₦airaland Forum

2015: The Battle Of The Two Orji’s And Abia PDP


The 2007 gubernatorial election in Abia State was mainly a fight between the PDP led by Chief Onyema Ugochukwu and the PPA, which had Chief T.A. Orji. While the PPA won the governorship elections, the PDP claimed majority of the National Assembly and some state Assembly seats. The situation however remained such that the Kalu family dictatorship was still in full ascent in the state. The power of dictatorship was exercised in a manner that gave them unlimited control over several organs of government and the party thus leaving Governor Orji very limited to exercise the mandate given to him by the Abia electorate.

The situation was made worse by a burgeoning security challenge that was threatening to collapse civic life especially in the urban centers of Aba and Umuahia. As if history was repeating itself, these contradictions were to generate a major crisis within the PPA, which saw the incumbent governor Chief T.A. Orji seeking for another platform to contest the 2011 general elections.Such contradictions equally brought the merging of the Chief T.A. Orji’s faction of the PPA with the opposition PDP, which led to the PDP sweeping all the seats in the 2011 general elections. It has to be noted too that Governor T. A. Orji’s level headedness and candour played a major role in unifying the mainstream Abia political elite behind the new PDP

The most significant of all the 2011 electoral events was the round rejection of the Kalu family dictatorship as symbolized by not only the rejection of all PPA candidates but also the eventual rejection of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu’s senatorial bid for the Abia North senatorial seat.

Over the past two years, this has guaranteed a quantum leap in governance in both quantitative and qualitative terms. At least democracy has finally been restored back to the people under the leadership of the current governor, Chief T.A. Orji and his PDP, which has a tested and self-effacing politician, Chief Emma Nwaka as its chairman. The evidence of such flourishing can be seen from an incident that happened some few months ago in the Arochukwu Local government area chapter of the party where the local government chairmanship position became vacant and another successor in the person of Hon. Obinna Nwankwo was freely elected by a properly convened chapter of the party. There was no interference either from the state governor or the state leadership of the party.Such a situation was impossible to imagine during the Kalu family dictatorship era. In the same way the fleecing of prospective candidates and office seekersduring the Kalu family dictatorship era is now also regarded as a thing of the past.

One other evidence of such quantum leap in governance is that the elite consensus ensured by the leadership of Chief T.A. Orji has guaranteed a synergy between the state officials and federal representatives, which has ensured the attraction of all federal projects meant for Abia State. Some of such projects include, the Abriba-Nkporo-ossoedda federal highway; the rehabilitation of Ohafia-Arochukwu Federal high way; the re-opening of Osisioma NNPC Depot; the various FERMA reconstruction works in the state, the Labour Institute at Umuahia etc. This situation is in contrast to the past during the Orji Kalu family era when the bickering between the state governor and the federal representatives meant that Abia State suffered from lack of federal projects.

Again, the achievement of elite consensus has enabled the state government to concentrate efforts at pursuing its development agenda undisturbed by unnecessary political bickering and partisanship. The most notable example of such effort at development by the state administration is the execution of its legacy projects which is currently been symbolized by the numerous construction efforts that are on-going in the state.

After the defeat of the Kalu family dictatorship and their disappearance from the Abia scene, they went underground. Some said, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu has been quietly investing his billion all over the globe while also answering to EFFC charges over acts of impropriety as the then Governor of Abia State. However, those who know Orji Kalu too well will agree that his re-appearance in the Abia scene after two years of absence to make an entry into PDP while re-organizing his PPA will only have one agenda in mind and that is, to cause confusion in Abia PDP while positioning his party the PPA to achieve power in 2015.It is for this reason that such agenda will continue to be resisted not only by the leadership of the party but by all progressive minded Abians.

Made-in-Abia exhibition unveils hidden abilities

The maiden edition of the ‘Made in Abia Products Exhibition’ ended at the weekend in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. The exhibition was targeted at showcasing the ingenuity of small and medium industrialists in the state and especially Aba, its commercial hub.

Abia is known for hosting the highest number of small and medium scale industrialists in the country. Majority of the industrialists, however, operate in isolation, which prompted the government to use the exhibition to bring them to the limelight.

This is where Abia has comparative advantage over other states in the country. So, the government wants to stamp that superiority by exposing hidden treasures in the state. Nine sectors participated in the exhibition: metal and machine fabrication, leather and allied products, garment, wood works and carpentry, food and beverages, hair stylists and cosmetologists, auto mechanics and chemical and allied sartorial group.

Majority of these industrialists lack exposure, which is not good for their businesses. Now, the administration wants to bring them out through this exhibition so they can expose their talents to the public and thereby attract patronage to themselves.

The thinking is that almost every house on Ngwa Road has a factory in it, but the operators do not come out. Even as the state government has initiated this now, some of them have not seen the reason why they should be part of it. Some see it as a waste of time, but the organisers are trying to convince them, because change is constant.

Considering the importance of this sector to the economic development of the state and country, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in conjunction with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the Abia State government established a Common Facility Centre (CFC) in Aba, to provide modern machinery to aid the leather and garment producers, first of its kind in Nigeria.

The centre, which was estimated to have gulped over $300,000 is aimed at upgrading technical skills and entrepreneurial capacities of small and medium enterprises in Aba for export production through the cluster concept.

The key strategy for the project was to establish sectoral and geographical concentration of enterprises faced with common opportunities and challenges and with the primary objective of exploiting external economies through collective effort and sharing common facilities for enhanced processing of their products.

The CFC is also to serve as a centre of excellence for capacity building and provision of cutting edge technology for competitiveness enhancement. The Aba leather products cluster was identified as having the highest density in Nigeria, which consists of over 11,000 enterprises with 23,000 regular employees and an annual turnover of $100 million.

It is similar to the Export Production Village (EPV) model of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), a strong justification for the NEPC’s involvement in the programme alongside other stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Trade & Investment, UNIDO, and the Abia State government.

To complete the project, the Abia State government, provided the land, water and electricity, the NEPC built the structure, supplied and installed two 250 KVA stand-by generators.

This development negates the expectation of the Export Promotion Council, one of the executors of the project, that Nigeria can earn N320 billion annually from leather products, if the centre is fully utilised by the leather producing cluster group in the state.

The executive director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), A.M Lawal, observed at the commissioning that the leather sector in 2006 contributed well over N28 billion ($230 million), representing 22 percent of the non-oil export earnings. According to him, that amount increased in 2007, as the sector contributed N37.8 billion ($300 million) to the non-export earning of Nigeria. Consequently, he further observed that Nigeria would earn more than N320 billion from finished leather products using the CFC model.

Commending the Ministry of Trade & Investment, initiators of the cluster programme, Lawal affirmed that the initiative would definitely spur industrialisation in the leather sector of Nigeria. As a stakeholder in capacity building for small and medium scale producers of exportable non-oil products in Nigeria, the NEPC was asked to support in providing the structure for the first CFC project.

The key strategy for the project was to establish sectoral and geographical concentration of enterprises faced with common opportunities and challenges and with the primary objective of exploiting external economies through collective effort and sharing common facilities for enhanced processing of their products.

The CFC is to also serve as a centre of excellence for capacity building and provision of cutting edge technology for competitiveness enhancement. It was jointly executed by Abia State government that provided land, water and electricity, the NEPC that built the structure, supplied and installed two 250 KVA stand-by generators, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation that supplied and installed the machines, provided training and the technical expertise required for the take-off of the centre, while the Federal Ministry of Trade & Investment provided policy guidelines and coordination for the success of the project.

Made-in-Abia exhibition unveils hidden abilities


The maiden edition of the ‘Made in Abia Products Exhibition’ ended at the weekend in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. The exhibition was targeted at showcasing the ingenuity of small and medium industrialists in the state and especially Aba, its commercial hub.

Abia is known for hosting the highest number of small and medium scale industrialists in the country. Majority of the industrialists, however, operate in isolation, which prompted the government to use the exhibition to bring them to the limelight.

This is where Abia has comparative advantage over other states in the country. So, the government wants to stamp that superiority by exposing hidden treasures in the state. Nine sectors participated in the exhibition: metal and machine fabrication, leather and allied products, garment, wood works and carpentry, food and beverages, hair stylists and cosmetologists, auto mechanics and chemical and allied sartorial group.

Majority of these industrialists lack exposure, which is not good for their businesses. Now, the administration wants to bring them out through this exhibition so they can expose their talents to the public and thereby attract patronage to themselves.

The thinking is that almost every house on Ngwa Road has a factory in it, but the operators do not come out. Even as the state government has initiated this now, some of them have not seen the reason why they should be part of it. Some see it as a waste of time, but the organisers are trying to convince them, because change is constant.

Considering the importance of this sector to the economic development of the state and country, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in conjunction with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the Abia State government established a Common Facility Centre (CFC) in Aba, to provide modern machinery to aid the leather and garment producers, first of its kind in Nigeria.

The centre, which was estimated to have gulped over $300,000 is aimed at upgrading technical skills and entrepreneurial capacities of small and medium enterprises in Aba for export production through the cluster concept.

The key strategy for the project was to establish sectoral and geographical concentration of enterprises faced with common opportunities and challenges and with the primary objective of exploiting external economies through collective effort and sharing common facilities for enhanced processing of their products.

The CFC is also to serve as a centre of excellence for capacity building and provision of cutting edge technology for competitiveness enhancement. The Aba leather products cluster was identified as having the highest density in Nigeria, which consists of over 11,000 enterprises with 23,000 regular employees and an annual turnover of $100 million.

It is similar to the Export Production Village (EPV) model of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), a strong justification for the NEPC’s involvement in the programme alongside other stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Trade & Investment, UNIDO, and the Abia State government.

To complete the project, the Abia State government, provided the land, water and electricity, the NEPC built the structure, supplied and installed two 250 KVA stand-by generators.

This development negates the expectation of the Export Promotion Council, one of the executors of the project, that Nigeria can earn N320 billion annually from leather products, if the centre is fully utilised by the leather producing cluster group in the state.

The executive director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), A.M Lawal, observed at the commissioning that the leather sector in 2006 contributed well over N28 billion ($230 million), representing 22 percent of the non-oil export earnings. According to him, that amount increased in 2007, as the sector contributed N37.8 billion ($300 million) to the non-export earning of Nigeria. Consequently, he further observed that Nigeria would earn more than N320 billion from finished leather products using the CFC model.

Commending the Ministry of Trade & Investment, initiators of the cluster programme, Lawal affirmed that the initiative would definitely spur industrialisation in the leather sector of Nigeria. As a stakeholder in capacity building for small and medium scale producers of exportable non-oil products in Nigeria, the NEPC was asked to support in providing the structure for the first CFC project.

The key strategy for the project was to establish sectoral and geographical concentration of enterprises faced with common opportunities and challenges and with the primary objective of exploiting external economies through collective effort and sharing common facilities for enhanced processing of their products.

The CFC is to also serve as a centre of excellence for capacity building and provision of cutting edge technology for competitiveness enhancement. It was jointly executed by Abia State government that provided land, water and electricity, the NEPC that built the structure, supplied and installed two 250 KVA stand-by generators, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation that supplied and installed the machines, provided training and the technical expertise required for the take-off of the centre, while the Federal Ministry of Trade & Investment provided policy guidelines and coordination for the success of the project.

