former governor of Anambra State, HE Mr Peter Obi, we need to develop a new behavioral pattern that is appropriate to it.

To chart our path in Nigerian politics, we should grab with both hands, the rare opportunity that this ideological revolution is offering us today. Because as we are dodging political isolation that lead to the invention of this ideological revolution, we must do well to avoid defeat. This time we must win!

In the next eight or nine months, you and I will be called upon to make a choice. And our expected duty by that time is clear - to elect leaders. In deciding on such a choice, we have to ensure that we elect at all levels men and women capable of protecting our true interests. We have to return, both at the executive and legislative levels, a man or a woman that can best assist us to secure our best interests.

Politics is an art of numbers, which in our democratic setting, only a candidate with the highest number counts is declared a winner. Would we, dear fellow citizens, therefore continue to allow those who are incapable of protecting our true interests to be declared winners?

For us to ensure that whoever represent us and at what level gets the requisite numbers to emerge victorious in the forthcoming electoral contest, I am urging everyone of us to participate in the voting exercise.

We must all take part in the new political order which, by the emergence of HE Mr Peter Obi as an aspirant and common interest of most Nigerians across ethnicity, has been set up in order to re-engineer our focus of transformational governance. It is the sincerity and cooperation we engage in working for the emergence of a people-oriented leadership that will provide the ultimate proof that we are truly committed to restoring the nation's pride as the 'Giant of Africa'.

We owe it as a duty to not only ourselves, but also to our generations yet unborn to participate fully in Nigeria elections and cast our votes for competent leaders to emerge.

In participating also, we must participate in such a manner as to demonstrate that the power of the common masses is truly greater than the rulers in power; in such a way that truly explains democracy as the supremacy of the masses. We must demonstrate in concrete protest to those old cargoes that we have forever parted with the sentiments of vote-buying and vote rigging. If we fail to perform in this new development, we will continue to be ruled by those who have nothing to offer in advancing our common interests for greater national development.

Developing a new behavioral pattern that is appropriate to this new ideological revolution includes picking our unpicked Permanent Voters Cards, PVC from INEC offices, transferring our PVC to a location near us, persuading and encouraging the stubborn ones to have a change of mind this time around and on the day of the elections, make sure that we drag our whole household that are eligible to vote to the polling booths to cast their votes.

And that vote must not be wasted, but carefully casted for Eze Igbo Gburugburu's last wish: Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate!

Ndi Igbo, Nigerians, in Okwute - HE Peter Obi, we have a leadership that will serve our common interests first. In him, we have a leadership that will ensure fairness and equity to all the ethnicity issues in the country. In the Agulu-born politician, we have a leader who will attract the right kind of foreign investments that shall get us out of the present economic quagmire.

In the former governor of Anambra State, we have a leader who will execute the right kind of beneficial policies that shall better our living conditions. In him we have a leader who must be fanatical for the people's welfare. His administration shall symbolize good government.

Arguably, our dear country seems to have failed. What she needs now, like never ever, are productions and savings and HE Peter Obi was quick to identify these solutions.

But, remember, our success for these solutions depends on you and I. Get your PVC and do the needful.

By Chukwudịmma Aaron-Okonkwọ

Since the former governor of Anambra State, HE Mr Peter Obi, emerged the presidential candidate of Labour Party for the 2023 general presidential election, many supporters of the main opposition parties have not ceased from lampooning him. From the ridicules that Labour Party has no structures across the nation to the mockery that he is a stingy person, the attacks flows freely unabated.

Some of my close friends, worried by the issue of no structure, had to reach my inbox to express their deep concerns. And as should be expected, I advised them not to worry over such claims because they hold no water. I backed my persuasive advice with points worthy of note.

The man of the moment - Mr Peter Obi that is - became the governor of Anambra State through a relatively new and unpopular political party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA at a time when his dear home state is in dire need of transformative governance. 'Is Anambra cursed or are we the curse?' was the question he came forward with. Then, he added to his slogan, 'If you love Anambra State, say YES to Mr Peter Obi'. The rest today is history as to how he leaved his talk. He does what he says!

He did not stop there. He went around every nook and cranny of the state, meeting the grassroots and sharing leaflets by himself. And when the election came, his party that barely had any structure across the state at the time won the gubernatorial elections. Upon that his mandate was stolen, he went to challenge it at the court and won.

He assumed office with visionary leadership, transforming the state's socioeconomic aspect with the implementation of United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, SDG in what is known as Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy, ANIDS.

ANIDS was simply a structural framework his administration as governor used to develop every area of Anambra simultaneously. Thus, no part of the state was left unattended to. He covered every town of the state with provision of social amenities and necessary infrastructures. This is Peter Obi!

Now a Presidential candidate with Labour Party; a party presumed to have no structures, is this same visionary leader loved by many Nigerians going to make history once again in 2023? This seems to be the fear shivering the main opposition parties, hence, the needless unabated attacks and propaganda being meted against him on daily basis.

Perhaps, Mr Mike Asukwo, a veteran cartoonist was right when he realized that what the mercenaries of the opposition meant by 'structure' lacked by the LP is 'Stomach infraSTRUCTURE'; a structure by which food items are shared to voters/electorates in return for a vote at the polling units.

Whatever the case may be, whoever is afraid of the Labour Party presidential candidate should know that there is no stopping a revolutionary movement whose time has come.

In my recent article entitled, "Ndi Igbo, What We Have We Have", I explained that we are currently experiencing an ideological revolution; one that have never been experienced in our dear country before.

As necessity is the mother of invention, our dear fellow country men, women, and youths who have suffered excruciatingly unbearable anguish of hunger are the ones championing this revolution. They champion it because they are so tired of the status quo of consumption economy. They champion it because we need to take back our country from the hands of those that are toying with it.

Revolution is an extreme change that can have a far-reaching effect on the citizens of any country. And for us Nigerians, this ideological revolution is birthed on the need to effect a change in our body politic; the need to effect a transformation on the socioeconomic and political conditions of our dear nation.

Therefore, this current wave of ideological revolution we are experiencing in dear country sparked by the entrance of Mr Peter Obi as a presidential candidate is being motivated by the burning desire to have a production economy.

Russia and China became what they are today because their respective citizens staged a revolution in 1917 and 1949 respectively. The result of that revolution in Russia was a change of government from constitutional monarchy under the Tsars to Marxist-Leninst state under the Bolsheniks and Vladimir Lenin who transferred means of production from private owners to government.

The Chinese, on the other hand, went from military dictatorship by Chiang Kai-shak and his Knomintang (KMT) nationalist party to a Marxist-Leninst state under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) marking a shift in social power to the peasantry.

And both of these events involved massive upheavals in government and socio-economic class structures.

For us in Nigeria, the self-acclaimed Giant of Africa, the time is auspicious for us to reset the ugly system that rigs against us, the common masses and the collective future of our nation.

It has became the high time that our infrastructure and security must be prioritized, and a proactive person like the two-term former governor of Anambra State is most suitable to deliver this new systematic development for our good.

For good sixteen years since we transitioned from military rule to a civilian government, we had the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP administer governance and then came the All Progressives Congress, APC with the mantra of change running for disastrous eight years.

Altogether, in twenty-four years since we began the fourth republic, we have been dwelling heavily on importation of what we have the resources to produce in the country. This has to stop!

It is the time for us to have a change in government very different from the two main parties that have ruled our country for over two decades. And we can only effect this change through the platform of a hitherto unpopular political party.

For Nigeria to mark a shift in social power, we should transit from the APC to Labour Party, LP. And when that is done, the labour of our heroes past is justified not to be in vain.

