₦airaland Forum

You know, I really think that Nigeria should use this window to address all types of issues facing Nigeria's international matches as well. For years, Nigeria has consistently received terrible officiating from FIFA referees in crucial matches.

I know that super eagles played badly in the world cup, but FIFA refs were TERRIBLY unfair against super eagles in match after match. Even the yellow card against Enyeama in our last game was baseless.

I recall the two penalties given against flying eagles in the 2005 junior world cup final against Argentina.
Two penalties in a cup FINAL  Never seen it before and after that incident.

We lost the cup to an Argentine squad determined to tap into our bad fate at FIFA.

So this is a no-brainer to me.
We must meet FIFA, and FIFA must meet us at the same level as other footballing nations.

E be like say my brothers don dey understand Naija politics well well.
Good move!

[size=16pt]2011: Count us out of presidency, VP
– S/E governors[/size]

• Unveil new strategies to end kidnapping in zone

From CHIDI NNADI and PETRUS OBI, Enugu
Monday, July 05, 2010

The perceived 2011 presidential ambition of Dr Goodluck Jonathan got what seemed a major boost yesterday when the five governors of the South-East resolved in Enugu not to vie for the office of the president in 2011 or offer themselves for the position of vice president.

The governors: Mr Peter Obi, Anambra; Chief Theodore A. Orji, Abia; Chief Martin Elechi, Ebonyi; Chief Ikedi Ohakim, Imo; and Dr Sullivan Chime, Enugu, rising from the South-East Governors’ Forum, said they would rather support any presidential candidate with the best programme that would address the issue of marginalization of the South-East, as well as the political imbalance in the country.

The declaration by the governors may have ended weeks of speculations that some of them were making moves to run on a joint ticket with former President Ibrahim Babangida.

Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Mr. Obi who read the communiqué after their meeting did not , however, disclose why they took the decision. The governors also read the riot act to kidnappers and those who harboured them in the zone, vowing to match the perpetrators with equal force.

Though they did not disclose in details the security measures to be adopted in stamping out kidnapping in the zone, they said they had decided that any landlord whose property was used to facilitate kidnapping in the zone would have such property seized by the government and the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the property revoked.

“All traditional rulers and president-generals of town unions in the zone are hereby warned that they will be held responsible for criminal acts in their communities, which occurrence will lead to withdrawal of certificate of recognition in the case of traditional rulers or removal of the town union president-generals in addition to prosecution. They are advised to immediately report any suspected individual to the security agencies,” the governors warned.
The governors further warned that the leaders of the various market unions and motor-parks would equally be held responsible for kidnap cases that happened in their domains.

They warned parents and guardians to counsel their children and wards to desist from any act that was capable of associating them with cases of kidnap.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/july/05/national-05-07-2010-001.htm

I was so concerned about kidnapping that I called my family in Nigeria a few days ago, basically wanted them to take specific measures to safeguard our family.
Well, they practically told me not to worry about anything. They said that kidnapping is not that rampant in Anambra state and that only certain people are exposed to it in Anambra state. That made sense because I know A LOT of families who are rich and have not been kidnapped. When I pressed for more information, they told me that I must be confusing Anambra with Abia state. I was speechless. So, obviously something is seriously wrong in Abia.
Abia state leaders should step up to the plate.
It is not enough to be angry. It is time for leadership. Every leader should put Abia first , from traditional rulers to the governor.
I hope that the proliferated autonomous communities are not adding to the problem.

I must appreciate comments from olafolarin and the one below:

Babatunde Edun.
07.01.2010 10:23
Dear Sir,
I agree with all that you have stated about the crisis in Abia but vehemently disagree with the solution proposed.
The illustrious citizens of Abia should be insulted by the fact that you (ostensibly one of them) think that they are so incapable of solving their own problems that a declaration of a state of emergency by the Federal Government is the way out. What happened to the Anambra solution of waiting out the present governor\'s term and contesting elections? If Abia state constitutes a security issue and is threatening the Nigerian state, maybe it should be merged with an existing state. If this happens, I am sure that it\'s so-called illustrious citizens would wake up and fight for their chance to be governor, senator e.t.c. It is however unfortunate that they do not seem to be able to fight for the common good of their citizenry and are held hostage by the thieving tendencies of one family.
A state of emergency? We should not deploy Federal resources for personal gain. Sort out the mess yourselves, thank you very much.