You Can’t Compare Kalu to Orji, Says Abia Commissioner

Eze Chikamnayo..
Abia State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, spoke with Charles Ajunwa on the state of the state. Excerpts:

Recently, Governor Theodore Orji said Abia was in the process of rebuilding. How much of the process as he covered yet?
The truth is that His Excellency, Sir T.A. Orji, is the father and founder of new Abia State. He is now consolidating on the fresh foundations he started laying some two, three years ago. 2013 is our year of consolidation and the way to consolidate in most cases is to work more, to do more and to re-enforce achievements that have already been made. You consolidate when you do not rest in your oars, you consolidate when you try to open up new horizons, you consolidate when you surpass your own achievements and surpass the expectations of even your worst critics in terms of positive impacts in developments.

The truth and nothing but the truth is that the experience of Abia State between 1999 to 2007, and a little between 2007 and 2010 when the godfather still had his tentacles in the polity was worse than what Ugadans suffered under Idi Amin. It was a more insidious but very corrosive experience but for the super natural intervention of God, Abia State today would have been an effective monarchy masquerading as a democracy. In our lexicon here in Abia today, we now have a term that effectively substitutes meritocracy.

Meritocracy ought to be the norm in a democratic setting, but instead of meritocracy, we have mamacracy whereby the former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, who had a very chequered and beleaguered childhood allowed his inability to grow up to get into the state arena whereby he effectively handed over the management of the state to his mother. He referred personalities and statesmen to his mother, allowed his mother to take up a title that is both obnoxious and completely unknown which they called Mother Excellency. Took his wife away from the scene, at a point the wife was maliciously labeled a psychiatric case just to make sure that his mother extended her stranglehold of her immediate family into the state arena and that brought Abia down to the lowest ebb.

As a member of that cabinet, you should not be proud to criticise else, what were people like you doing at that time?
Yes, it’s like when you get on an ABC Transport on your way back to Lagos and because you were passenger somewhere in the bus, somebody said why didn’t you grab the driver from behind to hit his head or why didn’t you collect the steering from him. That will obviously be a very erroneous assumption. Governance is something that when a leader takes the driver’s seat he is not expected to drive on the emotions of the passenger. A driver is expected to have an idea of the destination, he is supposed to have confidence in the craft of driving and he is supposed to be able to know the state of the vehicle viz a viz the journey at hand.

Rather, what you should do is to congratulate us for having the courage to at the time we saw that the driver was taking us in a contrary direction, for us to have had the courage to say ‘stop this vehicle we want to go down.

The fact that we saw that the young man became obsessed with power, became absolutely incapable of handling the instrument of power, abdicated the reins and instrument of power to his mother who was by the way an illiterate, incompetent trader who couldn’t handle a town union for her to have taken charge of the entire paraphernalia of office. Those of us that had conscience said ‘hey stop this vehicle and where he failed to stop, we found one way or the other to get ourselves out of the vehicle and then began to look for wedge to see whether we can stop the vehicle from crashing. You see, that is the angle you must look at it. We ought to be congratulated.

But why is difficult to allow a peaceful return of Kalu to Abia PDP in the interest of peace and reunion?
If it were to be former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he will say I dey laugh o. My reaction to Orji Kalu’s hallucination is, I dey laugh o. The man said he wants to gate-crash into an organisation, freedom of association doesn’t translate to gate-crashing. Much as an individual is free to join people’s club or to join Rotary or to join a church, every single church has its own rules and its own freedom to accept or reject an individual from joining. Much as you are free to walk up to a girl and propose marriage, the girl is also free to either accept your proposal or reject. To the extent that you have freedom to apply is the same extent to which the young lady has the freedom to either accept your advances or reject. So you cannot force yourself into an organization.

PDP is made of individuals, human beings and freedom of association means there is a sort of symbiotic relationship, a sort of concurrence of understanding and agreement.

He is talking about fear, fear of what? How can you be afraid of a man you has effectively put on the ground and saturated his throat with a lot of sand and mud so, he must be hallucinating. If he is talking of fear of being infected by his political virus, a virus that leads to backwardness, confusion, greed, avarice, disunity, yes! Certainly, every normal human being ought to be afraid of infection and as far as we are concerned today Orji Kalu is a very infectious political disease that ought to be absolutely phased out from anybody who has any desire to be politically healthy because his epoch marked the worst period in the history of Abia State and Abia politics and Abia development. So we are not afraid of Orji Uzor Kalu in terms of anything that he may want to claim politically but we are certainly weary of the political virus called Orji Uzor Kalu whom we do not want to infect our system because we don’t want this system to crash.

What if he is coming back to form an alliance with PDP in the light of the opposition merger in the country?
Is marriage by force? If you chased a woman too much, she will tell you: ‘is it by force?’ It takes two to tango even now that you see the opposition parties in Nigeria trying to come together to assume the name of a defunct analgesic that was used for headache in the 70s called APC; You know you need to have headache before you look for APC. The people who are looking for APC are those who have some form of political headache. No normal human being goes for such analgesic and by the way, an analgesic that is no longer in the counter. But suffice it to say that even in that contraception called coalition, you discovered that the individual parties agreed to come together and when APGA said we were not properly consulted that the top echelon of the party wasn’t properly consulted.

You saw Alhaji Lai Mohammed come out to say ‘we wouldn’t even include their logo in the new emblem that will emerge because we don’t want them to sue us for putting their logo without their consent.’ If Lai Mohammed and his people realised the need that there should be some form of mutual understanding before any form of co-habitation could happen politically, what makes Orji Uzor Kalu think that he will gate-crash into PDP without any form of understanding with the people who are now holding the affairs of the state? So, it smacks of hallucination and ignorance. Honestly speaking, I can relate all these things back to Mama Excellency. Orji Uzor Kalu is a young man that has a beleaguered background.

Back to the incumbent, there are insinuations that most of the governor’s projects are concentrated in Umuahia?
No. I am not from Umuahia; I am from Isiochi in Umunneochi Local Government. In my local government today, we have several ongoing projects sponsored by the state government. Isikwuato is the next in Abia north and we have Nnoya Road that is going on. We have a road that is connecting Isikwuato to Afikpo that is going on. We have the helipad, we have the ecological projects, we have health centres, we have hospitals that are going on as I speak and are subject to verification by any well-meaning journalist. You move a bit from Isikuato to Ohafia Local Government, Arochukwu Local Government and Bende Local Government, you’ll see government projects scattered all over the place.

A few days ago, the biggest cassava processing plant coming to the South-east in collaboration between the State and Federal Government, was sited at Abriba in Ohafia Local Government. That is not Umuahia. If the governor was guilty as some individuals have alleged, may be that great investment will also find its way into Abia Central or Umuahia. As I talk to you now, the Abia State government has spent more money in Aba and environs than in Umuahia.

The Aba/Owerri Road though a federal road but because the Federal Government couldn’t come to intervene and the people that ply that road are our citizens, His Excellency put in over N2 billion to make that road motorable from Osisioma junction all the way to the park and stretching down. If you bring N2 billion into Umuahia for instance, that would build about five roads, because of the nature of Aba, the terrain and the soil type, it costs more money per kilometre to do a road in that environment than it costs in the hinterland, Umuahia and environs.

You see, Governor Orrji is to us what Nelson Mandela is to South Africans. After all, South Africans did not celebrate Mandela because he built roads and brought them a buoyant economy. Mandela was there just for four years but a single historic feat he achieved for South Africans was liberty and the fact that in Abia State with the all the very intractable structures of domination which Kalu had effectively put in place, but when God wanted to deliver the children of Israel he made sure that an Israelite called Moses was trained in Pharaoh’s court so that quietly without shedding blood, he could just bring out His people. Liberation can only happen in two ways: either inside out or outward in.

But because Abia is God’s own state, God on His own predestined Orji like Moses into the court of Kalu and kept him there for an appointed time so that Abia could be liberated without the shedding of blood. After liberating us from Orji Uzor Kalu and clutches of his mother, Governor T.A.Orji went ahead to liberate us from kidnappers and armed robbers. Today, Abia is the oasis of peace in the South-east. After doing that, he went ahead to lay the solid foundations for infrastructural for Abia’s socio-economic growth. That is why you are seeing projects dotting the state. There is no way you can compare the era of the locust under Kalu and this era of liberty and prosperity under Orji.

ORJI UZOR KALU A PITYLESS IRONY OF LAMENTATION ON PAYING BACK EVIL FOR GOOD

There is always a fundamental difference between a speech made on a given subject-matter by a person who had an original comprehension of that subject-matter and another made by one who understood the topic only through another person's distorted interpretation. The same defect is also made manifest when a hired writer is mandated to write on an issue beyond his comprehension, to give the false impression that his pay-master is, indeed, the real writer.
Only recently, a person who had held sway in God's own State of Abia, threw caution to the wind when he decided to let the reading public realize that wealth acquired by deprivation and impoverishment of the good people of the state, during an era that was entirely dystopian and has rightly been adjudged the days of locusts, and, of course, the darkest epoch in the more than twenty years of the state's existence, could be squandered with impurity through absurd newspaper publications.
In the said publication, the man, whose pedigree, antecedents, panchromatic inclination and consistency in deceit, Abians know too well, through a falsely briefed hired writer, opened his mouth too wide for any reasonable coordination to reflect therefrom. He claimed, though without mentioning any name, that his good gesture to the quintessential leader that liberated the people of the state from an unprecedented bondage is being rewarded with evil. His vituperations could be likened to that of a self-humiliated and alienated deposed despot who had just realized his failure to suppress the nostalgia over the pecuniary benefits of his exploitation of people he had hitherto held in socio-economic captivity and who have, contrary to his initial calculations, been liberated by the people's messiah.
For purposes of brevity, I would address only a few of the issues that appear to have risen from the man's demented evocations while others, if any, would be assigned to where they rightly belong to; the trash can. I decided to spare some minutes of my brief leisure to his expression of frustration and self defeatism because if a person of his former status should hire a professional propagandist to raise an issue in the public domain, even though preposterously, and no broadminded indigene of the state gives him, even, the faintest attention, it could simply mean that he has systematically metamorphosed into an unfortunate psychological status of a maniac depressive after leaving office.
At this point, it may be necessary to remind Abians and, indeed, Nigerians that the man in question is a pathological liar. If he says one thousand things at any given time in his life, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to extract two that are entirely true. I say this because I have worked very closely with him. His assertion that a cancerous and consuming greed has crept into our national life is both paradoxical and antithetical. The man is not only greedy but also an incurable kleptomaniac. It was his greed that compelled him to hate and fight the highly respected historic Abiriba business community.
Igbos have not forgotten those who, due to greed, betrayed them at the first P.D.P national convention in Jos, where Dr. Alex Ekwueme lost in his presidential aspiration due to betrayal by some Igbos, including the man in question. The man now pretends to be worried that people no longer care about God and have no reverence for him either. What a hypocrisy! Abians have not forgotten that he subjected them to varying degrees of oath-taking and fetishness in different juju oracles in such places as Umuhu-Ezechi in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, Okija in Anambra State and Ogoni in Rivers State.
His mother, who was in charge of his department of fetishness, tricked Me, with his consent, into going to take an “oath of perpetual allegiance and loyalty” at a shrine in Umuhu-Ezechi in 1997. They asked the trio of Ifeanyi Nwangwu; a native of Arondizuogu who was resident in Aba, Police Corporal Douglas and one Ngozi Ukeje to accompany me to the shrine.
The first two are now late. I have since prayed to my God to forgive me because it was never my intention to appear before any oracle. The man equally stated that someone whom he had brought out obscurity and made prominent had betrayed him. It is obvious he is experiencing a wave of illusion otherwise why must he think that the personality that was the architect of his being 'adjudged qualified' to contest governorship election could be in obscurity when he did that? It is still common knowledge in Abia State that the man had credibility problem and that it was believed he had no West African Schools'
Certificate required for election as a governor. Abians still remember, with shock and pain, the brutal killing of two precious sons of Ubakala at a restaurant along Azikiwe Road, Umuahia because it was believed that the owner of the certificate the man had claimed was in that restaurant. Coincidentally, the target of that brutal invasion was missed white two sons of Ubakala were mistaken by the man's hired assassins and killed.
It is interesting to note that the man can now realize that power is euphemeral. He had boasted that he would dictate where and how power pendulum would swing in this state uninterruptedly for twenty years. Poor boy! He was too inexperienced and untutored to, comprehend the dynamics of power in a democratic setting and that vicissitude could come
calling.
The man should appreciate that the liberator of God's own people was the brain behind his 'qualification' to contest election when he did and that accounted for his electoral successes. Of course, when in 2011, he decided to exhibit his natural penchant for ingratitude to the whizkid that made him, the consequence was obvious and dear. He failed woefully in his determination to represent the good people of Abia-North in the senate. If he had been loyal and honest to the man that made him, he would have won his senatorial election. He is now confined to the dusty shelves of political archives. He has, though belatedly, realized that he injured many people while he held sway in Abia State. He has to apologize to Abians for milking them dry for years.
The man was the first governor in Igbo land who, with impunity, diverted state fund to the establishment of his private airline and buying a fleet of ship, including the one he shamelessly named after his daughter.
He should apologize to the families of the ladies and gentle-men who were very loyal to him and his mother but whom he allegedly ended up their lives in very mysterious circumstances.

