A Humble And Sincere Open Letter To President Muhammadu Buhari On Electoral Act Amendment Bill:
By Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Okwubunka of Asa Gburugburu and Oke Amadi Nd'Asa.
Friday (Orie) 11-02-2022.

Mr President, let me assure you, Sir, that every respect and honour due you as my President, are amply reflected in this patriotically-motivated Open Letter. I come in peace, Sir.

For purposes of clarity, I am a very law-abiding citizen of our Great County, Nigeria. My belief in Nigeria, despite all odds, has never been in doubt. My name is Sir Don Ubani. I hail from Umuiku-Isi-Asa Autonomous Community in Ukwa-West Local Government Council Area of Abia State. I am basically a Teacher and Writer.

Mr President, Sir, I am one of those Nigerians that have never believed in you and, so, have never been your fan. My reason stems from no other cause than my conviction that you are an indisputable antagonist of Democracy. The fact that you overthrew the democratically-elected Government of President Shehu Shagari in the wee hours of Saturday, 31st December, 1983, which was the 365th day in the Gregorian Calendar of that year, made me develop this feeling. Up till date, that is about 49 years after that unconstitutional misconduct of yours, I have not found any justification in your lawless overthrow of a duly-constituted Government of the Federation.

Regrettably, Mr President has not yet considered it necessary to tender an apology to the wounded Nigerian State. It is my honest expectation that Mr President would find the required humility and sense of patriotism to formally express remorse to Nigerians before the end of his Presidency in 2023.

Mr President, Sir, another major reason why I have remained not your admirer is that under you, Nigeria avoidably became a blood-bath, only orchestrated by your Fulani kinsmen, without any reprieve from you. The pathetic case of the Peoples of the Middle-Belt is one that readily comes to mind.

I do not want to delve into your Administration's ineptitude in the management of our national economy. You knew how much the Dollar was to Naira on 29th of May, 2015 and you know how much it is today. You also knew how much a liter of fuel was sold on 29th May, 2015 and you also know how much Nigerians buy fuel today. No doubt, Mr President knew the volume of Direct Foreign Investments that flowed into Nigeria prior to his emergence in 2015 and I am not sure he does not know what it is today.

Mr President, Sir, there was an atmosphere of love and understanding amongst Nigerian citizens before your election in 2015. Sir, hatred has been injected into our national psyche, resultant of your 'famous' speech on 5% and 98%.

Mr President, Sir, only one thing is left for you to assure Nigerians that you could still mean well for the Nigerian State. You rode into Power on the basis of a Transparent Electoral System put in place by the PDP Administration of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. It was the introduction of the Card Reader that made it possible for you to become President, in addition to President Jonathan's unique nature.

Nigerians are clamouring for a vigorous Electoral System that can guarantee Transparency and Credibility. They desire and deserve their votes to count!

If, as it is obvious, there is no other thing you can give them, since you have completely failed, as clearly stipulated by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as variously amended, to guarantee protection of our lives and property and also our welfare, it would be incumbent and expedient that you bequeath to Nigerians an Electoral System that shall guarantee Transparency and Credibility in our elections.

Once our Electoral System is right, every other rightfulness will certainly follow. A Transparent Electoral System has in-built mechanism and Capacity to throw up Nigerians capable of changing our leadership narratives and it will be in the overall interest of our economy, security and eventual development. A faulty Electoral System can only produce faulty characters as managers of the country's affairs. We can not get different results if we continue to do it the way we have wrongly been doing it.

The National Assembly, though nearly justifiably believed to be a rubber stamp legislature, had managed to propose a 2021 Amendment to Nigeria's Electoral Act and had transmitted same to Mr President in 2021.

Expectedly, Mr President vetoed the Amendment Bill on the grounds that the Amendment had restricted Political Parties to only the option of Direct Primaries in the process of selecting their Candidates.

Mr President, Sir, your Veto was widely supported by many Nigerians, including Yours Sincerely.

Interestingly, the National Assembly has expeditiously reworked the the amended Bill. It has removed the obnoxious clause, Direct Primaries. The Bill now has three Modes of Selection by the Political Parties, vis, Direct, Indirect and Consensus.

Some Nigerians had initially appeared to have been uncomfortable with the Consensus Option. However, a critical look at it makes it very clear that Consensus is almost a non-existent option. If every Aspirant, according to the Bill, that indicates interest in running for a particular position shall write a letter of withdrawal before a Consensus Candidate can emerge as a Political Party's flag-bearer, it would be as good as having no Consensus. Therefore, Consensus, as an Option, poses no obstacle(s).

Mr President, Sir, you know there has been a very strong suspicion that you would, ordinarily, not be comfortable contemplating a thorough transparent Electoral System. Many Nigerians believe you know that your Administration has done terribly badly and, so, also know that if elections are conducted freely and transparently today in Nigeria that your Party, APC, would fail abysmally. They, therefore, believe that you may not wish to give your assent to any Bill that intends to guarantee a free, fair and credible Electoral System.

Mr President, Sir, it is being rumoured that even the latest version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill will not be signed by you. It is being speculated that you will rely on the clause that makes it compulsory for Political Appointees who want to contest elections to resign before their Party's Primary Election, as your ground not to sign the Bill.

Mr President, Sir, this type of rumour should not, at all, be heard in a country like ours. Despite the incivility that characterized Nigeria of late because of unprecedented barbarism by Fulani terrorists, our country should be considered a civilized polity. Even in Banana Republics, this type of reasoning would be too appalling to be heard.

Yes, it has been speculated that your Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice wants to be Governor of Kebbi State. No doubt, he is entitled to his legitimate aspiration. But, Mr President, Sir, the personal ambition of an individual working for you and accumulating enormous wealth for himself and his family should not constitute an inhibition to Nigeria's democracy and growth. Why, in the first instance, should a Political Appointee who wants to contest an election not be willing and prepared to resign? He must not have his cake and eat it!

Mr President, Sir, I most humbly plead with you to be patriotic and altruistic by giving your assent to this Bill. If your major interest and concern is to protect your Political Appointees who want to contest in 2023, Sir, you could assent to the Amendment Bill and immediately request the National Assembly, which is believed to be a rubber stamp, to amend that section of the Bill.

Sir, you know without giving assent to the Bill as currently before you, 2023 elections will be a mere jamboree. It would be characterized by ruthless and unprecedented rigging by your Political Party, APC.
The electoral flaws would be worse than those of 1983, that were said to have been one of the reasons you had given for overthrowing the constitutionally-enthroned Government of President Shehu Shagari.

Besides, as long as you continue to dribble and delay on the Electoral Bill, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, can not start effective preparation.

Mr President, Sir, above all, I want to express my worry over your suspected insincerity in addressing Nigeria's Electoral Necessity. I am more worried because of a very ugly, condemnable and unacceptable development in the West African Sub-region. Recent Military Coups d'etat in Mali and Burkina Faso demand that the Nigerian Political Class should not create any loopholes that could give cause to any anti-democratic interest to consider being opportunistic.

Mr President, Sir, I had a very hectic January and, so, decided to give myself some rest from writing this February. But convinced that your action or inaction on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is a Matter of Great Urgent Public Importance, I decided to break my self-advised leave in order, like Senator Ben Bruce would say, make common sense.

Mr President, Sir, Patriotism calls and this might be your last opportunity to write your name in Gold. I sincerely pray you do not miss it.

Thank you, Mr President and kindly accept the assurances of my highest esteem.

Sir Don Ubani is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State and writes from Asa.

Democratic Legitimacy, Supreme Court and the Imo Crisis

Ralph Achalonu

Within the last twenty years, Imo State has been grappling and even grooving in the dark on how to reset its governance system. The peculiarities of the Nigerian democracy is compounded by leadership recruitment process. Such that Imo State has regrettably become a victim in bounds.

In 2019, Imo voters had hoped that the governorship election would provide for them a platform to squarely address the democratic deficit of past administrations and their sordid experiences. It was an occasion that the voters had longed for to deploy their democratic rights as given by the universal adult suffrage to every man and woman to cast his or her vote.

While the Imo voters kept to their faith, and voter Hon. Emeka Ihedioha into office as roadmap to reset Imo for good governance and development, the Nigerian state, this time, the Supreme Court as a democratic institution had a different thought. On 14th January, 2020 in the peak of Coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court nullified the legitimate mandate of Imo voters and took their votes and gave to Sen. Hope Uzodinma, a candidate that came fourth. A candidate whose party and his candidature had already been nullified by the same Supreme Court in the case of Uche Nwosu vs APP & Others.

It is this miscarriage of justice propelled by the Nigerian state and powerful forces in Abuja and the nation's ruling party that has landed Imo in unimaginable political crisis. By the very decision of the Court which denied Imo voters of their democratic rights, the Supreme Court had given political power to an occupant without the legitimacy. In a democracy, legitimacy is very sacrosanct.

While this writer do not in any way intend to question or disparage the Supreme Court, it is shocking that for nearly a year now, the appeal for the enforcement of the judgement in the case of Uche Nwosu vs APP & Others/SC.1384/2019 have been laying fallow for so long. This seeming delay and the inability of the Supreme Court to take action is responsible for the deplorable condition Imo is facing at present.

Of a truth, Uzodinma is fighting a two prong wars. One is to curry favour from Abuja; the other is exert himself and force legitimacy from the people. Democratic legitimacy cannot be gotten through fiat or brute force. It's derived democratically, specifically, through elections and the ballot box.

It is pathetic that Imo people have to go through this sad experience. Uzodinma's quest to brutally gain legitimacy has resulted in political crisis, whereby, governance and development in the state hs taken a back seat. Even at that, Uzodinma's penchant to resort to self-help without exploring all the democratically recognized institutions of law and other has escalated the crisis in the state.

On the other hand, Sen. Rochas Okorocha's resolve to dare the state government is indirectly an attempt to exert power and prove that the government in Imo lacks legitimacy. The issue of legitimacy is at the core of the ongoing crisis in the state. These squabbles are all the footprints of the crisis of legitimacy in Imo State.

Further, the current crisis has left Imo state lagging behind in many respects. Because of the leadership gap and the legitimacy question, the Okigwe Zone, today do not have a Senator on the floor of the Nigerian Senate. Imo State now suffers from an avalanche of crisis from political, leadership, government and worst still, development..

That notwithstanding, Imo citizens will never lose faith on the Supreme Court as a democratic institution. We have the hope that if the Supreme Court expeditiously re-examine its judgement on the Uche Nwosu vs APP & Others matters, just will surely be done. Imo State deserves a more democratic atmosphere and rancor-free politics, this prospect of sane leadership and good governance will never be feasible. Let the Supreme Court acts now.

Achalonu, is a public affairs analyst, he wrote from Owerri, Imo State capital.

PDP In The Face Of Impending Mass Defection By The South-East Of Nigeria.
By Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Okwubunka of Asa.
1998 Convener, PDP Abia State.


It will be out of place for political narratives in Nigeria to be conclusive without the Peoples Democratic Party; PDP, being on focus. This is because, starting from the First Republic, no Political Party had held sway as much as the PDP in Nigeria. The Northern Peoples' Congress, NPC, with Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister, was in power for only six years, 1959-1966(January 15). The National Party of Nigeria, NPN, with Alhaji Shehu Shagari as Executive President, reigned for only four years, 1979-1983. On its own, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was in charge of the affairs of the country for sixteen consecutive years. The Party is still strongly in contention

Both economic and political observers are in a fair position to point out if the Party was a blessing or not to the country. It is, however, on record that apart from restoring and consolidating Democracy in Nigeria, many achievements stand for the Party. Modernization of the Communication Industry will always remain as a legacy by the PDP. Consolidation of Finance and Banking Sector, including the introduction of Bank Verification Number, BVN, is a clear evidence that PDP actually meant well for the Nigerian State. Resuscitation of the Nigerian Railways is the brainchild of the PDP. Legal framework of foundation for war against corruption was the handiwork of the Party, via Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. Education and Agriculture received a boost under the PDP. Even the worst pessimist or sadist would find it a herculean task writing off the existentialism of PDP.

