Periscoping The Theodore, Uzor Kalu’s Reconciliatory Moves And the Creation of a stable, vibrant, egalitarian and prosperous Abia State

By Promise Uzoma Okoro

Periscope: noun. an optical instrument for viewing objects that are above the level of direct sight or in an otherwise obstructed field of vision.

PREAMBLE:

"In the end, reconciliation is a spiritual process, which requires more than just a legal framework. It has to happen in the hearts and minds of people." ~ Nelson Mandela

"You can gain reconciliation from your enemies, but you can only gain peace from yourself." ~ Rubin Carter

Theodore Ahamefula Orji:

Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji, formerly a career civil servant who served in Government House, Umuahia, Bureau of Budget and Planning and Ministry of Agriculture and served as the Chief of Staff to Former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu became the 8th Governor of Abia State from May 29th 2007 to May 29th 2015.

In December 2006, Senator Thoeodore Orji won the gubernatorial primaries of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to contest the 2007 governorship elections in Abia State.

On April 14, 2007, he resoundingly defeated his closest rival by over 200,000 votes to emerge Governor of Abia State. He thus made history as being the first Governor in the History of Nigeria to win his election while in detention.

He was sworn in on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 as the 3rd Executive Governor of Abia, Gods Own State

Orji Uzor Kalu:

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu served as the Governor of Abia State, Nigeria from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. Prior to his election, he served as the chairman of the Borno Water Board and the chairman of the Cooperative and Commerce Bank Limited.

Prior to the end of the Second term of Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, the Economic and Finacial Crimes Commission Specifically in October 2006 declared Sixteen Officials Serving under the Government of Governor Orji Uzor Kalu wanted.

The declaration was not unconnected to the cold war that was In place at that time between Former Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Orji Uzor Kalu over the Former's 3rd Term Presidential ambition.

Among those declared wanted by the EFCC at that time was Senator Theodore Orji, the then Chief of Staff, Mrs Eunice Uzor Kalu, Hon Mascot Ikwechegh Kalu a Lawmaker then among others.

While the EFCC stated that Sixteen Government Officials of the Abia State Government were wanted for corruption and money laundering, Senator Orji Kalu Declared that the Obasanjo-led government was using the EFCC to harass his appointees because of his refusal to mobilise Support for the Ex- president’s third term ambition.

In an interview with Daily Sun in Lagos in 2006, Senaor Orji Kalu disclosed: “I knew this would happen when during the third term debate, “So, this is just a continuation of the third term agenda, a new scheme is coming up. They want to weaken all opposition so that Mr President can stay on in office.”

THE ISSUES:

It is pertinent that we assimilate the above records to counter the notion that the travails of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu started during the administration of Senator Theodore Orji, as a Chief of Staff ,we know the enormous powers and responsibilities that a Chief of Staff to a Governor or even a President could wade, at the expiration of his second Term in Office, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu needed a Trusted ally who had mastered the coins and fully abreast with the details of the Government House, he found those qualities on the Person of Senator Theodore Orji which prompted mobilization of resources with the Support of other Critical Stakeholders in the Abia Project and overwhelming Votes of Abia Electorates for Senator Theodore Orji to become the Governor Of Abia State in 2007.

However, it is expected that Politics which major drive is Personal and Group interest, quarrels, alignment and realignment must exist, whatever that happened between these Abia Fathers all happened in given credence to the rhythm of Politics.

It is generally believed and popularly stated that in Politics, there are no Permanent Enemies but Permanent Interest.

The Reconciliatory moves or otherwise the Reconciliation of the Two Fathers of Abia Political Trajectory must be commended by all lovers of peace irrespective Political leanings and divide, this is that time in the history of our Political Life, to experience greater development and Support to grow the economy of Abia, Gods Own State.

The Visit of the Senator Representing Abia Central Senatorial District Senator Theodore Orji accompanied by his Wife to the Senator Representing Abia North Senatorial District Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has indeed sent a positive signal that indeed peace is the only tool that is priceless.