They include:
1) Mandy Onuoha
2) Law Maduka
3) Agbarakwe (his gate man at Nweke Street, Aba)
4) Mrs. Momar
5) Police Corporal Douglas
6) Chief Okereke (of Arochukwu)
7) The two Ubakala sons killed in a restaurant at Azikiwe Road,Umuahia,
and
Cool Mrs. Ogbenyealu.
Since he has given a slight indication of his intent to reconcile with man and God, he should not fail to reconcile with that gentle, beautiful, erudite and well-mannered lady who accepted to marry him despite his untutored, uncouth and crude background but has been allegedly rendered mentally incoherent by a combination of his mother's wickedness and fetishness.
He should appreciate the incontrovertible fact that his inglorious era, when deceit which he code-named 'gamji' was the order of his administration, has been successfully put behind Abians. Any person similar to him shall never again be the portion of Abians. As for his business, he should realize that nemesis has already caught up with him and so, he should not blame any person in Abia State. To God be the glory.

Abia State and her challenges...Bridging the Gap.
Although the State has challenges because for the first time in the history of the state, the foundation for the take of a modern is being laid by Governor T. A. Orji. But some of the reaction has been relatively hysterical and un constructive.
You read people that are not on ground criticizing our Governor too quickly. There are people out there telling false stories about Gov T. A Orji and the State.
It does not help much. I have been extremely disappointed by some of the comments by those who will not acknowledge the progress made so far by the Governor. Aba for instance, used to have several inappropriate dump sites. Now one can drive from Osisioma to Alaoji Aba/ PH express way without covering his or nose. Umuahia was commended as one of the cleanest capitals in Nigeria by the Labaran Maku led NGGTOUR. Environmentally, the State has been cleaned up to promote healthy environment. Security is no more a major challenge as security measures put in place are yielding very positive outcome. Abia State remains the most peaceful State in Nigeria. New Structures in the health sector, commerce, education and other infrastructural development are being developed to drive sustainable development in the state. To promote commerce and Industry while encouraging Small and Medium scale Enterprises. Today, Abia State began the first made in Abia products exhibition. It's hard time we begin to promote our State and the entire Igboland, having in mind the progress made so far and challenges common amongst States. Rome was never built in a day. Abia State is in safe Hands. Thank you.

Nnaji Obed Asiegbu
Umuahia, Abia State

Abia State and her challenges...Bridging the Gap.
Although the State has challenges because for the first time in the history of the state, the foundation for the take of a modern is being laid by Governor T. A. Orji. But some of the reaction has been relatively hysterical and un constructive.
You read people that are not on ground criticizing our Governor too quickly. There are people out there telling false stories about Gov T. A Orji and the State.
It does not help much. I have been extremely disappointed by some of the comments by those who will not acknowledge the progress made so far by the Governor. Aba for instance, used to have several inappropriate dump sites. Now one can drive from Osisioma to Alaoji Aba/ PH express way without covering his or nose. Umuahia was commended as one of the cleanest capitals in Nigeria by the Labaran Maku led NGGTOUR. Environmentally, the State has been cleaned up to promote healthy environment. Security is no more a major challenge as security measures put in place are yielding very positive outcome. Abia State remains the most peaceful State in Nigeria. New Structures in the health sector, commerce, education and other infrastructural development are being developed to drive sustainable development in the state. To promote commerce and Industry while encouraging Small and Medium scale Enterprises. Today, Abia State began the first made in Abia products exhibition. It's hard time we begin to promote our State and the entire Igboland, having in mind the progress made so far and challenges common amongst States. Rome was never built in a day. Abia State is in safe Hands. Thank you.

Nnaji Obed Asiegbu
Umuahia, Abia State

OUK siphoned abia 29B naira.. How one family siphoned Abias N29B for the building of CAMP NEYA at Igbere, Ranch at Maryland; Sugarland Mansion at USA and SUN Newspapers.
1.Slok Nig LTD (OUK)
2.Slok Air (OUK)
3.Slok Gambia (OUK)
4.Slok Shipping (OUK)
5.Solar Neuz
Ent. LTD (Odiuko and Nnanna)
6.Pacific Intl LTD (Dr. Onwukwe Odiukos cousin)
7.Benergy Nig LTD (Mascot)
8.Ozbork Nig LTD (Mascot)
9.Esean Const. Co. LTD (Mascot)
10.Euzor Nig LTD (Mascot and Odiuko)

Once beaten, twice shy. Abia cannot be raped the second time. Lets say no to the return of wickedness, sabotage, witchcraft (OKIJA) politics and selfishness.

Say no to the UZOR KALU family.

Change Abia Initiative!

Senator Emma Nwaka is the chairman of the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with James Ume, he sheds light on Orji Kalu’s ‘return’ to the party, the achievements of the Governor T A Orji-led administration in the state. Nwaka specifically declared that the former governor of the state is parading a fake membership card.

Please take us inside your chairmanship journey so far.

Thank you very much. I came in at a time that the major stakeholders of the party were like working at cross purposes. They needed a leadership that was acceptable to everyone. When my name cropped up, I found general acceptance from General Ike Nwachukwu, Governor Theodore Orji, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Senator Abaribe, among others. Since I came on board, my major concern has been to make sure that I do not let them down. My major concern was how to bring everybody together, and give them assurance that I will be fair-minded in dealing with every person. My mantra is establishing a level playing field for everybody. To a large extent, we have succeeded in doing that. One thing the leadership here has done is to gain the confidence of every person. If at the end of the day, one loses out in a political contest, it is not that the party shows favour to any person. Here we do not emphasise money which is what has been causing problems in many political parties. I am not into money politics because I’m contented. One thing that is important in life is to respect oneself if one wants others to respect one. That is one of the things helping us here.



As the PDP chairman, how have you been able to insulate the governor and the government from the regular politicking?

I did not insulate anyone. We have a wonderful man as the governor of Abia State. In the PDP hierarchy, even at the national level, there is the President as the leader of the party. There is also the chairman of the party who runs the party’s administration on the day-to-day basis. We need the cooperation of the governor. In this state, we have a governor who is disposed to working with every person. Although he is doing his last term, he works like a man who wants to do another term. The political heavyweights in Abia are pleased with him. We have realised that for the party to replicate its giant strides in the 2015 general elections, we need to maintain the momentum. What is working for us here is that we have a governor who has respect for all and sundry. He is not into this divide-and-rule thing. In some states, the bone of contention is who will succeed who. But here, the governor is maintaining an open mind. I see a situation whereby the person who succeeds the governor is the person whom various interests want. For sure, we want the best for Abia State. We don’t want charlatans here anymore. We don’t want somebody who will make Abia State a pariah state, which is what it was under Governor Orji Uzor Kalu. We don’t also want a governor who spends half of his time abusing everybody in Nigeria. Orji Kalu then would abuse Obasanjo in the morning, in the evening he would abuse another person.

In another morning, he would invite traditional rulers to plead on his behalf. That is the time a governor ought to use to attract projects to his state. Under this leadership, we enjoy a situation where the state is working in harmony with the federal government. A proof of this is the fact that people from Abia State are occupying very important positions in the federal government. It wasn’t so under Governor Kalu. For your information, I’m a close pal of Governor Kalu. In 2003 when he wanted to run for second term, (I’m from Isukwuato) we needed to embark on a campaign tour to the area. I told him there was nothing to show in Isukwuato as to the successes of the government for four years. He asked me what could be done. I told him of a road, which is so dear to our people. The road is Nunya road. When he came to campaign, there was nothing to commission. So the day he came to campaign was the day he did the ground breaking ceremony for that road. But, under Governor T.A. Orji, there is no local government that has no state government presence.



Can we say that you joined Governor Kalu to deceive your people?

No. He was the chief executive, I was just complaining.



Did Governor Kalu complete that project?

Governor Kalu eventually did not complete that project. It is Governor TA Orji who finished the project. His failures made me leave him. I’m a lawyer and had to go back to my private practice.



Former Governor Kalu left the PDP and formed another party. Along the line he wants to come back to the PDP. What is your stance?

What is new that he is bringing to the party? He couldn’t run his party. He ran it aground. He had Imo and Abia states sometime, and lost both within the first term. Doesn’t it tell you something about Kalu? Orji Kalu is not a good politician, but a good business man, perhaps. I will ask him to concentrate on his business. He has ran a party, won two states; instead of maintaining the tempo, he is now running back to the party he left. And all he has to show for his failures is celebrating that he has been accepted into the PDP.



Has he been accepted?