For our economy to effectively transform from consumption to production economy, it takes a massive upheaval in government and socio-economic class structures.

The reason why our graduated engineers became skit makers for Facebook is because there is dearth of industries in the country. The reason why our graduated scientists became tweakers - dancing away their waist on Instagram is because there is dearth of research facilities in the country. The reason why our unemployed peoples became pundits for Twitter is because investors have relocated to other countries. So much more.

It is therefore imperative to make provisions for our graduated Engineers, Nurses, Doctors, Agriculturists etc. to be genuinely employed and it is only a government brought in through a revolution that can offer us this transformational policy.

We must force the government to create an enabling environment for job opportunities that can employ our teeming number of unemployed youths and that's what Peter Obi's government is set to offer us, Nigerians.

China produces 800, 000 new engineers every year and despite that, they have adequate provisions as per employment opportunities for their Engineers; they export the surplus to countries such as ours, and amass diaspora remittance.

Our roads are built by Chinese engineers. Isn't it a beautiful colours of shame that foreigners are taking up job opportunities that our own graduated Engineers are supposed to take? This nonsense must stop, and it is high time it stopped!

Anambra State with a New Slogan:The Plight of the Nation (2)

By Chukwudimma Aaron-Okonkwo

15. The administration of HE Willie Obiano (Akpọkuodike) that inherited a whooping 75 Billion naira has not been able to give the State her much desired developmental expectations. In the area of infrastructure for instance, Ọka (Awka) metropolis is littered with many portions of dilapidated roads. Some towns like Igboukwu and Ihiala have roads that are seriously begging the attention of the state government for rehabilitation.

16. What about the numerous deadly erosion sites that are tearing communities apart? Notwithstanding the fact that he has recorded some credit in the area of streetlights, many a town are yet to get their fair share. So that crimes of all sorts still prevail in such communities at night.

17. While we must give this administration credit for upholding security as well as prompt payment of salary to workers during first term, we won't shy away from calling their attention to the path of failure they have chosen to tread, especially since the second term began.

18. Let truth be told. Akpọkuodike's administration has not done well for the State in terms of infrastructural development, educational development, financial management and health care management considering what they inherited from inception.

19. On a daily basis, the State treasury is being drained for frivolities. The generated internal revenues are being siphoned into private pockets. Federal allocations, as well as security votes for the State are appropriately looted and further used to pay social media urchins who do more harm than good to our image with the spread of falsehoods. "Willie is Working" has been the jingle order of the day!

20. Only uncritical minds will believe the popular, but fallacious phrase of "Willie is working". But of course, Willie is working very hard in spreading lies and falsehoods. Willie is working very hard in squandering the enormous treasury of my dear home State. Willie is working very hard in signing white elephant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Willie is working extremely hard in looting what is left of the State assets kpamkpam kpamkpam!

21. Do not make mistake of falling into the deceit system that Willie is working toward the betterment of 'The Light of The Nation'. He has rather been working toward selling the assets of the hitherto "Home for All". Our ever working Willie have only succeeded in making our dear State 'The Plight of The Nation'!

22. Akpọkuodike's administration is yet to sow good seeds for the future. They are only reaping all that was sown by the preceding administrations. Now that the billions of naira HE Peter Obi handed over to him has been squandered, then denied, he is now concerned with selling off the Commissioners Quarters built by HE Chinweoke Mbadinuju. And if we don't join hands to stop this Aguleri man now, he will prepare to sell off the many roads constructed by HE Chris Ngige, or the ones added by HE Peter Obi!

23. Obiano's administration has been deceiving us all along! First, they started the game of chicanery with vegetable export. If truly they were exporting ụgụ and onugbu vegetables to Europe while claiming also that we have enough of such vegetables in Anambra for both local consumption and export, why don't they continue the lucrative business thereby generating more foreign exchange earnings for the State development?

24. What about attracting investors to the State for the establishment of industries that could serve for the employment of labour, thereby alleviating the high rate of unemployment in the State?

25. Since they have no tangible projects now with which to campaign during the upcoming electioneering campaigns, they quickly resorted to building airport. I heard one of his hallelujah boys the other day trying to deceive our people that the airport project is now at the finishing stage.

26. His paid miscreants are all over social media defending him, lying more than the devil, raining insults and curses on anyone that challenges the bad developments going on. I make bold to say that the situation is that enormously bad and very pathetic!

27. Ndi Anambra, HE Willie Obiano emego anyị ife. O tego anyị ose n'anya. Mana ọzọ emena. Ọzọ emezina!

28. We have to change the narrative, dear good people of Anambra. We have to stop the likes of Willie Obiano from occupying Agụ Ọka (Awka) forthwith. It is time. For the greater development of our dear State, we must remove the clothes of sentiment and socks of bias that some of us are wearing. We must replace such wears with clothes of sincerity and solidarity respectively for the betterment of the State.

29. Anambra bụ nke anyị. Obodo anyị abụghị nke Willie na ndị otu ya. Oge erugo ka anyị napụta Anambra n'aka Willie na ndị otu ya, ma were zie ya tinye n'aka onye dị mma ịme ka obodo anyị na-asa ọkụ kwa ụbọchị.

30. I wonder what we gain by spreading falsehood in defending this administration that is hell bent on draining our hard earned assets to the last drop.

31. Ndi Anambra, greater development and world class transformation for our dear State lies in our own hands. Let's not misuse our hands for it. It is now time for us to thoroughly scrutinise the aspirants, then candidates jostling for the governorship position and elect a time-tested candidate at the polls in November.

32. Working toward restoring our lost glory from "The Plight of the Nation" to "The Light of the Nation" starts now through a rejection process. Yes, we must reject unachievable promises that are about to fly around from sugar coated political mouths during electioneering campaigns.

33. Dalụ nụ!

Anambra State with a new slogan: The Plight Of The Nation (1)

By Chukwudimma Aaron-Okonkwo

1. It was during the administration of HE Dr Chinweoke Mbadinuju that Anambra State had the slogan, "Home for All". As welcoming as the slogan portrayed early on, it was later seen as a bad omen for the State owing to the rate of crimes rampant in Anambra at the time. And so, it was later changed by the administration of HE Mr Peter Obi upon assumption of office.

2. HE Dr Mbadinuju (Odera) inherited the affairs of the State from a military administration in 1999 with no money in the State treasury. From the little finance he was able to muscle out for the development of the State, he established and built institutions among which are: Government House, Governor's Lodge, State University in Uli, Commissioner's Quarters, Women Development Centre, Judiciary Headquarters, Anambra State Boardcasting House (ABS) to mention but a few.

3. The infrastructures Odera established were topnotch such that President Obasanjo marveled at them when he visited the State. He gave Odera A-plus in infrastructure development.

4. However, as much as Odera did his best to develop the State with meagre funds available to him, his only sin which our people used to measure his administration as a failed one was non-payment of teachers' salaries for a long period of time, inclusive of non-payment of pension and gratuities. Also, schools were closed down for longer months. Insecurity reigned supreme too. However, he was able to curtail the insecurity situation of the State to a lesser extent through the establishment of the State Vigilante Group also known as Bakassi Boys. He earned a B pass mark on Peace and Security.

5. Regarding non-payment of salary, what most of us failed to understand in this regard is that Odera's administration actually paid salary. He inherited four months salary owed workers by the military administration and cleared it and then began payment of Christmas bonus to workers. As for pension, the truth of the matter is that, there was no money budgeted for pension in Abuja and sent to Anambra. So, how do people expect him to pay pensions when there is no money available for such?

