LAGOS- A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Emeka Charles Kalu, has condemned assassination attempt on Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, describing it as barbaric.

Kalu, National Coordinator of Peoples Democratic Party Coalition (PDPCO) and former governorship candidate in Abia State, who spoke to DAILY INDEPENDENT on Tuesday, stated that the attack on Ortom showed that the All Progressive Congress (APC) government of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed.

According to him, “When bandits, hoodlums, and terrorists will now outwit the nation’s security apparatus and try to engage and attack sitting governors in a shoot-out is a strong indication that the government has failed in its responsibility of protecting the citizens and the nation.”

Kalu said it was disheartening that with the complete security blockade by the military and the police, it was surprising that the marauders would now attack state governors with audacity and abduct people in parts of the country.

He stressed: “This can only happen in Nigeria. The Benue State governor is a strong man and is protected by the almighty God. Those so-called bandits do not have the power to take away life because they do not give life.

“A day shall come when we will have a responsible government that can deal decisively with all these ugly situations the country is presently facing, and we will see them no more.

“Then and only then shall we begin to see security in the country. Then, the fear of the unknown will be eliminated and we shall see a new Nigeria, which will be under a government with good policies and upright in governance.”

The family of late Mrs Juliana Okeke has announced that the deceased mother-inlaw of Chief Emeka C. Kalu (National Coordinator, PDP COALITION), will be buried on Friday, April 9, 2021.

According to a statement signed by Dr. Nkem Okeke, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State on behalf of the family, the body of the late Mrs Okeke had been scheduled to arrived at Chief R.N. Okeke’s compound, Awovu village, Enugwu-Ukwu.

The statement read: “With total submission to the will of God for a life well spent, we the family of Late Simon Okeke of Umuezu in Awovu village Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area, wish to announce the transition to the eternal glory of our dear wife, mother, grandmother Mrs. Julliana Okeke (Ononuju).”

“Burial arrangements are as follows:

FRIDAY 9TH APRIL, 2021
8:30 - 9:30 AM: Body lying in State at Chief R.N. Okeke’s compound Awovu village Enugwu-Ukwu

10:00 AM: Funeral service at St. Monica’s Anglican Church Enugwu-Ukwu.

By 1:00 PM: Interment, Followed by Condolence visits at Chief R. N. Okeke’s Compound Enugwu-Ukwu

SUNDAY 11TH APRIL, 2021
Thanksgiving Service at St. Monica’s Anglican Church Enugwu-Ukwu.

Please Note: This Invitation is personal to you to guard against overcrowding. All Covid-19 Protocols must be strictly observed.

Signed
Dr. Nkem Okeke
(Deputy Governor of Anambra State)

A Non-Government Organisation (NGO), Global Initiative for Good Governance (GIGG) has drummed up support for the return of federal character as the country prepares for general elections in 2023.

Dr. Emeka Kalu, the Coordinator, GIGG, in a statement on Monday said that the only way the country could have cohesion, peace and a guaranteed future is for the government to propagate federal character as entrenched in the constitution.

He lamented that rather for the diverse cultures and languages to strengthen the unity of the country; it is gradually leading to disintegration of Nigeria, majorly because of the action of politicians.

He challenged Nigerian leaders to shun greed and parochialism for the greater good of the entire nation and urged greedy politicians to stay away from the 2023 race to create political sanity and cohesion in the country.

He said: “Nigeria currently operates on six geographical zones, and this must be respected for a stronger and a united Nigeria. I always argued that the North-West, South-West, and South-South have produced individuals and wonderful leaders like Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Mallam El-Rufai, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor Kayode Fayemi, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, Chibuike Amaechi, Godswill Akpabio and Goodluck Jonathan among others and therefore should keep away from this race in order to give an atmosphere of peaceful cohesion.

“If the North-West, South-West, South-South have produced leaders that took shots at this lofty offices, it is sacrosanct that in the spirit of equity, the remaining three regions of South-East, North-East and North-Central be given a shot to help stabilise the already tensed Nigeria polity.

“We have experienced situations where the principle of federal character is eroded with impunity, which has put Nigeria in a precarious state. It is our duty as leaders to work hard to make amends, give everyone a true sense of belonging that will restore confidence in the Nigerian project.”

He appealed to the leading political parties in the country to save Nigeria from total collapse by producing candidates from the other geopolitical zones that are yet to produce a presidency in the 2023 general elections.

https://www.independent.ng/group-canvasses-return-to-federal-character-ahead-2023-elections/

The National Coordinator, People's Democratic Party Coalition, Chief Dr. Emeka Kalu, has called on all stakeholders of the party to take advantage of this unique opportunity to reconcile all parties within PDP to ensure a formidable party that can face the daunting tasks of rescuing Nigeria in 2023.

Chief Kalu made this call from his US base and insisted that only peace, reconciliation and total commitment to true change can guarantee emancipation, freedom, security and economic turn around for the nation.

He also expressed disappointment on how Nigeria's security situation has descended to the near-no-rescue situation with the current administration doing nothing more than paying lip-service and dangerous propaganda when our citizens get kidnapped and killed or used for ransom that keep empowering the bandits to do more.

He reminded the party leadership that unless they do more to become a united party to rescue Nigeria in 2023, the people will continue to hold PDP responsible for the suffering they have been subjected to since 2015 when APC took over power.

Further, Chief Kalu commended the leaders of PDP, especially those like Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, Senator Bukola Saraki and the other members of the national reconciliation committee for the good job they are doing to ensure PDP is more united and formidable to pull Nigeria out of possible collapse in 2023. He encouraged them to do more and begged for more support and commitment from members.

A PDP Chieftain and National Coordinator of people's Democratic Party Coalition, Chief Dr. Emeka Kalu, has frowned at the recent vituperative outburst of Senator Smart Adeyemi of Kogi state against Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on the floor of the Senate.

In a statement he signed and made available to the press from the US, the one-time governorship aspirant in Abia State questioned why a supposed law-maker could descend as low as using insulting words to describe a sitting Governor who has performed exceptionally well in the business of giving the best leadership to his people.

"I have heard many ignorant ones argue that Senator Abaribe made some negative comments about Yahaya Bello and that Adeyemi was reacting, I have had the privilege of watching the two videos and I assure you that what Abaribe said was a statement of facts premised on the truth about Bello, yet he never sounded derogatory over the matter that was on the floor on the day which was over insecurity in Kogi State.

"Compare is with the unguarded and unethical comments of Senator Adeyemi that have no bearing and understand that what Dino Melaye said about Adeyemi is not far from the truth.

"But for the avoidance of doubt without apology to anyone, Adeyemi should have understood that a man that lives in glasshouse does not throw stones because when it comes to insecurity, nay, drunkenness, Nigerians know the scores of every governor and every state according to their antecedents and quality of leadership.

"It is so insensitive, therefore, for a man that has a bone to pick with leadership should begin to judge another who is miles away from him in all ramifications.

"It insulted on Abians to call our governor " Champagne Drinking man" when after 6 years, Ikpeazu has continued to live up to his constitutional duties by protecting, security, defending, and progressing Abia in all aspect that cannot be placed at per with his state. We demand an apology" he said.

He finally called on the Senate to compel Senator Adeyemi to offer a national apology to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and the entire people of Abia State.

https://ohafia-tv.com/kalu-frowns-at-adeyemis-comment-on-ikpeazu-demands-open-apology/26/02/2021/#.YDiXh5w9eVc.whatsapp

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engineer Emeka Kalu has called for a thorough investigation of alleged squandering of a whopping ₦22 billion by Senator Godswill Akpabio, who is the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, and the Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Effiong Okon Akwa.

Kalu also expressed support for the ongoing investigation of allegation of attempting to bribe some officials of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB by Akpabio.

Kalu in a statement he signed himself, and made available to Jungle Journalist Media Limited via electronic mail, said that the current corruption charges against Akpabio are one too many, and must not be ignored.

Kalu who sent the mail from the United States of America, warned that the Minister and the Sole Administrator of NDDC, Akwa must not be allowed to get away with the alleged massive fraud which he said has further impoverished people of the Niger Delta.

Hear him: "We are appalled at the high level of corruption cases against Misters Akpabio and Akwa, who heads the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and the NDDC. What's really tragic in the whole matter is that the funds being squandered have been allocated for the upliftment of the people of Niger Delta.

"But these two men sit on our money and dare us. I hereby call for a thorough investigation of these men, whom it has become obvious are far from being honest. Pregnancy cannot be hidden forever, and anyone whose hands are not clean should be tried and jailed for corruption.

"I hereby call on the present administration not to relent in its efforts to curb corrupt practices in this country, and to ensure that justice is served against those who have committed fraud on behalf of the people of the Niger Delta, as well As Nigerians across the gkobe", he started in parts.

Recall that a Federal Commissioner in CCB, Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma on Monday, 22nd February 2021 told newsmen that his subcommittee is currently investigating the allegation of ₦100 million bribe against Akpabio.

According to media reports, Akapabio allegedly offered bribe to the CCB officials to give a “soft landing” to Sole Administrator of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Efiong Okon Akwa over discrepancies in his asset declaration form.

Agbonayinma said the Bureau was looking at the accusation first made against Mr Akpabio by Jackson Ude on Twitter.

“We have been given a mandate by the bureau to investigate the allegation against some officials of CCB that we saw on social media. Let me be specific, one Mr Jackson Ude twitted, and it went viral, that money was given to some officials of CCB by Akpabio. Because of that, a committee to investigate the allegation was set up, with myself as the chairman,” he said.

The embattled Minister, Godswill Akpabio and Effiong Okon Akwa (Sole Administrator of NDDC) were recently accused of having squandered ₦22billion released to the agency by the Federal Government.

It was also alleged that the Minister is building a multibillion naira mansion in Abuja, and would soon take delivery of two private jets bought on his behalf by a front, one Dubem Obaze.

https://jungle-journalist.com/2021/02/23/emeka-kalu-calls-for-probe-of-akpabio-okon-akwa-over-n22billion-nddc-funds-n100m-bribe/

The National Coordinator, People's Democratic Party Coalition, Chief Dr. Emeka Kalu has charged the newly appointed service chiefs to bring in their wealth of experience to chart a clearer course of action, birth fresh ideas that will help to tackle the deteriorating security system and turn it around for the good of all.

Chief Kalu made this call through a message he sent to the press from the United States where he was to witness the just concluded handover of President Joe Biden as the 46th POTUS of America.

According to him, this was good of President Buhari to have heeded the long call of the Nigeria people to change the service chiefs as fresh ideas were necessary to put check to the escalating and uncontrollable security challenges of Nigeria, especially in the Northeast region, which has generally threatened our progress as a people.