Abia political situation is really assuming an alarming dimension. I was hoping that Abia could copy from other south eastern states, yes Anambra for example.

The worst aspect of this problem is over fractiousness -when you disagree with EVERYBODY including yourself.

There is at least one thing that Abia can copy from Anambra state, and that is that all stake holders in Abia should organize a meeting to say enough is enough.
Anambra went as far as calling on the oldest traditional leaders and the Eze Nri to bring out their Ofo and to swear all politicians to an oath. They basically placed curses on anyone who refuses to allow us have peace in Anambra state. The politicians also promised to stop rigging elections.
I am not saying that this is what stopped these known thieves in the last elections, but hey it may well have!

Bottomline is that there is a collective resolve among Anambra people and leaders that these things must be fought to a standstill and people's votes must count. That is why the last elections was peaceful. That is why godfathers allowed us peace. Abia can copy that.

When you have a problem, you should at least have the grace to copy whatever works from wherever.

Being angry is not enough.

Abagworo:
the cause of abias crisis is neither orji nor orji but the soul of thousands of innocent people killed during the bakassi era between 1998 and 2002.because aba is a less important town,people might not be aware that more than 30000 people were murdered [/b]in cold blood by bakassi.the militants of today were those 10 year old kids that gathered around to watch bakassi slaughter people.a sizeable number of them were also invoved in niger delta militancy.[b]the only thing that can rescue abia is prayers.are nairalanders aware that 80% of pipeline sabotage in nigeria was done in aba axis alone?80% of kidnappings and robberies(mostly unreported occur in thesame zone).i normally went for shopping in aba but is yet to step into aba since 2008 because of security.i rather pay high price in port harcourt.

These are alarming figures! Where did you get that from? 

As far as I know, the deaths where probably in hundreds (criminals). I'm not ruling out that few innocent folks might have died too (which is why I would NEVER support death penalty ).

The figures you are bandying about is a civil war figure. Please revise.

udezue:
Bluetooth, I mean elephant projects like tarring a few choice roads building mega malls and hospitals, etc. Those are good stuff but they don't do anything as far as ridding the system of disease corruption and lack of accountability. Yes u have all the skyscrapers yet the state is corrupt, crime is high, the structures are crumbling already, etc. I believe that any governor should be working on some of these issues that might seem so colorful and noticeable immediately coz once those things are taken care of the rest will come with ease. There will be no real economic progress in these states until issues like steady power supply is solved so they might as well quit wasting borrowing $$ building things they can't keep up with. I have heard stories of people landing @ International airports in Lagos and even Abuja and there is no light. Heat and sweat everywhere. Spend $$ on the most important issue but Nigerians are highly gullible and impressionable so all the governor needs to do is build and tar a few things and he becomes Alpha and Omega. Open your eyes people.

Exactly my point.
Take the pensions payment example, the Obi government spent over N7 billion over time to clear arrears getting back to 1996. He could have used that money to build one or two mega projects in Awka or Ontisha. The problem is that pensioners will NOT get paid.
According to him, it is unconscionable not to pay pensioners who put in years of hard work for Anambra and Nigeria.
Most other Nigerian governors won't even think twice about shoving them aside in place of a BRT or light rail (without electricity ).

What Peter Obi is doing in Anambra state is to establish the true yardstick for good governance. If you have not paid your pensioners or all your workers, you have no business building any capital projects. The most important investment is the one made in people.

Anambra's biggest asset is the people. 

I hope other APGA members pursue this line of philosophy because it is superior.

~Bluetooth:
^^^
Things fall apart
watchout for the fall of godfather orji kalu.

All godfathers in Nigeria MUST FALL for us to move forward. All parties based on godfatherism will inevitable die natural deaths from next year if Jonathan keeps to his promise to organize a free and fair elections. God fathers can't thrive in real democracy.