Before the coming into existence of PDP, the Nigerian Military, which held power, had shown no sign of willingness to relinquish power. This was especially under late General Sani Abacha who had become a Maximum Dictator and was hell-bent on succeeding himself. It took exceptional courage and maximum risk by some politicians to dare the Military.

At the head of that crop of daring politicians was the late first Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Alex Ekwueme, GCON.

Prior to the formation of PDP, Dr Ekwueme had initiated and formed what became known as G-34. It was an assemblage of eminent Nigerian politicians, cutting across the various geo-political divides in the country. It was this G-34 that would metamorphose into Peoples Democratic Party. It was also nurtured by Dr Ekwueme.

The Memorandum of Understanding binding the proposed Party together was signed in the Law Chambers of a Lawyer of South-East origin, Barr Onyeabor Obi on 13th August, 1998 on the 13th Floor of Western House in the Central Business District of Lagos Island.

On the day the Memorandum of Understanding was signed, a notable northern member of G-34 and PDP, by name, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, had, in appreciation of Dr Ekwueme's untiring effort in confronting and retrieving power from the Military, suggested that Dr Ekwueme should be an automatic Presidential Candidate of the Party the subsequent election. That attractive suggestion was, however, turned down by Dr Ekwueme. The former Vice President thought that becoming an automatic Presidential Candidate of the Party was more of a dictatorship than a democratic process. He, however, successfully proposed that one of the Cardinal Principles of PDP should the Zoning.

In the Party's first National Convention that took place in Jos on the 14th of February, 1999, to elect its Presidential Candidate for February 27th Presidential election in 1999, a combination of factors, including subterranean influence of the Military and betrayal by some top Igbo politicians, made Dr Ekwueme, who had resigned as the first National Chairman of the Party, to lose to former Military Head of State, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, who had just come out from Prison where he was incarcerated in Yola by the dictatorial regime of Gen Sani Abacha.

The loss by Dr Ekwueme was a rude shock to the Igbo in general. Political pundits had, therefore, predicted that the Igbo would vote against the Party. Contrary to that prediction, the people of South-East went out en masse to vote not only Gen Obasanjo but equally elect five Governors of the region on the platform of PDP.

The South-East region has since remained a Major Nucleus in the Electoral Dynamics of the Party.

By 2023, which is fast approaching and in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding entered into by founding fathers of the Party and the Constitution of the Party, the Presidential ticket of the Party should be given to an Aspirant from the South-East.

From all indications, so far, it appears the Party is yet to make up its mind. As it is often said, Conscience is an open wound that only truth can heal.

The Igbo have gone through lots of trauma in Nigeria, especially since and after the Nigerian Civil War. It had been expected that fifty years after the war, meaningful reconciliation and integration should have taken place, just as it happened in Rwanda.

Without wanting to sound immodest, as long as the Igbo are left as an Ethnic group that should not attain or actualize Nigeria's Presidency, it would simply mean that Nigeria is still at war with itself.

Starting from the turbulent days of the struggle for Nigeria's Independence, the Igbo were at the forefront. The military coup of January 15, 1966 led by some young Igbo Military Officers, was strictly a development within the Nigerian Army. It was not, in any way, a decision by the Igbo. There were also soldiers from other ethnic groups that were involved. Even at that, the counter coup of July 1966 was a revenge too awful to discuss. The pogrom that followed the counter coup, apart from shattering the Igbo economy, led to painful death of more than Three Million Igbo.

For goodness sake, why can this war not end? Should it rage and rage ad'infinitum? Is the Nigerian State better for it?

Even though there is limit to human endurance, the Igbo will be the last Nation to wish Nigeria's disintegration. Other ethnic nations could easily contemplate Nigeria's dismemberment because they do not have much at stake. Apart Lagos and Abuja, hardly would other Nigerians point at their property outside their ethnic regions. To the contrary, the Igbo have property in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. The Igbo have repeatedly made their stand on Nigeria clear. They, like the Yoruba, South-South and Middle-Belt, want a Restructured Nigeria. They want to have a replica of what Nigeria was as a result of the 1963 Republican Constitution.

The glaring case of insincerity on the part of the national leadership of PDP obviously appears to have become worrisome and unbearable among some top Igbo leaders in PDP.

There are three geo-political regions that make up the South of Nigeria. They are the South-East, South-South and South-West. Of the three, South-West and South-South have each produced Nigeria's Presidents in the persons of Gen Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr Goodluck Jonathan, respectively.

Unarguably, the next President of Nigeria, after incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, should be a Southerner. On what head or leg of equity should a South-Easterner not be the next President in a just and equitable Nigeria?

Nature makes it imperative that he that is rejected in his group should not reject himself. Politics is all about interest. If any group does not offer protection of one's interest, one is bound to seek protection elsewhere. After all, in politics there is no permanent friend but permanent interest.

If PDP decides to render the Igbo in South-East politically irrelevant, no law or social regulation would debar them from seeking for a greener political pasture elsewhere.

It should, however, be seriously noted that an exodus of the South-East from the Peoples Democratic Party will terribly deplete and affect the Party. It would not remain a National Party again.

The attendant consequences are avoidable. Let an Igbo man of South-East origin be supported to run as the Party's 2023 Presidential Flag bearer. That there are many Igbo in PDP who are, in every ramification, competent and capable of steering the ship of Nigeria does not call for an argument or a long discussion..

Those of us who were Conveners of the Party in 1998 and have remained as committed transparent Members of the Party will not like actions or inactions that could lead to the demise of our Party, a Party we laboured so much to bring about. If steps are not taken and urgently too, where our Leaders go, there we would go.

Okwubunka of Asa.

PDP In The Face Of Impending Mass Defection By The South-East Of Nigeria.
By Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Okwubunka of Asa.
1998 Convener, PDP Abia State.


It will be out of place for political narratives in Nigeria to be conclusive without the Peoples Democratic Party; PDP, being on focus. This is because, starting from the First Republic, no Political Party had held sway as much as the PDP in Nigeria. The Northern Peoples' Congress, NPC, with Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister, was in power for only six years, 1959-1966(January 15). The National Party of Nigeria, NPN, with Alhaji Shehu Shagari as Executive President, reigned for only four years, 1979-1983. On its own, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was in charge of the affairs of the country for sixteen consecutive years. The Party is still strongly in contention

Both economic and political observers are in a fair position to point out if the Party was a blessing or not to the country. It is, however, on record that apart from restoring and consolidating Democracy in Nigeria, many achievements stand for the Party. Modernization of the Communication Industry will always remain as a legacy by the PDP. Consolidation of Finance and Banking Sector, including the introduction of Bank Verification Number, BVN, is a clear evidence that PDP actually meant well for the Nigerian State. Resuscitation of the Nigerian Railways is the brainchild of the PDP. Legal framework of foundation for war against corruption was the handiwork of the Party, via Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. Education and Agriculture received a boost under the PDP. Even the worst pessimist or sadist would find it a herculean task writing off the existentialism of PDP.

Before the coming into existence of PDP, the Nigerian Military, which held power, had shown no sign of willingness to relinquish power. This was especially under late General Sani Abacha who had become a Maximum Dictator and was hell-bent on succeeding himself. It took exceptional courage and maximum risk by some politicians to dare the Military.

At the head of that crop of daring politicians was the late first Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Alex Ekwueme, GCON.

Prior to the formation of PDP, Dr Ekwueme had initiated and formed what became known as G-34. It was an assemblage of eminent Nigerian politicians, cutting across the various geo-political divides in the country. It was this G-34 that would metamorphose into Peoples Democratic Party. It was also nurtured by Dr Ekwueme.

The Memorandum of Understanding binding the proposed Party together was signed in the Law Chambers of a Lawyer of South-East origin, Barr Onyeabor Obi on 13th August, 1998 on the 13th Floor of Western House in the Central Business District of Lagos Island.

On the day the Memorandum of Understanding was signed, a notable northern member of G-34 and PDP, by name, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, had, in appreciation of Dr Ekwueme's untiring effort in confronting and retrieving power from the Military, suggested that Dr Ekwueme should be an automatic Presidential Candidate of the Party the subsequent election. That attractive suggestion was, however, turned down by Dr Ekwueme. The former Vice President thought that becoming an automatic Presidential Candidate of the Party was more of a dictatorship than a democratic process. He, however, successfully proposed that one of the Cardinal Principles of PDP should the Zoning.

In the Party's first National Convention that took place in Jos on the 14th of February, 1999, to elect its Presidential Candidate for February 27th Presidential election in 1999, a combination of factors, including subterranean influence of the Military and betrayal by some top Igbo politicians, made Dr Ekwueme, who had resigned as the first National Chairman of the Party, to lose to former Military Head of State, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, who had just come out from Prison where he was incarcerated in Yola by the dictatorial regime of Gen Sani Abacha.

The loss by Dr Ekwueme was a rude shock to the Igbo in general. Political pundits had, therefore, predicted that the Igbo would vote against the Party. Contrary to that prediction, the people of South-East went out en masse to vote not only Gen Obasanjo but equally elect five Governors of the region on the platform of PDP.

The South-East region has since remained a Major Nucleus in the Electoral Dynamics of the Party.

By 2023, which is fast approaching and in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding entered into by founding fathers of the Party and the Constitution of the Party, the Presidential ticket of the Party should be given to an Aspirant from the South-East.

From all indications, so far, it appears the Party is yet to make up its mind. As it is often said, Conscience is an open wound that only truth can heal.

The Igbo have gone through lots of trauma in Nigeria, especially since and after the Nigerian Civil War. It had been expected that fifty years after the war, meaningful reconciliation and integration should have taken place, just as it happened in Rwanda.

Without wanting to sound immodest, as long as the Igbo are left as an Ethnic group that should not attain or actualize Nigeria's Presidency, it would simply mean that Nigeria is still at war with itself.

Starting from the turbulent days of the struggle for Nigeria's Independence, the Igbo were at the forefront. The military coup of January 15, 1966 led by some young Igbo Military Officers, was strictly a development within the Nigerian Army. It was not, in any way, a decision by the Igbo. There were also soldiers from other ethnic groups that were involved. Even at that, the counter coup of July 1966 was a revenge too awful to discuss. The pogrom that followed the counter coup, apart from shattering the Igbo economy, led to painful death of more than Three Million Igbo.

For goodness sake, why can this war not end? Should it rage and rage ad'infinitum? Is the Nigerian State better for it?

Even though there is limit to human endurance, the Igbo will be the last Nation to wish Nigeria's disintegration. Other ethnic nations could easily contemplate Nigeria's dismemberment because they do not have much at stake. Apart Lagos and Abuja, hardly would other Nigerians point at their property outside their ethnic regions. To the contrary, the Igbo have property in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. The Igbo have repeatedly made their stand on Nigeria clear. They, like the Yoruba, South-South and Middle-Belt, want a Restructured Nigeria. They want to have a replica of what Nigeria was as a result of the 1963 Republican Constitution.

The glaring case of insincerity on the part of the national leadership of PDP obviously appears to have become worrisome and unbearable among some top Igbo leaders in PDP.

There are three geo-political regions that make up the South of Nigeria. They are the South-East, South-South and South-West. Of the three, South-West and South-South have each produced Nigeria's Presidents in the persons of Gen Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr Goodluck Jonathan, respectively.