In his words: "I received the news with a mixed feeling of joy, but was not surprised because the action was long overdue. But since it has finally come, since our endless calls have been heeded to, it is now up to the newly appointed men to hit the ground running to see how we can be able to restore peace in the NorthEast region and other affected regions fighting one form of security challenges or another.

"I have confidence in the new Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen. Attahiru, he is a man of integrity and the other Chiefs, I hold them in high esteem and urge them to do whatever they can to protect Nigerians.

"I am also appealing to all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion or political leaning, to as a matter of patriotism, give their unwavering support to the men on whose shoulders now rest the duty of protecting the lives and properties of every Nigeria", he said.

One of the established political tenets of Chief Dr. Emeka C Kalu is unwavering support for positive leadership that is anchored on true Democracy, progress and rule of law in all nations of the world.

For a very long time running, Chief Kalu has remained consistent, a force, a mobilizer and a voice for democracy around the universe.

He profoundly mobilized the black community to support the election of Barack Obama as the first Black-American President, and this milestone earned him love from the number one family and goodwill among the Black-Community in the US.

Back home in Nigeria, Chief Kalu led a powerful campaign in support of Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 2019, a keenly contested and won election, all things being equal.

On the African front, he remained instrumental to the emergence of General Umaru Sissoco Embalo, as the current youngest African President and Engr Nuno Nabiam as a working prime minister in the Republic of Guinea Bissau.

His impression in other African soils is widely felt as he is poised to constantly fight for the enthronement of democracy as the only way of life for a civilized 21st century.

To further consolidate his support for a free America where he spent many years as a citizen, and in recognition of his long-standing good relationship with the Obamas and the Bidens, he has jetted out to the United States ahead of the January Inauguration of a new administration that will further deepen the beauty of democracy and liberty for every lover of freedom.

God Bless America.

The National Coordinator, People's Democratic Party Coalition, Chief Dr. Emeka C Kalu, has expressed deep sorrow at the loss of Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu who recently passsd on to eternal rest after a brief illness.

He described the Ex Naval Office as one of the best intellectually and administratively sound gentlemen Nigeria has ever produced from the Southeast parts, regretting that a vacuum created by such a heavy loss will be daunting to fill.

While in the military as a Naval officer, he served meritoriously as a career officer and his appointment as member of the Supreme Military Council in 1975, to his appointment as the first Military Governor of the old Imo State was a good demonstration of his capacity and capability in the military.

Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu was the man that laid the foundation for mordern Imo State through a wonderful master plan that saw to the development of Imo State into a mordern City ahead of Lagos, Enugu and Abuja at that time, a legacy posterity will not foeget easily.

it was after he was appointed Military Governor of Lagos State in 1977 that Lagos State began to enjoy the modern-day city development that it enjoys to date because Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu was a man with a penchant for progress and positive development.

Above all, the Admiral’s life exemplified the best ideals of public service in all aspects of his endeavours and therefore will be greatly missed at all times.

As a politician, his contributions as a NADECO member ensured that the military swear to power was cut shot for Nigeria to return to full fleged democracy, indeed, there is no end the positive contributions of their rare gentleman to the development of Abia, Imo, Southern Ebonyi, Lagos and other parts of Nigeria that felt his leadership accumen.

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.

KALU CALLS FOR DEDICATION, LOVE, COMMITMENT AS PANACEA FOR PDP GROWTH AND SUCCESS, AHEAD OF 2023 ELECTIONS

As the political atmosphere will soon begin to heat up towards 2023, especially with the most contested Anambra election around the corner, The National Coordinator of PDP Coalition, Chief Dr. Emeka C Kalu, has in his usual insistence reiterated the need for love and commitment as the only panacea to building a strong and veritable PDP that will be capable to face the tasks ahead, even as 2023 is expected to be a deciding moment for the future of our country.

Speaking to Pressmen in Anambra State where he spent the yelitude period, Chief Kalu insisted that what Anambra people needs, likewise all Nigerians, is leadership that will be anchored on providing succour to the plight of the masses, not some money-centered exercise that will only come to serve the desires of the elites while the masses continued to wallow in penury and abject poverty. This is a precedence we must collectively fight to overcome and PDP is the omly party laden with such responsibility as a progressive party.

According to him, “My commitment and dedication is as a result of my unquenchable love for the unity and growth of our great party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

“I am totally committed to the vision of the founding fathers of our great party and I won’t rest until we reclaim power from the failed APC.

This was a sound pronouncement devoid of sentiments and an awakening call to PDP to remember that the masses still believe that only the most populous black party in the world can rescue them from the fiery claws of APC that has masterminded the awkward descend of the Nigeria state from Giant of Africa to a sleeping lion within a space of 6 years with not hope in sight.

Following the arrest of Abuja based blogger and publisher of Ohafiatv News, Comr Amos Kalu by Director Emmanuel Eyaba over a publication made on 4th January, 2021, Chief Dr Emeka Kalu has intervened to bring a stop to a simple issue that could result to injurious end if not carefully handled.

The duo who happened to be friends way back took their fight to social media over simple misunderstanding that culminated in the arrest of the publisher by the accused filmmaker.

Recall that Amos Kalu had alleged that Director Emmanuel Eyaba has a baby mama of 2 decades that produced twins, an allegation Emma dismissed as false information targeted to smear his name. He threatened law suit against the blogger and his platform which in turn led to exchanges and ego play that ended in arrest yesterday, but for timely intervention of the National Coordinator of People's Democratic Party Coalition, Mbem Political Assembly, a political think tank of Ohafia and Okon-Aku Development Union President, Dr Mnecha Kalu, the matter has been brought to a halt.

On his part, Comr Amos has unconditionally apologised to Director Emmanuel Eyaba for dragging him to the public space to prove a point and reiterated that he is open to reconciliation as the desires of all concerned mediators, friends, big stalwarts and family who have insisted on a path of reconciliation cannot be ignored for any reasons.

At this juncture, a meeting will be scheduled for the contending friends to create a common ground for finding a lasting solution to the whole saga to give peace a chance.

https://ohafia-tv.com/eyaba-vs-kalu-reconciliation-feasible-as-chief-kalu-wades-into-the-matter/09/01/2021/

Ebonyi State PDP Press Release ||
Wednesday 30 December, 2020

... Uburu, Governor's Community Now a Killing field

Our Attention has been drawn to the recent political killings in the state. On 26 December, 2020 an Ebonyi Youth from Onueke Ezza South was murdered in his compound till today the security agencies in the state has done nothing.

The State Government that was saddled with the responsibility to protect the life's and properties of it's citizens has equally done nothing but rather threatening the opposition parties in the state. If I should ask must we have one party system in the state but not possible in a democratic system. The Governor has exhibited that He's not a true democrat.

Just this afternoon at the Ohaozara West Development Center (Governor's DC Coordinator) Patrick Enyi masterminded the killing of Mr Chinonso Aja from Umuorji Amenu Uburu all in the name of supporting the Governor's recent defection to All Progressive Party.

It has come to our full knowledge that the Development Center Coordinators in the state are now the Chief Thugs of the state government to unleashed mayhem in their various communities while the security agencies fold their arms and do nothing.

We are hereby calling on all the state security agencies and the state government to live up to their responsibility and bring culprits to book.

As a political party, we must ensure that the the people are protected irrespective of their party affiliation because that's the primary aim of governance and the reason we were voted as Peoples Democratic Party which is still the People's party.

We call for an urgent end to this political killings, threats, violence and intimidation going on the state as we are brothers and sisters before politics.

The Commissioner of Police is being watched to see if this killer will go scot free as usual or the law will take it's full course by ensuring that the killer is brought to book according to law.

The People's Democratic Party will follow this case closely to ensure that justice is done for the 19 years deceased.

©️ Ebonyi PDP Media Team

https://ohafia-tv.com/ebonyi-political-killings-must-stop-now-says-pdp/31/12/2020/#.X-3hrAXit3Q.whatsapp

By Comr Amos Kalu

The question of Nigeria President of Igbo extraction in 2023 has been christened 'Igbo Presidency' and it has taken the center stage of our national discourse, and rightly so at this critical time in the history of our nation.

Without mincing words or sounding apologetic with realities facing us, I will bold say Nigeria has retrogressed since 1960 after independence, rather than progressed and we have continued trying to sound politically correct by being economical with the truth of it when it comes to pointing out those errors that have held us down to state of stagnancy, disrepair and unprogressiveness. Yet I reckon that in all sincerity of purpose and for the love of the possibility of a future for Nigeria, this is not time to sound politically correct, this is time to end the Nigeria Civil War and move on or continue to pretend about it until it causes us the nation. The inevitability is presently before us in plain sight.

I have always argued that Nigeria is a nation that love "playing the Ostrich" with our realities, challenges and shortcomings when we should actually confront them, defeat them or fail while trying. No problem solves itself until a solution is proffered.

An Ostrich is a big bird that is very strong and so powerful that it can confront any danger or probably defeat it if it were to stand its ground. But when an Ostrich senses danger around it or is chased by any other animal, the first reaction to the danger is to escape because the bulky body and long legs can afford it the advantage of escaping the danger.

But when the Ostrich outruns its danger, it takes the advantage of space to dig a very big hole in the ground, put its head under the sand and cover the head up with sand, leaving the whole body outside totally exposed to whatever danger it must have escaped from. That way, Ostrich usually lose its life to attackers without putting up a fight that would've saved its life instead. This is how Nigeria has handled all her dangers till now that it have almost consumed her.

The Nigerian civil war of 1967 - 1970 has remained one of the worst challenges to the existence of Nigeria in many respect, as the war ended with a rhetoric of 'No Victor, No Vanquished', while the realities of victor and vanquished did place power firmly in the hands of the North who believes they deserve a lot of booty for a war well fought, thereby relegating the surposed vanquished South East to the reality of submission to the truth of 5%ters, hence the failure to reintegrate the East and move on. The Ostrich disposition made rubbish of the powerful RRR proposed by Yakubu Gowon after the war, the rest is now History.

The Ostrich attitude, systematically hid history from her people, shared power among the victors, created policies that only serve to milk the conquered South to Develop the North, yet we all pretend that all is well. It has festered, brewed bad blood, disunity and it gave birth to pockets of agitation that are gaining momentum even as the 'stick and carrot approach' has continued to fail, yet the Ostrich is still hiding its head under the sand from realities of her danger. "FOR HOW LONG?"