Who said so? It tells you something about his person. We are becoming very wary of him. The fears expressed by some elders of the party are now justified. In fact, God has a way of doing His things. Sometime ago, the PDP chairmen of Igbere Ward A (Orji’s ward) and Ward B, returned the wards register of the party to the LG party chairman and said they had resigned from the PDP. Subsequently Orji Kalu invited them for a meeting; that was on the 10th of January; only for us to hear that on the 17th or thereabouts that the same people who resigned their membership of the party have readmitted Orji Uzo Kalu into the party. They are no longer members of the party. On what capacity did they do that? As the state chairman of the party, I issue out cards to registerd members. In every ward, we assign unique numbers to every ward, accordingly. The card Orji Uzo Kalu is parading doesn’t fall into the register we gave to Igbere Ward A, not even Igbere Ward B. He granted an interview in the Sun where he quoted his number. Our book of ‘life’ in the state PDP is the membership register. Any person can carry a card, but if your name is not in the register, you are not part of us. In sum, Orji Uzor Kalu is not a member of our party. In fact, if you know him, he won’t like to end his politics in Igbere wards A and B. One day, he will come to me and I will ask him where he got the card he is parading.



From the picture you painted, a crime has been committed already. How did he get the card?

See the interview he granted the Sun, you will see the number he quoted. Check our register whether you can find the number he quoted. The local government chairman where Orji Uzo Kalu comes from was at my recent press conference. He brought out the register, and you discover that the number doesn’t fall into that category. People print naira and dollars; he could have done same.



Why don’t you want Orji Uzor Kalu back to the party? Is that not an infringement on his freedom of association?

Freedom of association is not the same thing as imposition. When you look at the party’s constitution, it says the ward executive can even refuse any person membership of the party based on what they know about the person. The stakeholders of the party in Abia State say from what they know about Orji Kalu, if he comes in, there will be trouble. And there is already trouble. You can see him abusing the state governor. That’s a man who wants to be a member. He is already saying the state governor will come for social justice and all that. He also says he wants to reclaim the party, instead of leaving it to ‘madmen’. Who are you calling madmen? The bifurcation in the party all this while was because of Orji Uzor Kalu.

Reasonable men like Tony Ukasanya, Ojo Maduekwe, Onyema Ugochukwu and many more said they couldn’t work under this person. We started knowing them as Abuja politicians. Then he had a free hand here. Abia paid dearly for it. Take a tour of Abia State and look for any iconic landmark that Orji Uzor Kalu left behind. He had eight years and it is just now that we are building the state secretariat and a conference centre; we are now doing those basic things that we require to show that we are a state. When the minister for information said he was coming, we were very happy because we had much to display. The minister couldn’t even see one quarter of what we are doing in Abia State. Within two years of TA Orji under the PDP, he has done much. I do not bother him as state’s party chairman. I do not say there is money, let’s share. We know that the only way I can move this party forward and redo what I did in 2011 is for him to work for the people. Then I can boast of what he did and ask the electorate to give us another chance; and that we shall improve on what he has done. This is unlike before when the issue was always ‘bring and let’s share’. Things have changed. We now consult. It is no more a situation where mother and child will sit down somewhere and take a decision, and say that is the decision of the party. We just had a meeting with all the stakeholders to brainstorm. Here I disburse money through vouchers. We have a bank account. To audit the account is the easiest thing to do. We have a picture of how the party funds are expended. That is why we have peace here. I don’t interfere with the state funds. Ask anybody. That is how I run my family.



What are the activities you are lining up for proper electioneering, which will soon start?

We are not talking about the election yet. Our focus is to deliver the democracy dividends to the people. With that, it will be very easy for us to replicate our performance in the 2011 general elections. Right now, we want to embark on the tour of the LGAs to see their strength and know how we can make them better.



Give us a highlight of most of the projects handled by the current administration in the state?

This administration will be two years in May 2013. If you look at TA Orji’s achievements under these years, compared to the eight years we had under Governor Kalu, we have so much to celebrate. Under the PPA, he didn’t do anything. They won’t allow him. He accepted it. These days, you don’t become anything here because you are taken to one shrine or the other. The governor assesses whoever is qualified for a position and gives to the person. You don’t pay allegiance. One thing about bribery is that once you collect money from someone, you become the person’s slave. You can’t caution the person even when he is going wrong. It doesn’t happen anymore in Abia State. We have a situation now where all the leagues in the state sit down and iron out issues. It is not a family monopoly anymore.

It is an achievement. Again there is security. Governor TA Orji has been celebrated all over the world for what he did to achieve security in Abia State. Otherwise no one would have been here. The chief of army staff commended the governor recently on his strides. Again the governor is accessible to any security man all the time. That is why we have peace. Hitherto contractors don’t go to site because of kidnappers. It is now over. When people will celebrate TA Orji is after he has left office. He has given Umuahia a facelift. Umuahia was looking like a local government headquarters before. Plans are underway to get Shoprite here. People often go to the old Umuahia and say nothing has happened in Abia. They refuse to go to the area where we have the Central Bank of Nigeria to see the secretariat we are doing. It is called Ogwurube Layout. This is just two years under the PDP government. This is also seen in every local government. Before now, because the governor was quarrelling with the hierarchy in Abuja, we didn’t have a representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission, but now we have. It is attracting a lot of projects to this area because we belong to the NDDC. Hitherto about 42 oil wells belonging to Abia State were given to Rivers State. Today the wells are back in Abia state column.

Under TA Orji, we have tranquillity returned to the state. Tell us the wrought this government inherited from the previous administration?

We had a state of insecurity and a pariah status where people feared to say they were from Abia State. Today, every person feels proud to say they are from Abia. In appointments at the national level, it is a different ball game. Under Orji Kalu, it was hard to get the military here to restore peace. Also the shakers and movers of society now sit under one umbrella to plan the way forward for the state. Like it is said, two heads are better than one.



Do you foresee the return of Orji Kalu to the PDP?

If he wants to come back, it should not be through the window. Again what is he going to add to the party? But this is a man who found a party and couldn’t run it. It died in his hands. His party won two states and lost them. He ran for a senatorial seat and lost it. In his recent interview in the Sun, he is abusing everybody. He assumes he has the magic wand. His aspiration is to become the president of Nigeria. Some day he will say he is out of politics; another time he is running in his village to rejoin a party he had left. If he has a card, its validity ends in Igbere.



What is your relationship with the national leadership of the party?

It is very cordial. As their point man here, I have not failed them. Ask Olisa Metu. I went to the Senate at 32 under Babangida. I trust my capacity to lead the state chapter of the party. And that I have been doing so very well and they are proud of our achievements in the state.



We have many political sub-camps in Abia State. The real politicking will soon start. Do you think these camps won’t conflict under your leadership?

I look up to God for everything I do. I do not have any fear. We are dealing with responsible people in Abia. I look forward to having consensus candidates. It may not be very perfect.

http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/46245/2013/01/28/orji_kalu_parading_fake_membership_card_abia_state_pdp_chairman.html

THATS A GOOD ONE FROM GOV T.A ORJI, WITH THAT ABIA WILL WEAR A GOOD LOOK , I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL DO THEIR BEST TO DELIVER GOVERNOR'S DIRECTIVES! ABIA GODS OWN STATE, MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR GOV FOR THE TREMENDOUS WORK HE IS DOING IN ABIA STATE!

According to the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of State CID Umuahia. The investigation into the theft of a newborn baby at a gunpoint at Okaiuga Nkwoegwu in Umuahia last Tuesday at a Private Maternity home has commenced.

Briefly Newsmen in his office, the new Assistant Commissioner of police in charge of the state CID Umuahia Mr. Patrick Garba confirmed that four nurses and the Father of the stolen baby are assisting the police in their investigation. He assured all of a swift investigation.

Meanwhile, some friends to the husband of the wife have testified against him following his remarks before the birth of the baby girl that he will be unwilling to accept a baby girl as a fourth child. Some concerned citizens are also concerned about the father’s brief visit when the child was given birth on that fateful day and the immediate kidnapped operation that took place a few minute after he stepped out of the clinic. Following the Nurses statement to the Police and the SSS, the Mother of the child was at the time of the incident; unconscious after the childbirth and that a female child was given birth to, not a male child. The father came into the maternity centre when he was informed of his wife child birth but decided to leave immediately without seeing the new baby and mother.
The Assistant Police Commissioner, Mr. Patrick Garba confirmed questioning the father of the baby, the nurses and the maternity security man to aid the ongoing investigation.

DESPITE the difficulty posed on the issue of state creation by Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution, it was a wonder that the issue dominated affairs at the South East zonal public hearing on the review of the constitution in Enugu.

The immediate implication is that the stakeholders in the zone face the challenge of managing the flurry of demand by the five states of the zone for an additional state in the zone.
To start with, almost all the states put up strong demands that the ‘new state’ be carved out from their state. The demand for a new state turned out to be the crux of the public hearing.
At the end of the hearing, about seven demands were submitted to the Senator Uche Chukwumerije led committee for harmonisation before submission to the National Assembly.

The proposed states include Adada from Enugu, Aba from Abia State, Orashi from part of Imo and Anambra states, Equity from Imo and Anambra, Anim also from part of Anambra and Imo states, Orimili state from Imo and Etiti, which will draw membership from the five states of the zone.
To streamline the demands and possibly reach a consensus, it was gathered that a meeting of political, religious and traditional leaders of the zone is being proposed in Enugu on Wednesday.
Sources said it will not be the first time the leaders are meeting on the issue, and that previous meetings never achieved much as the proponents found it difficult to shift grounds while each wanted the new state.

It was learnt that the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu recently summoned a meeting of political leaders at his residence in Abuja, where he told bluntly told them that unless they worked together, the zone could miss out on the demand for a new state.
Ekweremadu had outlined the implications and difficulties posed by the creation of state, and harped on a united approach in order to garner the sympathy of other zones.
At the Enugu meeting, the leaders in the agitation as well as other stakeholders would analyse how the location of the state would impact on the development of the zone.

A source pointed out that, “although the zone is demanding additional states, we know that this will be based on economic viability, sustainability and the interest of the South East. It is not for the creation of an empire that will be governed by an individual.”

At the Enugu public hearing, Enugu State submitted that the new state should be called Adada with its capital in Nsukka, “which is the oldest province in the country that had not been named a state.”
At an emergency meeting on November 1, the 24 lawmakers of the Enugu House of Assembly unanimously resolved that the sixth state in the South East should be called Adada and carved from Enugu. Stressing that it was an agitation whose history dates back to 31 years ago, they insisted that any other state creation in the country without first a consideration of Adada state would be unjust.
According to former Information Minister, Chief Nnai Nwodo, the area that makes up Adada has a landmass of about 3293.79 square kilometers and a population of 2.17 million according to the 1991 census.

He said that the agitation is the desire of the old Nsukka people made up of seven councils - Nsukka, Igboeze North, Uzouwani, Igboeze South, Udenu, Isiuzo and Igboetiti.
In 1983, the late Senator Isaiah Anih, representing the area had forwarded the demand to the National Assembly, but the process was interrupted by the military incursion into the politics.
In 1996, the request was presented again to the Chief Mbanefo led committee on state creation and boundary adjustment. And in 2006 the political reforms conference supported it. When the demand for four new states in the South East was presented and voted for, Adada scored five votes Urashi (3), Aba (2) and Njaba (nil).