Unarguably, the next President of Nigeria, after incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, should be a Southerner. On what head or leg of equity should a South-Easterner not be the next President in a just and equitable Nigeria?

Nature makes it imperative that he that is rejected in his group should not reject himself. Politics is all about interest. If any group does not offer protection of one's interest, one is bound to seek protection elsewhere. After all, in politics there is no permanent friend but permanent interest.

If PDP decides to render the Igbo in South-East politically irrelevant, no law or social regulation would debar them from seeking for a greener political pasture elsewhere.

It should, however, be seriously noted that an exodus of the South-East from the Peoples Democratic Party will terribly deplete and affect the Party. It would not remain a National Party again.

The attendant consequences are avoidable. Let an Igbo man of South-East origin be supported to run as the Party's 2023 Presidential Flag bearer. That there are many Igbo in PDP who are, in every ramification, competent and capable of steering the ship of Nigeria does not call for an argument or a long discussion..

Those of us who were Conveners of the Party in 1998 and have remained as committed transparent Members of the Party will not like actions or inactions that could lead to the demise of our Party, a Party we laboured so much to bring about. If steps are not taken and urgently too, where our Leaders go, there we would go.

Okwubunka of Asa.

Presenting My Support For The Re-election of President Donald Trump of United States of America.
By Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Okwubunka of Asa.
1st November, 2020.

American Democracy, which is believed to be the most stable in the world, actually did not necessarily start with the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It also may not have begun in 1788 when the American Constitution was ratified by the States. Even 1789 when the first American President, George Washington, was elected could not be said to have marked the commencement of American Democracy.

Lest I am misunderstood, there has been a raging controversy amongst Political Historans on who actually was the first President of America. While some argue that John Hanson elected to the Presidency in 1781 by Thirteen Original English Colonies was the first President of America, many others, including Yours Sincerely, strongly and most convincingly hold that George Washington was the first President of the United States of America.

The justification is simple. Under the Articles of Confederation that produced John Hanson as President, the United States had no Executive Arm. The President of the Congress was merely a Ceremonial Position within the Confederation Congress. He had no Executive Powers. The Presidency of John Hanson could be likened to that of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria between 1959 and 1963.

American Democracy emerged from a Delicate Crucible of Democratic Test. That was in 1796 when President George Washington, Declining to Serve a Third Term in Office, had Voluntarily Retired from Active Politics. In his patriotic altruistic liberal thought, he had considered the negative implications and consequences that could arise if he accepted a Third Term and, probably, died in Office. He reasoned that should that happen, his successors would insist on serving a Third Term. He, therefore, retired and made way for the election of President John Adams in 1797 and, by so doing, laid the foundation of a Two-Term Presidency. American Democracy is, for that reason, said to have its roots in 1797.

Between President George Washington and the incumbent President, Donald Trump, the United States of America had had forty-three other Presidents. Donald Trump (74 years) is, therefore, the Forty-Fifth President.

Apart from President Abraham Lincoln (1860) who was elected the 16th President of the United States of America, having taken advantage of a deeply divided Democratic Party, to emerge as the first American President on the platform of Republican Party, no other President had done as much for America as Donald Trump has done.

Before his emergence in 2017, American economy was in a very precarious state, with a very high rate of unemployment. It was almost at the nadir of economic chaos and collapse. Today, among other accomplishments, the Trump Administration can easily and verifiably lay claim to the following achievements;
(1) Almost Four Million Jobs have been created since his inauguration on January 20, 2017,
(2) More Americans are now employed than ever recorded,
(3) Creation of more than Four Hundred Thousand Manufacturing Jobs,
(4) Manufacturing Jobs growing at the fastest rate in more than three decades,
(5) Economic Growth in the last quarter hit 4.2 %,
(6) New Unemployment Claims recently hit a 49-Year Low,
(7) Median Household Income has hit highest level ever recorded,
( African-American Unemployment has recently achieved the lowest rate ever recorded and the same applies to Hispanic-Americans,
(9) Women's Unemployment rate has hit it's lowest in 65 years,
(10) Youth Unemployment has also recorded the lowest in nearly half a century,
(11) Signing of the Biggest Tax Cut ever recorded in the history of America, which has vigorously given sustainable impetus to vibrancy in economic growth,
(12) Enacted Regulated Relief for Commercial Banks and Credit Unions,
(13) His America First Policy has consistently Exposed Africa's Inept Leadership that has, for many years, left the African Continent vulnerable to complications of lack of development,
(14) His open concern over unrestricted killing of Christians in Nigeria by terrorist Fulani herdsmen has, so far, served as a check and balance on the excesses of the terrorist gang,
(15) His condemnation of Obama's Sodomy that the Democrats shamelessly honour as Same Sex Marriage,
(16) His Overt Expression of Belief in Jehovah God,
(17) His Recognition of Jerusalem as Capital of Israel and
(18) His Indisputable Transparency and Accountability in Running the Affairs of Government.

If I were an American Voter, except God would decree otherwise, nothing, I repeat nothing, would debar me from casting my vote for President Donald Trump.

I, therefore, urge all American Voters with good conscience and concern for the future to cast their votes for President Donald Trump, as I look forward to hearing the good news of his Expected Electoral Victory on the Statutory First Tuesday of this Month of November, 2020.

Okwubunka of Asa.

Is Our Nation Repeating A Costly Mistake Of 54 Years Ago?
By Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Okwubunka of Asa
25th October, 2020.

Dr Michael Okpara, from Ohuhu Clan in the present Umuahia-North Local Government Area of Abia State, was the Premier of defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria. From 1959 to 1966, he was the youngest Premier in Nigeria, starting at the age of 39. Unlike today that many leaders are not driven by ideology, Dr M I Okpara believed in Pragmatic Socialism, with emphasis on Agriculture.

Up till today, his records of achievements in pragmatic governance remain a compass that every well-meaning Governor or even President in Nigeria would wish to be guided by. Under him, the Eastern Region, from which were created Nine States, (1) Abia, (2)Anambra, (3)Ebonyi, (4)Enugu and (5)Imo, constituting South-East geo-political zone and(6) Akwa-Ibom, (7) Bayelsa (Cross River and (9) Rivers, was said to be the fastest growing economy in Sub-Sahara Africa before January 15, 1966.

The unfortunate Military Coup d'etat of 1966 brought to an abrupt end the hopes and aspirations of Nigeria's First Republic.

Due to unmitigated massacre of people of defunct Eastern Region in other parts of Nigeria and mischievous refusal of the Federal Government of Nigeria under Col Yakubu Gowon to abide by Accord freely asscented to by both the Federal Government of Nigeria, as led by Gowon and the Military Government of Eastern Nigeria headed by Col Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu at Aburi in Ghana, presided over by the Chairman of Ghana's Liberation Council, Lt-General J A Ankrah, the peoples of Eastern Region, after intensive consultations, had no option than to declare their Independence. That gave rise to the birth and emergence of the Federal Republic of Biafra on 30th May, 1967. The declaration was the only survivalist option left for the dangerously- embattled Easterners who were being decimated through pogrom or calculated ethnic cleansing.

The blood bath that the Region had been turned into by the Federal Government of Nigeria aroused in everyone, including Dr M I Okpara, a survivalist instinct.

Dr M I Okpara was among the last set of Biafran Leaders that flew out of Biafra when it had become obvious that after three years of unprecedented resistance by a people who were least prepared for a war, that the resistance could not be sustained any longer.

When Dr Okpara returned from exile about 1982, he opted to join the National Party of Nigeria, headed by President Shehu Shagari. Many political pundits had expected that Dr Okpara would naturally join his erstwhile Leader, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe who was the Leader and Presidential Candidate of Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP. On the day of his declaration for NPN, he said something that has since become a popular saying, First Fool No Be Fool, Second Fool Na Proper Foolish.

Knowing what the Igbo went through during that war of attrition forced on them, Dr Okpara's axiom was self-explanatory.

The recent or is it current #ENDSARS Protest in Nigeria brings to mind Dr M I Okpara's First Fool and Second Fool analysis. While the Northern States, except in Abuja where sponsored Almajiris attacked Southerners and heavily destroyed such items as cars and vehicles, lost nothing, the South became a theatre of human destruction and general catastrophe.

Here in the South-East, our young men, being oblivious of the underlying wisdom in Dr Okpara's First Fool No Be Fool Second Fool Na Proper Foolish, wrecked unmitigated havoc on their scarce infrastructure.

The Protest took a violent different dimension. A Monument like Aba Town Hall which is a treasured reminder of our encounter with and resistance against British Colonialism was set ablaze! Apart from absurdity of hooliganism, what else would those behind that dastard act claim is their gain? The Igbo are known for their entrepreneurial ingenuity. They have basically managed to survive deliberate marginalization by the Federal Government and general poor governance, simply on the strength of their relentlessness in business. Banks have remained an essential source of our economic resilience. Why must Igbo youths ever contemplate vandalizing and looting banks at Aba, for instance?

Unlike in some other States where volumes of hoarded COVID-19 palliative items were discovered and ransacked by rampaging youths, none was and could have been found in Abia State because Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was very transparent and altruistic in managing the palliatives.

The worst misfortune that a people should allow to befall them is repeating a mistake that almost devasted them fifty-four years ago. The January 15, 1966 Coup that was led by Majors Ifeajuna and Nzogwu were in reaction to tense political crisis in defunct Western Nigeria, in which the Federal Government of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was aiding Chief Samuel Akintola in a very suffocating rivalry against his former boss, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
The coup was, therefore, a fallout of unhealthy political turmoil that had bloodly engulfed the West. The crisis that promoted the coup was not in the East.

Except historians of Igbo extraction and a few outside Igbo land, hardly does any person remember to state that the involvement of the young military officers were purely interventionist. They even had in their agenda a grand design to release Chief Obafemi Awolowo from Prison in Calabar and install him as Prime Minister of Nigeria.

For fifty-four years, the Igbo have suffered unimaginable punishment for the interventionist role of their sons.

Who would blame Dr M I Okpara for saying, First Fool No Be Fool, Second Fool Na Proper Foolish.

The Igbo should have by now, based on their horrible experience resulting from the 1966 coup, learnt to be as wise as the Serpent and as harmless as the Dove.

There is no gainsaying the fact that despite the burden of machinery of Federal Government's marginalization agenda against the Igbo, they, comparatively-speaking, have remained the most successful and richest citizens of Nigeria. If a census is conducted on Hotels in Abuja, it would be obvious that the Igbo own, at least, 60% . The same is applicable to Estate Industry in Abuja.

It must, however, be mentioned that more than 60% of Igbo wealthy class made their money in Lagos. No matter likely differences in opinion, Lagos has been generally favourable to the development of Igbo Entrepreneurial Spirit.

While our close neighbours in Rivers State took over property belonging to the Igbo during the Nigerian/Biafran war, hiding under the most inhumane law called Abandoned Property promulgated by the State Government under Navy Commander Alfred Papreye Diete-Spiff as Military Governor and assisted by Major David Mark, property that Igbo deserted in Lagos as a result of the war were safeguarded by the Yoruba and handed over to them after the war.

If there are friends the Igbo have in Nigeria, the Yoruba come first. But they, like any other groups, are human-beings. They have their sensibilities, interest and pride to protect.

What happened in Lagos during the #ENDSARS Protest was purely the making of aggrieved Nigerian Youths. It was neither a tribal nor religious uprising. Anger has been bottled up for many years and it was only natural that one day it would burst. It has eventually burst.