Possible Solution

In as much as the people from South East had over the years tried to play along with the guilt of a defeated people whom are constantly reminded that they almost ended Nigeria in their quest for freedom from politically motivated killings of her people, yet there's limit to how long a man can endure, especially when the generation being punished are different from the generation that actually fought for their freedom, the result is what we witness today.

In retrospect, since the Southeastners have come out to say we are part of this project called Nigeria, we wish to Rehabilitate, Reconstruct, and Reintegrate (RRR), in the true sense of the word, then the North and the rest of Nigeria should see it as the first opportunity to truly end the war existing in the minds of the victors and exploit the opportunity to move Nigeria forward for the first time in her history as no nation progresses under the atmosphere of rencour, distrust, disunity and tribalism in a multicultural, multiethnic and diversity polity like Nigeria.

This is time to end the Civil War by producing Nigeria President of Igbo extraction as the only panacea to salvaging what is left of Nigeria because the North will be mistaken is they ever continue to lay claim to the ownership of Nigeria as the people that have conquered the rest who should always bow to their wills.

The Ostrich must brings its head out of the sand to face her danger or die in its self inflicted dangers.

Comr Amos Kalu is a media practitioner and political analyst, writes from Abuja.

https://ohafia-tv.com/igbo-presidency-nigeria-will-not-progress-until-the-civil-war-is-over/17/12/2020/

Last week, precisely 12th of December, 2020, we were greeted with surprise (though not unexpected), of launching of a new security outfit called Eastern Security Network by the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The display was a full military parade that got me thinking aloud, where are we heading to in Nigeria out of our own lackadaisical attitude towards every sensitive issues?

The part that surprised me most was the staggering truth that this is a result of failed system under the auspices of APC and President Buhari who in their wisdom and inaction had put Nigeria to the option of self defense to keep existing when insecurity of lives and properties have become a certain culture, a norm.

It brought us down to the reality that if the Eastern Governors had acted promptly to set up even a local vigilante to compliment our ever ready police, we wouldn't have got to this pedestrian, the delinma of this oversight is that this IPOB outfit has been greeted with much accolade and acceptance that any attempt to quash it will be counter productive, that means we are all sitting on top of a ticking time bomb built by our own hands.

This same cluelessness of the center dominated and controlled by the North in a bid to show strength above other regions as people in total control had equipped and empowered Hisbah Security and legalized it even when the same Government under the care of Northerners were against regional policing. A case of 'different strokes for different folks' while hunting down and incarcerating IPOB, pardoning repentant Bokoharam soldiers, they also unleashed the Fulani Herdsmen who brandish sophisticated weapons in a country where arm is not legalized. The said Herdsmen maim, kill, rape and attack people at will since 2015 without any condemnation from the Federal Government. They sack villages and move on as if nothing happened.

Irked by this lopsided treatment of other citizens by the Northern folks, Yoruba people of the Western Region who feel threatened, birthed Amoteken, which has come to stay.

The political class of the South East continued to sound politically correct not to offend the Northern region and didn't act, yet within her ranks lived those who placed lives over political interests and today we have Eastern Security Network.

That is not even the least of my concern at the time being. My trouble stem from the fact that while Nigeria is battling with Bokoharam in the North whom we are yet to know the source of their sophisticated weapons, the Bandits operating in the same North are not less armed.
Yesterday I watched a troubling video where Nigerians were asking questions "How were the ESN suddenly armed with AK47 within days of formation", even as Amotekun, Hisbah, Niger Delta Avengers, etc are all armed?

It will be foolhardy for the present government to believe that all these issues will just varnish without concrete solution. It will be even worse mistake for the North to think they can continue to hold unto power endlessly in the present condition of Nigeria without consequences. This is time for retrospection.

I believe that the best thing the North can do at this material time is to yield to the call for dialogue and possible restructuring of the system where everyone's interests can be protected in peaceful manner rather than endlessly living in a false unity that has only retrogressed us.

The fact remains that Nigerians are not giving in their best to build her as a result of the sense of alienation prevalent in the polity where others believe the nation is for the North while the North believe it is their right to lead in perpetuity.

The sanest approach now is for the North to rally support for Nigeria President of Igbo extraction come 2023. I am of strong believe that once this compromise is reached, it will give the Southerners a new sense of belonging that change is possible and this will give room for true dialogue, reconciliation and progress.

I have not given up on hope that most of the daunting challenges being faced in Nigeria will naturally resolve itself when every entity works in favour of Nigeria with the commitment and believe that tribes exist for Nigeria and not the other way round.

Chief Dr. Emeka Kalu, National Coordinator PDPCO, Southeast Director Reset Nigeria Group.

https://ohafia-tv.com/before-it-is-too-late-kalu-reacts-to-eastern-security-network/17/12/2020/

According to the book of ecclesiastics: Ecclesiastes: 3

"[1] There is a right time for everything". Taking cognizance of this biblical knowledge in respect to Sen. ANYIM'S political attainments; it becomes so convincing that the word of God is without spot. Inferring from the above, the following are my observations:

1. Sen. ANYIM is a child of destiny. He is predestined to be what he has become and he is always ready to allow nature to take its course in accordance with ( Ecclesiastes:3 [1] There is a right time for everything)

2. Sen. ANYIM was a first timer in the Nigerian Senate yet destiny and TIME located him as the Senate President without struggle. How this happened was never to the glory of any man but to Almighty God who had done this to launch EBONYI STATE proper into the Nigerian mainstream politics and to the benefits of those who have been made by Anyim's network. In fact, 80% of Ebonyians are made by Anyim in politics and in civil service.

3. Sen. ANYIM in his kindhearted nature never take glory of any service rendered to humanity, no wonder he never claimed anyone's political godfather even though it befits him.

4. Let the wise think about this; imagine if ANYIM had not been Senate President, what could have become of EBONYI STATE in Nigerian state.

5. I remember all the attempts made so far against ANYIM just to discredit him right from the time of his Senatorship. He electrified IVO/ISHIAGU but those who thougth it would project him well in the minds of the commoners went and vandalized the electric polls and the masses in their ignorance never revolted against them. Yet the VULTURES have gathered once again in their usual practice which have become their destiny/ calling and career to discredit ANYIM.

6. Time played another important role when ANYIM became the first SGF of Igbo extraction. Again, ANYIM never struggled to become as it was destiny playing out even when no one anticipated that.

7. Those who have not taking time to think and meditate on the GRACE upon ANYIM have simply assumed that they can swallow him or even BURY his political career overnight. Notwithstanding, they have forgotten that ANYIM made them.

8. Recently, the campaign of disrespect against the person of ANYIM is not only childish but aswell laughable as the saying goes: " ignorance is a disease". ANYIM is not holding Any political position, he is an ordinary party member of PDP why fighting him to teeth with all you have? In this regard, this further buttress the GRACE of God on this young man. I am convinced that even when ANYIM goes the way of our fathers, he will leave many spirits for selfish men to fight. Although, he still have plenty time to live.

9. On a more serious note, ANYIM is yet to believe that he is what he has become. He doesn't know what God have for him next neither his jealous enemies whom refused to be humble enough for God to bless them as he had done to ANYIM. Every selfish man will always declare war against ANYIM because he is a man of equal justice as far as EBONYI STATE is concerned.

10. In conclusion, as we wait for TIME and GOD to lift ANYIM higher again beyond the expectations of his jealous, wicked and selfish enemies. I make attempt to say, it's difficult for any man to calculate the destiny of ANYIM as it's only God can direct this. However, even if God is done with ANYIM, we appreciate Him( God) so well for giving us Ishiagu/EBONYI ANYIM. In my next world if it does exist may I be in same clan with ANYIM not this wicked and FUTURE SUCKING uncle I have in Ngwogwo community.

GOD BLESS SEN. ANYIM PIUS ANYIM.
NGWOGWO SHALL BE GREAT AGAIN
WRITTEN BY OSSI OGBONNA.

At a time our Nation is embattled with economic recession and our state bedeviled in an unimaginable political upheaval occasioned by overzealous and illogical quest for power by the Governor of Ebonyi State which culminated to the unjust sack and dismissal of men who laboured for the victory of the Governor in the toughest game of 2015 general election which was almost a war and 2019 general election only to be rewarded with starvation and humiliation.

In the light of this, His Excellency Sen. ANYIM PIUS ANYIM in his usual way of empowering the downtrodden and believing in building human capacities that will continually be self sustaining.

Development as a social science concept is a multi faceted phenomena, therefore it transcend from infrastructural, socio-economic and human development.

SEN. ANYIM PIUS ANYIM since his venture into politics in 1997 has been on the vanguard of empowering and building human capacities which is the Hallmark of development in our contemporary society.

Today as the present Government of Ebonyi State look forward to see her disengaged appointees die of hunger, HIS EXCELLENCY SEN. ANYIM PIUS ANYIM has come to alleviate and cussion the effect of the political turnaround in the state as he has promised and kickoff the payment of all the disengaged appointees above what was initially payed to them by the state government.

Politics according to David Easton is " Authoritative allocation of values". His Excellency SEN. ANYIM PIUS ANYIM has chosen to allocate his hard earned wealth to the betterment of all that came across him.

Little wonder in October 2019, His Excellency SEN. ANYIM PIUS ANYIM in his mentorship program exposed over 500 youths to the way of making wealth through training by highly respected individuals with international repute and today over half of them are currently doing well in their field of endeavor.

To this end therefore, I call on other politicians to come and learn from this great political institution.

To God be the glory

Following the high level of insecurity across Nigeria with the kidnapping of over 300 students of Government Science College, Kankara the recent of them all, more reactions have continued to trail the abduction of the students from the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.

Reacting to the development, Chief Dr. Emeka Kalu, a chieftain of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and National Coordinator of People’s Democratic Party Coalition (PDPCOALITION) have condemned the attack saying, the action of the bandits against innocent school children was unacceptable.

Kalu in a statement signed by him, called on security agencies to immediately swing into action with a view not only to rescuing the missing students but also apprehend the perpetrators and make them face the consequences of their action.

The former Abia guber aspirant also described the development as an unfortunate reminder of the terrorists’ attacks, with the slaughtering of over 70 rice fields farmers near the village of Zabarmari, Borno State still fresh in the memory of Nigerians.

He described the attack on innocent school children as not only cowardly but also callous and a crime against humanity, prohibited under the international humanitarian law.

Kalu noted with regret that the action of the bandits totally affects Nigeria’s effort towards enhancement of child education and development.

While commiserating with parents of the children and victims of the incessant killings in the North in particular and the country in general, the PDP leader called on the bandits to lay down their arms and release those in their custody.

