₦airaland Forum

Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representing Abia North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has asked youths who make themselves available for thuggery and election manipulation to stop asking for democratic dividends, saying they lack the moral justification to demand such.

While accusing some youths of constituting a challenge to democracy, the former Abia governor while addressing constituents in Arochukwu recently urged them to make themselves instruments of democratic consolidation and growth.

He expressed sadness that some youths mortgage their future and that of others when they receive stipends for the purpose of disrupting electoral process.

"People should be ashamed that they are still doing thuggery. Then why are you crying for democratic dividends?

"You should not ask for democratic dividends because you have been paid. It is a one-day job.

"So how do you expect roads, how do you expect schools to be renovated, how do you want women to have free medical services"? he said.

He insisted that the address of democracy is visible development that must have a direct impact on the people.

ABN TV reports that the federal lawmaker had accused the PDP-led state government in Abia of using thugs to manipulate the recently conducted Aba North/South Federal Constituency bye-election in which the INEC declared PDP's Chimaobi Ebisike winner.

The APC candidate in the election, Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu while insisting that the outcome of the election does not reflect the will of the people said he will not challenge it in the court.

Former governor of Abia state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has said those who staged a protest against him in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state should have instead protested that civil servants, teachers and pensioners have not been paid by the state government for months.

ABN TV reports that the Senate Chief Whip also demanded that they should have channelled their energy calling the attention of the state government to the bad state of the roads in Aba, Umuahia, Obingwa the local government area of the state governor and across the state.

Addressing the people the people of Arochukwu recently during a project tour in the area, he said democracy is about the development of the people but not political office holders.

While decrying the use of thuggery to manipulate elections, the Senator representing Abia North said lack of accountability in governance is traceable to the use of thugs to win election, adding that those who deployed thuggery to win do not come back to account for the people, saying democracy is about one man, one vote.

"In Aba North and South, go and watch, nothing will happen there in the next two years because we are in a democracy of thuggery. When you employed over 5,000 thugs to win a House of Representatives election, it make no sense.

"People who were demonstrating in Aba should be genuinely ashamed of themselves. They should demonstrate against bad governance. They should demonstrate against people like Enyinnaya Abaribe who have been in the Senate for 16 years without building a single road.

"I have been in the Senate for one year and you can see my report card. It is there in Arochukwu town, and across Abia North" he said.

Recall that protesters had flooded Aba following the conclusion of Aba North/South Federal Constituency bye-election Abia State recently in which PDP candidate, Chimaobi Ebisike was declared winner.

They were said to have staged the protest in jubilation that a younger brother of Sen. Kalu, Mascot Kalu who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC lost out.

Following intervention of political leaders from Abia North, they shielded plans to take the protest to the zone.

Following the discovery of an object suspected to be explosive at Union Primary School, Afaraukwu in Umuahia North LGA Abia State on Thursday, the state government has said it is currently working with relevant security agencies to unravel the source and nature of the explosive devices.

The Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu disclosed this on Thursday in a statement made available to ABN TV.

He said the object is suspected to be relics of the civil war era, adding that EOD department of the Police is currently investigating to definitely ascertain what it is.

The statement partly reads, "While initial examination of the devices shows evidence of corrosion leading to suspicion of the materials being relics of the civil war era, we are awaiting a definite official report from the EOD squad of the Nigeria Police who are currently investigating the incident.

"Meanwhile, necessary measures have been taken to protect the pupils and staff of the school with security sweeps ongoing while the school is temporarily closed.

"Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has directed security agencies to embark on proactive checks in other vulnerable locations out of abundance of caution.

"While we are grateful to God that there is no harm to life or property, we urge citizens and residents to continue to maintain vigilance and report suspicious situations to security agents."

ABN TV had reported that pupils of Union Primary school on Thursday arrived their classroom where they discovered the object.

They immediately alerted the school authority who in turn invited members of the police force.

The object has since been evacuated from the scene while investigation is established.

Fear has gripped pupils and staff of an undisclosed primary school in Afaraukwu Umuahia, Umuahia North LGA, Abia state following the detection of an object later discovered to be bomb, ABN TV reports.

A police source told ABN TV that the pupils arrived in their classroom in the early hours of Thursday where they saw the object.

They were said to have immediately drew the attention of their teachers who informed the state command of the Nigeria Police.

Police were said to have arrived on the scene with the presence of bomb specialists.

The source told our correspondent that the specialists' findings reveal that the object is a bomb.