“Above all, the structure is not hospitable to the prospects of emergence of a wider regional platform that can carry out the immediate task of steering East and South East back unto its rightful place in the federal arrangement and thereby reinforce the stability of Nigeria. It does not require a prophet to see that the imperative of Nigeria’s political stability demands a return to regional accommodation as the military interregnum’s rigid centralized structure of the last four decades increasingly thaws out in response to the dynamics of our plural society”.

The above quote caught my attention the most.

[size=16pt]PPA is Kalu ‘s family business – Chukwumerije[/size]

By Ben Umoru
Jul 3, 2010

SENATOR Uche Chukwumerije representing Abia North Senatorial District has dismissed the PPA as nothing but an extention of the business empire of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu. Announcing his resignation from the party, Chukwumerije cited alleged lack of interest in the party.

Chukwumerije said the PPA was a family business where the shareholders are Madam Eunice Uzor Kalu and her children, and all the members of the party are employees. The query given him by the party’s national chairman, Larry Esin, he likened to the “voice of Jacob, hand of Esau”.

His words, “But why the medium of a query? The medium is a perfectly appropriate systemic expression of the organisation of PPA. It reflects the character of the proprietory family structure of PPA. Whatever its exterior postures, PPA is not a political party, a public property. It is a family business in which the sole shareholders are Madam Eunice Uzor Kalu and her children. All the members of the party are employees.

“It is true that the practices of all Nigeria’s political parties fall short of internal democracy in varying degrees. But it is sadly true that PPA stands out both in degree and kind from the rest. The familiar art of godfatherism and selection, in place of election, has been refined in PPA to a routine standard mode of royal hand_pickings.

“The method of royal hand pickings operates through an unwritten patronage network:_ sole control of all key posts, elective or appointive, division of Abia State into zones of pasture among the share holders like the hunting spheres of predators, the pivotal role of an ostensibly cultural body, Reality Organisation (not known to PPA’s constitution or Nigeria’s Electoral Laws and owned by ‘Mother Excellency’) as the sole dispensers of state patronage and, finally, the adroit use of the law to subvert the law via a charade of captive conferences and occasional resurrection of “party organs” to rubber_stamp resolutions of family party Board meetings. It is a network of compliance mechanisms to ensure totalitarian control in Abia.

“Sadly, today’s PPA is at the polar opposite of its original format and intentions. PPA began as a robust protest against President Obasanjo’s kill of internal democracy in PDP. The outstanding courage of the then governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, the concerted energy of the mobilized masses and the glittering vision of a new dawn of popular democracy induced the birth of the party. But in no time PPA quickly malformed into a private estate. The kindest explanation to this sad phenomenon, as is evident from the nationwide turf struggles between incumbent governors and their predecessor godfathers, is the inability of our political leaders to manage either success and succession or fear and trauma of eclipse. But for Abia, any one who wonders about the wizardry behind the success of a half_illiterate corporal Hitler in foisting ruthless Nazism on Germany should study the rise and dominance of PPA in Abia.

“Family political control brings us to the issue of political economy of Abia State. Three control posts – (i) control over key posts, (ii) control over a network of paybacks and tithes, and (iii) control over state business contracts – operate in a triangular relay to frame and define the political economy of underdevelopment of the state. Abia is virtually a sole family business in which its owners retail their franchise to political surrogates.

“It is now obvious that an incurable systemic flaw has brought PPA to a road end. The family proprietory structure, unable to meet the vigorous requirements of internal democracy demanded of a political party, suffers serious self_contradiction and faces prospects of a stunted growth. It cannot meet the basic and mandatory demands of participatory democracy in a third_world country.

“First and foremost, the hand_picking mode of processing political manpower destroys accountability and institutionalizes corruption. The grim harvest is a festering cesspool of professional sycophants, praise singers and political jobbers.

“Equally dehydrating, the deep dichotomy between the political share_holders and employees breeds widespread alienation. The value foundation of our democratic culture is daily undermined by the rumoured plan and determination of Uzor Kalu family to clamp a 25_year_old political dynasty on Abia people – a move bound to be resisted by the gallant freedom lovers of Abia as a provocative insult to their republican spirit.