According to the PDP leader, the attack on the school was a further confirmation that the security situation in the country was not getting better,hence the need to immediately rejig the nation’s security architecture beginning with the sack of service chiefs.

He slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for his very slow commitment to addressing security challenges in the country.

He tasked the president to immediately rejig the security architecture of the country beginning with the sack of service chiefs who it noted,had become exhausted to face the increasingly worsening security situation.

“The news of the kidnapped students of Government Science College, Kankara is regrettable and embarrassing. There’s the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice. Those responsible for these terrorist attacks should be held accountable.”

“Let me express my profound condolences to the families and friends of those kidnapped by “these heinous acts of banditry and terrorism. The President must act urgently to rescue these innocent students.” part of the statement stated.

The David Umahi's "President Buhari Loves Me and I Love Him, Too Theatric: Differentiating Fact from Fiction

When first I came across the report of the love jamboree between the president of Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari and the estranged governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi on the media space, I was smeared in the dew of guffaw. Why was I laughing? I was laughing because, the two men who claimed to be entangled by common love are actually not known to be two lovebirds, neither do they have respect for friendship. Though one could vouch for president Buhari in this regard, having brought close to the corridors of power his few friends, but such cannot be said of the "Defector-General" of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi.

I am writing as someone who knows the governor and a very critical student of his public lifestyle. I can be said to have graduated from this voyage of characteristical scholarship of him. Engr David Umahi doesn't have a known friend in his entire life and doesn't keep friendship for that matter. He goes contractual about everything that he does. Whenever he's in dire need of your services or assistance, he calls you in, either pays you or would trick you into seeing him as a genuine friend and when the result is achieved, he discards you and later denies having known you for the very first time in his life. Evidences abound.

In the buildup to the 2015 general elections, then, Engr David Umahi was deputy governor. His principal, the then Gov. Martin Elechi denied him an endorsement to succeed him as governor after telling him that he learnt he's not a good with power, pointing out that he's mercantile with power and obviously amorphous to opposition. Something later happened. Umahi befriended all the political actors in Ebonyi State and beyond. It was a superficial show of affection, or what could at best be described as political love affair. The then president Goodluck Jonathan was one of such friends he made at the time. Others were: Patience Jonathan, Arthur Eze, Cletus Ibeto, Anyim Pius Anyim, Sam Egwu, Franklin Ogbuewu, Lawrence Nwuruku, Obinna Ogba, Fred Udeogu, Sylvanus Ngiji Ngele, Fidelis Nwankwo, Sonni Ogbuorji, Emmanuel Agboti, Emmanuel Onwe, etc.
These men are the top-notch political actors in Ebonyi State whom he befriended around 2014-15 when he justled for the guber ticket of the PDP in the state.

After winning the election, the friendship took a mysterious flight. I want to ask you who are reading this article, 'have you ever heard that former president Jonathan Goodluck or his wife was in Ebonyi State since 2015 for an official function? Have you ever read Umahi eulogize the former president or his wife who was particularly hellbent on installing Umahi against the wishes of Ebonyi PDP and the then outgoing governor? His friendship with them was momentary. Once he achieved the purpose for which the friendship was established, he turned them political foes.
He instead wangled his way into the APC as a PDP governor. He abruptly forsook all of the men that made him who he is today politically.
He forsook Cletus Ibeto and Arthur Eze. He forsook Anyim Pius Anyim and Sam Egwu. He forsook Obinna Ogba and Franklin Ogbuewu. He forsook Sylvanus Ngiji Ngele and Fidelis Nwankwo. He forsook Lawrence Nwuruku and Emmanuel Agboti, etc. That's the kind of friendship Engr David Umahi keeps.

Now, he has come up with another theatrical parlance: "President Buhari loves me and I love him, too". This was exactly how he started it in 2014. But the difference is clear now: acquisition of presidential ticket is not as easy as that of gubernatorial ticket. People are now wiser. Those he used and dumped, but who are still very much relevant in the political space have got a lot of tales to tell about Umahi's love stage show. Many people are not going to fall victim of this decrepit or outdated political smokescreen. He has disappointed many who are still apparent in the business of politics in Ebonyi and at the national level. Maybe you are yet to hear that Osborne Umahi, his 22 year old first son has refused continuing marriage rites with the last child of president Buhari. His father has superimposed the mandate on him - success of which he thinks could lubricate the viability of his aspiration to get the APC's presidential nomination come 2023. The young boy is averse to such a mercantile connubial escapade. He's presently enmeshed in a domestic battle of interest with his superlatively desperate father. And this is one of the driving forces of the fictive love that the governor has said to have with president Buhari.

And in the event that Gov. Umahi later loses the APC presidential ticket come 2023, would he still be in love with his soulmate, president Muhammad Buhari owing to his history of contractual and theatrical political love affair with the political class?

Nwoba Chika Nwoba wrote in from Amangwuru Village, Ekpelu, Ikwo LGA of Ebonyi State.

Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Elder Fred Udeogu has dragged the State Chief Judge, Justice Anselm Nwigwe before the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) an ex parte injunction in the suit challenging Governor Dave Umahi’s decision to suspend the PDP State Executive Committee.

Udeogu had in the 4-page petition dated 7th December 2020 addressed to the NJC and CJN called for “an immediate investigation into the quick re-assignment of the case by the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, to himself after the visit of the Governor of the State, Chief Dave Umahi.”

He observed that “Hon. Justice Ngene recused himself from hearing the matter following the objection raised by one of the respondents, that he had a blood relationship with Ebonyi State Governor, who had shown more than a passive interest in the matter, adding that the case was therefore subsequently remitted to the Chief Judge for re-assignment on the said 2nd December 2020”.

He alleged that “the Chief Judge met with the Governor on the 4th December 2020, who is sponsoring the Plaintiffs in the said matter for his political gains, and quickly assigned the matter to himself”.

He further claimed that “sequel to the meeting between the Chief Judge and the Governor on the 3rd December 2020, at about 1 pm, I got information that the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, who had assigned the after to himself after the meeting with the Governor, sat and granted an ex parte application restraining the Caretaker Committee from acting”.

According to him, the “application was heard in an empty courtroom with only a seat for Mr Roy O. Umahi Nweze, the younger brother to the Governor, and another table and seat for the Chief Judge, as no other person, including members of the public could gain entrance into the Court, as the seats in the Court were all removed preparatory to the legal year fixed for the next day.”

While describing the action of the Chief Judge as “very disappointing”, he called for the Council’s intervention, stressing that: “If nothing is done urgently to forestall future occurrences, and correct the bad impression, given by the conducts of the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, the image of the Judiciary in the State, will be exposed to public ridicule.”

According to the petitioner: “The matter was remitted for re-assignment on the 2nd of December, 2020, the Chief Judge re-assigned it to himself and granted an ex parte order on the 3rd December, 2020.

“I further urge you most respectfully Sir, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sitting of the Court in a day, when there was absolutely no seat in the Court, consequent upon the leak year which was coming up the next day.

“I respectfully further urge you to investigate the circumstances surrounding the speedy grant of an ex parte order on the 3rd of December 2020, behind the back of parties who were in Court, on the 2nd of December 2020, the previous day, without as much as, putting them on notice,” .

He also urged the Council to “take urgent steps to redress the obvious travesty of Justice so as to sustain the hard-earned confidence the Judiciary enjoys as the last hope of the common man in the society,”.

Udeogu further claimed that “Hon. Justice Ngene recused himself from hearing the matter following the objection raised by one of the respondents, that he had a blood relationship with Ebonyi State Governor, who had shown more than a passive interest in the matter, adding that the case was therefore subsequently remitted to the Chief Judge for re-assignment on the said 2nd December 2020”.

Udeogu added that the sequel to the meeting between the Chief Judge and the Governor on the 3rd December 2020, at about 1 pm, I got information that the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, who had assigned the after to himself after the meeting with the Governor, sat and granted an ex parte application restraining the Caretaker Committee from acting.”

Besides, Elder Udeogu in a petition entitled ‘Urgent need to recuse yourself from proceeding with the conduct of the case in Suit No: HAB/161/2020 and dated 9th December 2020; between Chief Barr Onykachi Nwebonyi & 2 Ors V Peoples Democratic Party & 11 Ors, addressed to the State Chief Judge, Justice Anselm Nwigwe, argued that justice would not be served.

“I am one of the defendants in this matter which you just recently reassigned to your Court and granted and ex parte order in favour of the Plaintiffs.

“I write to your esteemed office sequel to my earlier petition to the Chairman National Judicial Council, in respect of your handling of this matter.

“My Lord, the impression on any ordinary bystander, watching the proceedings in this matter, notwithstanding the petition, pending against your person at the National Judicial Council, would be, that justice will not be served in this case against the Defendants.

“It will be in the best interest of justice that My Noble Lord, recuses himself from further conducting proceedings in this matter pending the hearing and final determination of my complaint already pending before the NJC, in Abuja.

“A copy of my petition to the Chairman of NJC is attached herewith for your information, my Lord.”

Source: Vanguard News Nigeria

As permutations and national discourse has continued to build in favour of the argument for Nigerian President of Igbo extraction at this crucial moment in the history of Nigeria, albeit, the dwindling unity, spiraling economic quagmire and total insecurity bedeviling Nigeria.

In a Press Statement issued by the National Coordinator, People's Democratic Party Coalition, PDPCO, Chief Dr Emeka C Kalu in Abuja, and signed by his Media and Publicity Aide, Comr Amos Kalu, he has encouraged the main party to employ every level of diligence in seeking solutions through actions that will engender equity, unity, purpose and political hope to many Nigerians who has continued to float on uncertainty of possible future for Nigeria.

He argued that the only solution to myriad of Nigeria's problem is to ensure unity and tranquility returns to the polity as Nigeria can on thrive under peaceful atmosphere, insisting that this atmosphere has eluded Nigerians under the present administration of Buhari and APC. PDP must ensure confidence is restored in the system by laying out actionable processes that tells the people that their mission is to save Nigeria for Nigerians and not just to grab power back in 2023.

"If you look at the national burners, the call for Nigerian President of Igbo extraction has taken the center stage and I believe that only the party that understands this time and key into it will come out more victorious in 2023.

"Above all our challenges, lack of unity and sense of belonging of the South Easterners has remained one of the factors threatening the unity and progress of Nigeria as the cry of marginalization has continued to permeate the very sinuses of our continued existence as a multinational, multicultural and multiethnic nation.

"I will be glad if the People's Democratic Party understand the times and do the needful by reposing the confidence of Nigerians in the system, essentially the South East people who has so far been denied the opportunity to take a shot at the number one position in the nation.