As it is with human beings, each action would have its fallouts. One Uk-based young Yoruba man called Adeyinka Grandson, from his far-away Uk residence, probably taking advantage of cheap and easy facilitation by Social Media, issued a QUIT NOTICE TO THE IGBO NOT ONLY IN LAGOS BUT THE WHOLE OF YORUBA LAND.

Thanks to the maturity and understanding of Yoruba Elders and Intelligentsia. They quickly intervened and rightly disowned Mr Grandson.

Any serious misunderstanding between the Igbo and the Yoruba would keep the South perpetually under slavish marginalization by the Fulani hegemony. That Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo failed to agree initially has been the reason why the people of the South find themselves in a disadvantageous position today.

Currently, national issues are taking a more critical outlook in not only the South of Nigeria but equally in the Middle-Belt. Both the South and the Middle-Belt are beginning to realize that Injustice Against One Section Is Injustice Against All. They are beginning to work together.

The Nigerian Federation if allowed to operate as a trully-structured State, would be the pride not only of Africa but also the Democratic World. This is why every broad-minded Nigerian is advocating for A Restructuring of the Country.

The issue of Separatism or Disintegration of Nigeria is not an option. If it could be an option for other tribes in Nigeria, it would not be considered even in the least by the Igbo. If Nigeria is Restructured, there would hardly be any country, at least in Africa and the Black World, that would come close to her in overall development.

The Demand for Restructuring is already in motion. The innocent blood of all those that were brutally killed in the course of protesting for a separate country, Biafara and the ones recently slaughtered en masse at Lekki Toll Plaza by the Nigerian Army would, by and large, bring about the realization of the dream of Nigerians and there will be a Restructured Nigeria.

While the the process of Restructuring Nigeria is being anticipated, the Igbo should be circumspect in their utterances, conduct and deed. We should restrain from making provocative utterances that could severe our relationship with others. No one is an island to itself.

Igbo Governors, Political Leaders, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Clergy, Journalists, Writers and all should be relentless in defining and quantifying who their Leaders are. Igbo, as a nation, can not afford to be lackadaisical on who their Leaders are. A rabble-rouser who hangs away from Igbo land, using radio to rain abuses on personalities at will, can not be allowed to make a claim of leadership on the Igbo. He should not even be allowed to cause trouble between the Igbo and other Ethnic Nationalities.

One fundamental challenge the leadership of the Igbo must have to address now is the self-destructive radicalization of Igbo Youths. They have been badly brainwashed. A Psycho-Social Machinery must be put in place to make sure they are Deradicalized. Until this is successfully done, the negatively-brainwashed Igbo Youths would continue to be an embarrassment to the Igbo Nation.

Okwubunka of Asa.

Contradictory Ingredients In #ENDSARS Protests In The South Of Nigeria:
By Sir Don Ubani ; KSC, JP
Okwubunka of Asa.
22nd October, 2020.

There is hardly any human Organization that has no origin, purpose and (or) antecedents.

The origin of the Nigerian Police dates as far back as 1920. It started basically as a British Colonial Paramilitary Agency screwed as a willing tool to coerce the people of the different nations that would later be forced into amalgamation to form what today constitutes the Nigerian State, into submission. Frankly speaking, the Police in Nigeria were not established to be friendly or protective of the ordinary citizen. Their loyalty has always been directed towards the Ruling Class.

Police brutality in Nigeria is, therefore, not alien. It is sequel to their conception and historic rules of engagement. Civility and orderliness do not occupy much space in the dictates of the Nigerian Police Force. The Police are not our friends. Hence, more than Twenty Most Senior Police Officers could be abruptly and summarily retired just to create room for a very Junior Officer to be unmeriteriously handpicked as Inspector-General of Police.

In more than ninety-five percent of cases of brutality by the Nigerian Police Force, it is the people of the South of Nigeria that are both the casualties and victims. Out of this percentage, the Igbo have more than fifty percent.

SARS in Nigeria, until recently, was a Police acronym for Special Anti-Robbery Squad. In view of the magnitude of menace by criminals and hoodlums in the country, especially in the former Southern Protectorate of Nigeria, the formation of SARS was a welcome development.

Regrettably, SARS, true to what the Nigerian Police Force represents, became a violently brutal scavenger against Nigerian Citizens.

Instead of focusing on highly-placed Nigerian public office holders whose stock-in-trade is to heartlessly loot the public treasury dry, they were unjustifiably determined to smoke life out of young Nigerian Entrepreneurs, Artists and traders. No thanks to innovations in technology, they moved with Point of Sale(PoS) machines in their vehicles. They stopped and unlawfully searched travelers on our highways. Any amount of money they observed in people's mobile phones, they forced such persons, at gun point, to disclose their pin number and forcefully transferred such amounts to their own bank accounts. Of course, any resistance to such official robbery by the Police meant death.

The Police, either through SARS or any other unit, have become the most notorious official gang of extortionist Marauders in Nigeria. Their strength is only directed at the weak harmless innocent Nigerians. They dare not go five kilometers close to where armed robbers are said to be operating. None of them would ever wish to be deployed to Borno, Yobe or Adamawa State where Islamist Boko Haram, which was created by Islamist Northern politicians, has held swear since 2014.

To crown it all, SARS had recklessly and brutally annihilated many youths in Nigeria. Again, all the victims were people from the South of Nigeria. The Police in Nigeria give the impression that it is only Southerners that commit crime in Nigeria. 'Every Fulani or Hausa person is portrayed as a saint'.

Police impunity in Nigeria is encouraged by the awkwardness of the Nigerian Federation. The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria was, without any consultations, written by the Nigerian Army which has, for too long a time, tilted towards the Moslem North and forcefully disadvantageously imposed on the whole country. It is such a Constitution that the South has been squeezed into as an irrelevant minority.

An attempt, a bold one for that matter, was made by the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014 to address the visible imbalance in the 1999 Constitution via a National Conference. Contrary to good reason, General Buhari has vowed not to do any thing with the Report of the 2014 National Conference.

The avoidable result has become general frustration on the part of Southerners. The attendant dejection has led majority of youths in Igbo land to agitate for an Independent State of Biafra while Igbo Elders, including Yours Sincerely, through Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, are demanding for a Restructuring of the Nigerian State.

Interestingly, the South-West, South-South and Middle-Belt are on the same page with the Ohaneze. They want Nigeria to be Restructured.

Frustration of the Nigerian Youths has climaxed in what they term #ENDSARS Protest. The Protest, though tagged ENDSARS, is all encompassing. It demands an end to Police brutality, Corruption, Review of Extraneous Salaries of Political Office Holders, Enabling Environment for Youth Development, Restructuring of Nigeria and so on.

In response to the Protest, the APC-led federal government of General Muhammadu Buhari disbanded SARS but annoyingly spontaneously replaced it with what it calls Special Weapons And Tactics Team(SWAT). This does not, in any way, guarantee an end to Police brutality.

A nation-wide protest that started on Thursday 8 October, 2020 has lasted for two consecutive weeks. The protest has attracted the attention of not only prominent personalities from Nigeria but also dignitaries from the global community. A former Secretary of State of the United States of America, Mrs Hillary Clinton, has called on General Buhari to address the Citizens of his country on the protest. However, her piece of advice, as usual with the General, has fallen on deaf ears.

Rather than address the issues raised by the Protesters, the Buhari Administration has turned the genuine peaceful protest into an Ethnic cum religious conflict. Hoodlums from the core Moslem North have been 'shiploaded' into Abuja, armed to the teeth and have been unleashing mayhem on Southerners, especially the itinerant Igbo, living in Abuja. Many have been killed, with their property irretrievably damaged.

In Lagos, the Fulani-controlled Nigerian Army deployed unprofessional soldiers who rained life bullets into peaceful Protestants at the Toll Gate at Lekki. Hundreds dropped dead on the spot. Taking into consideration both the cosmopolitan and metropolitan status of Lagos, it would not be in any doubt that the Igbo were among the dead!

So, from Abuja and Lagos, apart from the well known casualties and victims already sustained through the infamous SARS' hooliganism in the country, the Igbo are already heavy losers. Meanwhile, the Moslem North has not lost even a drop of water.

Those of us who witnessed the Nigerian/Biafra War of 1967 to 1970, are in a position to State categorically that the Igbo have not yet recovered from the war. The number of Police Check-Points on roads in the South-East, especially under General Muhammadu Buhari Administration, where brutal extortion of motorists and other road users take place by force, are a confirmation that the Buhari Administration is still fighting a war of attrition against the Uniquely Industrious Igbo Ethnic Nationality.

It, therefore, makes any sane and critically-minded Igbo Man or Woman to bleed seeing Igbo Youths going on Rampage and Destroying Government Property and Even Banks In Igbo Land.

What Justification And Consolation Would Make Igbo Youths To Destroy And Set ABA TOWN HALL ON FIRE?

What would they give as their reason for setting Headquarters of Aba-North Local Government Council ablaze?

It is rumoured that Igbo Youths in Aba have been contemplating marching to the Umuobiakwa Country-home of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to raze down his residence. The question here is, what did Governor Okezie Ikpeazu do? Abia State has had Chiefs Orji Uzor Kalu and Theodore Orji as Governors before Ikpeazu. In fairness, would any person deny that the first two did not do better than Ikpeazu even all through the eight years each of them had ruled?

It is sad that a national issue like the current ENDSARS Protest that should unite the Igbo is rather serving as an instrument of division amongst the Igbo.

The general impression now amongst the people of Ngwa Land is that 'OHUHU PEOPLE' are hiding under the Camouflage of the Protest to Manifest their time-held animosity against them, by destroying things in ABA-NGWA.

In summary, the PEACEFUL ENDSARS PROTEST ls ln Order And Quite Commendable But It Should Not Destroy What We Already Have And It Should Also Not Divide The Igbo Nation. Igbo Unity Should Be Sacrosanct And Indisputable.

Okwubunka of Asa.

The Supreme Court Governor Is at It again !!!

There have been misleading informations Purported by the current Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma through the Commissioner of information Hon. Declan Emelumba. Hon. Declan claimed that the present adminstration witnessed 100% + IGR increase within 2 months in office.

These claims are false and we urge imolites not to fall for any sweet talks from this government to discredit the works of Ihedioha in Imo state.

The gross IGR as at 31st December, 2019 was approximately 1.2 billion Naira and the gross revenue for the month was subject to 20% statutory deductions.

It could be that the N620M referred to by Emelumba, may have been the half January Internally Generated Revenue of the state as at 14th Jan 2020 when the new govt came into office and not as December 2019 IGR of the state.

For posterity sake, the present adminstration need to put a stop to dishing out false information and recklessness in governance and at this moment take up the responsibility of Making Imo state a better state rather than gallivanting and celebrating mediocre.

In the time of Ihedioha, he took up the mantle of leadership with the promise of delivering Imo state from backwardness and increase IGR through building a favourable environment for business to thrive which yielded positive and recommendable results. Within Ihedioha's seven months in office, such strategy and measures skyrocketed the IGR of Imo state to approximately 6.41 billion Naira.

What a wonderful feat achieved by Ihedioha.

GOVT. HOUSE BUDGET DEFENSE

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr A.C.B Agbazuere says the state government is determined to ensure the repositioning and rejigging of various state's agencies by appointing new/efficient management to interpret the Governors visions and deliver multi-sectorial growth for Abians.

Dr Agbazuere who stated this during the 2021 state budget defense of Government House Umuahia totaling N17,813,350,200 disclosed that the proposed budget when approved will strategically strengthen certain achievements by creating conducive environment for local and foreign investors to thrive as well as provide opportunities for human capital development.