“Above all, the structure is not hospitable to the prospects of emergence of a wider regional platform that can carry out the immediate task of steering East and South East back unto its rightful place in the federal arrangement and thereby reinforce the stability of Nigeria. It does not require a prophet to see that the imperative of Nigeria’s political stability demands a return to regional accommodation as the military interregnum’s rigid centralized structure of the last four decades increasingly thaws out in response to the dynamics of our plural society”.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/07/03/ppa-is-kalu-%E2%80%98s-family-business-chukwumerije/

Katsumoto:
I get your point but I disagree on the basis that if we are all elites as you allege, then there shouldn't be so many disagreements on nairaland. Secondly, you don't need to be a citizen of a place to be able to acsertain whether its administrators are good or bad. Even the people from your village will admit that European administrators are better than Nigerian administrators even though some of them have never left the village.

I need to qualify the "elite" used here:

You see, that is part of why I don't ever buy this single brush definition of "elite is Nigeria's problems". Nigeria is a nation of MANY nations. The elites might enjoy similar things (eg internet access) but we are all aware of our history.
In fact the term "Nigerian elite" is almost an aberration because while one elite from the North might support quota system (with university education in tow ), another elite from the East with a secondary school education might not support it.

mikeansy:
another vague response.

It would have been easier to tell us what steps he has taken to improve education in Anambra save buying a few computers for 1 or 2 schools, what has he done to support Onitsha business men to take their business to the next level? what has he done to improve Government services such as Fire Service except going to cry in an open market when there is an inferno? what are his efforts on job creation?

These benchmarks make more sense than telling us Anambra money is in safe hands. we have no way of knowing that. Telling us he is laying foundation for good governance? what exactly does that mean? Is he re-introducing a new kind of system of Governamce in Anambra? is Anambra changing to parliamentary democracy as opposed to the rest of the country?

So you expect me to start listing the number of roads he constructed, or the schools he built and equipped, or the hospitals he equipped or the government secretariat he built? Are you from Anambra state? Who voted Peter Obi in the last elections? I hope you don't buy this nonsense that they voted him ONLY because of Ojukwu? If you believe that, then I know you are not from Anambra state.

Have you heard of Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS) before?

Peter Obi is not busy building "make me feel good" projects while leaving other sectors of the state unattended.

Doing that would be tantamount to executing a PDP strategy -eat today, die tomorrow, that is PDP!

APGA is implementing ANIDS in Anambra state.

Katsumoto:
The right to vote belongs to all men, even fools. Even if you consider yourself an intelligent fellow, you are entitled to but one vote.

We both agree on the bolded quote.

I never said that fools shouldn't vote. I only said that the poll here is not a reflection of Nigerian society per se because most folks here are either elite or outside the country and don't even make honest efforts to find out the truth.

If I want to know whether Peter Obi is a good governor, I would make phone calls to the village. If a governor cannot extend his services to the village, he is a bad governor in my view.

Most of the people in the village lack internet access, hence they can't take part in nairaland polls.

Katsumoto:
My comment was based on opinion. There is a thread on nairaland on the best and worst governors. Fashola and Amaechi were constantly mentioned. Chime was also mentioned while Obi was rarely mentioned.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-469933.0.html

I hope you are not taking nairaland opinion polls too seriously. Majority of folks here are clueless.

Katsumoto:
Please read my post again; no where did I exonerate Obasanjo. I merely stated that he is not solely responsible. You make it seem like he recruited all the miscreants in the political class. We know that he did not do that.

Well, we've always had the miscreants but no leader ever brought them into the mainstream of Nigerian politics.  

Which society can ever boast of not having thieves? Brigandage is as old as man. The difference is that someone who should be putting thieves in jail went and brought them in, using them to create a state of mayhem and fear.

Wasn't it under Obasanjo that sitting governor was kidnapped? And his take was the the governor failed to abide by agreement?

Don't even let me start remembering things.