"I will also advice the South Easterners to as a matter of urgency engage in dialogue and negotiations across every other regions to assure all that the quest for Igbo Presidency will not be an opportunity to revenge or retaliate any perceived wrong doing against the region since 1960, but rather a sign of opportunity for Nigeria to naturally heal and unite for a better future.

"But I know that the party in its wisdom will know what is best for the party and the nation, therefore we will always remain true to her course at all times to ensure that PDP will bounce back to the center in 2023 to rescue Nigeria from further decline" he promised.

https://ohafia-tv.com/pdpco-charges-party-to-tow-line-of-equity-against-2023/10/12/2020/

PDP EBONYI STATE CHAPTER PRESS RELEASE ON SUSTAINED SPONSORED STATE ACTS OF POLITICAL INTOLERANCE

TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER, 2020

Our attention has been drawn to the sudden unwarranted illegal closure of the private School belonging to Barr. Agbom Friday, duly licensed to operate as such, by the Ezza South Local Government Chairman.

Barr. Agbom Friday is the PDP Chairman for Ezza South Local Government Area and has remained resolute on his decision to continue as a loyal member of the People's Democratic Party in Ebonyi State. This is his only sin - refusal to decamp into the APC.

Suddenly, his business endeavour has suddenly become the target of State as they've alleged that the School is a harbour for cultist in the Local Government Area. When did they know of this fact? Was it when he refused to decamp with them?

Just two days ago, His Excellency, Governor David Umahi made an open declaration for peace in Ebonyi State and also directed his subordinates to desist from acts that will advance bitterness in the State. With this brazen act of intolerance coming from the Local Government Chairman of Ezza South and other political office holders therefrom, could the directive of the Governor be a mere window-dressing, designed to deceive while politically motivated attacks are sustained by his appointees and boys?

If the Governor truly meant his directive, then we should see a serious resentment from him regarding this open act of intolerance and psychological violence meted upon Barr. Agbom.

As we have stated repeatedly, it is not a crime to refuse the lure of decamping along with the Governor. Politics is the epitome of freedom of Association as encapsulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and no one can be forced to belong in a Political party that he or she is not interested in.

The action of the Executive Chairman of Ezza South Local Government Area is condemned in totality and he is called upon to immediately re-open that school. It is still the duty of the Nigerian Police to fish out criminals, arrest and prosecute them.

The Governor is called upon, also, to once again admonish his appointees and followers to desist from further harassing or using their office to intimidate citizens simply because they have refused to decamp into APC.

The PDP is compiling records of these abuses and will soon begin publishing same on national dailies and televisions for the whole nation and international communities to see what is happening in Ebonyi State. We will not be deterred by needless intimidation and attacks.

Thank you.

Barr. Silas Joseph Onu, MCIArb (UK)
Publicity Secretary
PDP Ebonyi State.

ANY IGBO MAN THAT CONSIDERS THE POSITION OF A VICE PRESIDENT IN 2023 MUST BE TREATED AS A SABOTEUR-  NUF

{…Southeast Presidency In 2023 Is Non-negotiable, Says NUF Boss, Mba}

Otu Obiahu, AJM NEWS

The Chairman, BOT of Ndi-gbo United Forum (NUF) Chief Chinedu Mba has reiterated the call for non-negotiability of Nigerian President of Southeast extraction come 2023.

He made the call in Abuja during a strategic meeting he held with a cross section of Northern and Southwest leaders.

Chief Mba who traced the story of Igbo struggle for proper and practical reintegration since after the civil war that produced No Victor, No Vanquish slogan that has not really been activated noted that the Igbos of Southeast have not felt the reign of power democratically especially with the latest 1999-2019 democratic experience and experiment.

He stated that the meeting was one of the steps being taken to build stronger and enduring bridges with a view to letting the rest of Nigeria see reasons and strongly identify with the political desire of Southeast come 2023.
According to Mba , the Presidential election in 2023 should be made to reflect the candidacy of 2019 whereby the two major political parties fielded only Northerners and appreciated the leaders across North and South that has openly spoken in support of the Southeast project of Nigerian President of Southeast extraction noting that with the growing support,  the project was achievable and deliverable.

Chief Mbah further advised the political parties to do all within their powers and structure to ensure that their flag bearers are Igbos of Southeast stressing that anything short of that won’t be acceptable.
On fear of Igbo cohesion and possible emergence of multiple candidates for presidency, he said it’s the best and a sign of seriousness as only one candidate each will be produced by political parties.

He asserted that Igbos will not be the first to have many candidates as “Chief Olu Falae, Chief Obasanjo, Chief Gani Fawehnmi, Chief Bola Ige contested among themselves. Furthermore, President Buhari, Alhaji Atiku, Mr Ndanusa etc also contested amongst themselves”.

With regards to the gale of defections, the Chairman of BOT unequivocally submitted that NUF is unperturbed about who’s jumping ship, who just jumped and those waiting to jump in veiled reference to the recent defection of Ebonyi State Governor, Engr Dave Umahi from PDP to APC.

“The interest of Ndigbo which NUF represent as a sociopolitical organization is to work with and partner with political parties to see to the emergence of Ndigbo as their candidates”.

He disabused the notion that Igbos lack deep political assimilation and cohesion and challenged Nigerians and political parties to throw the bones to the dog and watch how it would do justice to the bones.
Chief Mba warned that no Igbo man or woman should ever and even consider position of Vice-president as it’s not part of the deal in any form and cautioned about the dire consequences of such move “because such fellow will be treated as saboteur and will never have a landing right or a place called home in Igboland”.

“All efforts and energy are geared towards Presidency and not Vice-presidency because NUF will mobilize Igbo Youths against such sacrilegious act of subversion”.

Chief Mba assured at the meeting that NUF and other organizations will mobilize Igbos during registration exercise with a view to massively turning out to vote during elections and also urged political and opinion  leaders to intensify consultations in this respect.

Responding on behalf of the stakeholders, Alhaji Mustapha Umar advised Igbos to put out their best for the contest, educate her people against voting apathy and carry other sections of the country along.

He pledge the support of the groups for Nigerian President of Igbo extraction come 2023 and urged Nigerians especially the political class to support Igbo President Project in the interest of justice, equity and fairness.

https://theajm.news.blog/2020/12/09/any-igbo-man-that-considers-the-position-of-a-vice-president-in-2023-must-be-treated-as-a-saboteur-nuf/

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo has set up a three member committee to wade into the feud between Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen Anyim Pius Anyim.

The committee Members Include, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Igwe Alfred Achebe and Sen. Ken Nnamani

The President General of the organisation , Chief Nnia Nwodo announced this at their general meeting ( Ime Obi) held at Nike Lake Resort Enugu.

Chief Nwodo described as unfortunate media war by the two Igbo Leaders in the past weeks, and charged the committee to stop at nothing to reconcile them.

The Organisation also received and approved the report of Prof Osita Ogbu led Alaigbo Stabilization Fund Steering Committee.

The President General said under the arrangement, Ndigbo Development Foundation and Ndigbo Investment Will be set up to serve as a catalyst for the development of Igbo land.

On the forthcoming General election of the organisation slated for January 10, 2021, Chief Nwodo announced Electoral committee saddled with the responsibility of conducting elections into various offices.

He appealed to Ndigbo to be diplomatic in all forms of agitations for the sake of national unity.

The Governor of Imo State , Sen. Hope Uzodinma urged the technical committee to come up with implementable proposals that will benefit Igbos at home and in diaspora and assured that Imo whose turn it is to produce next President General will ensure that a credible candidate emerges.

He announced that South East Governors approved a parting gift of a Prado jeep to Chief Nnia Nwodo, and Igwe Alfred Achebe, the outgoing President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo and outgoing Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers council respectively.

The " Imeobi" which is the highest decision making organ of Ohaneze was attended by notable Igbo Sons and Daughters including the Governor of Ebonyi State Engr David Nweze Umahi who was represented by the Deputy Governor Dr Kelechi Igwe.

(Dr. Monday Uzor
Chief press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi state)

Well, this article is not intended to lampoon His Excellency, the incumbent governor of Ebonyi State, notwithstanding, it will let your 'Yours sincerely' know that victims of his media opprobrium are Their Excellencies in differing domineering capacities.

The unwarranted media attack has however, spurred outright pother and uproar among professionals. As some argue for, others opine against the moves. But a close examination of all the people who beck the governor's hebetude has shown that over 60% of them are held by the hook of political appointment. About 20% are hopelessly hoping to catch the bait of same while the remaining 20% are hired praise singers in the guise of aides. All will soon be clear once the mass Exodus begins...

It is quite quizzical that the same men you lambast are people whose beneficence you had erstwhile enjoyed during your journey to the seat you ocuppy today. (Both in cash and kind). The same men you sang hymns on the campaign altars while they sat in solidarity at the front seats; The same men whose characters you told us, are ambrosial. How come did they turn Cultists and IPOB sponsors overnight because of internal fracas? Or does it mean you have been their Chief accomplice in the act throughout all these years of hypocrisy? (So to say). Well, who knows... All we know is that majority of the Ebonyians believed in you because of them respectively.


It was His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan that said in 2017 thus:" leaders think about the next generation while politicians think only about the next election." Does it mean you are no leader but a mere politician? We thought we elected a leader but your action has no resemblance of such.

At this point, I don't think it's necessary to start fighting for the next election when the mandate for the second tenure has not been attained not even a tenth of it. The only two things we have achieved in your getting to six years in office now are hire and fire appointments and infrastructure. Be applauded for the good job because the hire and fire style of engaging people is really showing that you are running an all inclusive government heavily infested by hunger everywhere.

Yours sincerely, please do lead us, we are tired of politicking.

PDP is not shaken in Ebonyi State but some people will continue to run from pillar to post till January 2022 when the battle line would be obvious...

If I were you, I would let the sleeping dog lie.

Engr Osita Kalu Ugoji

https://ohafia-tv.com/the-attack-on-ebonyi-elites-the-last-phase-of-umahis-political-hegemony-osita/06/12/2020/

{.... Ebonyi Lawyers Go Political, Give Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim Seven Days To Apologize To Gov. Umahi, Same Way He Wrote An Open Letter To Him}

Below Is The Full Text Of The Communique:

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY CONCERNED EBONYI LAWYERS’ FORUM ON THE PROVOCATIVE, INSULTIVE AND INCITING LETTER ISSUED BY OUR COLLEAGUE, SENATOR ANYIM PIUS ANYIM AGAINST THE GOVERNOR OF OUR DEAR STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY ENGR. DAVID NWEZE UMAHI FNSE, FNATE.