The Chief of staff to the Governor while pointing out some of the policy trust for year 2021 for Government House Umuahia including ensuring effective and efficient resource allocation, utilization in relation to proper prioritization of peoples need to ensure that governments programs and projects meet citizens demands as well as guarantee dividends of democracy and value for money in it's implementation, ensuring careful identification and harmonization of all revenue generating windows towards attaining the set goals for 2021 which is economic repositioning urged the the 2021 state budget Committee to be fair to other agencies under the Government House.

He further described the State Government House as the seat of power for all the state government activities whereas the office of the Governor coordinates all the functions and activities of the entire MDA's towards good governance and public engagement in the state.

Earlier in her speech, the Chairman 2021 State Budget Committee and Permanent Secretary Planning Commission, Dr Mrs Nnenna Chikezie while disclosing the theme of this year's budget christened Budget of Local Content and Sustainable Development commended the Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for his unrelentless efforts at repositioning the state on the part of greatness promised that the committee will be fair and transparent to all MDA's.

Correspondent Ugochukwu Ahuchogu reports that the Permanent Secretary Government House Umuahia, Mr Alozie Odoemelam, management of Government House, Heads of Agencies under the Government House were all present during the budget defense.

Dr Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso CHIMA ANYASO: MILESTONE CELEBRATION WITH A DIFFERENCE

Igbere born business mogul and philanthropist, Dr. Chima Desmond Anyaso has distributed grinding machines and cash to 40 beneficiaries comprising of some indigent women and widows in his Bende Federal Constituency as part of his efforts at improving the economic conditions of his constituents post Covid-19 Lockdown.

Dr. Desmond Chima Anyaso also doled out cash gifts to another set of 40 individuals to empower them in this post Covid-19 era.

Distributing the empowerment items, the representative of Dr. Chima Anyaso and Deputy T. C Chairman, Bende LGA, Comrade John Mark Mgbogburuagu said that the post Covid-19 palliatives were parts of activities marking the 40th birthday celebration of Dr. Chima Anyaso. He disclosed that Dr. Anyaso had during the lock down period doled out palliatives in form of bags of rice, beans, tubers of yams, noodles among others to his people .

According to Comrade Mgbogburuagu who doubles as the Chairman of the committee coordinating Dr Anyaso’s birthday outreach in Bende noted that although Dr Chima Anyaso is not contesting any election now he has continued to make efforts to improve the economic conditions of his people having seen their plights occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic. He informed that the items are being shared across party lines and encouraged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items and improve their economy.

Also speaking, the Director General, Dr. Desmond Chima Anyaso Foundation, Hon. Okey Iboko described Dr. Anyaso as a gift to Bende LGA, saying that instead of people bringing birthday gifts to him, he was rather the one reaching out to his people once again adding that his action is worthy of emulation. He enjoined the beneficiaries of both grinding machines and cash to utilize them judiciously to improve their lives and better their economic standing, he also congratulated him on his forthcoming birthday and wished him well.

In their various responses, some beneficiaries of the empowerment including APGA Woman Leader in Bende, Chinenyerem Ikedieze, PDP Woman Leader, Chizurum Uzoigwe as well as Community leaders of Nkpa, Mrs. Chinyere Okorie, Lodu - Imenyi, Lolo Stainless Ugochukwu, Okobodi, Patience Anieke and that of ASMATA, Cordelia Chukwu commended Dr. Chima Anyaso for his kind gesture to them.

And One of the beneficiaries also noted that Dr Anyaso despite not been a political
office holder had remained steadfast in his philanthropic outreaches, further stating that many politicians after such experience would neglect their constituents but his was a different case, adding that he has not stopped putting smiles in their faces. They described him as a worthy son of Bende, who does not discriminate irrespective of political party differences.

The women who wished Dr. Anyaso well in all that he does also took time to pray for him and sang birthday songs for him as his birthday comes up on 16th September.

Instability Of Character And Matters Arising As Alexander Otti Defects For The Umpteenth Time:
Bt Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP
Okwubunka of Asa.
16th August, 2020.

After critically going through the speech of Mr Alexander Otti at his declaration of his membership of the All Progressives Congress on Friday 14th August, 2020, my mind quickly flashed back to some of the thoughts of American-born Philosopher and Psychologist; John Dewey, 20th October, 1859-1st June, 1952.

Without bordering my audience with details of his adumbrations on his concepts of Pragmatism, Instrumentalism and Consequentialism, it would be suffice to to recall his concern for Precise Definition. It was that concern that led him to detailed analysis of Carelessness in the Use of Words, as reported in his work, 'knowing and the known', in 1949.

Should there be further exposition into Dewey's propositions, the inquirer might come face to face with Epistemology, which is the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, scope and the distinction between justified belief and worthless personal opinion.

Education, as we had learnt and believed, has the fundamental cognitive responsibility of intrinsically asserting irresistible influence on the mind of its acquisitor.

Where there is a thorough process of pragmatic and functional education, it would be assumed that the beneficiary of the process must have not only passed through school but had equally allowed the school to pass through him or her.

One basic quality and attendant display of the educated mind is evident in the choice of his or her words. As much as possible, the educated mind manifests undoubted refinement in his or her choice of words. Such a decent mind does not condescend to the indecency of vulgarity while speaking or writing.

As long as democracy is concerned, Mr Alexander Otti is fundamentally entitled to his aspiration to occupy whatever public office he dreams of. After all, in the final analysis, it will always be the electorate that would be expected to determine who governs or represents them.

What, however, I find irksome and, therefore, unacceptable is Mr Otti's inclination to uncouthness in his use of language.

Let us examine, for instance, one of his statements at the said declaration; 'I am rededicating my life and my struggle to end the tenure of the government of looters, by looters and for looters'.

Should a person of Mr Alexander Otti, who openly said he is fifty-five years and had attained a reasonable height in Banking and Management Industry be this vulgar? By depicting this extreme level of crudeness, has he not fallen deeply short of John Dewey's perceptions on Epistemology? Who does he refer to as 'looters'?

Lest Mr Alexander Otti pretends to have forgotten, the beauty of any assertion lies in its accuracy and veracity.

As usual with his wailing and ranting, Alexander made some unsubstantiable allegations, of course, only typical of a misguided politician whose inordinate ambition and the attendant desperation have dangerously combined to blindfold and leave him bereft of common sense and love for truth.

A mere cursory examination of his 14th August declaration to APC, his third Party in just six years of his entry into politics, clearly portrays Mr Otti as a deceitful character. This is a man who only takes high-class visitors to his Arochukwu Palatial Mansion but when he thinks he needs the masses made up of commoners like me, he would then create the very errorneous impression that he hails from Ehi na Uguru Ward 5 in Isialangwa-South Local Government Area. Why this deceit?

Mr Otti, while appreciating personalities who he claimed were useful to him during his transition in APGA at his Ehi na Uguru declaration, acknowledged late Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu as the reason why he joined APGA. The question that arises here is, by defecting from APGA to APC, does it mean he no longer believes in the political philosophy of the late Ikemba? Would it be unfair to classify Mr Alex Otti as a typical Nigerian fair weather politician? Could Mr Otti point out any nexus between the late Dim Ojukwu's APGA and APC?

Mr Otti has refused to appreciate realities of Abia political architecture. In the said declaration, he still went on to further deceive himself by falsely claiming that he won 2015 governorship election in Abia State but had his mandate stolen.

It is not unlikely he is still in a reverie. He buttressed his erroneous assertion by saying his Party, APGA, which he has now rejected, won Eleven Seats in the State House of Assembly. I wonder what he wanted to achieve by this gross arithmetical amnesia! If, in a House of Twenty-Four Seats, his former Party won Eleven Seats, why should he be despicably silent on the fact that the remaining and majority Thirteen Seats were seamlessly won by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's Peoples Democratic Party? Pls, he should be guided. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of PDP beat Mr Otti of APGA fair and square in 2015 governorship election.

To put it in an unmistakable perspective, again true to the realities of Abia political architecture, in 2019, the winning votes of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, stably of PDP, overwhelmed and dwarfed not only that of Mr Otti who came a very painful and disheartening distant third but also that of the more enterprising and broad-minded Dr Uche Oga of APC, who gallantly came second in the election.

Again, to show how desperate Mr Otti's vaulting ambition has decimated him, he proceeded to challenge the outcome of Abia 2019 governorship election in Court, even when he knew or should have known that as one who came a very discouraging third, there was no basis for him to challenge such a transparently-won election. Of course, the gentleman who came second, Dr Oga, being patriotically concerned about the interest of the State, went his way, wishing the Governor well in governance. No wonder Mr Otti was declared 'a busy body and a meddlesome interloper' by the Supreme Court.

Like he pointed out, many of those who supported him even in 2019 when he performed most abysmally, have found out the true colour of Mr Otti and have, therefore, deserted him. Well, the problem with desperation is that it denies whoever that is its victim a good sense of judgment. Mr Otti is still basking in the euphoria of his 2015 assumptions.

Now that he has decamped to APC, he may need to know the difference between realities and sentiments. In the first instance, he has, true to his nature, arrogantly and costly started on a very wrong and dangerous premise. Penultimate Friday when he hosted former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, he openly tried to humiliate the Chief Whip. Chief Orji Uzor Kalu had said, while Mr Otti was introducing him, that he was a holder of the Ugwu Aro Chieftaincy title but spontaneously, his host openly tried to debunk his claim. It took Chief Kalu some time to prove his claim, including having a collaborative evidence by an Aro indigene who holds the same Ugwu Aro title. After that humiliating interjection, Chief Kalu lost every interest in what Mr Otti was saying. He concentrated on his private chat with Senator Victor Ume whom he sat close by. There will be more cracks.

Whatever his excitements are in his new political romance with APC, it would be most naive of him to think that the Hon Minister of State for Mines; Dr Uche Oga, who had emerged second in the 2019 governorship election, would relinquish his ambition to him in 2023. By order of chronological seniority in APC and by popular preference, Dr Oga towers above him in every respect. I forsee a very likely situation where Mr Defector would defect again.

On his antagonistic preposterous allegations concerning non-payment of salaries and pensions, Mr Otti only succeeded in portraying himself as one who is uninformed or choses to be unethically economical with the truth on ground. There is no month that pensioners and civil servants in Abia State, to the best of my knowledge, do not receive their pensions and wages. Mr Otti is, however, free to chose what story that makes him happy.

On infrastructure, in as much as Mr Defector is at liberty to perceive the State of infrastructure in the State from his chosen narrow scope, objectivity demands that he should have acknowledged the giant efforts so far made by the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in the State.

On what basis should Mr Defector accuse Governor Ikpeazu of 'having no iota of idea'? For the first time in the history of the State, our infrastructure went through a Regid Pavement Technology. Governor Ikpeazu's administration originated Abia Tele Health Initiative. The first Flyover in Abia State was initiated, almost being completed, by Governor Ikpeazu. The first Automated Shoe Industry in Abia State came into Abia State only courtesy of Ikpeazu's administration. For the first time in the history of the State, Rice Mills were established for farmers in the State. It was the Ikpeazu-led government that ever bought brand new cars for Heads of Faculties at Abia State University, Uturu. Still on Teachers, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is the only Governor that ever bought brand new cars as motivation to Teachers representing the three Senatorial Districts of the State. Of course, the biggest and greatest project that will ever touch the Southeast geopolitical zone since the advent of the Third Republic is the Enyimba Economic City Development. It could only have taken a Man of clear vision and thoughts to have attracted such a gigantic economic project from a Federal Government not controlled by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's Party, PDP.

Before rounding off this piece, Mr Defector should not pretend to be in a hurry to forget the enormity of disaster associated with him in the downfall of Diamond Bank. Except he could succeed in imposing a state of amnesia or even imbecility on Abians, nay, Nigerians, the managerial destruction he orchestrated at Diamond Bank would hunt him all through his life.