The Last Time these two Leaders sat down within an environment before their Convergence to the 9th Senate was in 2017 during the burial of a Former Secretary to the Abia State Government the Late Dr Elekwachi Nwogbo in Ikwuano, the event of that Day was not pleasing, however only God who knows tomorrow knew that a day like this will come when these two Great Abians and Leaders shall sit in one Building, each making Laws for the Greater good of Abia State.

This is not a time to Reflect of what Party A did to Party B, or what Party B did to Party A, this is that time in the history of our Political Life as Proud Citizens of Abians to hail the two Leaders for Courage to come together for the peace of the State.

God is the over knowing God, who knew the Damascus experience he showed to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during his Six Months incarceration at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja?, who also knew the message God delivered to Senator Theodore Orji that made him to go with his Wife to the home of the Man who Supported him immensely to be the Governor of Abia State in 2007?

These and many mor, are the Reason while we need to allow the will of God on the Lives of these two Fathers of Abia State to prevail, for those who feed majorly during political crises, the best thing is to look for a better Business to Invest on because Peace has Returned to Abia.

Abia Speakers Visit:

On the 16th of June 2020, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji paid a visit to the Former Governor of Abia State now Senator Representing Abia North Senatorial District Senator Orji Uzor Kalu at his Abuja Residence.

The Speaker was not the only High Profile Politician from Abia State that has Visited the Former Abia State Governor since his Release from the Kuje Correctional Centre Abuja.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Theodore Orji, Hon Uko Nkole, Hon Darlington Nwokocha, Hon Sam Onuigbo and other Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) had all publicly or privately visited Senator Orji Uzor Kalu since his Release from the Kuje Prison.

It's Really shocking that the Speaker's Visit is now a subject of Misinterpretation with people adducing their emotional Reasons to it.

The Speaker's Visit is in Order, there has been an attempt to force some words into his Mouth.

This is not the First time those calling for the Speaker to step down will be doing so, in February 2020 the same elements Sponsored all manner of Media Publications , Protests, all in a bid to incite the Public against the person of the Rt Hon Chinedum Orji and Force him to resign as Speaker.

It is very laughable that the same elements are now calling for the to resign simply because he visited the Former Governor of Abia State.

The Statement being Circulated obviously did not emanate from the Speaker because non of his Media aides carried those words the naysayers are now using for Propaganda.

But if the Speaker must Step Down, then Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Theodore Orji, Hon Darlington Nwokocha, Hon Uko Nkole, Hon Sam Onuigbo must all step down accordingly.

CONCLUSION:

Peace is Priceless, what we need in Abia is peace which process has been facilitated by Senator Theodore Orji and the Abia Speaker Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji by reconciling with the Former Governor of Abia State Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

Promise Uzoma Okoro is a Publisher based in Umuahia Abia State, He wrote Via puouzoma@gmail.com
[url][/url]https://puoreports.ng/2020/06/23/periscoping-the-theodore-uzor-kalus-reconciliatory-moves-and-the-creation-of-a-stable-vibrant-egalitarian-and-prosperous-abia-state/

The Visit by Senator Theodore Orji to Orji Uzor Kalu is a Welcome development, at least it is a clear indication that Ochendo bears no grudge against Ouk.