CONSCIOUS of the dividends that the prevailing peace and tranquility has brought to our dear State of Ebonyi;

EXCITED at the magical transformation of our dear State by the current administration led by our workaholic and visionary Governor, His Excellency Engr. David Nweze Umahi;

CONSCIOUS of the travails that our State had gone through in the past as a result of the now customized feud between Senator Anyim Pius Anyim with virtually every Administration in our dear State;

WORRIED that the current vituperations and inciting comments coming from this same Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (who ordinarily should be a symbol of peace in our State) could lead to crisis with its attendant human rights violations in our State;

CONSCIOUS that as Social Engineers and conscience of the Society, we as Lawyers ought not to fold our hands and watch our state slide into anomie;

We, the Concerned Ebonyi lawyers Forum rising from our meeting held on 4th day of December, 2020 hereby state as follows:

1. That we commend his Excellency, Engr. David Nweze Umahi for his dogged commitment towards the transformation of infrastructure and standard of living in Ebonyi since his assumption of Office in 2015.

2. That we have taken special note of the various measures put in place by the State Government to ensure that Ebonyians live and go about their businesses unhindered and unmolested.

3. That His Excellency, the Governor of our dear State just like any other Citizen of our State has the freedom of Association including the right to join any political party of his choice as enshrined in Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)

4. That the exercise of that right by our Governor does not warrant the calculated verbal attack and insults coming from Senator Anyim Pius Anyim in his now widely circulated infamous letter published on 30th November, 2020.

5. That as Lawyers, we know that our Governor while he holds that Office, represents the face and image of our dear State and in particular, every one of us and as such, any insult, disrespect or defamation of his character remains a slap on all our faces.

6. That as lawyers and Colleagues, we are still in search of the impact which Senator Anyim Pius Anyim has made in our State even after holding the highest Political Position in the South East since the advent of the nascent democracy in Nigeria.

7. That we view the open letter written and circulated in the media by Senator Anyim Pius Anyim as not only defamatory of our State as a whole but as a precursor to engendering crisis reminiscent of the type generated during His Excellency, Senator Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu’s Administration which led to unprecedented loss of lives and property in the State.

8. That we request of Senator Anyim Pius Anyim to retract the libelous publication contained in his letter under reference, offer a written apology to our Governor and the People of Ebonyi State and to give such retraction and apology the same publicity he gave to his defamatory letter within SEVEN DAYS from the date of this Communique or be prepared to face mass legal action.

9. That we cannot allow anybody no matter how highly placed to truncate the peace and accelerated progress which we are currently enjoying in our State.

10. That we remain committed to enduring peace, rule of law, inviolability of human rights and a free society anchored on mutual co-existence.

SIGNED BY THE UNDERSIGNED

It will be foolhardy to discountenance the influence of the entire South-Easterners ahead of the 2023 presidential election says PDP chieftain, Dr Emeka Kalu.

Kalu, who is the National Coordinator of PDP Coalition stated this following the backdrop of some PDP leaders agitating for the presidency to zoned to the North in 2023.

Reacting to what has become a hot political debate, Kalu in a statement warned that PDP may misfire if they underrate the Igbos who stood by the party since 1999 and gave her close to 7million votes across the nation in 2019 Presidential election.

He said “The leadership of PDP should not underrate or neglect the South-East in the decision making of the party with regards to zoning of party’s presidential ticket.”

“The South- East has sacrificed tremendously for the wellbeing, survival, growth and development of the party. They shouldn’t be underrated in 2023. The aspect of zoning the presidential ticket should be thoroughly debated by all and unanimously agreed on to please all and sundry.”

“The South-East contributed to the formation of the PDP through Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Ezeogo Anaga Ezikpe and Orji Uzor Kalu. Prince Vincent Ogbulafor was National Secretary and Chairman when the party controlled 24 and 30 states respectively. Late Ojo Maduekwe was National Secretary when the party won in 28 states and so, it’ll be irresponsible to underrate the same people who led the party effectively.”

https://ohafia-tv.com/2023-presidency-pdp-chieftain-urges-party-not-to-underrate-south-east-geo-political-zone/04/12/2020/

PRESS RELEASE

WHY I AM GOING BACK TO PDP

After a critical review of the current political scenerio in Ebonyi State, especially since November. 19, 2020, when Gov. David Umahi decamped from PDP to APC, I, Abia Onyike have decided to return back to the People's Democratic Party(PDP). My decision to return to PDP is based on the following reasons:

1. That Gov. David Umahi is not prepared to turn a new leaf in his dictatorial, totalitarian and autocratic leadership style in the governance of Ebonyi state-a situation that has unleashed mass poverty and mass impoverishment on Ebonyi citizenry. In my own Afikpo South LGA, Gov. Umahi has failed the people through his continuous support and singular empowerment for a political block which operates the MoreCanBeDone killer-squad and his failure to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate recent killings in the area has made the political faction more impudent and virulent in the vicinity. Umahi's government is far from being a democracy. "It is a self-serving anarchist banditry", apologies to Dr. Chidi Osuagwu who used the term to describe the excesses of anti-democratic charlatans in our midst.

2. Gov. Umahi wants to continue in his usual government of anarchy. through which instability , violence and lawlessness are exacerbated in the governance of the state. As we speak, a new wave of killings and loss of lives is gradually unfolding in the state in Ezza North and Ezza South LGAs, no thanks to the regime of mpunity prevalent in the state. The political space is already fouled by antagonistic propaganda being fuelled and targeted against those wanting to toe a different and independent path of political party affiliation, especially those who have expressed their resolve to be in PDP.
Gov. Umahi sees public office not as an instrument for the provision of welfare for the citizenry, but as a platform for personal and family agrandisement. He runs an anti-peoples government and has by so doing declared himself the enemy of the people. He is self-willed, self-opinionated, self-serving, self-centered and selfish.

3. I am convinced that those who make up the PDP in the state now are tested leaders and like-minded Patriots who are committed to the genuine development of Ebonyi state, hence my decision to identify with them at this critical moment.

4. I will remain opposed to Gov. Umahi's government because of:
i. His lawless approach to governance and administration, such as appointing the State Accountant-General from outside the civil service to facilitate looting of public treasury. Take note that from 2015-2019, Gov. Umahi ran the state without Permanent Secretaries, which was deliberately done for free for all looting of funds without administrative checks and balances. Ebonyi looks like being in a state of war because of Umahi's extremely greedy, covetous and nepotic administration.
ii. His commitment to selfish and useless White Elephant Projects which serve as conduit pipes for looting public funds. Umahi built unnecessary projects such as the ₦7b Ecumenical Centre, the ₦6b Shopping Mall and new Government House, Ochudo City, just to create conduit pipes for siphoning funds. Within nine months as Governor he amassed illegal wealth scattered all over and built more than 20 mansions in his village residence at Uburu with a private stadium, aircraft landing facility, hotel annexes and cinema complex with the asphalting of the compound sprawling in several hectares of land.
iii. Lack of Pipe Borne Water in Ebonyi State, especially Abakaliki, the state capital. Ebonyi is the only state without a Water Board in Nigeria. This has fuelled fears of a possible return of the guinea worm scourge. But the 419 government built water fountains in major roundabouts to deceive visitors that all is well. Take note that Section 390 of the Criminal Code is on Stealing while Section 419 deals with Stealing by tricks including the stealing of public funds. Gov. Umahi's disruption of Ebonyi civil service and his refusal to follow the rules of the public service in running Ebonyi state is the waging of war against order and lawful governance. They break the law in order to embark on looting and pillaging of the common patrimony in a predatory manner.
iv. Continuous deliberate impoverishment of Ebonyi Citizens, through the evil policy if non-payment of gratuities to retired workers since 2015, payment of half salaries to Ebonyi civil servants, denial of promotions since 2015 including the liquidation of the Democratic ethos in the local government system in order to facilitate looting of council funds with impunity. Others include the introduction of punitive taxation policies targeted against landlords, artisans, traders and rice dealers. 80% of the funds coming to the state enters Umahi's pockets. And some Ebonyi people have noted that his hands are also in the pockets of Ebonyi Citizens, including retirees (lma aka na akpa). Now, non-indigenes are leaving Abakaliki in droves this December and may not return after Xmas as their shops were seized or destroyed without compensation. While Ebonyians are hungry, Gov. Umahi has been sending trailer loads of rice to Northern Chiefs in his desperate ambition to become President in 2023.
v. Seizure of Construction activities by the Governor's family's construction companies, refusal to award contracts to other contractors. Insistence on using direct labour to execute projects worth billions of Naira which is illegal and runs contrary to procurement rules. The Abakaliki Indigenous Contractors Forum which had been in operation since the incipient days of the return to democracy has been rendered moribond by Umahi. Refusal to patronize the Abakaliki Building Materials market, thereby jeopardizing the circulation of money in the state. He has personally taken over the mining of solid minerals in the state. Mining business is a tradition in Ebonyi and the pencil used for mining in Nigeria was produced in Abakaliki by colonial masters because of the quality of the lead which is 85% pure Galena.
He downgraded the state-owned Ebonyi Hotel and converted it to his Ekubaroha Youths outfit. Then his own personal hotel-Osborne La Palm hotel became the official hotel in the state. He transformed the ongoing new Ebonyi Hotel facility near Nkwoachara to the Department of Engineering of EBSU but today, nothing is happening there.
vi. The destruction of Ebonyi State University and College of Education, Ikwo. Gov. Umahi reduced the funding of EBSU from ₦250m to ₦100m, started threatening salary deductions for Lecturers and then unilaterally and illegally proscribed ASUU and NASU. Under the previous governments of former Governors Dr. Sam Egwu(1999-2007) and Chief Martin Elechi 2007-2015), the monthly subvention to EBSU remained at ₦250m. Umahi abolished scholarships in Ebonyi and made a policy of zero employment in the state civil service. No single employment of the youths has taken place in the state since Umahi became Governor, even though people are retiring from service monthly. He always preaches that people should go to the private sector but when he became Governor in 2015, he brought all his blood brothers who were living in several parts of Nigeria to come and join his Government and chop. He also attacked the Judiciary workers in Ebonyi state in July, 2020 by forcefully changing their leadership while trying to break their strike. He had factionalized the trade unions in Ebonyi state so as to paralyse the collective power of the working class movement in the state. During the 2019 elections, Gov. Umahi, then contesting under PDP wangled his way by getting his moles in the APC top hierarchy to divert the funds meant for his opponent, the APC guber candidate, Sen. Sunny Ogbuoji, who found it difficult to continue with the election and Umahi was returned. This is a high profile political crime for which Umahi may still be tried at the International Criminal Court at the Hague. Perhaps not knowing how criminal it is for one to subdue your opponent in that manner in an election, he recently boasted that he will sow seeds of discord in the opposition party and will be seeping his champagne while they fight themselves.
Gov. Umahi has annexed about 50 hectares of Ochudo City for himself, thereby distorting the Ochudo Masterplan.
vii. Declaration of war against Ebonyians through the use of hunger and starvation as instruments of instalmental deaths. Any body who criticizes the Governor is ruthlessly dealth with. Just like me. Gov. Umahi seized my monthly pensions and gratuity. I have not received any pension since June. 2020. Then he instigated his appointees to initiate several court cases against me.
viii. The PDP in Ebonyi state must be used as a liberation movement to rescue Ebonyians from the stranglehold of Gov. Umahi, whose inordinate ambition is to hand over power to his proxy with his son as the next Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, come 2023.