6. In consequence, the administration of HE Mr Peter Obi had to change the State slogan from "Home for All" to "The Light of the Nation".

7. The new slogan struck appropriately for so many reasons. First, the landmark judgement that was bequeathed him, HE Obi by the supreme Court, wherein he recovered his mandate as the elected governor of the State after about two years of intense legal battle, was second to none. So that, Anambra became the first state where such happened, as equally affected politicians from other states followed and till date, still follow the "light". Again, the administration of HE Peter Obi (Okwute) continued from where his predecessors, especially HE Mbadinuju and HE Chris Ngige, stopped.

8. HE Peter Obi's administration embarked on upgrading and equally rehabilitating the existing state institutions. Those were such institutions built from scratch by the Mbadinuju administration as well as those initiated and left uncompleted by the Ngige administration.

9. Okwute, of course, did not stop there. He went further to establishing more institutions for the State; example, the Igbariam Campus of the State University and the raising of the then moribund Amaku Hospital to what it is today, a befitting and or comparatively well equipped Teaching Hospital. He went further to attracting institutions for the State; example, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). He returned most schools to their original owners, went further to equipping the schools with all necessary equipment for learning and educational development. Anambra was topping WAEC and NECO rankings as first positions back to back.

10. During HE Obi's administration, all sectors in the State were developed simultaneously via Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS). Thus, no single sector in the State was left undeveloped. Dilapidated roads were aggressively rehabilitated. New roads were opened, constructed and completed. Anambra become known as the State with the largest and best road network in Nigeria.

11. Furthermore, local and international investors were invited, or better put, were attracted to invest in Anambra. International aid agencies were approached for developmental grants, they granted.

12. So much for "The Light of the Nation" during the administrations preceding the current administration that has turned the State into "The Plight of the Nation"!

13. Yes, it is a pain in the heart that HE Willie M. Obiano has turned my dear State into a pathetic condition. He has wrecked havoc in the State! The State which hitherto boasts of over #75 billion naira painstakingly saved for her by the Okwute administration has now been plugged into over #200 billion naira indebtedness.

14. As I write this, this current administration is about to sell off some of these infrastructures built by the previous administrations, precisely the Commissioners Quarters and State Government buildings located in Enugwu. All is just for continuous looting of the State assets. How my dear State is now being made a laughing stock is not funny at all.

...to be continued in Part Two. Watch out tomorrow.

Please anyone from Ogoja should kindly reply me. I need some information. Thanks.

By Chukwudimma Aaron-Okonkwo

Ever ranked number one in an alphabetical order among the list of 36 States and 1 Federal capital territory that constitute Nigeria, Abia State is in danger as regards to the management of her finances and revenue generations. This danger signal is already a bad omen for the State. Unless, the good citizens of Abia State gather up their strengths to fight against this danger, the elements of bad governance will forever overlap the State. The citizens have the fundamental right to protest; because it is their money that is being toyed with. The citizens have absolute fundamental right to demand transparency and accountability from its government; because they are the employers.

The earlier the good people of Abia State takes the bull by the horns to demand transparency and accountability from the government, the better. The later the people begins to demand it, the worse! As they said, delay is dangerous. In fact, civil servants and pensioners are not being paid their monthly salaries and allowances respectively; because we, as a people being governed, have been too reluctant to challenge the government. The development of infrastructures -- roads, bridges, buildings -- are in a complete state of abandonment today; because we have been too lenient with the government.

Of truism, God's own State of Abia has the potential to generate over five billion naira (#5billion) every month. But since we have a government that love cooking lies for us all to swallow, this amount (#5bn) may seem quite exaggerated. Believe you me, it is neither an exaggeration nor a bluff. It's a clear fact!

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data for quarter one (Q1) and quarter two (Q2) of 2019, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Abia State is a total sum of seven billion, nine hundred and twelve million, five hundred and ninety-six thousand, three hundred and thirty-two naira, zero five kobo (#7, 912,596,332.05). Anyone that hears this figure to believe that the State did not generate more than #7.9 billion naira from January to March (Q1) and April to June (Q2) will indeed believe anything! Look, the money is a meagre and thus, an indication that there is a loophole on the revenue collection in Abia State. Without any doubt, the State generated more than #7.9 billion naira in the first six months of the year. We must, therefore, refuse to eat the bloody lies cooked by the government that she generated a monthly average of #1.3 billion naira between January and June, 2019!

It is, nevertheless, pertinent at this juncture to show us how Abia State generates her revenue. First, there are two forms of revenue generation to State government namely; Externally Generated and Internally Generated Revenues. The Externally Generated Revenue (EGR) are revenues sourced from the Federation account, donations from Individual/Corporate bodies, Foreign grants and aids etc. On the other hand, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) are those that are sourced mainly from taxes and licenses within the State. In consequence, IGR is a monthly revenue generated from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), Direct Assessment (DA),Motor Vehicle Taxes (MVT) and Capital Gain Taxes (CGT).

Furthermore, MDAs revenue are revenues generated by the various institutions of the State government in the course of providing administrative services to residents in the State. There are about 27 Ministries, 7 Departments and 36 Agencies. This is altogether a total of seventy (70) MDAs in Abia State. As for PAYE; it is a form of personal income tax, and this refers to tax deducted directly from the wages and salaries of employees working in the formal sector of the State. We are talking of civil servants and government appointees here. While the civil servants amount to approximately sixty-five thousand (65,000) in Abia State, the government appointees are over a thousand in number!

The Direct Assessment, in consequence, is a form of personal income tax used to asses tax for self-employed individuals. Also, it relates to those imposed on businesses especially informal by the State authorities based on the size of their activities. According to NBS bulletin of July, 2010, Abia State has a total of 1,765,008 million informal workers. Of this figure, 958,186 were males while the remaining 806,822 were females.

Following this, Motor Vehicle Taxes refers to those road levies that are paid by tricycle operators (Keke riders), bus drivers, taxi drivers, motorcycle operators (Okada riders), and wheel barrow pushers. Statistically, Abia State has about 200,000 commercial transport operators. Those operators purchase about five emblems every year aside daily extortions from them in the name of tickets.

Capital Gain Taxes are various taxes such as land registration, and other related fees, development levies on individuals and market traders, pool betting/lottery/gaming fees, stamp duties and so on and so forth. Think of the popular Ariaria International Market alone and imagine the number of lockup shops there. Like Ariaria, there are, of course, many other markets not to mention stores in residential buildings and kiosks in the motor parks.