By
Promise Uzoma Okoro,

Preamble
"According to John Kenneth Galbraith, " All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership." While to Ralph Nader, "A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done"
It is based on these great thoughts by these great minds that I want to discuss the uncommon feats of a seasoned Administrator who have redefined leadership in Abia State, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji the Peoples Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly and whose exploits since his inauguration as the 11th Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly on June 10th, 2019 indicates that the future of Abia State will be great all things being equal.
Having watched this enigma and his style of leadership since my appointment as one of his Aides, I simply came to the conclusion that Patrick Dodson had him in mind when he stated, "In a climate of uncertainty and fear, without strong and visionary leadership, people panic" as his inauguration was greeted with misgivings whether he will survive as the Speaker of one of the most vocal House of Assembly in Nigeria today but as a true leader he has proven beyond any doubt that he was curved for this leadership position.
INAUGURATION OF ABIA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY AND THE IMPRINTS OF HON CHINEDUM ORJI
Today Wednesday 10th June 2020, the 7th Abia State House of Assembly will be completing her 1st Session, otherwise called the First Year in Office with massive results in all spheres of legislative concerns.
Inaugurated on Tuesday, June 10, 2019, by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu,
the 7th State House of Assembly unanimously elected the Member Representing Umuahia Central State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, as its 11th and Current Speaker and under his watch, the legislative arm of the state government has demonstrated an appreciable degree of competence and diligence in the discharge of its onerous functions.
In its stern resolve to make remarkable imprints on the sands of time and have its name on the history book as the best Abia State House of Assembly since the creation of the State in 1991, the 7th Assembly has served the state with due diligence and with a renewed sense of vigour for public good within the period under review.
HIS MISSION AND VISION:
Under the sterling leadership of Rt. Hon. Orji, legislative business in the state has remarkably improved with massive results in broadening the scope of existing laws and effectively enacting new legislations to cover emerging circumstances and regulate new development in our constant evolving society.
In his Inaugural address after being sworn in as the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, vowed to reposition the Legislative arm of the Abia State Government for optimal delivery. The Speaker maintained that the house under his watch will not allow anyone mess up the efforts and progress of the Executive arm of Government led by Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD.
It is on record that Abia State House of Assembly unlike what is obtainable some other States has for the past one year collaborated with the Executive arm of Government and passed relevant laws for delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of Abia State.
In his inaugural speech, Speaker Orji assured all Abians that the 7th Abia State House of Assembly under his watch shall be vibrant and result-oriented and this he has tried to ensure accordingly.
In his Words” We are the House of the people, by the people and for the people and we shall endeavour to make the people the centre-point of all our actions and decisions. We are therefore committed to the enactment of sound laws and legislations that will help in uplifting the lives and well-being of Ndi Abia.
‘’This 7th House shall provide very sound and strong oversight functions signifying that the era of disobeying Laws and Resolutions passed by the Abia State House of Assembly is over. Similarly, the era of non-implementation of directives and visions of the executive is over. Appropriate sanctions will be meted out to any official of the Abia State Government found not to be helping our Governor to actualize his visions for Abia State’’
‘’Our Major role in this House shall be the protection and preservation of the equity and justice already entrenched in the state and symbolized by the current Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu. I therefore call on all 5th columnists and agents of confusion to sheathe their swords and allow us to face the task before us. Let no one attempt to sow seeds of discord among us and between the Legislature and Executive. Any such attempts will be dead on arrival as it is not what we have come here to do’’.
The above words were not mere academic rhetorics as the Speaker marched his words with action.
His commitment has impacted positively on the lives of the good people of Abia state.
Rt Hon Chibedum Enyinnaya Orjis watchword is his vow to ensure that the current Abia State House of Assembly is adjudged as the best in the History of the State.
‘By the Time We Leave Office, I want this 7th Abia State House of Assembly to be adjudged as the best House of Assembly in the History of Abia State"
"I want also to be adjudged as the Best Speaker this Honourable House has ever Produced and I want my colleagues to be adjudged as the Best Lawmakers So Far".
HIS FEATS AND LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS:
The 7th Abia State House of Assembly during her First Sitting on the 17th June 2019 after its Inaugural Sitting held on the 10th of June 2019 Constituted a Committee headed by the Member Representing Ugwunagbo State Constituency Hon Munachim Alozie to Screen the 17 Caretaker Committee Chairmen and Deputies Nominated by the Governor of Abia State Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu to man the affairs of the local government councils.
The House in that First Sitting Screened and Confirmed Chief John Okiyi Kalu as a Commissioner in Abia State who was Reappointed by Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu as the Abia State Commissioner For Information.
After thorough scrutiny, the Chairmen and Deputies of the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State were confirmed through the committee's report.
Early passage of the 2020 Budget

Before now, the State appropriation bills were usually passed in the year succeeding its presentation, but under the First one Year of the Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji led 7th Assembly, the 2020 Budget Presented by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was given accelerated hearing and passage and subsequently Signed into Law by the Governor on the 24th of December 2019 for the good of Abians.
No wonder the Governor praised the House and stated ´ "I have been Governor for Four years now, but this is the first time we are signing the Appropriation Bill into Law by this Time’’

OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS.