Katsumoto:
I don't play tribal politics. Do you think that I am going to defend Obasanjo because he is a Yoruba man. I don't care who rules Nigeria as long as he/she performs. The president of Nigeria may come from the smallest tribe in Nigeria but it wouldn't matter to me as long as he/she can provide good roads, power, education, security, etc. You expect too much from the current political class. All the individuals who went to politics in 1999 are/were the wrong set of people to take Nigeria forward. They were all after theirs and their godfathers interest. Were you expecting thieves like that to have ideologies? To blame Obasanjo for the failings of the political class is naive at best and disingenuous at worst. Obasanjo did not lay the foundations for the political schools of thought in 1999.

I cannot believe that you are honestly trying to exonerate Obasanjo! Shocking indeed!

Obasanjo single handedly (like a military dictator he was ) destroyed the most important instrument of democracy -the vote- during his tenure. He raised rigging to a new dangerous level. Before him, rigging elections were usually subtle and mostly unnoticed.
Obasanjo recruited all the scalawags and thieves and thugs into the PDP and made them members of the PDP board of trustees.
Nigeria is a country through which I came to fully believe that there is a God, because frankly, if not for God, Obasanjo would have turned Nigeria into an imperial fiefdom, ruling supreme till death.

No other leader in Nigerian history approached Obasanjo's levels when it comes to machiavellianism.

mikeansy:
instead of providing a credible or superior argument you talk about who is licking wounds. whatever that means.

Soludo not being the current Governor is Anambra's loss and loss to the Igbo race not Soludo's. The noise about picking up fights with OBJ, PDP or outsiders is simply a distraction. What are Obi's records?

Even Obi is not proud of his own records for all the noise you make about him being a progressive. Obi had no record to run on in the last election. How did he win? getting Ojukwu to make a last wish, playing weeks and weeks of videos of the attrocities committed by the Ubas in Anambra and somehow trying to link that to Soludo because they shared the same party at the time.

It would have been nice to see what the so called Progressive Obi would have claimed he achieved. NOTHING!!!!!

APGA politics is based on conjectures rather than substance.

I can also say that PDP is also ideologically useless and I am not necessarily too loyal to PDP. But yes I agree with Soludo on his choice of politics most of the time and I am not ashamed of thhat.

How can you say that Obi did not achieve anything? Okay I'll mention his biggest achievement: He defeated PDP and godfatherism in Anambra state. 

He is also laying the foundations of good government.
You can say he is a prude, but there is no way anyone in his right sense would say that Obi is a thief or call him the worst governor in Nigeria. He cannot steal or BORROW his way out of our problems. Building honest wealth takes time.
Our most prized possession -our coffers- is safe in his hands.

I cannot say that about his opponents especially those from PDP.

PDP would have sent us and our children into many years of debt.

Anambra will be a rich state soon. After all the foundations are fully laid.

mikeansy:
Liberalism, conservatism, progressives or whatever means the same thing everywhere. The fact that Nigerian politicians are clueless and do not practice issue based politics does not mean we have our own definitions of the political spectra.

It is not enough to describe APGA as a progressive or Left-wing party merely because the "P" in their name stands for Progressive. Nomencletures are no substitutes for policies and ideologies.

You know a Liberal on his view on things like how education should be funded (state or individual), how healthcare should be funded, their tax and spend policies etc.

Not whether you have Progressive in your name or whether you are angrier than everyone else on the sorry state of Nigeria. The fact that you have struggled to point out how APGA differs from everyone else supports my argument that they are not any different than the rest.

Just conjectures to stoke up passion and win votes, when elections are over they use red sand and pure tar with no gravels to build express way for the rest of us.

My friend I can understand that you are still licking your wounds from the crushing defeat handed to you, your godfather Obasanjo and your party PDP in the last governorship elections in Anambra state.

Times are changing beyond your control and soon there will be no PDP anywhere near my state.

Katsumoto:
People will always have differing views, that my position is divergent from yours should not result in stereotyping and name-calling. What am I trying to do? How many states have issued or tried to issue bonds? Are they up to five? So Obi is now a progressive because he has not tried to raise money from the capital markets? Most states in Nigeria, including the few that have tried to issue bonds, are still wholely dependent on revenue from the centre with Lagos being the sole exception.  