Abia Onyike,
Former Commissioner for Information,
Ebonyi State.

https://profjaysblog.com/2020/12/03/ebonyi-state-apc-bigwig-abia-oyike-set-to-decamp-to-pdp-give-reasons/

By Ndubuisi Michaels

The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora (AESID) has called on the federal government to quickly intervene to avert political crisis in Ebonyi state, saying its deeply interested in the peace, prosperity and progress of the state.

The concerns is raised over the recent open threat, intimidation and killing of two citizens for allegedly refusing to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) since the defection of governor Dave Umahi.

In a statement signed and made available to newsmen Wednesday in Abuja by the AESID President, Amb. Paschal Oluchukwu, said governor Umahi should be cautioned from making further unverified, unauthenticated and un-factual allegations that could spark the fire of political restiveness and unrest in Ebonyi state.

“For wherever wars have taken place in history, words certainly went first. He must also in addition Iimmidiately call his appointees to order to avoid further attacks on innocent members of the opposition who are simply maintaining their inalienable constitutional right to freedom of association.

“We are therefore deeply worried that rather than face and confront these common issues of hunger, poverty and deprivation which our state that is rated the poorest in the entire Southern Nigeria is currently facing, governor Umahi in reality has chosen to remain an out-of-touch, unfeeling, feudal and anti-neoliberalism with consistent policies that have rather worsened the economic status of our dear Ebonyi state.”

While condemning the reported shooting to death of one Shedrack Nwode and his girlfriend for refusing to shout ‘APC!’ during the thanksgiving service of one of the government appointees at Oriuzor, Ezza North LGA of Ebonyi state on Monday, the association called on the Presidency, Inspector-General of Police, the Director, Department of State Security (DSS), the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Attorney-General of the Federation and indeed, all relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian to ensure that nothing happen the elders and leaders of opposition party in Ebonyi state, their members, supporters and well-wishers.

These leaders, according to the AESID include; “the former President of the Senate and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, the first Civilian Governor of Ebonyi State and serving Senator representing Ebonyi North zone, Sen. Sam Ominyi Egwu, the Senator representing Ebonyi Central and his Southern counterpart, Senators Obinna Ogba and Ama Nnachi respectively.

“Others are; the member, representing Afikpo North/South Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives and the Vice-Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Iduma Igariwey, the member representing Ohanivo Federal Constituency, Hon. Livinus Makwe, his Ezza North/Ishielu counterpart, Hon. Edwin Anayo Nwonu, member representing Abakaliki/Izzi Federal constituency, Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga and his Ebonyi/Ohaukwu counterpart, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku.

“Also on the list are stakeholders like; South-East Vice Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Ali Odefa, the zonal Auditor-General and immediate-past member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Hon. Lazarus Ogbee, zonal Youth leader, Comrade Chidiebere Egwu a.k.a (Hulala), all members of the State Care-Taker Committee of the PDP led by Chief Fred Udeogu, PDP elders and former NASS/ State Assembly members like; Sen. Emmanuel Agboti, Sen. Igwe Nwagu, Hon. Linus Okorie, Hon. Oliver Nwachukwu, Hon. Luke Nkwegu, Chief Frank Ogbuewu, Senators Emmanuel Onwe and Nguji Ngele, Chief Fidelis Nwankwo, Chief Boniface Ofoke, Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, Chief John Nwenyi, Chief Julius Amah Orji and a host of other elders and stakeholders who signed the Abuja communiquè and vowed to remain in the PDP.”

Oluchukwu said security agencies “must also provide adequate security and protections to the following lawmakers in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly who chose to remain in the PDP; Hon. Chris Usulor, Hon. Victor Aleke, Hon. Humphrey Nwuruku, Hon. Mrs. Franca Okpo, Hon. Chidi Ejem, Hon. Ngozi Eziulo, Hon. Ali Okechukwu, Hon. Oliver Osi and others who are in the PDP.

“AESID’s plea is highly predicated on the directive of Governor Umahi after last week’s security meeting that security agencies should ensure the implementation of policies on tinted glasses of vehicles in the State, the use of siren and the police escort.”

The Ndi-Igbo United Forum (NUF), a social political organization has expressed its resolve to work with all Nigerians of different socio-political and cultural leanings for the actualisation of Igbo Presidency come 2023.

The Chairman Board of Trustee, NUF, Chief Chinedu Mba who stated this in Enugu on Monday while speaking with newsmen said allowing President of Igbo extraction will bring the needed peace and unity.

Chief Mba noted that other tribes in Nigeria have gotten their own due share in the leadership of the country since independence and called for equity and fairness in the political equation which he said will not only enhance development but strengthened democracy in the country.

The NUF BOT Chairman said while the group will not fault agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra’s for an independent state of Biafra, it will align itself to promoting one Nigeria.

His words: “We are part of Nigeria and in 2023 I believe Igbo man will emerge as the President of the Federal republic of Nigeria.

“I believe in political power sharing, turn by turn and with that you will find out that there will be peace in Nigeria.

“Any political party that nominated an Igbo man as its presidential candidate, Ndigbo United Forum, will mobilize our brothers and sisters all over the world to ensure that the party wins the election”.

https://ohafia-tv.com/igbo-presidency-will-unite-nigeria-and-bring-the-needed-peace-says-nuf/01/12/2020/

The recent outburst exhibited by Ebonyi State Governor, Engr Dave Umahi has continued to generate reactions, even as many concerned citizens and human rights writers have called on Umahi to desist from fanning embers of crisis where such is nonexistent.

The Nigerian people woke up last week to a surprising accusation leveled by Umahi on other PDP Stalwarts from the state who he vowed to fight to a standstill over what he termed as "Rumours", coming from unverified sources, but which he deem credible enough to stir more tentions in the already tensed polity, dragging the security operatives to a non-existent war he (Umahi) want to raise in Ebonyi state to punish other PDP Stalwarts that refused to decamp to APC with him.

Recall that Umahi accused Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, former Senator and Secretary to Federal Government, SFG, Senator Sam Egwu, former Governor of Ebonyi State and other top PDP Stalwarts of plotting and hiring thugs to cause crisis in the State, even when he said the rumour was unverified.

Reacting to such weighty accusations in a chat with pressman, The National Coordinator, PDP Coalition, PDPCO, Chief Dr. Emeka Kalu, said that what Umahi is doing is playing to the gallery for not having his defection the way he calculated it, but insisted that he is not perturbed by such tantrums and absolute laothsomeness coming from a man that has benefitted so much from PDP, but has turned to lick his vomit. He said he was only worried that Umahi may have bad plans against his perceived opponents in Ebonyi State and what he is doing now is a coverup to absolve himself of whatever plans he must have cooked.

"Nobody has issue with Umahi decamping to APC, but if he didn't find it palatable like he envisaged, he shouldn't be whimpering like a child spanked by his mother, he should sulk in his pains like a man an face his realities, that's what politics is all about, sometimes you lose sometimes you gain, now he has lost, he should not drag the state into crisis to get back at people who saw ahead of him in the political terrain of Nigeria.

"Is it not ironical to say that Ebonyi State for many years had remained peaceful under PDP, then immediately he decamped to APC, Umahi is talking about a phantom plot that is capable of causing further crises in Nigeria and intentionally dragging the security apparatus into whatever mischief he is cooking up?.

"This is why every Nigerians, especially Ebonyians should be worried. I am calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to activate every mechanism neccessary to Investigate Umahi before he causes further security issues borne out of his personal vendetta. He should not be allowed to hide under the shadow of APC to cause carnage that will further escalate the precarious state of our dear nation". He opined.

Chief Kalu further advised Ebonyians to remain law abiding as the whole Nigerians will continue to watch and wait for whatever Umahi is cooking up to punish those that refused to join him in his political suicide mission.

"Only a man that brought home an ant infested firewood should be worried of ants. We are a peaceful party, Ebonyi is a peaceful state and therefore no ambition of one man can prove it otherwise.

"Whatever position Umahi has find himself now, he should know that many had occupied if before him and many will still occupy it after he has long gone. Therefore he should not abuse his powers by witch hunting people whose political opinions differ from his.

"The chief aim of all of us as politicians is to give the best to our people and make life more conducive for them as far as we can possibly make it and not to engulf them in woes out of our own ambition", he concluded.

https://ohafia-tv.com/kalu-advises-umahi-stop-sulking-like-a-beaten-baby-absorb-your-pain-like-a-man/01/12/2020/

OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR DAVID UMAHI ON HIS WILD, INFANTILE, AND UTTERLY SENSELESS ACCUSATIONS AGAINST MY PERSON

Copy: 
   
1.   The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria 
2.   Inspector – General of Police 
3.   Director – General, State Security Service 
4.   Chief of Defence Staff 
 
In a widely circulated media briefing on the 27th November after a formal Ebonyi State security council meeting, Governor Umahi stated as follows: 

“I want the media to note, that I reported an allegation that some Ebonyi people are engaging cultists and according to them some IPOB Members to start killing and causing crisis in Ebonyi State in the name of fighting Ebonyi State Government and the governor and their leader is Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and their members are Dr. Sam Egwu, Senator Obinna Ogba, Mr. Ali Odefa and others. The same Senator Anyim Pius Anyim fought the former Governor Sam Egwu and many people were killed. 

…...I have also directed Security Agencies to ensure the implementation of policies on tinted glasses of vehicles in the state, the use of a siren and then their police escort. If they try to fight the State, this will be their last fight, they will not fight again”. 

1. I would not have bothered to respond to this gibberish by a sinking man but for the compelling need to put the records straight and forewarn the public about the sinister plans of a man who personifies everything ignoble, shameless and despicable.  
 