The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly Rt. Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, in his inaugural speech had assured that the house will through its Oversight Functions, help the Executive in the Discharge of her Duties.
No wonder the House on the 2nd of July 2019 during Plenary frowned at the inabilities of most Government Agencies/ Parastatals who generates revenues for themselves, get subventions from the Abia State government and still can't pay their workers as at when due.
Some of those agencies/parastatals looked into include; Abia State University, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Hospital Management Board, Abia State College of Health, Aba, College of Education ASEPA, ASPIMSS and other revenue generating agencies of the state.
The Majority Leader of the House Hon. Barr Solomon Akpulonu, had in a motion, prayed the house to set up an Adhoc Committee to look into the activities of those government institutions with a view of arresting the ugly situation posed by their under-performance.
After deliberation, the house set up and empowered the following adhoc committees to investigate the situation and make recommendation to the house for onward action.
ABIA STATE UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AROCHUKWU.
Rt. Hon. Kennedy Njoku - Chairman.
Hon. Paul Taribo - Member.
Hon. Kelechi Onuzuruike - Member.
Mr. Emeka Otumchere - Secretary.
ABIA STATE POLYTECHNIC, ABA.
Hon. Jerry Uzosike - Chairman.
Hon. Chijioke Chukwu - Member.
Hon. Okey Igwe - Member.
Pastor Mike Eke - Secretary.
ABIA STATE COLLEGE OF HEALTH - ABA.
Hon. Barr. Emeka Okoroafor - Chairman.
Hon. Stanley Nwabuisi - Member.
Hon. Godwin Adiele - Member.
Hon. Nnamdi Nwachukwu - Member.
Amaka Ukwu Rocks - Secretary.
Broadcasting Cooperation of Abia State (BCA).
Hon. Ginger Onwusibe - Chairman.
Hon. Chijioke Chukwu - Member.
(Other members to be communicated in due course).
Mr. Kingsley Alozie - Secretary.
Abians and indeed the general Public will attest to the fact that the timely intervention through a thorough oversight functions of the Abia State House of Assembly yielded Positive result which has made those agencies of the Abia State Government live up to its Responsibilities.
The Abia State House of Assembly under the able and dynamic Leadership of the outspoken and vibrant Speaker Rt. Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, has also intervened in communal Clashes in Isu in Arochukwu Local Government Area with its neighboring community in Cross Rivers State.
The House also intervened on the issue of the Lokpanta quarry site which had been a subject of dispute between the people of Umunneochi in Abia state and their neighbouring community from Ebonyi state.
The House through her Oversight Functions also tackled the growing abandonment of housing estates in Abia state.
Hon. Stanely Nwabuisi who raised the motion had questioned the Public Private Partnership Policy of the state which has abandoned many estates in the state at various levels of completion. He stated while leading debate on the Motion that miscreants, drug dealers, kidnappers and other hoodlums now use most of these uncompleted buildings as hideouts which often pose serious security challenge. They Investigated and advised the Executive Accordingly.

BILLS PRESENTED and PASSED by the House.