Altruistically, I have given him my piece of advice free of any charges. He does not need to pay any dime.

Okwubunka of Asa.
1998 Convener, PDP, Abia State.

Deputy Chief Of Staff Extols Governor Ikpeazu For His Quick Response Mechanism:
14th August, 2020.

The Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Governor of Abia State; Sir Don Ubani, has expressed optimum satisfaction with timeous responsiveness of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to issues that border on Security and Welfare of the people of Abia State.

Sir Ubani, who expressed his thoughts in a release issued at Government House, Umuahia, pointed out that Governor Ikpeazu has been consistent in his manifestation of total commitment to the security and welfare of his people.

According to the Deputy Chief of Staff, it took only hours after allegations of dehumanization of Abians and other Nigerians working in a Chinese Company in Ukwa-West Local Government Area; Inner Galaxy, went viral that the Governor set up administrative machineries to investigate the allegations as to ascertain what the true situation is.

Sir Ubani, who called on the 9-Man Investigative Committee led by the Commissioner for Industries, Mrs Uwaoma Olenwangwa, to work painstakingly and very altruistically to get to the root of the brouhaha and widely publicized opprobrium, expressed optimism that at the end of the investigation and subsequent measures by the State Government, Abia State would be better for it.

Operation fight against Indiscipline Kicks_Off in Ariaria International Market.

Sequel to the directives of the Chief of Staff to the state Governor.

The Chairman of Ariaria international Market has once again demonstrated his resolve to reduce the high level of indiscipline being exhibited by Aba Ariaria traders by Lunching OPERATION FIGHT AGAINST INDISCIPLINE , he stressed that there's need for them to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse along major roads in the market and drainages as such was an offence against the law, anyone found wanting will face the full wrath of the law.


At the market in Aba, The Market Chairman while addressing Some sections of the traders, charged the Task Force to be at their very best to reduce the high rate of indiscipline in the market .

There is going to be an improvement in the environmental cleanliness in the markets he called on traders in the market to cooperate with them

He harped on the need for unalloyed cooperation among the Zonal Chairmen stating that the whole essence is to get the Ariaria international Market adequately clean and healthy.

Hon Okeke added: “The essence is for all of us to come together, the essence is for joint venture, the vision is one, the mission is one, the objective one. There’s no division in coming together for this very structure, it’s all inclusive and all hands must be on Deck.

The Market Chairman charged the Taskforce to eschew acts that would drag the image of the State government to the mud, such as bribery, corruption, indiscipline and other vices that can hinder achievement of set goals.

He urged the Taskforce to work with Market Zonal Executives to succeed in the fight against Indiscipline

Responding, the Taskforce Chairman charged other members to reciprocate the gesture of Governor Okezie by rising to the occasion.

He advised that the assignment would be easier once they pay heed to the Standard of Operations (SOP).

IHEDIOHA JOINS TO RAISE AWARENESS ON SEXUAL & GENDER BASED VIOLENCE (SGBV)

Today, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON, was the special guest of honor and Art Reviewer, at an event organized to create awareness on Sexual and Gender based Violence.

The event sponsored by GUNDUA, an exclusive exhibition to raise awareness on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), was held at Nsibidi The Gallery, located at Ruben Okayo Crescent, Abuja.

The event was Hosted by Chinze Ojobo, President, Female Artists Association Of Nigeria.

Weekend Files

The immediate past Governor of imo state Emeka Ihedioha, casting his vote during the PDP State Congress in Owerri, which was free and fair.

Former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, with former Deputy Governor, Ebere Udeagu during the PDP State Congress in Owerri, weekend

Former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, assisting PDP BOT member, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, during the PDP State Congress in Owerri, weekend

Weekend files .

The immediate past Governor of imo state Emeka Ihedioha, casting his vote during the PDP State Congress in Owerri, which was free and fair.

Former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, with former Deputy Governor, Ebere Udeagu during the PDP State Congress in Owerri, weekend

Former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, assisting PDP BOT member, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, during the PDP State Congress in Owerri, weekend

Weekend files

*Imo State Standstill As Democracy Icons Return Home After Several Months Of COVID-19 Influenced Lockdown*

Nnamdi UKASANYA
30-7-2020

All forms of business activities were shutdown in different parts of Imo State, today, in solidarity with the heroic return of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, and members of the National Assembly, who were elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

The worthy and enterprising sons of the soil have been out of the State for months, as a result of the COVID-19 influenced nationwide lockdown.

Despite the late announcement of the return of the Democracy heros, youths bodies, well-wishers, eminent personalities, women and men of the Imo State People's Democratic Party(PDP), made it early to the Imo State Airport, where they waited for the arrival of their heroes, who were aboard a flight, back home.

At about 12:15 hours Nigerian time, the Airbus conveying the heros to the Airport, especially, the indisputable icon of rebuild Imo Project - Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (Omenkeahurunaya) and Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu (who was full of his usual smile) - touched down on the soil of Imo State, amidst pump and pegeantry.

Rt. Hon. Ihedioha came in with notable Political icons like: Sen. Onyewuchi, and the amiable Honorable member representing the good people of Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency - Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu(MFR), and a few others.

The mammoth crowd led by the leadership of the People's Democratic party in the State, especially, the PDP Chairmen of Ezinihitte and Ahiazu LGAs, Engr. C.J Njoku and Prince Obolobo, respectively, who added color to the occasion, followed the convoy from the Airport to Ihedioha's Country home, Mbutu, before heading back to the Party Secretariat in Okigwe Road, Owerri, the State capital.


It is deserving of emphasis that, the youths and eminent personalities of Imo State, who were evidently joyful, sang and danced as their heroes alighted from the flight, before departing the Airport.


In their ancestral home of Mbaise and Owerri, business and commercial activities were also completely shut down. More visible and audible were waving of hands and chant of victorious: "welcome our Governor, our hero!"

Commercial motorcyclists and Taxi/Bus drivers were not left out as they appeared overjoy, hence served as unsolicited medium for information dissemination - where they lectured who cared to listen - about the significance of the homecoming. This was, as reported by genuine sons and daughters of the Mbaise Nation.

Also deserving of mention is that, for several months after the Supreme Court abracadabra, the quiet towns of Imo State and neighboring States became boisterous with song of praises and its attendant gridlock of Vehicles in some local and major Roads as a result of the homecoming.

Ihedioha, who addressed the crowd in his Country home, Mbutu, did not betray his usual comaraderie: he was fantastic in his unassuming but eloquent self, that was partly instrumental to his overwhelming victory during the 2019 Governorship Election in the State.

It will be recalled that Rt. Hon. Ihedioha, was elected in 2019 as the Executive Governor of Imo State, before he was unceremoniously removed through a supreme Court judgement that is still a subject of National debate.

Deputy Chief Of Staff Encourages Abians Not To Be Despondent In The Advent Of COVID-19.
22nd April, 2020.

Sequel to public knowledge of recent evidence of Corona Virus in Abia State, the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Governor; Sir Don Ubani, has called on the people of the State not to be despondent.

The Deputy Chief of Staff gave his words of encouragement when he paid a motivational visit to the Traditional Ruler of Isi-Ihie Autonomous Community in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of the State, His Royal Highness, Eze Johnson Nwaguru.

Sir Ubani, while acknowledging that Abians have a lot of work to do in the face of two elderly indigenes of the State having tested positive for COVID-19 Pandemic, asserted that such results did not amount to death sentences but rather re-emphasized the importance of strictly adhering to the preventive measures the Government of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has long rolled out.

Sir Ubani used the occasion of the meeting to remind Abians of the importance of staying hygienically safe in their homes and observing social distancing. He highlighted the basic essence of frequent hand washing.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, who stated that it would amount to gross indiscipline, recklessness and irresponsibility for any person to visit people unnecessarily at a time like this, maintained that once Abians observe measures put in place against spread of COVID-19, it will be certain God will deliver His people from this Pandemic.

In his response, the Traditional Ruler of Isi-Ihie Autonomous Community, Eze Johnson Nwaguru, expressed satisfaction with efforts, so far, made by the Administration of Governor Ikpeazu in making sure that in the event of the Corona Virus finding its way into Abia, that its effect will not be overwhelming and devastating.

Eze Nwaguru, who is the Author of the famous Aba And British Rule and also a former Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, assured that Traditional Rulers in the State were constantly urging their Subjects to be compliant with practices meant to protect them against COVID-19.

Eze Nwaguru also used the opportunity to remind Abians that a time like this demands close relationship with God.

Ending on a note of optimism, Eze Nwaguru expressed strong belief that COVID-19, like previous threats to life, will soon become a thing of the past.

Abia Lawmaker, distributes relief materials to constituents

COVID-19 Ginger Onwusibe, Abia Lawmaker, distributes relief materials to constituents.

The Lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Ginger Onwusibe, has donated relief materials and cash worth millions of naira to his constituents as part of his contribution to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on them as necessitated by the global pandemic.

Presenting the items to his constituents through appointed representatives (so as to observe the social distancing directives) at the popular Ginger Sam Amanaha Mini Stadium, Amapu Ntigha, Onwusibe assured the people that the rampaging coronavirus is not a death sentence but admonished them to ensure they follow strictly government directives on the steps to prevent the virus from getting to the state and contain its unlikely outbreak. He further advised them to remain at home and wash their hands regularly in compliance with procedures established against the spread of the pandemic.

‘Better to be killed by COVID-19 than hunger’
“I am aware that our people are being affected by the lockdown just as it is with others all over the world. It is therefore expected that we support the needy and the less privileged among us to keep them going at these difficult times. It is in view of this that I decided to donate these relief materials to ameliorate whatever our people are passing through. As usual, I will continue to support our people and stand by them at all times”, he said.

Items distributed by the lawmaker included

– 500 Hand Sanitizers

– 150 bags of rice

– 3,000 tubers of yam

– 150 cartons of noodles

– Bags of Garri

– Cartons of food seasonings

– Cartons of beverages and,

Deputy Chief of Staff Commends Governor Ikpeazu's Humane Disposition.
10th April, 2020.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been described as an uncommon humane and considerate Servant of his people.

The Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of the Deputy Governor, Sir Don Ubani, made the assertion in response to the Governor's directive that the lockdown in Abia State be relaxed between 6am and 2pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, just to enable indigenes and residents of the State have access to Markets and observe their religious worship.

Sir Ubani, who stated this in a telephone conversation with BCA Government House Correspondent, Mercy Kalu, said it is only a Leader that has the interest of his people at heart that could do what Governor Ikpeazu has done.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, however, admonished Abians not to abuse the privilege the Governor has given them by not observing the preventive measures already stipulated against the spread of Corona Virus Pandemic.

Sir Ubani, once again, expressed optimism that as long as Abians continue to imbibe recommended hygienic practices, God would not allow COVID-19 penetrate Abia State.

Deputy Chief Of staff Calls On Priviledged Abians To Emulate Governor Ikpeazu's Humanitarian Gesture At This Time Of COVID-19:
8th April, 2020.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's Deputy Chief Of staff in the office of the Deputy Governor; Sir Don Ubani, has called on priviledged indigenes and residents of the State to take a cue from the Governor of the State, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, who has been showing enormous humanitarian concern towards the Poor and the Vulnerable at this period when Corona Virus disease is devastating the world.

Sir Ubani made the call while handing over a cheque of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira to the Chairman of Ukwa-West Ad-hoc Committee On Relief Against The Effect of Lockdown in the State, Chief Uche Enyioko.

The Chief of Staff stated that for any untoward situation brought about either by nature or human activity, it is the responsibility of individuals who are well placed in the society to come to the rescue of the less priviledged.