Gov. Umahi is pitiably delusional. He is a prisoner of his greed and inordinate ambition. Here is a drowning man looking for who to drag down with him. Gov. Umahi has made his worst mistake after his latest misadventure by taking on me and other noble and respectable sons of Ebonyi State who have served and continued to serve our dear State with resolute commitment, dedication and integrity. 
 
2. The case at hand is his defection to APC on the 19th of November, 2020. The discerning public knows that he has been on the plan for a long time and when he decided to consummate it, he suddenly concocted an accusation against PDP, that PDP was not willing to zone Presidency to the South East. When he spews these allegations, he would not even mind whether they make sense or not. He did not have the mental capacity to reason that no party in less than two years into a new term would bring the next election unto the front burner. That even in APC where he has gone to, the issue of next election is not yet on the table as doing so would distract the government.  
 
3. People who know Gov. Umahi know that he normally starts this way whenever he is hatching a sinister plan. He raises dusts, makes wild allegations and accusations against people just to divert the attention of the public before he strikes. It is public knowledge that Gov. Umahi had been planning his defection to the All Progressive Congress, APC for a long time. In his delusion, he believed his own lies that he is the only man who matters in Ebonyi State. He did not consult with anybody notable before consummating his defection to APC. After his defection, no person of note followed him.  

4. Unable to contain and manage the unsavory reactions from the public he ran to my home in the company of some high-profile people, on the 20th of November 2020, and pleaded with me to defect to APC, saying that if I do, others will follow suit. I pointed out to him that his approach has made it almost impossible for anybody to defect. He pleaded with me that if I cannot defect now, I should not attend any PDP meetings, and I said no, I must attend PDP meetings as long as I am in PDP. He realized that he could not persuade anybody when he saw the crème of Ebonyi Elders and citizen that gathered for the inauguration of PDP Caretaker Committee. He could no longer sleep and declared war on every one who has refused to defect with him.  

5. I would not have taken his present spew of baseless allegations seriously, but because I suspect he is under a spell and perhaps something is pursuing him. He may have been told that he will need to kill before he would achieve his present enterprise and so to build up a scenario for him to kill, he will need to spew allegations of killings even when they make no sense. I have no doubt that Governor Umahi may have been told that he needed blood to accomplish his present enterprise, otherwise how can a man in his 6th year as Governor of a State suddenly realise that a former President of the Senate, a former Governor of the State and two-time serving Senator Dr. Sam Egwu, Senator Obinna Ogba, two time serving Senator, are now cultists and IPOB members. Something is wrong somewhere.  
It is obvious that either something is pursuing Governor Umahi or that he is pursuing something. For those who know him well, please notice that his lips have shifted out of shape and his eye balls shrinking. Something is pursuing Gov. Umahi.  

Gov. Umahi’s modus operandi are well known and his moves are easily predictable. The three examples below will elucidate this point:
 
1. The case with Pastor Ephraim Ononye 
Pastor Ononye was the pastor to Gov. Umahi’s campaign organization in 2015. Midway into his term, he requested the pastor to start praying for the next term. The pastor declined to be part of his second term agenda. He was so enraged that he walked the pastor out. The following day he accused the pastor of murder and that he was running an illegal school. He unleased security agents against the pastor. The pastor’s school with about 900 pupils was closed till today. On the 2nd of June 2017 while the church was having a night vigil with some widows, he sent security agents to go and close the church. They manhandled and threw the women out into the rain and seven days later, one of the women died. That wicked act has continued to hunt Governor Umahi till date. It is obvious that the spirit of error has come upon him. Gov. Umahi was told that the only way he could win the election was if he ate on the street. Governor Umahi quickly organized a State Banquet on the street at Udensi roundabout and Ebonyi people attended without knowing that it was a ritual dinner. Only Gov. Umahi knows how many Ebonyians that have died mysteriously after that dinner. 
 
Gov. Umahi is the only governor in Nigeria that organizes dinner on the street. Since I got to know the reason behind the street dinner, I stopped attending his functions. After he won the election, he arranged for his close associates to reconcile the pastor and himself. When he was asked why he did not keep his promises, he replied that he was not God that keeps promises. 
 
2. The case of Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh 
Professor Odo was the first of the three SSGs he has had so far. When Prof Odo could not fit into his various schemes, he decided to resign with a widely publicized resignation letter. Governor Umahi was so offended and hit back by setting up a committee to probe the Agric loan disbursement committee which the former SSG chaired. The former SSG responded by writing to EFCC to thoroughly and properly investigate the Agric loan saga as he was ready to provide all information relating to the purported loan transactions. When Governor Umahi realized that the former SSG was not intimated but ready to spill the beans, he backed down and nothing till today is heard of that committee. He had since reached out to the former SSG for a truce but the man rebuffed him. The public should be aware of Gov. Umahi’s use of wild allegation as a weapon. I’m sure if the former SSG had agreed to a peace meeting he would have apologized and if you ask him why do you lie, he will say that he is not God that speaks the truth. 

3. The case of Charles Otu 
Charles Otu is a journalist in Abakaliki, he wrote an article that was offensive to the Governor. On the 3rd of June 2017 while he was at a newspaper stand, a bus with the inscription “Akubaraohia Youth Vanguard” pull up and at gun point he was dragged into the bus and taken to one corner of Government House, Abakaliki where he received severe beatings until he passed out and they dropped him on the street, up till today, Mr. Otu is yet to regain his full composure. When Gov. Umahi boasted to the two journalists, he accused of offensive articles that “if they think they have the pen that he will show them that he has  KOBOKO”. Charles Otu’s treatment is what Gov. Umahi meant by KOBOKO. The two journalists, Mr. Chijioke Agwu and Mr. Peter Okutu should thank their God that the public outcry that greeted the Governor’s outburst saved them from the Koboko treatment, who knowns whether they would have come out alive as many never did. But for lack of space, the examples can go on and on. 


The purpose of this response is to alert the public and the security agencies in particular on the schemes of Gov. David Umahi so that they will read him upfront and be wary of him and his allegations. Accordingly, all concerned should note as follows:  
 
a.  I believe that Gov. Umahi needs help. He was not in this shape when I picked him. His present behaviour is certainly not normal. His behaviour and utterances are strangest whenever he puts on the costume for the new enterprise – an oversized white Agbada and an elongated red hat that over sizes his head. I want to advice his brothers to seek psychiatric and psychological help for him before it is too late. 
 
b. The only offence we committed is that we refused to follow Gov. Umahi in his political adventure. We do not know when belonging to parties of one’s choice has become an offence against a Governor or means fighting a Governor.  

c. It is clear that Gov. Umahi may have been told that he needs to kill a high-profile person in order to achieve his mad ambition. Ebonyians should be wise and those he is preparing to use for the killings should know that after using them he will also plan to kill them to cover his track. Examples abound. 
 
d. Security agencies, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Judges should note that Gov. Umahi had boasted as follows: 
 
- That one of the gains of his defection is that he has been promised absolute use of the security agencies for all that he desires to do. 

- That the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation is his friend and will soon visit Abakaliki the second time and that he will use him to deal with those opposed to him using the EFCC. 

- That he will extensively use the courts to not only make it impossible for PDP to function in the state but also to frustrate those opposed to him including sending them to prison. My advice is that all those concerned should be wary of Gov. Umahi so that he will not taint their soul and ruin their careers, because all his actions and schemes have black sides. 

e. To notify the public that I fully understand that what Umahi meant by  “this will be the last fight I will fight”, is that he will kill me so that I will not live to fight again. While I invite the security agencies to note this plan, I want to assure Gov. Umahi that my blood is not available for him in pursuit of his ambition. 

f. To assure the street dinner Governor that no amount of blackmail or intimidation will compel any of us to follow him. 

g. Gov. Umahi should know that there is a record of those who died mysteriously, violently, and those who just disappeared since he became governor of Ebonyi State. 

On my own part, I will continue to pray for him to recover from his delusion. 
 
God bless Nigeria. 

ANYIM, PIUS ANYIM, GCON
Former President of the Senate 
Former Secretary to Government of the Federation

In the wake of the incencant loss of lives in Nigeria, predominantly in the Northeastern part of the nation, a people who have had brutal share of this ugly trend that has continued to eat up the region and impede her progress in decades. The problem is such that the efforts and energy so far invested in curbing Bokoharam attacks seems to be aggravating and emboldening the sect into worse attack and inhuman tendencies. l rather than dousing it.

This particular happenstance has become a cause for concern for every well meaning Nigerian who has helplessly watched as more Nigerians are being killed, raped, maimed, dehumanized or kidnapped by these dreaded elements that have refused to grow conscience notwithstanding every opportunity given to them by the considerate administration of President Muhammadu Buhari who has acted like a father to give these misguided elements opportunity to repent.

In this light therefore, the RESET Nigeria Group through her South East Coordinator, Chief Dr Emeka Kalu, has made a humble appeal to political heavyweights in the North East to, as matter of urgency proffer their unconditional support to the Governors in a bid to rid the Northeast of this insurgency menace by ripping it from the bud as the Governors cannot handle this alone worsening menace alone.

Chief Kalu pointed out that this ugly wind that is blowing no good has continued to impoverish the region as every means that makes life viable has been grinded to a halt because every effort to survive have been sabotaged by these criminal elements.

"I am humbly calling on Northeast polital elites to come together, they shouldn't leave this problems to Governors alone no matter their differences, this is time to unite and deliver the people because if this trend continues like this, there may not be constituents to lead in the nearest future. This should worry everybody that wants this nation to remain intact and progress.

"Aside from the incessant loss of lives, this is impeding business and economy of the regions, which will in turn translate into the already existing economic hardship against the backslash of the security lapses of the area and Nigeria at large. I think this is time we need to collectively work on getting this issue handled.

"Whatever needs to be done at this point must be employed. I am of the strong conviction that as soon commitment is invested into the fight against insurgency by all the stakeholders who will throw their weight behind the Governors to exploit options like consulting with grassroots, leaders of the areas and arriving at a decisive approach will solve the helpless situation.

"This is because I know that the people called "Bandits, Insurgents, Criminals" etc are peoples children, wards and must be loyal to certain persons with voice of reasons over their lives. I believe that if this approach is exploited with unity of purpose, then respite will be possible to usher in a permanent solution.

"I am very pained with seeing Nigerians die on daily basis for nothing. Let us act now before we run out of action", he cautioned.

https://ohafia-tv.com/reset-nigeria-group-calls-on-northern-elites-to-support-govs-on-insecurity-in-northeast/30/11/2020/