The Current Leadership of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly has done well in the Area of Presentation, Deliberation and Passage of Bills.
So far, the Abia State House of Assembly has entertained 17 Bills during Plenary with Six of those Bills Passed into Law.
The Following Bills has been Presented at the Floor of the House.
BILLS PRESENTED ON THE FLOOR.
1. H.A.B 1: Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission Bill,2019. Sponsored by the Speaker Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji( A Bill For A Law To Establish the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission.
2. H.A.B 2: The Abia State Equal Opportunities Bill, 2019. Sponsored by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji etal. ( A Bill For a Law to provide for Equal Rights and Opportunities for men, Women and Special Persons in Abia State.
3. H.A.B 3: The Abia State Violence Against Persons Prohibition(VAPP) Bill,2019. Sponsored by Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji etal.( A Bill For a Law to Prohibit all Forms of Violence Against Persons in Abia State.
4. H.A.B 4: The Abia State University Teaching Hospital Management Board Bill, 2019. Sponsored by Hon. Chukwu Chijioke ( A Bill For A Law to Establish the Abia State Teaching Hospital Management Board.
5. H.A.B 5: The Abia State Donor Agencies Trust Fund Bill, 2019. Sponsored by Hon Jerry Uzosike etal( A Bill For A Law To Establish the Donor Agencies Trust Fund in Abia State.
6. H.A.B 6: The Abia State Consumer Protection Agency Bill,2019. Sponsored by Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu etal( A Bill For a Law To Establish the Abia State Consumer Protection Agency)
7. H.A.B7: The Abia State Specialist and Diagnostics Centre, Umuahia Bill, 2019. Sponsored by
Rt. Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji etal.( A Bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostics
Centre, Umuahia)
( H.A.B 8: The Abia State of Nigeria 2019 Appropriation Bill,2019.
(9) H.A.B 9: Local Government Councils of Abia State Appropriation Bill, 2019. Sponsored by the Majority Leader Hon. Solomon Akpulonu
(10) H.A.B 10: Local Government Health Authorities of Abia State Appropriation Bill, 2019. Sponsored by the Majority Leader Hon. Solomon Akpulonu.
(11) H.A.B 11: The Abia State of Nigeria 2019 Appropriation Bill, 2019 Sponsored by the Majority Leader Hon Solomon Akpulonu.
(12) H.A.B 12: The Abia State Electric Power Authority(ABSEPA) and Power Stations Bill, 2019 Sponsored by Hon Okey Igwe etal( A Bill For a Law To Establish Electric Power Authority and Power Stations in Abia State.
(13) H.A.B13: The Abia State Orientation Agency Bill,2019 Sponsored by the Majority Leader Hon. Solomon Akpulonu ( A Bill For a Law To Establish the Abia State Orientation Agency)
(14) H.A.B 14: The Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency Bill,2019 Sponsored by Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji( A Bill for a Law to establish the Abia State Marketing and management Agency .)
(15) H.A.B 15: The Abia State Number Plate Production Authority Bill, 2019. Sponsored by Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe etal ( A Biall For A Law to establish the Abia State Number Plate Production Authority).
(16) H.A.B 16: The Abia State Agency For Free Home Healthcare Services Bill,2020. Sponsored by the Majority Leader Hon. Solomon Akpulonu (A Bill For a Law to Establish an Agency for Free Home Healthcare Services for the Elderly).
(17) H.A.B 17: The Abia State Security Fund (ASSF) Bill,2020. Sponsored by the Majority Leader Hon. Solomon Akpulonu. (A Bill For a Law To Establish a Fund to Assist Security Agencies in Abia State).
Six out of the 17 bills have been passed into Law and they Include:
(1) (HAB1) : Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission Bill (LAW) 2019 Passed into Law on the 16th of July 2019.
(2) H.A.B 3: The Abia State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Bill, 2019 Sponsored by the Speaker. It was Passed into Law on the 3rd of December 2019.
(3) H.A.B 11: The Abia State 2020 Appropriation Bill Sponsored by the Majority Leader Passed and assented to on the 24th of December 2019 by the Governor.
(4) HAB 13: Abia State Orientation Agency Bill Sponsored by the Majority Leader, passed into Law on the 4th of January 2020.
(5) H.A.B 5: Abia State Donor Agency Trust Fund Bill Sponsored by Hon Jerry Uzosike Passed on the 10th of February 2020. and
(6) H.A.B 17: The Abia State Security Fund (ASSF) Bill, 2020 . Sponsored by the Majority Leader Hon. Solomon Akpulonu passed on the 23rd of March 2020.
Some of the Motions Presented on the Floor of the House are:
(1) HAM1: Motion On the Need to Reposition the Abia State Road Maintenance Agency For Effective Service Delivery Sponsored by Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu
(2) HAM2: Motion On the Need For the State Government To Fund SDGs in Order To Benefit from the United Nations General Assembly 74th Conference Fund. Sponsored by Hon Jerry Uzosike.
(3) HAM3: Motion on the Need to Adopt Golden Guninea Breweries as the Official Drinks of the State. Sponsored by Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji and Hon. Barr Jerry Uzosike.