Now, let us critically analyze the breakdown of a total sum of #7.9 billion naira generated by the State for six months.

a) MDAs generated three billion, eighty-seven million, twenty-seven thousand, seven hundred and sixty-one naira, twenty-eight kobo (#3, 087,027,761.28) . This is a monthly average generation of five hundred and thirteen million naira (#513 million) from 70 MDAs. Jehovah Jireh! For a fact, Abia State University, Uturu alone is capable of generating this meagre #513m for the State. So how come a whole 70 MDAs returns this small amount to the State coffers every month?

b) PAYE generated three billion, seven hundred and eighty-seven million, five hundred and ninety-one thousand, seven hundred and eighty-seven naira, eleven kobo (#3, 787,591,787.11). This is a monthly average of #616.6 million naira for a government whose total workforce is over 65,000. If this monthly #616.6m is not a meagre sum, what do we called it?

c) Direct Assessment generated one hundred and seventy-seven million, three hundred and three thousand, eighty hundred and thirty-one naira, thirty-six kobo (#177, 303,831.36); a monthly average of 29.5 million naira for a State that has one million, seven hundred and sixty-five thousand, and eight (1,765,008) informal workers according to NBS bulletin of July, 2010. How come that a meagre #29.5 million is returned to the government every month when it is visible to the blind and logical to the mad that the State Government is capable of generating a monthly sum of #1, 765,008,000 (#1.7 billion) taxing each informal worker #1,000? However, for a fact, each informal worker pays over #1,000 to the government on monthly basis. Please, calculate again.

d) Motor Vehicle Taxes generated one hundred and thirty million, six hundred and thirteen thousand, three hundred and ninety-four naira, fifty-one kobo. (#130, 613,394.51) indicating a monthly average of #21.7 million naira. What does the government took the people for when arriving at this figure? How is it that over 200 commercial transport operators in the State that purchases five emblems and numerous daily tickets could return #21.7m monthly to the State government coffers?

e) Capital Gain Taxes generated the sum of seven hundred and thirty million, fifty-nine thousand, five hundred and fifty-seven naira, seventy-nine kobo (#730, 059,557.79) representing a monthly generation of #121.6 million naira for the State. Suffice to mention that, aside arbitrary charges in the name of levy on market traders, buyers, etc, lockup shop owners pays a monthly levy of #2, 000 and #1, 800 for infrastructure and local government respectively.

Fellow compatriot, ever wondered how come some individuals in government became billionaires in just few years upon assumption of office? Ever wondered how come we have the highest number of sycophants amidst bad governance in Abia State today? Wonder no more for only the truth can heal a conscience.

If this State whose position is number one among the list of Nigerian States had taken bold approach to close up loopholes in her revenue generation, she would have been ranking among the top four IGR generators today. Sadly, as the reverse is the case, she is shamelessly ranking 22nd position. Truly, if Abia State had been able to effectively and efficiently manage her IGR, Delta State (#36.6 bn), Ogun State (#29.5bn), Kaduna (#22.4bn) and Ákwá Ibom (#20.bn) which are among the top IGR generators would not have better IGR than her.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State - created on October, 1996 from part of Abia (and Enugwu) - is ranking behind Abia at position 25th with an IGR of #6.07 billion naira yet smiling richly with long lasting developments. Is it not an irony that this same Ebonyi has transformed into a world class destination of choice for investors, while Abia that has higher IGR than her cannot boast of any good infrastructural development that will attract investors? Today in Ebonyi State, a world class international Airport is being built, while Abia State finds solace that a good project was done at Enyimba International Stadium, Aba. Today in Ebonyi State, Governor Umahi completed and commissioned world class bridges, while Abia State is crawling with construction of an interchange nicknamed Centre Table at Osisioma junction. In the same Ebonyi State today are good motorable roads constructed within the last five years, while Abia whose roads have totally collapsed is shamelessly telling the world that mmiri na-ezo (it is raining). Sad!

Is there any hope of improving the IGR of Abia State; in order to service her domestic and external loan? Let's look ahead.

#AbiaIGRLoopholes

30.10.2019

God bless you

By Chukwudimma Aaron-Okonkwo


Ever since I grew into adulthood, I had, and have always reiterate that women are more potent compared to men. Women are more powerful than men in all ramifications of life. They have the human power to do and undo. They also have the human power to create and to destroy. Women's power must not be underestimated or taken for granted; because, in so doing, one may not live to tell the consequences.

Although, the Holy Scripture proclaimed women to be weaker vessels; this can be true only when it refers to their physical appearance. But deep down within a woman, she is not a weaker vessel. Women are strong creatures with intense feelings of getting whatever they want. No powerful man on earth can withstand the power of a woman. A woman's power always comes out victorious wherever it wrestles with a man's own. Various examples abound to justify this assertion.

In the Holy Scripture, for instance, a great man named Samson was lured to his early grave by a woman. Actually, more than two women messed up his life. The first woman, an anonymous Philistine, used her tears --woman's most powerful weapon --to get Samson yield to her demand. She wept for straight seven days before Samson yielded! Here, it happened that, Samson posed a riddle to the Philistines during a feast to marry one of their women. When the Philistines couldn't figure out the riddle, felt embarrassed and perturbed, they decided to use their woman whom Samson came to marry to get the riddle. They issued statement of threat to the woman. They threatened her to entice Samson, her husband, that he may tell them the riddle or else they will burn her and her father's properties with fire. Twenty years later, Samson met another woman called Delilah. Delilah used the power of persuasive words --another women's weapon to get Samson succumb to her request. She requested him to tell her where his great strength lies and how he may be bound to afflict him. Samson, of course, took clever possibilities on the woman. But Delilah was determined until finally Samson had to reveal the secret of his great strength to her.

In November, 1929, an event that later culminated into what is known today as Aba women riot was initiated. The action began when a woman named Nwanyiriuwa; a traditional nurse who applied her powerful weapon as a woman. She used her power effectively. It was after she had won a protest against the policy of the then British Colonial Government that other women across the South East and some part of South South discovered theirs and followed suit.

On 18th November, 1929 in a village called Ụmụngboro, Oloko in present day Ikwuanọ Local Government Area of Abia State, the Acting District Officer named Captain John Cook upon taking over duties of the Bende division temporarily from Mr. Weir; a serving officer until the return of the District Officer, Captain J N Hill who were on leave, decided to revise the existing roll because he had deemed the originally stated rolls for Taxation insufficient as they did not include details of a number of wives, children and domestic animals in every household. Hence, he mandated the Warrant Chiefs to do census for the purpose of Taxation. Upon this mandate, the Warrant Chief of Oloko named Chief Okeugo engaged the services of a former school teacher and court clerk, Mr. Mark Emeruwa to conduct census of people and animals in Oloko.

While carrying out this order from the Warrant Chief, Mr. Emeruwa entered the compound of Mazi Ojim; a prominent man and Nwanyiriuwa's husband to do his job. He met Nwanyiriuwa and instructed her to count her family and domestic animals, and revert to him. Embittered by this, Nwanyiriuwa challenged him instantly. She, like the other women of the community, could not fathom why women should be made to pay tax as taxing women is not supposed to be obtainable in any Igbo society.

Meanwhile, Mr. Emeruwa who did not expect such reactions from Nwanyiriuwa had assumed that all the women shall comply with his directives as a representative of the almighty Warrant Chief. But how unfortunately wrong he was!

"Was your widowed mother counted?" Nwanyiriuwa queried him. This query got Emeruwa provoked that he had to seize her by the throat. Trust a woman, Nwanyiriuwa retaliated! Her cry for help alarmed the neighborhood. People came and separated the fighting duo. Subsequently, all women of Oloko and other villages gathered at the town square to hear Nwanyiriuwa's story. Nwanyiriuwa's story prompted the women of Oloko to invite their sisters from the neigbouring villages within Bende district. The invitation was done with the aid of palm leaves. The women were ten thousand in number and hence, appointed three women leaders namely Ikonnia, Nwugo and Nwannediya to for proper coordination and able leadership. They had to protest against taxation on women. And they were unanimous! The question on their lips was, "How could women who have no means themselves to buy food or clothing afford to pay tax?" They have no problem with taxing men, but to tax the women must be a big no no. So, they had to begin a protest against it. The news, meanwhile, spread like a wild fire.

And unknown to them, what history is known today as Aba women riot was about to begin.

Armed with palm fronds and leafy branches, the women trooped out to the streets chanting songs of sorrow and woes.