I can not knock Obi because I don't know much about how he is running his state but I do know that he is not generally considered amongst the best governors in Nigeria. You are bound to be biased because APGA is Ojukwu's party and we all know of your unflinching support for him.

Look I understand the general point of your argument but you would at least admit that Nigeria for the past 11 years (basically under Obasanjo and PDP) stifled the democratic development of the country by constantly rigging elections. These parties would have all grown and established their structures using their political ideologies of course. Today, a party like APGA is still trying to establish itself by investing in things that defeat election rigging instead of focusing on the general political ideology. APGA would have preferred free education at primary and secondary school levels and free primary health care, but where is the money, when it was already mortgaged by previous PDP government in Anambra state?
Only last week, Peter Obi completed the pension arrears dating back to 1996!  

If he is not a progressive, he won't bother with something that "outdated". He is still doing it.
So, for now, he is trying to lay foundations of good governance which will endure.
My wish is that Jonathan conducts a free and fair elections next year in order to allow parties like APGA to fully consolidate and push their progressive agenda.

Progressive politics in Nigerian context is not the same as in western context.

Katsumoto:
I know what progressive politics and it is close to what you have described; it is more or less centre-left. But a party can be called anything; its the manifesto and policies that matter. I am not from Anambra, so I can not comment on the leanings of his policies. If you say that he (Obi) is practising progressive politics, what sort of policies has he pushed that lean towards the left?

So, you cannot see that for instance while other governors are busy rushing to issue bonds and creating other borrowing and debenture instruments, the Peter Obi administration is instead carefully managing the state finances and developing the state with AVAILABLE funds? How many other states in Nigeria does that?

I know what you are trying to do but like always, I won't indulge you with that.

Progressive politics is OLD in Nigeria dating back to NCNC. APGA is not much different. If there is any difference, APGA only improved on the deficiencies of the NCNC.

If you want to learn more about the party, join up.

Katsumoto:
Should the policies [/b]of the party not be a better indicator of its[b] ideology? If your argument is predicated solely on the name of the party, then it is deeply flawed. APGA has a governor in Anambra, what sort of policies is he pushing? Have you read the manifesto of APGA?

Don't tell me that even you don't know what progressive politics means. Are you honestly questioning the progressive policies of the Peter Obi administration?

mikeansy:
#
Is this the agenda of APGA? what the Bible says?

This is why I am not a fan. They call themselves progressives but their phylosophy is based on nothing. Just conjectures.

Where is APGA, are they on the left, right or centre of politics? What is their ideology or manifesto? quoting the bible and telling us about liberation does not mean much if you do not have a clear direction on policies.

Can you in all honesty tell me that you don't know what APGA stands for?
What is the meaning of PROGRESSIVE politics? APGA stands for All Progressives Grand Alliance.
Is it not an ideology?

Unless you are trying to redefine things unnecessarily, progressive is LIBERAL; you know, opposite of CONSERVATIVE in the AFRICAN context.

I would explain this more.

Progressive politics means adopting things that move a nation forward instead of things that consolidate the progress already made.

A progressive would prefer that the BEST candidate in terms of qualifications and ability takes over leadership; while conservative politics (at least in Nigerian context) believe in things like QUOTA SYSTEM and ZONING.

A progressive would prefer something like state police because frankly it makes more sense, while a conservative would retain the status quo even if it is not working.
Simple.

The light is gradually spreading in the East. No going back. With free and fair elections, APGA will eventually win over the East.

The bible says you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.

[size=16pt]Abia now liberated from political bondage –Gov. Orji [/size]

[size=14pt]…As Chukwumerije, speaker, lawmakers dump PPA [/size]


At last, Gov Theodore Orji of Abia State has formally joined the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), thus putting to rest months of speculation about the governor’s eventual dumping of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) on whose platform he came to power in 2007.