EXECUTIVE/ LEGISLATIVE RELATIONSHIP.

The Current 7th Abia State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji has maintained a very cordial relationship with the Executive arm of Government led by Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.
All the Executive Bills are being given accelerated hearing, deliberation and passage in confirmation of the cordial relationship between the Executive and the Legislative arm of Government in Abia State.
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

It will be recalled that the Speaker Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji in his Inaugural Speech Promised that the 7th Abia State House of Assembly under his watch will have a befitting Legislative Chambers which will definitely reflect on the output of the legislative arm.
In His Words”
‘’In the course of my Membership of this Honourable House, I have had the privilege of working under 2 Lawyers as Speakers. Lawyers are known for doing justice to cases they are tasked with and it is my view that my 2 Lawyer predecessors did very well as Speakers. Now therefore, having tried lawyers, the mantle has fallen on an Engineer to lead this Honourable House and by training, Engineers are known for Designing and Building. Honourable colleagues, I will design and build for you all, a model House of legislative excellence and harmony that will set Abia State on an enviable pedestal’’
The Renovation of the Abia State House of Assembly with the approval of Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is a pointer that more good things are on the way for the Abia State House of Assembly.
The Chambers of the Abia State House of Assembly if not the best in the entire South East and South South is definitely among the best in the entire Country.
There abounds other ongoing Projects at the Abia State House of Assembly Complex.
.
THE FUTURE AND THE WAY FORWARD:

Just as it is widely stated’ "You only have one first chance to make one first impression that lasts a lifetime."
Expectations are indeed high, but the most important thing is that the 7th Abia State House of Assembly has proven to be on course in the discharge of their Legislative Functions.
Hopes are high that as the House enters its Second Session in this 7th Republic, greater impacts shall be felt by the public through an improved and robust working relationship with other arms of government for the greater good of citizens and those living and doing business in Abia state.
CONCLUSION:

Let me conclude this treatise by quoting Robert S. Kaplan when he stated, "Without strong visionary leadership, no strategy will be executed effectively". Based on this quote, I can confidently affirm that based on some of the uncommon feats highlighted in this treatise that Speaker Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji has not only exhibited strong leadership but a visionary one indeed.

I am convinced that with more support both by members of the House, the Executive arm of Government and the good people of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji will prove that Abia State House of Assembly can be counted among the best in the annals of this country.

Promise Uzoma Okoro is the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly
June 10th 2020.

Abia House of Assembly Lauds President Buhari for Autonomy Granted to State Legislature and Judiciary

The 7th Abia State House of Assembly has lauded President Muhamadu Buhari for signing the Executive Order 10 granting financial autonomy to State Legislature and Judiciary, describing the move as a very important watershed in the democratic evolution of the country.

Speaking on the issue at plenary session held today at the Assembly Complex in Umuahia the Abia State capital, the Lawmakers in their respective contributions said the signed Executive Order will strengthen democracy in Nigeria.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, 22nd May, 2020 signed Executive Order 10 of 2020 granting financial autonomy to State Legislature and Judiciary.