They went to Emeruwa's house and shouted on him, "Come out, Emeruwa come out!" As Emeruwa refused coming out, the women proceeded to sit on him. Some of the women proceeded to the Warrant Chief's residence. While the Warrant Chief had heard what happened to Emeruwa, he barricaded himself indoors before the protesting women arrived. As the women arrived his residence to meet all doors locked, they shouted, "Okeugo come out! Come and explain why you have ordered that women must pay tax!" Okeugo refused coming out to address them. And they proceeded to sit on him. Okeugo assumed the women would leave before midnight. How deadly wrong he was! The women had all the time in the world to sit on him. They sat on him for days. They sang, danced and shouted for two days and nights. Okeugo and his family could not come out. They were only able to peep behind closed windows and doors.

On December 2nd, 1929, Captain J N Hill, the District Officer who traveled when the crisis broke out, resumed his office. He met the rampaging women of Oloko. He was struck by the great number of the protesting women. The women were more than 10,000 strong! Although, not formally educated, the women were well informed. They knew their rights!

When the women met the District Officer, they demanded two things. One, that Okeugo be put on trial. Two, that women must not be taxed. They demanded Okeugo's cap of office. The cap of office signifies his symbol of authority. Captain Hill granted this demand by throwing Okeugo's cap to the women. But the women were not yet satisfied. They wanted Okeugo to be tried. And the District Officer realizing that nothing short of trial will pacify the women, he put Okeugo on trial in public. Okeugo was found guilty at the end of the trial. He was subsequently dethroned and stripped of his status as a Chief and sentenced to two years imprisonment.

The success of the Oloko women in removing a Warrant Chief of the British Colonial Masters galvanized the entire women of the South East and South South. They began to demand the removal of their own Warrant Chiefs! The news of the trial and imprisonment of Okeugo reached the ears of Aba women. They heard how Oloko women resisted the powers of intimidation from their oppressors. If Oloko women could challenge almighty British authority and emerge victorious, Aba women thought, they too can do it and make a name for themselves.

The District Officer of Aba woke up on the morning of December 6th, 1929 to receive information that women were marching to Aba through Ụmụahịa. This was women of the Bende division numbering over 10,000 ably led and well coordinated by Ikonnia, Nwannediya and Nwugo. Make no mistake, the women were bold and fearless. They were joined in by the women of Aba and those of other part of Igbo land. They confronted the District Officer at Aba who was shocked at the sheer number and able coordination. They were angry that direct taxation might be extended from men to women and were protesting at a collapse in the price of their palm produce when import costs were rising.

In Aba, the embers of fire lighted at Oloko village had become a huge conflagration. The protesting women marched down to the prison and freed the inmates. In the midst of the protest, a white man knocked down two women among the protesters. Ha! Hell was let loose. The action of the white man incensed the protesting women. And they advanced towards the car! The white man who was a medical doctor fled with his companion! They ran, and ran, and ran, into a building. Trust these women, they pursued the European Doctor and his companion into the building and ransacked there within seconds.

The protesting women attacked all commercial and colonial buildings that represented symbol of authority. They also looted. From the prison to the bank to the post office and down to the train station. They were gallantly unstoppable! The residents of Aba were powerless in the face of the women who were determined to remove all forms of oppression in their territory.

As a result of this attack on buildings and its looting, the uprising in Aba became named by the colonists as "Aba Women Riots" and it struck.

However, the British Colonial Administration of Sir Frederick Lugard was alarmed as the protest was no longer a riot but had became a revolution.

On December 12th, 1929, the government mobilized the Nigerian soldiers to Aba to quell the uprising. A contingent of police was also mobilized to maintain law and order. The two mobilization were not all as the Lieutenant Governor, Cyril W. Alexander also came to take control of the situation.

The women were not stopped, of course. The protest spread more like a wildfire from Aba to Owerenta (Owerri nta), Imo River, Omoba, Mbọsi (Mbawsi) and Azumini. The women of Azumini proceeded to the courthouse and set all the buildings there on fire. The Ibibio women joined too. By this time, it was no longer Aba women's riot. It had become Ọgụ Ụmụ Nwanyị (Women's War) and subsequently, bloody!

The government came to realize the enormity of what it was up against by the time the riot spread to Calabar. It became clear to the government, at this stage, that the protesting women may overtake them (the government) if drastic actions were not taken to arrest the revolution. Therefore, a platoon of soldiers waited for the women at Uyo. The soldiers drew a line in the sand with a warning to the protesting women that the line must not be crossed. Not deterred but firmly determined, the women crossed that line on the 14th of December, 1929. The police opened fire on them, killing three women instantly. The three women identified as Mary Udo Ekpo, Adiaha Umo, and Unwa Udom sadly became the first victims of the women's war.

The government was very wrong to have thought that killing three unarmed women would put a stop to the women's war. Very wrong. The women grew in number and incensed. There was another confrontation between the armed forces of the government and unarmed rural women. The greatest casualty was recorded at Opobo where in just one day, about thirty-one women and a man were killed. Altogether, fifty-three people were killed. And the riot ended in Opobo.

The Women's War which lasted for twenty-nine (29) days was thus the first major challenge to the British Authority not only in Igbo land but across West Africa. The Aba women's riot promoted the British administration of Sir F. Lugard to drop their purposed plans to impose tax on the market women, and also to curb the power of the Warrant Chiefs. Additionally, women were appointed to serve as Warrant Chiefs in certain areas.

Ninety (90) years after the first Aba Women Riot precisely on 8th October, 2019, the whole city of Aba were awaken to a protest that had an inscription: ABA WOMEN RIOT PART 2. Just like the part one of 1929 that was initiated by one woman, Nwanyiriuwa; a traditional nurse and popular figure in Oloko, this part two was initiated by a woman named Jane Ọgbaụta; a businesswoman and Founder of two Non-governmental organizations in Aba.

But there is a big difference between the two parts. While the first part was truly a riot in every aspect, the second part was not. The second part was merely a riot in name only! And Nwanyiriuwa where ever she is, would certainly be strongly displeased with the later protesters.

Led by Jane Ọgbaụta, the acclaimed part two of Aba women riot took to the streets to protest against the poor state of infrastructures especially roads in Aba. Unlike the part one of 1929 which was ignited due to a proposed taxation of women, this part two of 2019 was initiated due to bad state of roads. The protesters which were not even up to 500, unlike the part one that had over 10,000 women in number, marched to a local government Headquarters. It was Aba South Local Government Headquarters. Carrying placards and appeared in uniform wears, unlike the part one women who carried palm fronds and chanting songs of sorrow, the protesters stood at the gate of the local government building and pronounced their demands. They gave the government about 90 days to fix the problem of collapsed roads in Abia State especially Aba. And unlike the part one women protesters of Oloko who proceeded to sit on the government agents for failing to come out and address them, the part two protesters simply issued their demands and went home! Just like that.

If the recent Aba women protesters and their leader think that the government shall take them serious after they had just issued their demands and dispersed, they are mistaken big time.

The government reacted by staging a counter protest. They also released a false video, accusing the women protesters of being paid by the opposition to stage such protest. That was not all. The sycophants of the government were deployed to address Jane Ọgbaụta in a pejorative sense. The government also sent thugs led by one Chijioke Solomon to attack the women leader at her shop in Ogbor Hill. On 10th October, 2019 the thugs, numbering five, came to Jane's boutique shop to issue her threats and subsequently looted her goods in the shop.

From all indications, it is obvious that the women of Aba who recently protested against the infrastructure decay in Abia State are yet to discover their power as women. And they need to discover their power now before things get out of hand.