Nwodo added that Adada is the only agitation that has the total support of the government of the state, stressing that three years ago, Governor Sullivan Chime three years ago inaugurated the committee for the creation of the new state.

There are agitations from Imo and Anambra, stakeholders are asking for the creation of Njaba and Orashi. The proposed state would include some councils in Imo and Anambra states.
Fromer governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige explained that the agitation for Njaba and Orashi was more viable than any other proposed state in the zone. Ngige argued that never in history had a creation come from a particular state, and that Njaba would develop the abundant natural resources in the area.

He pointed out that with the location of the state, it would carve out eight councils from Imo and six from Anambra to make up a sizeable number enough to be called a state.
From Imo, the agitation for Etiti from the present state and parts of Anambra is also thriving. The agitation is being championed by the Ibiridi Ogada, known as the Supreme council of Ideato leaders of thought.

The agitation would include councils in Anambra like Aguata, Nnewi North and South, Orumba South and North and Ihiala, while from Imo councils like Ideato North and South, Onuimo, Orsu, Nwangele, Orlu, Nkwere, Oru East and West, Njaba, Okigwe would join alongside Isu and Umunneochi from Abia.

Some prominent Igbo leaders associated with the proposed state include Dr Alex Ekwueme, Imo Governor Rochas Okorocha, Prof Charles Soludo, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Prof Humphery Nwosu, Chief Ralph Obioha, Senator Andy Uba, Prof Dora Akunyili, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, former Governor Achike Udenwa, Senator Uche Chukwumerije among others.

From Abia, there is the demand for the creation of Aba, out of the present Abia and parts of Rivers State. Like agitators of Adada, those behind Aba insist that it is one of the oldest state demands in the country, and that the state would not rely on allocation from the Federal Government to survive.
The proponents said its creation would also cause development in the area in view of the abundant resources that have remained untapped for years.
Also on the card is the agitation for creation of Equity. Its proponents said it would affect all parts of the South East states and would have its capital in Okigwe, which they argued is more central than other requests.

The proposed Equity State, they said would remove Awgu and Aninri councils from the present Enugu, Afikpo from Ebonyi, Okigwe, Onuimo, Orsu, Nwangele, Orlu, Oru East and West from Imo and Umunneoche from Abia among others to make up the state.

According to them: “This will mean that the states in the zone have benefitted from the new state,” adding that it was more beneficial than any other agitation from the zone.
Anim and Orimili were new demands at the public hearing and the agitators insisted that carving them out of their area was just and equitable. They insisted that since Enugu and Abia benefitted from the last state creation, which saw the emergence of Ebonyi, it was equitable for Imo and Anambra to benefit from the new state.
During the constitutional conference in 2006, the public hearing event for the South East held at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi was marked by the demand for additional state in the zone.

The gathering became rowdy following arguments by the speakers.
The Senate Committee Chairman on Works, Ayogu Eze, said that the demand had assumed frenzy heights based on the perception of people that the country needed more states to quicken development.
He said: “It will create a sense of belonging and invoke in the people the spirit of competition and enterprise. I want to note that the clamour is based on the passion the people have for their country, for its progress, unity and peace. That is why the National Assembly is paying so much attention to the review of the 1999 Constitution to give the people opportunity to say exactly how they want to be governed.

“What the clamour tells you is that the people want development. It again tells you that they are no longer comfortable with the way they were boxed together by previous administrations and that perhaps, the structure of things has been responsible for certain problems that had plagued the country. Therefore on the part of the National Assembly, we will do all in our power to give them those things they desired from the review.”
The senator who represents Enugu North had told stakeholders at the public hearing that such engagement would help reduce various scuffle in the country, as he urged the people to speak up on areas of need.
The Chairman of the Constitution Review, Ike Ekweremadu had cautioned the people of the South East especially the political class over what he described as their “unguarded utterances’ on the issue of state creation.

Ekweremadu, who noted that the National Assembly has so far received 56 requests for creation state from various parts of the country, warned that much energy should not be dispensed talking about state creation alone against other issues earmarked aimed at promoting good governance.
He said that though several other issues have been listed for amendment, state creation had received greater attention, and wondered if the only problem in the country was the creation of new states.
Assuring that the National Assembly would not disappoint Nigerians, he said that the simultaneous zonal public hearings across the country would stimulate the desired change being craved. He noted further that the National Assembly would always take the people into confidence in deciding issues affecting them.

“The consultations are necessary to help us feel the pulse of the people better. When this is done, it will help move the necessary motions and resolutions that would help check some excesses in the country today.
“We believe that part of the problems of this country is that things are not working the way they should, the people seem to have lost hope because the constitution, even as it is, has remained unworkable. Therefore, we need to give all the attention to reflect the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.”
It is being hoped that the Enugu meeting will set the process for the zone to speak together on the issue.

http://southeastnewsonline..com/2012/11/south-east-at-sea-over-demand-for-new.html

This is fake..the person that did this should go back to that same place and check if its the same thing... this is how the road was fews months ago the now it has been reconstructed and kept clean unlike before...so lets be real...

They are either living overseas or in States other than Abia. They hardly come home and had long lost touch with realities of life. Their senses are beclouded in emotions. When you open their bags, what you see is a multi – media phone, camera, ipad and colored spectacle. They have no good paid jobs and are willing tools in the hands of political jobbers, criminals and disgruntled elements. Unfortunately, you will find no records of their positive impact on their immediate communities.

For 24hrs, they get their eyes and hands fixed on a computer. They vowed never to see any good, hear no good and talk no good about their own Abia State. They grumble, blackmail and incite the rest of the people against the Governor and institution of the State. They see glasses of water as half empty and not half full. Every day, they inundate visitors to social network sites with gory pictures. They are wet blankets. Development is only when their brother mounts the saddle of leadership. Meanwhile, they have neither voted nor voted for. They are armchair critics who masquerade as super champions.

They have failed to appreciate that the TAO government is known to have favored NDI NGWA more than any other in the history of Abia authoritative allocation of values. It is therefore foolhardy to claim to represent a people who are blessed with:

Nine out of sixteen Commissioners (Works, Rural Development, Environment, Petroleum, Housing, Special Duties, Women Affairs and Social Development, Sports and Agriculture) in Abia State. By the way, those are choice ministries.
Twenty four out of Forty three Special Advisers
Two out of three federal senators
Five out of eight members of the Federal House of Representatives
Accountant General of the State
Auditor General of the State
Chairman of State Civil Service Commission
Acting Chief Judge
Heads of Religious organizations
TC Chairmen of all Local Governments in Abia South and partly central including the two metropolitan Local Governments in Aba (first of its kind). The implication is that they control nine (Aba North, Aba South, Isiala Ngwa South, Isiala Ngwa North, Ugwunagbor, Osisioma, Ukwa West, Ukwa East, and Obingwa) out of seventeen LGAs



The under listed people should be held accountable for any breach of peace or in event of any orchestrated hate against NDI NGWA. They are fighting a lost battle and further criminally enriching themselves at the expense of their kinsmen who have been promised better days ahead.

Let Abians know them:

· Obioma Ugochukwu Ubani (+49170237608)

Obioma was accessory to, before and after most of the kidnap incidents that occurred within the Obingwa area of Abia State where he led a group of unscrupulous and dissident NGWA elements to cause hurt, untold hardship and untimely death of others.

At the heat of intervention by the Military, Obioma escaped through the help of notable NGWA politicians, though his family house and those of his immediate co – conspirators were torched. It was also gathered that this Abaribe’s cousin was quickly sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu and some others to flee the country and invariably escape being brought to justice.

Obioma who currently resides in Denmark with personal phone number +49170237608 and email obi@ubani.info has been paid heavily by Abaribe and other authors of confusion to destabilize the government of Abia State, cause disaffection, rancor and acrimony amongst Igbos. He was basically directed to set up social network pages like Abia Awakening, Abia Tower and Abia Peoples Voice to achieve this purpose.

Obioma it was who was sponsored to convene a meeting of disgruntled elements at Rowmay Hotels, Opobo Road Aba in December 2011 where they founded The Abia Awakening (TAA), that he has been using to cause confusion in Abia State

· Maxwell Nwadike (229-97-571168)

He is the Founding Chairman of The Abia Awakening (TAA). Maxwell has a Cotonou wife, leaving behind in Aba, his other wife and children who he left at the mercy of poverty and hard life. A greedy Ngwa man who erroneously jumped into the business of selling used (okirika) clothings and bags, his grouse against Old Bende people was that while they made so much money selling used clothings, they refused to show him the way. He ran out of Abia to live in Cotonou and operated with the name Samax International Co,Sarl situated at C / 213 gbenonkpo; Benin. The idea was to stay at the centre of used clothings which Cotonou is. Several years after trying without success in his Okirika business, he resorted to blackmail as a quick way of making money. He does not know where Ohafia is, has never been to Umuahia and does not appreciate the challenges being faced by Isuikuwato, Arochukwu and Umunneochi people. All he wants to achieve is to discredit OLD BENDE people as a means of paving way for the Ngwa man to become Governor in 2015. He has questionable character and exhibits unbridled quest for get rich quick, hence his acceptance of becoming a willing agent of confusion just to make ends meet.

· Patrick Amalaha (+18327578903)

Bad boy of America, Patrick is a disgruntled NGWA man who went in search of greener pastures overseas. Several years on, no tangible progress can be traced to him. He shuttles between overseas and here, people take advantage of their positions to attract genuine government presence and not spread dangerous rumors capable of scaring investors away. Nothing is known of his business as his native home remains his father’s forty six year old house. No wife, no children; Patrick is the Secretary of the infamous TAA. Once known to deal in dangerous drugs and illicit products, Patrick has tried unsuccessfully to get the attention of the State Government for being gratified. He is a
celebrated blackmailer and conspirator of note. Patrick Amalaha is Reagan Ufomba’s kinsman and by association a wet blanket.

· Chinedu Nwogu

He lives in Lagos and also an active member of TAA who was planted by Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba to sell him (Regan) to Abia electorate. For identifying with Reagan, an underachiever and fellow with questionable integrity, Chinedu has proven that he lacks wit and purposefulness.

Chinedu who hails from Isiala Ngwa had written a letter in the past to the State Government pleading for financial assistance. His stiff opposition to the government may not be unconnected to the rebuff he got from a government who feels informed him that the days of holding the givt to ransom were long gone. Chinedu it was who attempted to organize his kinsmen for amnesty when it was certain that his immediate interest was personal gain. His wife confirmed to be a member of the red light district is left to fend for the rest of the family while he carries on with the business of blackmail and criminal conspiracy.
· Lawrence Ehiliegbu (08036725809)

He is a founding member of TAA, a group poised to make Abia comprehensively ungovernable. He is married to Ngozi, daughter of a traditional native doctor in Isiala Ngwa. Lawrence who lives in Lagos was a former staff of defunct Aba Textile Mills where he was initially employed as a casual worker. Though much younger, he was relieved of his job when he was caught stealing finished products. He was to later resurface from his hiding when he got wind of the ‘lucrative’ business of kidnapping. This was not to be as security operatives had taken over his village in Isiala Ngwa. He is working closely now with a serving Senator who is aspiring to be Governor in 2015. He has been contracted to destabilize the polity, blackmail other groups and inadvertently swing favour on the side of an NGWA man. He is a chronic liar and trades in deception, selfishness and greed. Lawrence Ehilegbu is one of the Administrators of Abia People’s Voice, his brainchild dedicated to foisting the NGWA agenda on the rest of Abians.