They expressed support to the President and commended him for signing the Executive Order 10 of 2020 in compliance with Section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), saying "this will help to deepen our collective resolve to run a truly democratic society at all levels".

The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly Rt.Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji has Congratulated the Muslim Ummah on this year's Eid-el-fitr,.

In a felicitation message Personally signed by the Speaker, Rt.Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji called on Muslim faithful to continue to pray for the peaceful coexistence of the nation , while asking for God’s mercies in the wake of the pandemic.

Continuing, the Speaker Urged the Muslim Faithfuls to observe all government approved health protocols within this period.

On behalf of my Colleagues of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly, I wish you all a fruitful Sallah Celebration.

Eid-Mubarak!

Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji,

Speaker ,Abia State House of Assembly.

Simeon Nwakaudu,the Special Assistant on Electronic Media to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is Dead, PUO Reports.

Although the News about his Death is still sketchy as of the time our Correspondent filed this report from Portharcourt, but sources at the Rivers State Government House Confirmed his Death.

The Late Nwakaudu from Abia State had worked with Governor Nyesom Wike while he was the Minster of State for Education and was Subsequently appointed by the Governor after winning the 2015 Governorship election in Rivers State.

Read More Here

https://puoreports.ng/2020/05/17/breaking-wikes-electronic-media-aide-simeon-nwakaudu-is-dead/

The least may not have been heard about the battle of wits currently going on in the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, between a group of principalities and powers who have continued to claim patent right over  NDDC and another who seek to stop the continued plundering of the commission and reposition her into delivering its original mandate. It is sad that  the NDDC is always in the news for the wrong reasons, and the reason for this is not farfetched as a group of individuals will stop at nothing to keep NDDC as their cash cow. This article will help you understand why after 19 years since NDDC was established; it has remained largely unproductive when put side by side with resources within its disposal.

PETITIONS: A TOOL TO UNSETTLE ANY BOARD


It is no longer news that both chambers of the National Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives did set up Committees to probe an alleged misappropriation of 40 billion naira perpetuated by Prof. Pondei-led Interim Management Committee, IMC, of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. A closer look at the actors involved in this recent petition against the IMC, you will discover that it emanated from the usual quarters- some faceless Youth Organizations, Elders and Stakeholders Forums, who claim to be representing the interest of Niger Delta but with no known address in the entire region. They enjoy heavy financial backing from Senior Management members of Staff, most of who were recently transferred out of the Commission's Headquarters to allow for swift access to documents that will enable the Forensic Auditors carry out their assignment in the Commission.
This faceless groups have hundreds of spurious petitions already written down and waiting to be deployed against any Board appointed by the president, and should incase the board refuses to do their bidding, they strike just as they are doing presently.


I for one don’t expect that they will seat aloof and watch, while their hundreds of billion Naira secret dealings are brought to light.  And since President Buhari matched his word with action by giving bite to the Interim Management Committee, this group of Senior Management Staff have continued to scuttle the much needed Forensic Audit, thereby, covering their atrocities in the Commission.

SPONSORED MEDIA: A TOOL OF BLACKMAIL


The understanding of the role media (electronic, print and social) play in information dissemination is one thing, knowing how to use the same media as a manipulative tool for disinformation is another, while the former is appropriate, the later has consistently been deployed without hesitation by this aggrieved owners of NDDC, the fascinating and shocking thing about their modus operandi is that they deployed this manipulative media tool to misinform Nigerians whenever they realize their inglorious and unproductive reign at the commission's headquarters is put on the spotlight like it is being done presently by an independent forensic audit, shocked by their with their transfer out of the Harold Dappa Biriye House, headquarters of NDDC they are left with no option than engage the services of social media propagandist, morally bereaved Newspaper columnist, and even secured airtime on popular radio and TV programs for their paid activists with no track record of activism whatsoever to go misinform Nigerians. Despite their unsuccessful blackmail, campaign of calumny and false accusations aimed at maligning the integrity of the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Sen Godswill Akpabio, President Buhari last week extended the tenure of the IMC till December to enable it conclude the Forensic investigation at the Commission, but those on the other side don't want it to see the light of the day.