The women must, first of all, know their rights. Knowing their fundamental rights as citizens of Nigeria is very important in wining every oppression of the government. The women must also know how to articulate their demands. They must equally understand the essence of applying their greatest weapons in wining the battles against bad governance in their State. Without these fundamental steps, nothing tangible shall come out of their protest. Instead, the government will take absolute advantage of them.

For any Aba women protest to make greater impacts and sweep the government off its feet, they must be united with one accord and unanimous decision as did the women of Oloko. For there to be truly a part two of Aba women riot in essence and content, the number of protesters should exceed 50,000 in number! And must take days, if not, months. If Aba women in 1929 could maximize their power to challenge the government against taxing them, why cannot the present day Aba women follow suit in a better way? What has really changed about Aba women? The total collapse of infrastructures in Abia State coupled with prolonged unpaid salaries and pension allowances is enough source of anger for Aba women to stage a near revolution.



05.11.2019

By Chukwudimma Aaron-Okonkwo


In every democratic system of government, the role of the opposition is as important as the responsibilities expected from the ruling government. For without the opposition parties, the government in power will not fulfill their promises to the people. To make sure that the ruling government fulfills their electoral campaign promises for the improvement of the society is one of the functions of an opposition. Where there is no opposition party in a democracy, bad governance breeds. Therefore, opposition roles are pertinently necessary in order to ensure good governance for the betterment of the peoples.

The purpose for the necessity of an opposition is also to ensure that checks and balances are enforced against the ruling government. Where the ruling government are not checkmate, the people won't experience good dividends of democracy. So, for the ruling government to be on their toes, the opposition must up their games, reassuring the application of those checks and balances with their contribution to government policies and constructive criticisms.

Every ruling government must not be allowed to govern the people unchallenged. No matter how genuine their intentions for the people may be, they must always be questioned. Government must be questioned to answer why they have failed to fulfill this or that promise. They must be questioned to account for what they had done with so and so resources allocated to them for the development of the State/country. The authorities must be held accountable to the peoples. And it takes only the opposition parties to make this happen.

The government, on its part, must respect the presence of the opposition. Because, the presence of the opposition does not bring harm. The roles of the opposition is all about ensuring good governance. Government must always be answerable to the people and it takes a good opposition to enforce this.

The functions expected from the opposition is not about opposing the policies of the government only. Where one or two policies of the government must be opposed, it must be presented in a considerately constructive ways, rather than being destructive. It is also expected from the opposition to sometimes agree with the policies of the government; only provided that such policies will progress the economy and prosper the peoples. In addition, if the solutions proposed by the government is given wide support, it then becomes absolutely natural for the opposition to agree with it.

More often than not, in our dear country Nigeria, the functions expected from the opposition parties are not effectively and efficiently carried out. And this is one of the many reasons why our economy is in shambles today. Our road infrastructures are death traps today because we do not have a functioning opposition. Our crime fighting institutions are today a cesspool of corruption because our opposition parties have failed to work well. Our judiciary system have today become a pawn in the hands of the ruling government because the opposition parties have rested in peace.

To build a strong institution, robust economy, and an investor friendly society takes a government that is constantly challenged by the opposition. When the opposition fails to take proactive steps in ensuring that the reigning authorities offers transformative governance to the peoples, the nipple effect will only be felt by the citizenry: extreme hunger, prolonged unpaid salaries, wages and pensions, weak institutions embedded in bribery and corruption, dilapidated road infrastructures, etc.

For over two decades, bad governance has enveloped the whole of Abia State. A visit to Abia State today will tell you point blank that it is begging for transformative governance and good development. The State have not experienced positive developments since it was created! And the opposition parties are no where to be found. The opposition in Abia State only shows presence once every four years-- during electioneering only! This is quite unfortunate because it allowed the government of the day to loot the treasury of the State unchecked. The absence of the opposition allowed oligarchy fueled by the despotic powers to become the practice of government. The absence of the opposition in Abia State, to a large extent, contributed to the total collapse of its institutions and infrastructures. No two ways about it. If there had been a functioning opposition in Abia State since 1999, believe you me, the State would not have been in developmental coma such as she is today.

For there to be provision of transformative governance for the wellbeing of Abians, the opposition must not be seen sleeping. For there to be a strong institution for Abians seeking justice to be satisfied, the opposition must not be seen "tampering justice with mercy". For there to be a responsive, accountable and transparent government for Abians to have a sense of participatory, the opposition parties must not dine with the devil.

Whither the opposition in Abia State amidst bad governance bedeviling her today? They are no longer in the State! They have disappeared to reappear in few years time for elections. The opposition parties are not living in the State, so they do not feel the need to challenge the government to be on their toes. But really, it does not take living in the State to work effectively as an opposition. So why is our oppositions not working as their functions demanded?

Most opposition members are now in the payroll of the ruling government while some others were handsomely rewarded with appointments; hence their total silence, allowing the government a free hand to operate in the State. The opposition might think that allowing the government rule unchecked is ideal regarding good governance. How wrong they are! The silence of the opposition in Abia is the pathway by which sycophants thrives. So, it is not helping matters at all.

To ensure a better, cleaner, and greater Abia takes a strong opposition to happen. Without it, the State shall continue to sink deep into the gutters of underdevelopment. However, God forbid!

As of today, pensioners --good Abians whose blood sustained its revenue generation institutions-- are being owed eighty-three (83) months pension allowance, while the civil servants-- workers whose daily sweats generates revenue for the State-- are owed eighteen (18) months salary arrears. As of today, every major road both in rural and urban areas have completely collapsed, while leaving the people with thorns in their fleshes. As of today, almost all roads in the commercial city of Aba and capital city of Ụmụahịa are littered with heap of refuses. Whither the opposition?

For a State that has what it takes to develop itself into a wonderland, but instead choose to squander the abundant financial resources bestowed upon her on frivolities leaves much to be questioned. Is such a State cursed or are its people the curse? Let's pause here and ponder.


28.10.2019

By Chukwudimma Aaron-Okonkwo

The sole purpose for the existence of government is to develop the society better in such a way that the living conditions of the people are economically progressive.

Nothing in life is permanent, and so, every establishment on the earth requires constant maintenance in order to remain useful. When establishments are not maintained, they become susceptible to damage, and from damage, they begin to go into extinction.

As a result of this, to prevent things from going into extinction and also people from being disorderly in the society, the existence of a government became a necessity. The formation of the seat of government was for the general good. It was not for the benefit of a few. The formation of the seat of government was for the society to be offered all necessities of a luxurious lifestyle. It was not for the society to be offered demonic treatments.

The government was birthed into being so that the people can experience heaven on earth. It was birthed into being so that the society should enjoy all goodness therein. It was birthed so that the Creator's creatures are beneficially maintained till His kingdom comes. Sadly, in certain part of the world, the purpose for the existence of government is being dangerously abused. Not only this, but also the Creator's gift to them is being recklessly handled with corruption.

One of such countries of the world notorious for this kind of abuse and corruption is Nigeria. And within Nigeria, and among its thirty-six (36) States, God's Own State of Abia is towing this line of abuse and corruption.

Make no mistake, a new tourist into Abia State today will be extremely shocked beyond bones and marrow when s/he sees with the naked eyes, the real condition of roads in the State. A new tourist in the State today will forever wonder whether Government really exist in the State or not. A new tourist in the State today may be self forced to uncontrollably weep for the people living there when s/he sees how Abians have been heavily deprived of the luxury of life and wickedly subjected to everlasting sufferings.

Of course there is an existence of government in Abia State, while the State is equally blessed with immense human, financial and natural resources for self development. Of a truism, Abia State is not lacking in finances. She has money. Abia State is not lacking in natural resources. She has oil and raw materials. Abia State is not lacking in human resources. She has leaders and people.