· Sussan Uzoma (Separated from her husband)

He (yes, he because her kind of woman are those addressed as Mr and Mr because she knows how to oppress even her former husband) is also a co – founder of TAA. Susan who is an NGWA woman claims to be a lawyer (must have attended an Indian College as her command of English is horrible) is separated from her husband. She lives in Lagos from where she imagines a failed Abia. Susan got the boot from her husband for acts of infidelity and criminal association with men. This is evident in the fact that she is the only female Admin of TAA matching the other men wickedness for wickedness. Her known occupation is being an ACTIVIST which is the same as saying she is idle and unfortunately unemployed. Susan who is one of Maxwell Nwadike’s concubines is equally determined to cause trouble in Abia.

· Igwe Samuel Obioma ( a murderer)

Igwe lives in the UK. An Ibeku man who is known to have murdered one Aham while he lived in Umuahia. Igwe has a murder case pending in court. Having tried without luck to get the Governor, a fellow Ibeku man to criminally protect him, Igwe went on self exile. He has never hidden his disdain for the Governor. An active member of TAA who has refused to highlight the amazing developments going on in his native Ibeku, it is yet to be seen how Igwe; a confirmed murderer would be gifted with the moral justification to criticize the Abia State government. It is however certain that he cannot hide for too long as the long arm of the law awaits him.

· In the coming days, I will reveal Chinedu Ngaranwere (08032004399) and others like them who vowed that Abia must be held spellbound. I watch as events unfold to see how far they can go.

SEE WHAT OUK HAS BEEN REDUCED TO?
• SOUTH EAST OHANEZE YOUTHS POISED TO RESIST HIM.

I recollect advising him to remain quiet in his self appointed political exile. He would not listen. I also knew that in his usual characteristic manner, he
wanted to test his popularity. Having seen the torrents of abuses and rejections that followed his declaration of interest to be at the forefront of Igbo Presidency 2015, I also expected him to do the needful – a volte face. He went to Abia and disgraced himself. He has also shamelessly moved to Enugu where OHANEZE YOUTHS have dressed him in the right robe of abject rejection.

Now, OHANEZE and even children (see The Nation, Monday Oct. 8, 2012) under the aegis of IGBO YOUTHS are calling OUK to order. They have insisted that OUK does not deserve to be given the honor of representing the Igbos. They insisted that when he had the opportunity of using Abia State to proof how purposeful he could be as a leader, he only succeeded in selfishly enriching himself at the expense of the collective gains of Abians. They also said OUK is secretly working for a Northerner who would field him as a Vice – Presidential candidate, as he only intends to use the Igbo platform to achieve his usual selfish interest.

I am beginning to see myself as an adult who is supervising the she goat deliver on its tether. Bad as this is, I also need to voice out for the umpteenth time that OUK was (and still is) Abia’s greatest mistake; for laying the foundation of an underdeveloped Abia. As we are arranging our lives, he would do also a great favor by stopping further insult on our intelligence. It is only hat way that picking our pieces would be done without further hitch.

OUK has never worked for the collective good of Igbos. Showmanship is all he does. After that, he engages VIPs in fights to increase his notoriety rating. All his life, he has made more enemies for Igbos than friends. I stand to be corrected as the only thing that can counter this assertion is for him to highlight what he had been able (apart form ise okwu) to attract for Igbos. Let OUK leave us alone to organize ourselves using men of integrity whose views would be respected, whose values are attractive and those who would place service above self. We know his antics and would be too foolish to become second fools. There is no record of any good work while he was Governor of Abia State for eight years. He did not undertake even the minutest capital project and ended up impoverishing the State. Just how can a man who found Abia State too big to govern and too large for him to make any meaningful impact; now ask us to support him to rule Nigeria?

Ben Onyechere is Special Adviser on Public Communications to Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji. In this interview with Amby Uneze, he gives an update on the state of the state Excerpts:

What connection has the infrastructure development in the state to the people?

I want to start by letting you know that governor T.A. Orji commenced to build a new state because there was no infrastructure that befits the status of a state capital. There was nothing to write home about in Abia State. That is a very fundamental issue people have to consider that this man is building a new state from the scratch because before him there was nothing on the ground. The governor has taken up the challenge to have a new city called Abia State with Aba as the commercial centre in the South-east region. He cares about his name and I know that some people don’t care about posterity.
But this man wants to bequeath an enduring legacy for the people of thestate so that they can remember him for good in future. As a result of this, he is transforming the state without looking behind, irrespective of all the distractions. You know Abia State is a peculiar terrain politically and in terms of infrastructure. The soil nature of the state is erosive and that is why you hear about erosion here and there in different parts of the state. But in spite of all these, he has overcome all the challenges and he is deeply involved in the construction of roads even as the state is now a huge construction site.

What do you think will be the reaction of the people on the proposed demolition of some infrastructure to pave the way for drainage?

The issue is that demolition would come in a very short time because if you want to make an omelet, you must break egg. So, the governor, irrespective of his humane nature, would go ahead to demolish some illegal structures on the water ways. He has also appealed to those that would be affected to assist government because they are the ones that stopped water from passing through the water ways which is the reason Aba floods all the time. The most annoying part of it is that those people knew that they were building on water ways, so when government come to demolish those illegal buildings, they would eventually pay government for clearing those illegal structures that were hitherto blocking the water because of the embarrassment and other consequences to government. The demolition is something that must be done to get Aba back to its former status.

What are other areas is government performing?

This governor has taken time over the years to build an international market and an industrial market. We are talking about international market that is like the Tinapa in Cross River State and it is 75 percent completed while the industrial market is 85 percent completed and he is not making noise about all these. One could ask: where he is getting money to build all these things that will stand the test of time in the state? In his prudent manner, he is able to manage the little resources that come to the state because he is a good manage of human and financial resources. And I tell you, there is no amount of distraction that would stop the governor from completing all his projects.

What is the relationship between your governor and his predecessor, Dr. Orji Uzor-Kalu?

I cannot tell you that the relation is favourable because what we need now is a favourable relationship. Because of his developmental strides, this governor has incurred the wrath of his detractors, particularly that of former governor, Dr. Orji Uzor-Kalu who did little or nothing to develop Abia State. Otherwise what can we point out as a tangible thing he did for the people of the state? He lived in government house for eight years without thinking that there is need to expand the place. How can you be a governor for eight years, you did not think of building roads or expanding the capital city? If you built roads in Aba why are people still crying about bad roads? Why where you not able to attract federal presence? We don’t want to recall the past, particularly the immediate past government. The administration of Governor Orji Uzor-Kalu was nightmarish.

Former governor of Abia Uzor Kalu got more than he bargained as OAU students made good their threat by booing him as he managed to deliver a speech at a lecture in their school yesterday. Eye witness say Kalu was thoroughly embarrassed by the students who booed him as he arrived the lecture hall. The booing almost disrupted the event as the VC begged them to no avail. It became worse when Kalu mounted the podium to speak.

The students did not allow him to talk but he managed to mutter something before his security details sensing danger whisked him away. While he was being smuggled away the students started throwing sachet water at him until his convoy left the school.

http://thejuristlaws..co.uk/2012/09/ouk-booed-at-oau-ile-ife.html

T.A ORJI EULOGIZES ABIA WOMEN, YOUTHS AND CHILDREN DEVELOPMENT.
Women and Children constitute a significant proportion of the population of Abia State. our development programmes cannot be complete without addressing the issues of gender inequality or under representation of vulnerable groups in the decision/ policy making process.

However Abia has focused their attension towards the establishment of target projects that are especially gender specific, with outlined policies as envisaged in both Abia State Economic Empowerment and Development Goals (MDGs).

This Administration has recognized the great potentials in women, in decision/policy making. To this end, they have ensured adequate representation of women at all levels of government. Abia State now has a sizeable number of women as commissioners, permanent secretaries, special advisers and assistants etc.

Government has collaborated with the Local Government Councils to build Skill Acquisition Centers in the areas where there are none at present to empower more women, especially in the rural areas.

This administration has also established Day Care Centers to aid Abia working mothers and also capacity building and training of more than 400 women in various skill areas.
Government will continue to sensitize over 50,000 women on issues of Child Rights, HIV/AIDS and discrimination against women.

Government has provided Micro-Credit to skilled graduates and encourage boy and girl education as well as join hands with all relevant authorities in the fight against women and child trafficking. we shall strengthen measures already put in place to check boy and girl drop out syndrome among our youths as well as cultism and drug abuse.

Government also has regards for youths and their role in the Socio-Economic Development of the state. This Administration has committed to train youths in skill acquisition and to check the endangering problems of unemployment among youths, sensitization/awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS pandemic among youths and children through social institution, this administration shall ensure that this efforts is sustained.

Government has committed to giving a sense of bellonging and proffer solution to their problems. To this end, the government has a mandate to empower the youths, to ensure proper harnessing of their potentials, energy and aspirations for the development of the state.

Furthermore, this Administration has made effort to create jobs, stop crimes, restiveness and other vices among youths, and thereby leaving them with new- orientation.

This Administration has boldly confronted the factors that have held us down as a state and we are unrelenting in the determination to ensure that by the time we conclude our tour of duty, our names would have been firmly etched in gold in the minds of our people.

Failed APGA Governorship candidate, who is from ogoni but claims Abia as his home state (Reagan Ufomba) has gone in into hiding following his inability to pay the sum of 100 million Naira he borrowed from Diamond bank to run his Cement business. Sources close to EFCC told this online news that Ufomba is evading arrest as the graft agency has declared him wanted after their fraud unit investigated the matter over a period of 6 months. It was gathered that efcc officials have invited him over the issue but ufomba failed to come. It was further learnt that efcc stormed his flat in lagos but he was no where to be found. Investigations revealed that ufomba is right now broke even as his landlord has given him quit notice over unpaid house rent. As it is now ufomba is said to have ran to cotonou where he is doing menial jobs to earn a living. This online news also learnt that he fled with some money belonging to APGA Abia chapter.

http://thejuristlaws..com/2012/08/revealed-reagan-ufomba-flees-to-cotonou.html

Odimegwu Onwumere (Remember him?) is a renowned hatchet man known to have perfected in the art of blackmailing politicians and other members of the public for his own personal aggrandizement.

Onwumere has again engaged in another futile effort as he tries in vain to blackmail Engr. Chinedu
Orji (Ikuku). In a poorly written article, (his now famous trademark), the ex – convict who claims to be a poet questioned the rationale behind the powering of OCHENDO YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SCHEME by Ikuku. As any comprehensively uninformed person would do, Onwumere views the activities of Engr. Chinedu as corrupt and unnecessary.