It has since been professionally evacuated from the scene and the environment certified safe for the pupils and staff of the school for academic activities.

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie has urged the people of Abia State to brace up for better days ahead, ABN TV reports.

In his Easter message to the people of the State, Governor Ikpeazu tells Abians to draw inspiration from significance of the season which is synonymous with fresh hopes and a brighter tomorrow.

"Easter signifies the victory of Light over Darkness, of life over death, and of hope over despair".

"The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after three days bears a message that forms the foundation of our Christian faith and for us in Abia State, it is a clear indication that after darkness comes a glorious dawn" a statement signed by Onyebuchi Ememanka, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said on Sunday.

"The Governor assures the people that Abia is on a journey towards rediscovery to a destination that is sure and settled - the Abia of our dreams.

"The Governor assures the people of the State of his total dedication to the task of rebuilding the State and set it on a path of sustainable development.

"He thanked Abians for their perseverance and support for his administration, assuring them that he will remain relentless in the pursuit of a better Abia.

"Governor Ikpeazu, on behalf of his family, wishes the entire good people of Abia State a beautiful Easter season filled with the blessings of God Almighty" the statement added.

The candidate of APC in the just concluded Aba North/South Federal Constituency bye-election Abia State, Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu has said despite losing the election, his party is not prepared to challenge the victory of the PDP’s Chimaobi Ebisike in court, ABN TV reports.

While adding that he has abundant evidence to prove that the election was manipulated against his party, Hon. Mascot Kalu insisted that Aba people were robbed of the opportunity of effective representation.

"We were winning in more than 400 polling units and they kept using thugs to harass the INEC officials and scare our voters. Our voters ran for their lives. In a city with over 497,000 voting strength, less than 15,000 votes were recorded in the entire election. 

"I commend the INEC and security agents who were overwhelmed and I congratulate them for their services and the risk they took to protect the citizens. 

"I also thank the  National Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Committee,  His Excellency,  Gov.Mai Mala Buni, Aba North and South Party Chairmen, and all our party faithful for their support in the election.

"Even though we have enough evidence to reclaim our mandate, we won't be going to the court. This is to allow the declared winner to concentrate and provide good representation and infrastructure to the good people of Aba.

"Once again I thank the Aba people for coming out en masse to vote for the APC and I congratulate the winner, Chimaobi Ebisike and the PDP,  not because they won but because it's a gentleman to do so."

While decrying the level of thuggery that pervaded the election, the former Chief of Staff called on party faithful to remain calm

"While the opposition wanted the election at all cost, we chose life over bloodshed and therefore won lives and lost the polls. To us, that was a greater victory. 

"The level of thuggery, violence, and rigging that occurred in the election calls for a deeper review of our electoral laws.  Every country is peculiar to it's people, all Nigerians should support the electoral laws that is being amended as it would assist us in getting our democracy strengthened. The electoral laws as it is renders the security agencies with arms weak in the face of violence at the polls and therefore needs a revisit. Granted that the armless police should be inside the polling units, the armed should be within fifty meters away from the units.

"Our opponents flooded the city with thugs numbering over 20, 000. Traders were threatened with text messages to keep away or lose their lives. 

"My campaign officers and our Party agents were kidnapped, even the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Prof Joseph  Iloh was manhandled by thugs at the Aba polytechnics. 

"We campaigned vigorously and Aba people were expectant of improvement from what late Ossy Prestige of blessed memory did. My only concern is that Aba people lost.  They lost a quality representation and chance to have added infrastructures in Aba."

The House of Representatives Candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC, for Aba North and Aba South Federal Constituency, Hon Mascot Uzor Kalu has cast his vote.

ABN TV reports that Mascot Kalu cast his vote at his Polling Unit, Eziama Unit eleven at 11:20 am.

Abia state police command says it has commenced the deployment of officers and men ahead of the Saturday bye-election in Aba North/South Federal constituency of the state.

This is even as the Force warns those it described as troublemakers to stay away from the places where election is taking place especially when they have no business there, saying any attempt to truncate the electoral process will be resisted.

Speaking with ABN TV on Friday, the Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna assured that the police are ready to ensure the safety of Abians before, during and after the electoral process, urging them to move about their businesses without fear of molestation.

"I'm urging members of the public, particularly those in Aba North and South to go out and exercise their franchise because Abia state police command in collaboration with other security agencies are ready to ensure the safety of lives and property throughout and beyond the period" has said.

On the incessant killing of policemen in the state, the spokesperson assured that officers and men will continue to be proactive to protect themselves and others.