God's Own State of Abia has all it takes to transform itself into a wonderland. It has all it takes to be economically progressive. The State has what it takes to be self sufficient. She has what it takes to offer good governance. These statements are nothing, but purely the divine truth.

If these statements are the truth, why is the road infrastructures in the State in so much deplorable conditions? One may query. Well, come with me.

To develop a society into a better standard takes a leader who is genuinely committed to the wellbeing of the people s/he is appointed/elected to lead. With such a commitment, the leader must equally be visionary. Therefore, without such a leader leading the society, development will remain absolutely stagnant.

Thus, one major quality lacking as per the development of Abia State is sincere leadership. She has had visionary leaders, but never sincere leaders. She has had and is still having visionary leaders, but never truth worthy leaders. Abia State has a visionary leader today, but he is not committed to the task of genuine development of the State. The government of Okezie Ikpeazụ has a vision for the State which is good, but is at the same time insincere to the people which is bad.

Suffice to mention that, sycophants have done and are still doing the State more harm than good. They have succeeded in turning the State to be a "Devil's own State". And this is one of the problems affecting the development of the State today.

Abia State government receives a monthly allocation of billions of naira from the federation account. And does not give the State better development with it. Abia State government generates an internal revenue of billions of naira every year and does not develop its economy with it. Abia State government received a bail out fund from the federal government and refused to pay workers and pensioners with it.

Where is all these monies? What has the government done with them? Are they being saved for future development of the State? Let's look ahead.

#AbiaRoadsAreDilapidated

19.10.2019

By Chukwudimma Aaron-Okonkwo


The development of a society to enhance the living conditions of the people is one of the main reasons why government must exist anywhere. Government is the bedrock of a developed society. A developed society, in particular, is an embodiment of a responsible government; government committed solemnly to the good welfare of the citizenry.

For nearly two decades, Abia State has not been genuinely developed by its government. What the government has been able to offer the people so far are purely scam infrastructure developments through substandard constructions.

It is not that the government had no access to funds with which to develop the State. There were available funds and the government had full access to them all. It is just that the government decided to scam the people. They did not only scam the people, the government also decided to use funds meant for the development of the State to develop themselves and certain powers that be.

While it is true that Abia State is in a democratic setting, we can best state that the form of government there is oligarchy.

Let's not be deceived.

Ọrjị Ụzọr Kalu upon leaving office after governing the State for good eight years, handpicked his own Chief of Staff, Theodore Ọrjị to be his successor. Theodore Ọrjị took over from him as Governor and ran the affairs of the State for eight years. It was of course, eight years of no provision of good road infrastructures. It was merely eight years of hell on earth for the people. And eight years of using the State funds to build himself, his family and cronies. When he was about leaving office, he handpicked the current Governor, Okezie Ikpeazụ, who is loyal to him.

But what is oligarchy? Oligarchy is simply a power structure that allows a few individuals to rule by controlling power. Such individuals have adequate power to turn the State/Country to benefit them to the exclusion of others/citizenry. Their power are maintained through their cycle of influence or relationships with each other. However, Britannica aptly described oligarchy as a government by the few, especially despotic power exercised by a small and privileged group for corrupt or selfish purposes.

As a matter of facts, this practice of oligarchy in Abia State is the deadly cancer that has been eating the abundance financial resources meant for the socioeconomic development of the State. And if aggressive actions are not undertaken by the suffering citizens to arrest this ugly monster, the 'invisible' powers shall continue to drain the State funds while starving her of good development.

As they say, God forbid bad thing!

These huge funds amounting approximately over four billions of naira being allocated to the State every month from the Federation account for development has been going to the private pockets of those few people controlling the State. Over two billions of naira that the State generates from its internal revenue annually is always taken by this same few people holding the State hostage. It is the heavens that knows where the bail out fund from the federal government to the State went to.

It has been an open secret that Governor Ikpeazụ pays his immediate predecessor, Theodore Ọrjị and his son, Chinedu Ọrjị an estimation of 120 million naira monthly. All these monies meant for the development of the State goes not only to those people, but are also being squandered at a club every week.

Such a situation the State found itself.

When are we going to say, "Enough Is Enough" to those few people depriving us of good governance? When are we going to hold our leaders accountable, as we are in a democratic setting? When are we going to totally denounce this practice of oligarchy and cling totally to the practice of good governance for the betterment of Abia State?

We have waited for too long. This is high time; high time by which we took proactive actions against our government to greatly develop our State. Our patience has been taken for granted. We should now raise up to confrontationally challenge our government that we have had enough of their chicanery. It is time as real power truly resides with the people in a democratic setting. Like I always say, the power of the people is greater than the people in power.

May it be well with God's own State!

The Creator of the universe established the world for humans to live and responsibly manage themselves via forms of government suitable for them. All over the world, there are over 20 forms of government in practice. These include: Oligarchy, Monarchy, Authoritarianism, Totalitarianism, Democracy, Anarchy, Aristocracy, Capitalism, Federalism, Bureaucracy, Colonialism, Communism to mention a few.

In Nigeria where the State of Abia exists, the current form of government in practice is democracy. However, democracy has two kinds; direct democracy and representative democracy. Nigeria generally is practising representative democracy.

Representative democracy can be defined as a situation in which citizens exercise their power through elected or appointed representatives. The elected representatives then propose, develop, and create laws for the citizens to follow. Direct democracy, on one hand, can be defined as a situation in which all eligible citizens have direct participation in the decision making of the government.

Generally, as it is the case for Nigeria, democracy is a form of government whereby the people elect few people they trust for accountable, achievable, and transformable leadership. The people elect the leaders mainly because they trust them and equally because they believe in them to deliver laudable developments for the good of the society. The people bequeath leadership responsibilities to those elected few to use the financial resources of the State to develop their society for economical progress, social comfort and material luxury.

However, for long a time, it has appeared that what is being practised in Abia State is not democracy in the best sense of the word. We are not far from the truth if we brand it Oligarchy. But it is rather "demon-cracy". This is a form of government in which a ruler rules for straight eight years leaving his people in great agonies, extreme pains and unbearable sufferings.

For real, the Creator of the universe did not intend that we suffer where we live. It is not the wish of the Creator of the universe that our elected leaders maltreat us. It has been a case of an inhumanity to man; a case of our elected leaders using the machinery of power to punish us for the sins we never committed.

Is Abia State under the present government of Okezie Ikpeazụ delivering durable and standard road infrastructures?

Before we answer the above question, it is pertinent to mention that Ikpeazụ's government, since May 29th 2015 when he took over the mantle of leadership from his Boss, Theodore Orji, has completed a total of seventy-seven (77) road infrastructure projects while a total of seventy-three (73) road infrastructure projects are ongoing/under construction.

Of the 77 road infrastructure projects completed by his administration for the last 29 months, 18 were in the process of rehabilitation, 23 reconstruction, 8 asphalt, and 28 construction.

Still, a critical analysis of most of those roads completed showed that they were obviously done with selfish motives and for selfish purposes, and thus, not for the general benefit of the people. For instance, a particular road is the way leading to the Governor's native home, another particular road offers the Governor's convoy better entry to his house at Aba. How smarter can this government be? We can overlook it.

To now answer the question, it is even visible to the blind that those completed infrastructure projects are not long lasting. Already, some of them have started wearing off like it happened during the tenure of Orji Uzor Kalu. We can take a particular Faulks Road for instance.