For the records, Engr. Chinedu is first a bright and ingenuous Abia Youth before being the son of the Governor. He does not hold any political office, neither is he employed by Abia State government. He has the interest of budding Abia Youths at heart and has consistently sought for a better life for the very many of them, who suffer one form of inhibition or the other. The Empowerment Scheme is the brainchild of creative thinking. He uses two major skills – appealing to the conscience of the haves in the society and then speaks to wealthy corporate bodies, individuals and groups with reason. In turn, he harnesses tremendous support from these bodies just for the benefit of Abia Youths.

Engr. Chinedu by dint of his track record of humanitarian services has attracted enormous goodwill to himself. This unquantifiable goodwill is what he has put to great advantage just to help the Youths who are considered the most vulnerable group in our society.

What does Onwumere hope to achieve other than blackmail? What is corrupt and unnecessary about caring for the downtrodden and the distressed? Is help not better when it comes at no extra cost to the government? This latest scenario is even more worrisome, given that; by the way, Chinedu does not wield any political influence, does not hold any political office and not in any position to appropriate or approve the spending of public funds. Who is this person that thinks just by being creative and kind, that you assume the status of a demi god and corrupt official?

http://thejuristlaws..com/2012/08/odimegwu-onwumerethe-face-of-blackmailer.html

forget about this mtn sh**t. AIRTEL for real are giving me 3.75G network here in umuahia. Airtel yeah

Factional APGA Chairman denies Reagan Ufomba re-admittance into APGA
The recent visit of Reagan Ufomba to National Vice Chairman of APGA Barr. Morgan Anyalewechi has started generating controversy. Embattled Reagan recently visited the Vice Chairman to beg for his re-admittance into the the party after expulsion, but the Chairman refused despite Ufomba's cries. In a tense statement by factional chairman Umeh, he described Reagan plans to defect to Anyalewechi's faction as a manifestation of the chameleonic nature of the Ogoni born political thug who was expelled because of his attempt to disrupt meting at Ikemba's residence in Enugu.

Umeh who is fighting a battle of his life said that Ufomba's expulsion is final no matter the faction he tries to join. He further stated that Ufomba is even a politician that can not bring electoral victory.

Abia indigenes in Lagos praise Gov. T.A Orji...

Abia State indigenes have praised Governor Theodore Orji for developing the state.They spoke at a Town Hall meeting in Lagos on friday.

The governor reviewed his administration’s achievements in many sectors, including education, health, agriculture, security, electrification, housing and poverty alleviation. He said development had followed the restoration of peace, security and unity among the political class in the last five years.

Orji, who was accompanied by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ude Chukwu, commissioners, special advisers and other top officials, received accolades from prominent indigenes, including Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), Prof. Anya O.Anya and former deputy governor, Acho Nwakanma, for making unity, peace and development his priority.

Senator Nwachukwu, who chaired the meeting, noted that Orji assumed the reins after 10 years of bad governance, urging the indigenes to support him to succeed.
Anya advised the people of Abia State to donate their ideas and professionalism to the administration.

The foremost scientist added: “We want Abia to be number one state because it has the potentials to be number one. We need peace in Abia. If there is no peace, there will be no development. By bringing peace to Abia, we now glady go to the state, unlike before. The achievements being recorded now were not possible in the past.
“There were ideas, but there was loss of focus and priority. We should harness our brain power for Abia’s development. Tinubu and Fashola make use people like Joe Igbokwe, an Igbo, to develop Lagos. There was no achievement recorded by Obasanjo without Igbo’s input. The people of Abia should contribute their ideas. Let Abia people invest 10 percent of their resources in the state and you will see changes”.

The speaker said Orji deserved support because of his sincerity and sense of mission, stressing that his developmental projects and social relations had united the state and change its perception as violence-prone area.
He said: “In the past, Abia was in the news for bad reasons, especially kidnapping. But God has used the governor to restore security and it is now the safest state in Nigeria. he has constructed 75 roads, five-star hotel, new ultra-modern Government House. We members of the House are seen as performers because the governor is doing well.”

Another indigene, Chief Vincent Maduka, said: “Governor Orji is an agent of transformation”, urging him not to relent in his developmental efforts.
The governor said his administration’s achievements were made possible because of the cabinet of talents he assembled, following his ascension into office.
He added: “Abia is now working. Before now, eminent indigenes shunned the state because enemies of Abia invaded the media, fueling embers of disunity. But we won the battle of confidence. Abia is now free from kidnapping, bad roads, failed politicians and rejected actors who were behind the beer parlour rumour mongers.
‘The peace reigning in the state today is unprecedented. It is because we fought criminality and kidnapping which prevented people from coming home. Having achieved peace and unity, development followed. Abia became a huge construction site. Kidnappers fled from sites.”

http://thejuristlaws..co.uk/2012/07/abia-indigenes-in-lagos-praise-gov-ta.html
thejuristLaw: Abia indigenes in Lagos praise Gov. T.A Orji
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To the glory of the almighty, the Town Hall Meeting with the Governor was a massive success. The Governor offered himself to questions and answers session, with a PowerPoint presentation of Facts on ground. Kudos to all represented town unions, youth reps, Abia students, royal fathers and other distinguished Abians. Do have a good day!

Just few days after after James Ibori was convicted for corruption by a London Court, embattled former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu may have started his own slow walk to prison as he was on the 27th of April 2012 floored at the Court of Appeal where the learned Justices told him he had cases related to corrupt enrichment and financial crime to answer. This ruling sets the tune for the trial of the Governor seen to have grossly converted most of Abians’ collective resources to his personal property.
A mild drama ensued at the court premises as his erstwhile array of supporters were spotted dancing and jubilating after the ruling. The most prominent of those making this volte face was Comrade Chris Akomas, his party’s (PPA) Gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 elections in Abia. Akomas led other aggrieved former supporters among whom were Ebere Nwachukwu, Jonas Chibuike and Donatus Nwankpa. Abia State PPA rag tag Chairman Ezeogo Emeka Onuoha almost sprained his ankle while jumping in jubilation.Apart from these Supporters believe that OUK is guilty as charged, they are particularly not happy with the kind of treatment OUK meted out to them shortly after the 2011 general elections. Majority of them drummed support for OUK’s failed bid to go the Senate on the ticket of Abia North. It was also gathered that these friends now turned foes observed that OUK was always in the habit of using and dumping people. Their latest reaction to the court ruling is a way of paying him back in his own coin.
History students are however viewing this development from the perspective of the long perceived character of NDI NGWA who sustain relationships so long as they cheat you. It is therefore not surprising that the bulk of those castigating and abandoning OUK at this critical stage of his political career are NDI NGWA.
So much to learn from this development.

Reagan Ufomba, the defeated APGA candidate in the last governorship polls in Abia has called on EFCC to fast track the trail of the former governor of Abia state Orji Uzor Kalu. In widely circulated statement from his hideout as he is been trailed by the police over the money he borrowed for his campaign, said that he is amazed that EFCC is pretending about Kalu's case. According to Reagan, Kalu looted the funds of Abia during the eight years of misrule which plunged Abia into a debt of N28 billion.

The Ogoni born politician who claims to be from Abia said that now a new chairman of EFCC is on board he should act on Kalu's case alongside ex governors so as to restore confidence in the operation of the agency. Reagan maintained that Kalu whose businesses are going down, should be treated like Ibori who is in jail now. Ufomba said that as a special assistant to Kalu during his tenure he is aware that Kalu bought printing machines for Abia Newspapers which later relocated to lagos to start the SUN Newspapers.

As he puts it, no matter how long it takes Kalu must go to jail. He lamented that Kalu and the mother made it impossible for Kalu's wife to act as first lady through their diabolical means which made the lady mad till date.
Posted by thejuristlaw

Character of a typical ONYE NGWA revealed

Recall that the parable of talents that was told by Christ in the bible. Assuming they were Nigerians, it would be very easy to identify which among them is Ngwa. The one who hid his talent, accusing his master of reaping where he did not sow and how he is known to be a high – handed man must be NGWA. Ideally, ONYE NGWA looks at everybody around him with clinical suspicion, is always in the habit of betraying trust and deriding the confidence reposed in him. Just imagine this:

1. They will sell a portion of land to you and take a one off fee. As soon as they sense your business is sprawling, they would begin to demand for all sorts of miscellaneous fees including mandating you to contribute to the burial of their late parents, sponsoring their children’s trade efforts and funny enough demanding you contribute to their acquisition of new wives. The Nigerian with most no. of wives is NGWA not because he is enterprising but because he holds a degree in covetousness.
2. He politely requests that you give him a portion of the same land he sold to you (they sell lands more than any other group in Nigeria, that is why they have sold off everywhere in Aba and usually feel comfortable being tenants to their former tenants) for farming. Several years after, by reason of death or relocation; your children or relations will fight with their last breathe because you were generous to a cunning, crafty and lazy friend.

THEY ARE NATURALLY LAZY
Their women give themselves so cheaply to petty material things. It is only in NGWA LAND that a sixty year old woman will still be bleaching and proudly tell you that her IKO (boyfriend) works IN A COMPANY. These companies are medium scale blue chip companies that employ them (NDI NGWA) as casual workers, security men and unskilled labourers. They are not interested in adventure. If you argue they are not lazy, how come with massive markets in Ariaria, Ahia Ohuru, Ekeoha and Cemetry; Ngwa men are missing in action. What popular shop in any of these markets is owned by ONYE NGWA? How come they are always comfortable as menial workers and unadventurous fellows? Mbaise is popular in Aba for being the best butchers, Enugu controls the cattle market; Orlu holds sway in drugs and patent medicine, Onitsha is leading in importation, food vending and tobacco business, Ideato are gurus in tourism, Transport and Haulage, NDI OGBO had long made a mark in second hand clothes and importation etc. Just where does the lazy NGWA MAN come in? No where!

NDI NGWA ARE CHEATS AND UNFAIR BUSINESS PEOPLE
Their brothers (?) from UKWA would attest to this fact. NDI NGWA have always given the impression that the struggle is for UKWA NGWA. This false spirit of camaraderie fizzles out as soon as the spoils of war arrive. It automatically becomes OHA NGWA, systematically deleting the UKWA and replacing it with OHA. There will be no need overemphasizing this age long fact. See the page on THE FARCE CALLED UKWA NGWA. Have you wondered why of all the five or more times given UKWA NGWA the opportunity to produce the Deputy Governor, no single UKWA man had ever made the list. That is the NGWA man for you. Your union with them thrives as long as they are calling the shots or cheating you. Watch out, the man who you meet in a bar, who shamelessly begs you to buy him a bottle of beer is ONYE NGWA. That is their style.