Sir Ubani said he was touched to show concern on the plight of the Poor and Vulnerable in Asa land at this time when they are experiencing extreme difficulties in providing for their families.

Sir Ubani, who urged Members of the Ad-hoc Committee to be diligent, committed and transparent in the discharge of their duties, expressed hope that God, that does not abandon His people, especially during moments of adversaries, will not allow Corona Virus to cause much uproar, if any at all, in the State.

Responding, the Chairman of Ukwa-West Ad-hoc Committee On Relief Against The Effect of Lockdown in the State, Chief Uche Enyioko, thanked Sir Don Ubani for always showing interest in the welfare of Asa people.

Chief Enyioko, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the State and who was with another Member of the Ad-hoc Committee, Mrs Rhoda Emeka, assured the Deputy Chief Of staff that his Committee will be guided by the principle of transparency and accountability. He also thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for placing Sir Don Ubani in a strategic position that enables his natural sense of humanity to come to the fore.

IKPEAZU BEGINS THE NEW YEAR WITH A GIFT OF 3 BUNGALOWS

On the 1st day of January 2020, while we were still enjoying our holidays Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu already tookoff on her wings of Love as she hands over 3Bungallows to 3 beneficiaries around the State.

Speaking, during the official handing over of the keys, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, wife of the Governor of Abia State, disclosed that giving to the less privileged is an opportunity that every child of God should look forward to as it is one of the ways to please God, it's an instruction from God. She, however thanked God for the grace to bless people with shelter, she prayed for prosperity, long life and good health for the occupants of each of the houses.

She used the opportunity to interact with some of the villagers whose situations needs urgent attention and promised to respond with swift action.

Mrs. Ikpeazu reassured the people that this present administration will not relent until the issues of shelter becomes a thing of the past.

Responding to the new year gift of love, the over joyous beneficiaries sang songs of praises to God for choosing to remember them at such a time. They encouraged the Governor and his wife to continue with the transformation already going on in the state while praying for God's protection towards them.

Elder Aguwamba's story was quite a sad tale, having lived for several years in far away Lagos erking little for a living with a large family and consequently was unable to build a house to return back to in his home town at retirement. His Children also having no place to stay, seldom returned home either; but courtesy of Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, he and his family will now have a house to come home to.

The environment was rent with cries of delight from the families and friends of the beneficiaries, asking God to bless Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu and also build her a mansion in heaven as she has built for several on earth. Describing her as nothing short of God's extension on earth.

The First Beneficiary, Mr and Mrs Kelechi Iroegbu of Iferife Ntighauzor received the keys to a 2bedroom bungalow.

The Second Beneficiary, Mrs Goodness Manaseh of Obere Nchina also received the keys to a 2bedroom bungalow.

The third Beneficiary, an 80 year Old man, Elder Isaac Aguwamba of Mbaraugba Village and father of six children.

The first and second beneficiaries had one thing in common; former houses far from habitable for even animals.

N:B; Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu since the inception of this administration has built, furnished and handed over 70 houses to the less privileged using her Vicar Hope Foundation, under a project the Widows Indigent Shelter Scheme( WISS)
She donates Cash and food items to the beneficiaries on every occasion.

Let us assume that you are a visitor o Nigeria or to be Modest Abia state, you will hear OKEZOU ABIA OR OKEZIE IKPEAZU.

Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is the fourth executive governor of Abia state, the others being Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and Dr Orji Uzor Kalu and Dr Ta Orji.
As he Fondly called SIMPLE,HUMBLE,MODEST,PLACATING,INDEFATIGABLE LEADER.
If on a public way you walk opposite or alongside Okezie Ikpeazu, you can hardly know that his is the Man, so popular eulogized and his praises sung like RING MY BELL from Anita Ward, the Western Pop Singer whose song made a smash hit in the seventies. Only now his photo and great Achievement and projects adorn the electronic and print, social media, and all over the public and private installation in Nigeria.
Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is highly religious but you can't see him hanging a big cross.
In Dr Okezie dictionary No slightest show of pride and Arrogance, he is always smiling,he can disarm an armed robber, not with guns or Rambo Bravado but with his witty Remark and charming smiles which light up his face like a dozen Galaxy.
He always addresses his opponent as brothers and publicly embrace them. Others would have waited on their high horses and dared the opponent to break ice. He makes his political adversaries weep not with cane but with his Achievement in Abia state and unconditional friendship.He practice what I call affable brinkmanship. His arms are wide open and ready to embrace. He is very rehabilitating and accommodating. He would at best have been a clergy or a diplomat.but I doubt if after political office he May not be going for certificate in theology because he listen with the patience of a Reverend father at confession and ready to give helping hand after as if to lift you off your sin.
As hinted earlier, he is a good listener to details, workaholic who welcomes good proposal and ideas, if only your weapon is gossip and blackmail, your success with him may be pyrrhic for when he discovers your quantum lies the door would be waiting for you. Feed your mind and equip yourself with relevant issues and you are on your way to being Okezie Ikpeazu’s friend.
Power and politics change people. I have seen politics bring out best or worst in people. In African the experience is horribly, making monsters out of good man.. like BOKASSA OF THE CENTRAL AFRICA REPUBLIC, IDI AMIN DADA OF UGANDA. But in Okezie Ikpeazu I see a man who has come to change politics rather than be changed by politics and politicians. Okezie Ikpeazu has tall dreams for Abia. As he has publicly avowed, he has come to serve and that includes serving you.

Ugochukwu Ezenwa Oon
Ministry of information.

The recently appointed Chairman of the market, Mr Okeke Chigozie Stephen has set a woking pace, he has summoned a working courage, to set a pace in Ariaria international market, Just two days after his Inauguration, he commenced work by Evacuating the Refuses at A.... Line, and other places in the market, shortly after, he commenced the second phase of sanitation by taken the bull on its horn in tackling the flooding and Clearing the Tunnels that surrounds the market to enable free flow of work.

The youthful Chairman went forward to open the Surgercial line(Road) that has remained a death trap and impassable for two solid years because of its dilapidated nature. The road which was abandoned and neglected by the previous market administrations has doggedly received a face lift,leaving the traders,customers,motorcycle operators,wheel barrow pushers and other users happy than ever,as customers can now easily access their preferred stores and make reasonable purchases without grumbling.

It will interest you to know that most of the Net work of Tunnels in Ariaria International market is being worked upon . The Management team led by Mr Okeke Chigozie Stephen is in- charge. Every kobo that is generated from the market is ploughed back into lifting the face of the market . As Ariaria international market has been given a proper face- lift, its lost glory has been restored.

Just yesterday the second phase of the Electrification program commenced, u can see that the pictures that The market now looks like an international Market at Night.

However,Mr Chigozie Okeke,also unfolded other developmental strides (Like all day Electrification of Stores for adequate security of Goods at night,Proper Waste Management and Effective Sanitation Programs)that the market would witness soon in the video below.

It is said that"When the righteous is on the throne,the people rejoice". Mr Okeke,your appointment as the Chairman of the only International Market in Nigeria is divine and task filled,but,with this show of administrative doggedness,you will achieve greatly. More grease to your elbow. Thanks to Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D of Abia State for being magnanimous to the Youths.

Ugochukwu Ezenwa Oon

IKPEAZU  AND THE LEGEND OF UKWU MANGO



As I drive today along Faulks Road, passing Ariaria to the Enugu/PortHarcourt end of Faulks Road,  on a well-paved road, with good culvert and median, I remember an encounter with a strange native on this road some years ago.

A true story: 


It promised to be a very good day that morning as I set out to Ariaria Market to buy some materials. But, gradually, the weather began to change. And no sooner had I made to leave than the heavens opened in what is often described as cat and dogs. We scampered for shelter in a makeshift stall, from where we watched an angry  flow of storm water overtaking Ariaria and running over to Ukwu Mango. Here I was with a strange native and quickly creating familiarity:

“This water is not an ordinary water. Spirits live here. ’  The man said to me with an emphasis that could have only come from  a Dibia. “Do you mean that spirits truly live here? Are you a spiritualist? Have you seen spirits?” I prodded him, like a Police investigative officer.  “Yes, they bath here at night and swim from Ifeobara to Ukwu Mango.”  His voice was ex-cathedral. I should believe him, especially when he claimed to be a native and to have lived in the land for over forty years. But, I decided to drag him further.

“What’s your evidence? Have you truly witnessed the swimming spree of the spirits here?” His answer was reasonable enough and his evidence unarguable.  “ You see, the water tumbles in the day and at night. That’s when spirits come to play and, if they like, let them deploy billions upon billions to construct this Ukwu Mango, the water will still come back. How many times have they constructed this road  and yet Ukwu Mango refused to yield? You said, you came from Lagos but ask anybody around. Ukwu Mango is the land of the gods and the water belong to the spirits.”

“Are you sure?” I dared to doubt. “Yes, no government can conquer Ukwu Mango and Ifeobara. It’s a battle against powers.” His voice conveyed the note of a sign-off. Who am I to continue to query the words of the emissary of the gods, when I could recall that Ukwu Mango, for donkey years, had defied every known construction theory and has been a pain in the neck of every government.  To traders and businessmen that visit Ariaria, including the residents in the environ, Ukwu Mango was an angry sore spot that made a mess of the reputation of the market. On a rainy day at Ariaria, the flow of storm water through Faulks road to Ukwu Mango and then to Ifeobara is usually like a tsunami.

But, thankGod today for the Ifeobara artificial lake built by Governor Ikpeazu and thank God for the new Faulks road. Ikpeazu confronted and conquered the gods of Ukwu Mango and recovered the bathing place of the spirits for man. How I wish I could meet this strange passer-by again and drag him into our old discussion  about the mystery of Ukwu Mango and the invincibility of the gods against bulldozers and caterpillars. The message: even the gods are bowing before  man. Ikpeazu’s genius is rebuking the gods.

The legend of Ukwu Mango is a typical African story; a buck-passing, an alibi, a lazy resignation to fate, a substitute of reason with supernatural inclinations. In this case, it is also the story of the failure of governments and institutions. Governor Ikpeazu has shown that what was needed to tackle the age-long flood challenge at Ukwu Mango and the Ariaria axis of Aba was a superior construction technology  and a sincere political will. Faulks Roads is classified today as one of the topmost signature projects of Ikpeazu and a legacy that will speak about visionary leadership. Men are masters of their fate.

Today, Ukwu Mango has been recovered for man – for commuters, motorists and for all humanity. How I wish I could meet my strange way-farer again. He surely must find another alibi for the gods.

Vote for individuals not party~Nonsense.

...Uche Ogah's tactics, a joke taken too far.

Ikechukwu Iroha

I am certainly shocked to read and listen to supporters of the factional APC gubernatorial candidate in Abia State, Mr Uche Ogah, who are trying to market their project by working hard to exonerate him from the failures of APC. Just recently, Uche Ogah's aides distanced themselves from the travails of the former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu in the hands of EFCC over an alleged fraud case of #7.2bn of Abia money, even when it is obvious in Abia State that Uche Ogah is indirectly working to achieve Orji's dead on arrival third term bid by proxy.

The newest addition to their cacophony of noises is the disjointed phrase that has become Uche Ogah's anthem: 'Abians will vote for candidates not party'.

Having experienced the bad side of governance and its attendant vicissitudes in this APC-ravaged landscape called Nigeria, it does not bother me that they have accepted openly that APC is a failure. By such assertion, they have also embraced the truth that their party has no place in Abia State. It is only inhuman to justify injustice on the altar of politics. Uche recognized, perhaps very late, that he has been duped by agents of negative change.