Before May, 2015, Faulks Road cannot be accessed from one end of it to the other. After May, 2015, the government began work on the road and completed it. Yes, it was opened at one end for the people's use. Its opening brought relief to the people. Unfortunately, the road has begun to deteriorate, and expectedly, the government invented an excuse that the construction work on the road is still on going.

Pray! Who did the people of Abia State offend to deserve this kind of insincere leadership since May 1999?

The said awarded ongoing infrastructure projects in the State have outlived their expected dates of completion. They have stayed uncompleted for too long. And to be honest, they appeared to have been abandoned by the government till God knows when. Let's exemplify with Port Harcourt Road.

Work began on Port Harcourt Road, a major road in the commercial city of Aba, in early 2018 with demolition of people's buildings along the road to pave way for a construction of 6-way lanes (This 6-way lanes claim by the government seems to be a deceit as what appears on ground is 4-way lanes). The initial work on the road began on a fast pace for sometime and later stopped abruptly. Reliable enquiries informed that the construction company handling the road project is waiting for the rainy season to be over before they will continue. Well, dry season had come and gone. Further work was not carried out on the road. They are still waiting for rains to stop.

On a lighter note, it is only in Abia State that we have rainy season all year round. It rains from January to December nonstop. And therefore, only in Abia State that infrastructure projects must be completely stopped due to rain.

As a matter of facts, the government has been using rain as a costly excuse for their failures on infrastructure works. One wonders what the people of Abia State did to deserve a government of chicanery.

Are there good roads in Abia State truly? Is the government genuinely giving the people dividends of democracy? Let's look ahead.

#AbiaRoadsAreDilapidated

15.10.2019

By Chukwudimma Aaron-Okonkwo


The people of Abia State especially residents of the commercial city of Aba enjoyed the luxury of good roads for about five years while Orji Uzor Kalu was governing the State during second term. All the roads that were constructed and reconstructed during his first term began to deteriorate during his second term.

The roads deteriorated neither because people prayed thunder, fire and brimstone to destroy them nor because it rained acidic. No, this absolutely was not the case. The roads simply got "rotten" because they were substandard, of very poor materials, of very poor construction works. Yet, executed at a huge financial cost.

At the tail end of Orji Uzor Kalu's second tenure, most of the roads he rehabilitated in his first tenure had become impassable. For peoples and vehicles to pass through them, they must either swim or sink.

When Orji Uzor Kalu was done with his second tenure; having ruled for eight solid years, he handed over power to his Chief of Staff, Theodore Orji.

Governor Theodore Orji, upon assumption of office, took to all media houses both virtual and press media, boasting that he alone understood the problems of Abia State and therefore assured the people that he will solve such problems for their good. The people affectionately watched to see him make good his promises. Suddenly, his first tenure ended without good roads to show as an achievement. The people instead witnessed: one, mounting of construction billboards on roads; two, sending construction equipment to site and three, extreme lies from the pit of hell.

The government told the whole world over the radio and television that all the major roads in the State has been constructed to international standards. Were roads truly constructed? Of course no!

Amidst these lies to the world, the residents of the State both in rural and urban areas could not help, but endure their unexpected shocks. The shocks of the claims of its government that there is no single bad road in the State.

While seeking peoples votes for a second chance, the man currently at the Nigerian Senate representing the people of Abia Central (oh yes, Theodore Orji is at the Senate) lamented that he was caged by his predecessor hence his failures to deliver all his promises. The people sympathized with him. They gave him a second chance. And the man won. He resumed his second tenure and still no single road was constructed yet. Instead, he used the State money for personal aggrandizement.

The people of Abia State resorted to fate. They licked their wounds. They lamented. They cursed. The more the roads deteriorated, the more rampant the crime rates in the State had became. Armed robbery and kidnapping became the order of the day in "God's own State". As a result, many families had to leave the State. Yes, people left. People relocated to neigbouring States of Rivers, Bayelsa, Anambra, Enugu and far away Lagos, Abuja as well as aboard. Motor cyclist riders known as "Okada" in local parlance were banned from operating in the State.

And a tricycle known as Keke replaced "Okada" as alternative means of commercial transportation. The people adapted. Yet, the roads by which the tricycles must ply on remained in a very bad shape.

When his second tenure ended, Theodore Orji hand picked Okezie Ikpeazụ to run the affairs of the State from where he stopped. Governor Ikpeazụ, being an Ngwá man, assured his dear people of Ngwá and the entire Abians that his administration shall deliver good governance. He assured that he shall construct and reconstruct roads. He assured that he will transform the commercial city of Aba to an envious city. Promises upon promises, he assured the people.

Truly, Governor Ikpeazụ embarked on a road rehabilitation. Yes, he rehabilitated a handful of roads in his first tenure. He embarked on a road construction. For the first time, the State is boasting of an interchange, now nicknamed "Center Table".

Why the nickname?

But, how durable, standard and long lasting are these roads? How speedily pace are the ongoing rehabilitation and construction works in the State? Is the current Governor of Abia genuinely giving his dear people true dividends of democracy? Let's look ahead.

#AbiaRoadsAreDilapidated

By Chukwudimma Aaron-Okonkwo

On August 27th, 1991, the Military administration of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida created Abia State. Abia State was created from Imo State and was so named from its four densely populated cities of Aba, Bende, Isiukwuato and Afikpo. But Ebonyi State was later created, and Afikpo became part of it.

However, many people think that Abia State was named from the Bible. In Luke 1:5, we read, "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth" (KJV). The name 'Abia' in this verse refers to the head of the eighth of the twenty-four courses into which David divided the priests (1 Chronicles 24:10).

Furthermore, the State has been priding itself with a slogan, "God's own State". But has the State, since its creation, truly lived up to this slogan? Can we enter Abia State today and proudly beat our chest that she is truly God's own?

The State, from its creation, has been ruled by five Military administrators namely; Frank Ajobena, Chinyere Nwosu, Temi Ejoor, Moses Fasanya and Anthony Obi, and four Civilian Governors namely; Ogbonnaya Onu, Orji U. Kalu, Theodore Orji and now Okezie Ikpeazụ.

When Nigeria returned to a democratic rule in May, 1999, Orji Uzor Kalu took the leadership of Abia State as the Executive Governor. In his first term in office, he embarked on a massive road construction and reconstruction in the State. Virtually, almost all roads in the commercial city of Aba were giving a brand new look by his administration.

Governor Orji Uzor Kalu- who is currently in the Nigerian Senate representing the people of Abia North- delivered to the people what seemed to be good governance, and the then President of Nigeria, HE Olusegun Obasanjo nicknamed him "Action Governor".

During his first term in office, people lived as if they were in paradise. Businesses thrived as people from all part of the country and the neighboring countries (Cameron ��, Benin ��, Ghana ��, Togo �� etc) come down to patronize Aba made goods. Most of them had to settle in Aba because they fell in love with the serene nature of the city �.

The International markets in Aba lived up to their names; they were truly international. The Manufacturing companies in Aba and Umuahia truly increased their productions. Goods were produced and sold cheap. Citizens were gainfully employed and timely paid. The downtrodden established kiosk businesses and made handsome profits. Poor kids hawked and made gains to sponsor themselves in school.

But little did the people of Abia State knew that the newly constructed and reconstructed roads will bring them agonies, pains and sufferings as the then government leaves office. Little did the good people of Abia State knew that they are about to experience worse form of governance. Little did the manufacturing industries knew that they are about to be sent packing from the State. Little did the new lovers of the State from across Nigeria and the neigbouring countries knew that they will be forced out of the State.

Is it true that there are still good roads in Abia State? Let's look ahead.

#AbiaRoadsAreDilapidated