THEY ARE NOT ENTERPRISING
It is believed that geographically and culturally, Aba metropolis belongs to NDI NGWA. In the same ESAU SPIRIT, they long traded their birthright over a pot of stew. Today, the docility of the NGWA MAN is made manifest with the composition of ownership and control of resources in NGWA LAND. In case you did not know:
1. All the hotels within Aba metropolis are owned by NDI OHUHU (a derogatory name coined by NGWA people for non – indigenes which unreasonably include UKWA people).
2. The tallest building in Asa Road is owned by a rich business man from Ideato Imo State
3. The best and most sophisticated Pharmaceutical shop in Aba is owned by a non – indigene
4. 98% of all fuel stations in NGWA LAND are owned by non – indigenes
5. It is hard to see a well equipped hospital that is 100% controlled by an NGWA MAN.
6. All they do is to hallucinate over how someday NDI OHUHU would abandon their properties for them, reenacting sad tales of the Nigerian Civil War

THEY ARE CUNNING AND CRAFTY
If you like, call them tricksters. Remember the OTU ONU debacle. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe had failed in his bid to outshine Orji Uzor his master, the then Governor. Abaribe soon coined the famous OTU ONU (meaning he is advocating for a single term for political aspirants). That was his own method of displaying the cunning character of the NGWA MAN. He was given a single term as Senator. At the expiration of his first term, he also cunningly returned. Even when an UKWA man Chris Nkwonta reminded him of his pact with the people; Abaribe did everything (yes, everything) to return to the Senate. Where lies the honor of NDI NGWA?

Some have jocularly referred to them as being generous. That is being economical with the truth because by the time NDI OGBO were perfecting the art of importing second hand clothes and stockfish, when ANAMBRA people were dominating the tobacco business, just like the Maduakos were building hotels, NDI NGWA were land speculators and sellers; willfully taking the rear seat in the scheme of things. That is their style of generosity. Interestingly, they sold off even their OKPULOR and gardens to a more introspective NDI OHUHU. The result is what you see today – they have been relegated to the background.

There are no airs of officialdom about him. As Secretary to the Government of Abia state Professor Mpka A. Mpka still lives at Abia state University Uturu where he had been an award winning Vice Chancellor. He is also working hard in his new position to make a difference in the administration. In this chat he talks about strides made by the current regime and the political rivalry between parties in the state; Eccerpts You come from a town Abiriba that is known for business how come you ended up a proffessor?My parents were not business people. My father was an agricultural officer. He was a superintendent of agriculture in charge of the old Owerri province and later Okigwe Province in the First Republic .So, my orientation from my father’s angle wasn’t that of the business enterprise. It was the acquisition of good education and that was where he channeled all of my siblings. My mother was the first female Grade II teacher in Abiriba. So again you could see from that angle our orientation wasn’t towards business but towards education.
So for a family to have all the children, the siblings as graduates was a big achievement as at that time. I, for instance, am a graduate of the Faculty of Education, Curriculum Studies. My elder sister was of Education Administration, may be because my mother was an educationist.I’m the third in the line, the first sibling was an educationist, then came the one that did nursing. Even though she did Nursing she also took a degree in Public Administration from the University of Nigeria, and then myself. After myself, my younger sister who is rounding up her Ph.D as a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt . After that came the next two boys, one a Pharmacist, he was practicing in Port Harcourt where he died. We were six of us and we were all graduates.
Even though my father was a product of the merchantile process he saw that there was a limitation. It didn’t give him everything he needed. In fact, he was an apprentice to a businessman and at some stage he decided to pull out as an adult to go to school.It a appears government is gradually commercializing university education rather than funding it. I agree with you that it is the primary responsibility of government to provide education to the citizenry. But at the same time the individual has a right to determine the kind of education, the quality of education that he wants to obtain or parents would want their children to have.Government wants to democratise educational opportunities and given the population of Nigeria more Universities may be needed in order to provide opportunities to the teeming population of people who qualify for education.
But then when government is unable to provide all those universities, there is need for partnership between the private sector and government. That explains why government has tended to liberalize the establishment of universities so that individuals, church organizations, corporate bodies, etc could establish universities. Government is trying to establish standards that must be met; that any individual that wants to establish universities must follow. That’s what the National Universities Commission, NUC is doing. And if the NUC would put its feet down and ensure strict compliance with the stipulated standards I think the problem of poor quality education will be solved.
But It’s not doing enough; NUC is not doing enough because we know of compromises. We know what people do when they go for accreditation; we know. So in principle, yes the guidelines are enough to make the quality of education substantial. But those implementing those standards get compromised along the way. That is the problem we have.Let’s zero in on Abia State. What’s going on in the state?
Let me believe I understand you to say what’s going on in the state. What is going on in the state is excellent administration of Abia State . Let’s start with the vision of His Excellency. First of all let me say that when we judge His Excellency we plead with the people to understand the peculiarity of the circumstances under which he emerged. I was appointed SSG because His Excellency believed that I did well as the Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University. My people didn’t lead a delegation to him. Nobody did. He saw that and because he is talking about merit, he’s talking about competence. He’s talking about credentials; he’s talking about credibility. He’s talking about ability.I commend what he’s doing because this is in the context of limited funds. All of us know. You see, people say go to Akwa Ibom, go to Rivers State . How much is Akwa Ibom receiving? How much is Abia receiving? So we have to judge in the context of the availability of resources.He has led Abia back into the PDP fold. It’s a wonderful plus.
When the kidnappers that were dislodged from River State gravitated into various South-Eastern States, Abia became unbearable and investors fled. It was the connection of His Excellency with the Federal Government that attracted the federal troops and other agencies to deal a fatal blow to that scourge that threatened the economy of Abia State . And kidnapping literally disappeared.All the people in Aba fled. Industries folded up; powerful individuals disappeared, went on self-exile. But today life has returned because peace has been restored.
Investors are coming back. In fact a few days ago Guinness Nigeria Plc returned, they had earlier fled from Aba . They came to launch one of their new product DUBIC lager beer. They have now come, established a brewery and they started manufacturing because the environment is now conducive. These are some of the dividends that we have benefited by returning to the mainstream of the Nigerian politics.
We’re able to plead with the federal government and we received very ready hearing. So part of what they did, they didn’t just come back talking about Guinness, they’re now official sponsors of the Enyimba Football Club Jersy.Abia has industries why is the state not doing well in internally generated revenue.
The factories weren’t functioning. Golden Guinea was not functioning. The Modern Ceramics Industry was not functioning, Aba Textile Mill was not functioning.
These are potential revenue earners. Nigerian Breweries in Aba folded up and disappeared. It is now that it came back.
For Aba, one would say you have Ariaria market why don’t you get revenue from it? Ariaria had remained impassable. You will hear of “Ukwu-Mango” and there are about six to seven roads that are being tarred in Ariaria.
We thought that it was unfair to impose a taxation or go to take from them when we’ve not created the enabling environment.In Ariaria area we will now morally feel justified to ask for money, internally generated revenue from them. Before now IGR wasn’t coming!
We have involved in a number of consultants who have done well in some other states of the federation to Abia State and we’re experimenting and the experiment is yielding positive results. And internally generated revenue is beginning to increase now. It’s a gradual process the people have to be keyed into the process..
And that is one. We cut our coat according to our cloth. And when we also remember also that on the average Abia will receive N3.5 billion when conditions are very favourable and we spend N2.5 billion paying salaries and wages we have only N1 billion left. From this N1 billion doesn’t it amaze you that so much is being done. Not less than N5 billion has been sunk into Aba roads as I speak with you.
Sir can you mention the roads?
Three weeks ago we commissioned four roads in Aba – three roads in Aba plus the pedestrian crossing at Abia State polytechnic, Aba. It’s not just creating roads, we demolish illegal structures and excavate drains .
So it’s not just as simple creating roads. What are there for us to see? We could not go to commission things that do not exist. That famous Ukwu-Mango road is a major stake because it reduces the distance to Ariaria market. And within Ariaria as many as six or seven roads are tarred within that environment.
Not to talk about Port Harcourt Raod, Ohanku Road several of them within Aba; Old Express/Samek, Aba-Owerri( Express Road junction Railway Crossing), Danfidio Road, Obikabia Road(eleven kms), Aba Town Hall- Fire Service, Azikwe Road, Umuocham Road, Ohanku Road, East Street Erosion Control completed and work is in progress in several other roads including Umueze Road, Ekeakpara Road, and some Federal roads This is in respect to Aba. The same massive road construction work is going on in various other parts of the State.Needless to talk about federal government roads that are being rehabilitated by Abia State government. If you take Umuahia - Akara Road , it’s a federal road; if you take Ohafia – Arochukwu road; it’s a federal road, but it’s the state government that has taken over the rehabilitation of those roads. Reason: it’s not the federal government that uses these roads. It’s our own people. It’s our vehicles that break down each time they pass there.So, in terms of the roads in Aba and elsewhere there’s hardly any part of the state, including my community, we’re from Abiriba – the road leading from Amogudu cutting through the city into two, passing through up to Ali Ndi-Oriri was tarred by the state government.But talking quite seriously I think in the context of the money we had whether it is justifiable. Yes, because it is not just roads alone. The infrastructural development is to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs to thrive, that’s why it has looked at and focused and invested in power generation.At the moment there are two power generating sub-stations. One from Osisioma and the other one from Ohinya, Ohinya is close to Umuahia. In the next 14 days or less, Umuahia and its environs will have light up to Isikwuato. And the other one will power the whole of Aba area. We believe that with electricity you can engineer industrialization. Several other things will come easily with constant electricity.
There’s hardly any community in Abia State that doesn’t have a transformer. Yes, there’s hardly any.So if all these things are happening why are people not happy with the regime?There are administrators that do one thing and they go announcing to the whole world “I’ve done this, I’ve done this”, Ochendo by nature is is reserved. He talks very little but does very much.
And unless you are very close to see what he’s doing; it’s like his generosity. He is a simple man.
People sometimes mistake his gentleness for weakness.If His Excellency receives a message that you’re bereaved, if he’s not there in person he will send somebody. I have consistently gone on his behalf to people who would not expect even a local government chairman to pay them a visit.
Now let me address what happened in Aba which is interesting. And I like to say that we in Abia State believe that the burial of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was a solemn assembly that should ordinarily attract the sympathy of all Igbo people; where political differences should be submerged.Unknown to us our APGA opponents had prepared to use it as a political platform. First of all, they told us that the body of Ojukwu would arrive at 7am – in order to allow them flood the stadium with their hired and indoctrinated crowd most of whom were not Abia indigenes. We were warming up for 7 O’clock they gave us another announcement “Oh it’s coming at 12noon” and we relaxed, only for them to fill up the place. And by the time we arrived, the paid and well-indoctrinated hoodlums had occupied strategic parts of the stadium. I understand that each of them was paid N2,000. Check how much money a state government would dish out to hire 20,000 hoodlums and pay them N2,000 each And the directive for them was once His Excellency stands up begin to hoot, once another governor comes up, begins to applaud. Our people are humane; we’re hospitable. Sometimes to a fault. And we allow everybody have a field day and a free hand. More around – in Aba . We did not mind that leadership of several trade unions are non-indigenes. We don’t mind, but then our political enemies have casshed in on this liberality to use those structures that we allowed to exist in the name of democracy to fight against us.Let me tell you, I have security report that APGA planned to take over Abia in 2015 and what APGA is doing is to sow seeds of discord amongst the people.What you’re saying is that the protest was stage-managed?
Stage-managed! Completely stage-managed! And I have my reasons for saying so. If it is the same group, does Aba have how many populations? One homogenous population. How come that when we returned to commission projects it was a heroic welcome that Ochendo received? Then who were those that were hooting a few weeks earlier? Where were they? They have received their pay and gone away!
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