The colourful event, which took place yesterday at Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia, the state capital, witnessed the presence of political heavyweights, both in APGA and Abia State as the streets of Umuahia literarily stood still while the dignitaries sought for recognition

Among the APGA stalwarts who graced the occasion included Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State, APGA leader and 2007 presidential candidate, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and wife, Bianca; APGA national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh; APGA coordinator, USA, Chief Kpajie Onuchie, among numerous other national officers of the party.

Similarly, Senator Uche Chukwumerije (PPA Abia North); Speaker, Abia House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Agwu U. Agwu, and virtually all members of the State Assembly, irrespective of their party leanings, all decamped to APGA, alongside Gov. Orji.

Others who were at the event were former commissioners and aides of the governor, who curiously, waited to see the day come to fruition.

However, the deputy governor, Comrade Chris Akoma, the deputy Speaker of the state Assembly, Hon. Chinedum Elechi, were conspicuously absent at the event, which was massively attended by a mammoth crowd that defied the heavy rain to catch a glimpse of the long awaited event.

Speaking on the occasion, Gov. Orji said the event marked the beginning of a new dawn in Abia State, as the state has finally been liberated from its chronic political bondage.

"Today, our eyes are opened. It is a day Abians have heaved a sigh of relief. I was pushed to the wall and even beyond the wall and I am justified in any action I am taking now.

"Abia has been in bondage and I want to say my people must go. PPA rejected me. I was pushed away and I have found direction in APGA. APGA is truly a party where you can stay and find protection. There is no going back in my decision. I have volunteered to lead my people to freedom. There is no shaking and I promise Abians that things are going to be better from now," Orji thundered.

In his own remarks, national chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, said the party was cheerful to receive Gov. Orji into its fold, and that APGA would offer to Abians unfettered freedom.

He said APGA had demolished godfatherism in Anambra state and will do same in Abia so that the state could witness true freedom and genuine development.

"We are equal to the challenges. If you know the people we fought in Anambra state to set the state free, this one is a small battle," he boasted.

Speaking also, APGA leader, Dim Ojukwu, shocked the mammoth crowd when he forcefully stood from his seat and roared, "Let my people go."

He said, "Today, Abians have been liberated," while affirming his support for the governor.

Chief Ojukwu vowed to fight for the governor and the state until total freedom was achieved for the people.

Adding his voice, Gov. Obi decried godfatherism in Nigerian politics and assured Abians that their much expected political emancipation had come at last.

Senator Chukwumerije in his own remarks regretted the absence of unity among Igbo politicians but said APGA is the party that has the interest of Ndigbo at heart.

Highlight of the event was the issuance of APGA membership card to Gov. Orji and his wife, Odochi, by APGA national chairman, Chief Umeh.

http://www.champion.com.ng/index.php?news=34032

Some said this would not happen. Well, more is in the pipeline.

The true progressives are finally coming home.

[size=16pt]Ojukwu, Obi Welcome Orji into APGA[/size]

From Emmanuel Ugwu in Umahia, 07.03.2010

Leader of the All Progre-ssives Grand Alliance, Chukwuemeka Odum-egwu Ojukwu, yesterday, proclaimed total freedom for the people of Abia State as the state governor, Theodore Orji officially declared his membership of the party.

Ojukwu, accompanied by Anambra State governor, Peter Obi and 11 national officers of APGA, including national chairman, Victor Umeh and national secretary, Sani Shinkafi, arrived the capacity filled Michael Okpara auditorium, Umuahia at exactly 2.55 p.m. with Orji and was greeted with a thunderous ovation.

“Yeah! Let my people go,” Ojukwu roared like an old lion,” adding “today, Abia people have been liberated to join the rest of Ndigbo.”He told the cheering crowd that he was inspired by God to come to Abia and bring them into the fold of APGA hence they should not be afraid of following him as things would change for the better in the state.

The APGA leader assured that having embraced Governor Orji, he would not waver in giving him support “until together we reach the promised land,” adding that he would henceforth treat the Abia governor as a son.“Ochendo, from today you’re my son. Together we shall reach the promised land,” he said.Governor Orji in his address described his declaration as “a historic day in the life of Abia State.”