While I will not force it down on him and his supporters to accept the second term bid of their party leader, it is however incumbent on them to explain to Abians why they decided to jettison President Buhari after making desperate unrealistic promises of delivering millions of votes to the Daura born president whose hitherto popularity has dwindled to zero like that of his party and their leaders in Abia State.

APC in Abia State has refused to align with anything Buhari, instead they have resorted to hoodwinking their few supporters who have posed cogent questions to them on why they should support someone that has deep disdain for Southeasteners.

Constitutionally, a candidate is voted based on the conviction of the party's manifestos, that is the reason behind the supremacy of the party over candidates and political office holders. The late activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi advanced this knowledge in the case of Rotimi Amaechi vs Omehia during a court battle for the soul of Rivers State when it was decided that electorates voted for PDP not Omehia whose face was at the ballot. We all know the history.

Uche cannot talk about restructuring and power rotation when his party is totally in support of marginalization and feeding-bottle governance. This counts for reasons why it is practically impossible to see any APC governor that is not supporting cattle colony and other harsh policies of the government at the centre.

It is impossible to see any State governed by APC where there are no security challenges and instability resulting from rapes, killings and the destruction of people's farms and their other livelihood by suspected killer herdsmen which till date, no arrest has been recorded.

Someone could ask if those instabilities were recorded in Lagos in the past 3 years being an APC State , We know how the only person that tried to do things right was removed. A story for another day.

The publicity shy Uche Ogah as a green horn, may not understand that the performance of any individual power holder is subject to the guiding party principles. No wonder it is quite easy to become an anarchist once you join a party that has no respect for rule of law.

To advance their intentions, parties give tickets to willing allies that will replicate the mindset of the party's leadership.

We understand the quagmire Uche Ogah is facing at the moment, it's naturally difficult to agree to sell your people to the evil hands of Fulani herdsmen that are currently advancing their tactical strategies of conquering Nigeria for the benefits of feeding their cattle with farm produce that should sustain our aged mothers and fathers at rural areas.

What is the take of APC on restructuring? Any political party that does not support self-sustenance, resource control and true federalism, is an enemy of NdIgbo. We have gotten to the point that the tall dream of 2023 Igbo Presidency will not move us more than a well restructured Nigeria that will engender equity and equality. That is what PDP represents while APC follows the dictates of the President to build a refinary in Kastina for deposits of oil in the South. That is the ideal good governance Uche Ogah promises NdiAbia.

Have you wondered why OUK foundation must render services in Borno while we have flood displaced persons in Imo State?

APC is a northern agenda and members must impress the leaders to be be accepted in the party.

No, Uche Ogah, you don't have an agenda other than that which has been written by APC with bold instructions on how to impoverish the Igbos, create cattle colonies as well as kill trade and commerce in the South.

ALEX OTTI: BETWEEN FACEBOOK GOVERNANCE AND SCHIZOPHRENIA

People do crazy things when they become desperate and surely can throw away everything for momentary relief. But Otti must remember Douglas Horton who said that “Desperation is like stealing from the Mafia: you stand a good chance of attracting the wrong attention.” Following the February 3rd, 2016 Supreme Court declaration of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu (PDP) as the winner of the 2015 Governorship election in Abia State, deep throat sources close to Dr Alex Otti disclosed that he was rushed to an Abuja hospital for emergency medical attention as he was said to have lost his faculties and started rambling prior to losing consciousness.

Even after the expected finality of the ruling, Otti apparently continued to hallucinate on becoming the Governor of Abia State, to the extent that he told APGA members ferried to Etche road field Aba in 2016 that he heard voices assuring him that “something will soon happen” and he will be made the Governor of Abia State. In fact, he assured his propaganda overdosed party members, some of who came to the event expecting to hear his congratulatory message to his vanquisher, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, that before the end of 2016 whatever it was will happen and he Otti will become “Governor Otti” of real Abia State as against Abia’s Facebook Governor they know him to be.Dr Ikpeazu is still the Governor of Abia State and most of Otti’s supporters who were at Etche road field that day are now members of Ikpeazu’s PDP.

It was the same political desperation that led Otti to join a suit instituted by Dr Uche Ogah challenging primaries of PDP that had nothing to do with him. Justice Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), who was in the Supreme Court panel that decided the Ogah case in 2017 took note and urged Otti and other politicians in Abia State to stop adopting divisive means to clinch power and “allow the laws to be our compass as a nation”.Sadly, Otti is still in the Supreme court today, despite also campaigning for 2019 Governorship election.  In between, he has worked actively to sabotage the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in ways that are unprecedented in the history of Nigeria and democracy.One instance was Otti’s furious attempts at scuttling the approval given by the National Assembly to Abia and 10 other states to access International funds for developmental projects.

Fearing that a prudent Governor Ikpeazu will deliver unprecedented dividends of democracy with a $200m low interest facility with 10 years moratorium, otti embarked on a coordinated campaign of calumny to derail the aspiration of the good people of Abia State for rapid infrastructural development. Realizing that the availability of such facility to the nationally acknowledged high performing Governor Ikpeazu will make it impossible to challenge him in 2019, Alex Otti flew to Abidjan to campaign against this rapid development facility for the people of Abia State. He also spent his personal resources to lobby public officials in Abuja to unravel the facility. When his nocturnal schemes failed, he resorted to using the media to attack the people and government of Abia State whom he wanted to punish for his electoral woes in 2015.Yet, it was the same Otti that assured Abians during the 2015 Electoral campaigns  that he, even as a private citizen, had “secured $100b IFC loan to develop Aba”.While he was busy looking for ways to paralyze the administration of Ikpeazu, he was shocked to discover that everything he made campaign issue in 2015 has been achieved by the incumbent who has gone ahead to deliver 60 completed road projects in the state alongside 78 other ongoing road construction projects within 33 months of his administration.

After his subsequent attempts to pass off Ikpeazu projects as “existing only on Facebook”, where Otti apparently resides and sources information on Abia State from, failed in the face of hard evidence and confirmation of the projects by Media executives, Abia stakeholders and community leaders, he is now attacking individuals and communities that has decoded his desperate quest for power as dead on arrival.In a recent interview granted Sun Newspapers, captioned “Abia 2019: I’ll beat Ikpeazu again”, Otti manifested the usual signs of acute schizophrenia when he deluded himself with claims of winning the 2015 election in Abia State.It is a settled fact that Alex Otti was roundly defeated by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in 2015 and the Supreme Court affirmed that without equivocation. Only a troubled mind will insist on a contrary claim even while preparing for 2019 polls.The more worrisome angle of that interview was the scathing attacks the Arochukwu born Otti launched against his benevolent hosts of Ukwa/Ngwa extraction who he called “ritualists, marabouts and native doctors”.  He was unsparing of even the respected Ngwa Traditional and political leaders whom he claimed were “conflicted” and “bribed” to declare their support for the incumbent Governor.This desperation driven hallucinations of the one time Managing Directior of Diamond Bank is fast making him an object of caricature with one public affairs analyst advising him to stop thinking of defeating Ikpeazu and concentrate on regaining APGA’s ticket from the more formidable Chikwe Udensi who is seen by many as the likely APGA candidate in 2019. No serious political party will hand over its gubernatorial ticket to a man who snatched defeat from possible victory and went ahead to throw away 8 state legislators handed over to him to lead. It will be recalled that prior to 2015 election Otti lived in his palatial Arochukwu house he christened “no place like home.”There is indeed no place like home but Otti must see the entire Abia as his home. Scuttling the hopes of Abians in far away Abuja and Abidjan is not the best way to promote his home.

If Otti loves Abia State as he claims, he should start investing in the state or at least execute one project to match his words with action.Overwhelming majority of Abians have already agreed to give Governor Ikpeazu additional 4 years to continue his transformative leadership in the state. Alex Otti is better advised not to waste his time and remaining resources on a mission impossible in 2019.

MY THOUGHTS ON RUMOURED IMPLOSION:
BY SIR DON UBANI; KSC, JP, OKWUBUNKA OF ASA.
7TH NOVEMBER, 2017.

Except one is principled, determined and courageous, one would find it very herculean, if not impossible, being actively involved in the politics of this clime.

The reason is not far-fetched. Pretence and sycophancy are two essential ingredients required for success and its sustainability in Nigerian politics.

To think otherwise is like one hitting one's head against a brick wall.

Go to any Government House or Local Government Council, the point I am making here would quickly be made manifest.

The persons who surround either the Governor or the Chairman are those who have conditioned themselves saying only those things their boss would like to hear, even when they know beyond any doubt that such narratives would only mislead their Principal.

For those of us who are frankly blunt in saying the truth, we are perceived as radicals who try to swim against the tide.

Hardly in our political circumstances do we see individuals coming up with opinions that could save derailing situations but which may differ from what our Chief Executive Officers would be glad to hear.

Even Elders in our midst hardly summon necessary courage to tell our leaders the simple truth.

It does appear every one, even the ones we think are big men, is plagued with poverty mentality. That is, let me not say so that the little thing I receive would not be stopped.

The question remains, who will bell the cat?

In October 1998, twenty-one political leaders in Abia State, after several trips to Abuja, assembled, as Conveners, at Seabia Hotel, Umuahia to convene the Peoples' Democratic Party. That was on the 4th.

After the meeting at Seabia that morning, another meeting was held in the afternoon at Nwannedinamba Hall. I still remember, I was the Moderator of that meeting.

Majority of new comers and, ironically, beneficiaries in PDP do not like hearing any thing relative to the history of PDP in Abia State.

Yours sincerely was one of the twenty-one Conveners of PDP in Abia State. Thank God, Chief Elechi Ikoro of Item still has the list of the Conveners.

I am very passionate about PDP and, so, when I perceive any sign(s) that, out of experience, I think could harm the Party, I would always speak out.

I am sure if politicians and aides who were close to former President Goodluck Jonathan had been frankly bold enough to advise him against printing only one presidential form and, by so doing, making himself the sole presidential candidate of the Party in 2015, the situation the Party is facing today would have been different.

At worst, Jonathan would have lost the primary election but PDP could still have won the presidential election.

The Abia political climate has, of late, been saturated with rumours of mass defection from PDP to APC.

In 2013, the speculation that many top wigs of PDP were planning to decamp to APC was visibly in the air.

Out of a combination of arrogance and lack of political sagacity, that rumour was dismissed with a wave of the hand.

The end result was abysmal failure of the Party at the 2015 general election. We are still nursing our wounds.

Since the conduct of December 2016 local government council elections in Abia State, the Party has not been the same.

Many aspirants, who spent their hard earned money, in a terribly depressed economy, feel they were short changed in the primary elections conducted by the Party.

Having been convinced that the process was any thing but transparent, they have not been happy with the Party.

A good number still believe that PDP has not done away with the leprosy of impunity that we avoidable ruined ourselves with in 2015.

Between now and 11th of November this year, 11-11, a very strategic date for that matter, when it is speculated many members of PDP in Abia State, including about four Members of the House of Representatives, would dump our Party for APC, I humbly but vehemently suggest that a careful, honest, strong and effective reconciliation mechanism be put in place to, at least, reduce the number.

Again and more importantly, while efforts are geared to woo new members to the Party, honest efforts should also be made to make those who are still in the Party to be comfortable and happy.

A situation where members of a ruling Party in a state would, at best, be suffering and smiling in squalor and abject penury while very few close to the helmsman will be swimming in flagrant ostatention; buying the best of latest SUV cars, building hostels and lodges around university campuses and spending fortunes lecherously can never guarantee a peaceful and sustainable political environment.

We can still do something, not minding what sycophants would say.

Okwubunka of Asa
1998 Convener
PDP, Abia State.