“It is a day that the sun is shinning; it is a day that our eyes are opened; it is a day we are relieved,” he said, adding that he was justified for every action he has taken because he was “pushed to the wall and even beyond the wall by the national leadership of the Progressive Peoples Alliance.”

The governor, who was visibly happy with his new found party, explained that he left PPA because he was rejected and “if you’re rejected, you go to another place and seek for solace.”He insisted that his action was in consonance with the yearnings of Abia people and he was prepared to lead them in the struggle for freedom, alluding to the stranglehold of the Orji Uzor Kalu political dynasty on Abia State.

“As a leader, there is a time you must listen to the yearnings of the people. There is a time you must do what pleases the people because I have the peoples’ mandate,” he said.
In their remarks, Governor Obi and Victor Umeh said that the entry of Orji into APGA marked the end of “godfatherism” in Abia State, noting that God’s own state would begin to reap the benefits just like Anambra has been enjoying massive development since the dismantling of “godfatherism”.

“APGA has not come to rake over Abia State. We have come here to create an environment that will ensure sustainable and enduring development,” the national chairman of APGA said.

“What happened in Anambra State that engendered development will start happening in Abia from today,” he promised.
The event witnessed a mass exodus of political office holders from the PPA to APGA, with Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Abia Speaker, Agwu U. Agwu and 13 PPA legislators, as well as two of their PDP counterparts, all in attendance at the event in solidarity with the governor.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=177345

006:
Is APGA growing or what?

It seems Anambra State is setting example with good governance.

I guess APGA is expanding. You forgot to add the link. Here it is

http://www.tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/news/1487-criver-ppa-declares-for-apga.html

stillwater:
Na you come wash body? Dirty old man.

Go back to kids section. This section is for OLD MEN.

mens dept:
In other countries people are not talking of state police, but local police on county and precinct level. People are all about about free and fair elections at the local level. People are astute on their leaders and leaders dont get away as easily with BS. Igbo people are quick to blame irrelevant matters for their plight and then ask for state police, 2nd Naija Bridge, and tasting the presidency and all their problems will vanish.

Which other countries have you been to anyway?

Nigeria is a federation. There is federal, state, local government. There should be a police force for EACH of those authorities.

mens dept:
SO I should read and and reread all the nonsense some of you guys are posting here abi. By the way, what is it with you and Pete Obi? Even if he had supreme control over state police, what guarantee is there that he and his fellow governors wont use it to silence or manipulate the "process".  In other countries people are not talking of state police, but local police on county and precinct level. People are all about about free and fair elections at the local level. People are astute on their leaders and leaders dont get away as easily with BS. Igbo people are quick to blame irrelevant matters for their plight and then ask for state police, 2nd Naija Bridge, and tasting the presidency and all their problems will vanish.

So it doesn't make sense to you that you should at least read what ALL that others have posted before posting yours?

Need I say more?

C'mon, admit it. You s**t your pants when you read "Biafra" from the last poster. 

I can understand your fear, but it is not my fault that you are a coward.

WE NEED LOCAL POLICE, be it state, local government, city/town, anything where we can hold someone LOCAL accountable for the security situation in OUR land.

mikeansy:
What a mistake

This guy should have joined PDP. That is the only way he can push back on the Kalu's.

APGA does not have real machinery in Abia. Except Theodore Orji is more politically savvy than we think he is, I don't see him pulling this off.

That is the same thing you said about APGA in Anambra state.

What other machinery does a party need in a state?
A state chief execute can build that structure within months. That is why governors are so powerful in Nigeria.

T.A Orji knows that APGA is not a den of thieves, and since he is an incumbent governor, all he needs to do is perform some wonders between now and elections day, and use the state media outlet to tell the people about the real truth of why he failed to perform before. If he fails to win, he can at least make sure that PDP, PPA or AC don't win either. 

HE holds a lot of aces. Whether he knows how to use them would determine the outcome of next year's elections.
And the outcome would even expand past the governorship race. It would extend into all other races.

That is why PDP and other parties tried their best to woo him into their folds. He smartly turned them down.

If he is such a political leper why would any party want to touch him?