NASS PROBE: A TOOL TO UNDERMINE PRESIDENT BUHARI ANTI-CORRUPTION FIGHT

The alleged 40 billion Naira misappropriation probe called by both chambers of the National Assembly reminds me of the Igbo adage that says "The witch cried in the night, and the child dies in the morning, who killed the child? If not how else can you explain their action? Probing an Interim Management Committee approved by the President to run the affairs of the Commission during the probe of the 19 year period, why can't they allow for a completion of the forensic audit before going about their probe of the IMC, if indeed there is evidence of alleged infractions against them? Why are some Members of the National Assembly especially Senator Thompson Sekibo keen on being part of the probe? Is he on a vendetta mission of having his pound of flesh back at Senator Akpabio after the later outsmarted him to clinching the position of minority leader of PDP in the eight senate? Had Sen. Sekibo and members of his Committee been carrying out proper oversight function, the NDDC won't be needing probe every now and then, as it is today. Are members of NASS Committee part of the sleaze going on in NDDC, to which they are ready to sacrifice anything to defend even if it means scuttling the work of an independent forensic audit?

That the leadership of the National Assembly will allow itself to be dragged into another round of unfounded petition brought by some of its members especially those in the NDDC oversight Committee speaks volume. Is the National Assembly leadership also aware that members of the Committee on NDDC are working hand in hand with those recently suspended Senior Management Staff ?
Are these Lawmakers threatened that the forensic investigation will expose their underhand dealings of settlement with inflated contracts running into billions of Naira? Why allow faceless individuals masquerading themselves as Stakeholders of the Niger Delta region smuggle in petitions riddled with baseless allegations, brandishing of false figures and outright smear campaign aimed at painting the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio as well as the IMC in bad light while also undermining the person of President Muhammadu Buhari who ordered the Probe and approved an Interim Board for the said period?


ON FORENSIC AUDIT OF NDDC 19 YEARS WE STAND

Soon after the Federal Executive Council approved Lead Consultant for the audit of the Commission, we have been inundated with series of claims and counter claims from different interest groups on why the forensic audit should be discontinued. Their interest is not for development to get to the nooks and crannies of the region, but to further expand their personal estate at any course necessary.


While President Buhari has given his nod for the forensic audit to commence, it behooves on the APC leadership in the National Assembly to ensure that the needed support is given to the Prof. Pondi led-IMC and suspend the recently constituted probe committee forthwith; allow the Interim Management Committee carry out this all important task of overseeing the day to day running of NDDC while the forensic audit be allowed to continued unhindered. This is not the right time to jeopardize the President's effort to reposition the NDDC back to its core mandate and objective.


The world is still bleeding over the pandemic and the only legislation Nigerians need now is not a Probe but the prevention and cure of the Coronavirus.

Ndukwe, leading a Niger Delta Development advocacy group writes from Port Harcourt.

Email: beamnews@yahoo.com

Contrary to the alleged pictures being circulated on the internet on the Palliatives Distributed to the People of Umuahia Central State Constituency, this is the true Pictures of the Food Palliatives.

The Speaker Distributed the Food Palliatives on the 13th of April 2020 to Cushion the effect of the Lockdown on the people of his Constituency.

The General Public is strongly advised to disregard the manipulated images being circulated by Mischief makers.

Signed:

Promise Uzoma OKORO

Special Assistant (Media) to the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly

In a bid to alleviate hunger from his Constituents following the State Government proposed Lock Down over the Corona Virus Pandemic, the Lawmaker Representing Bende South State Constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly Hon.Emmanuel Ndubuisi on Monday Distributed Food items to support members of his Constituency.

Hon Chief Emmanuel Chinedum Ndubuisi (Ijiriji) said the rate of hunger so far in the land prompted him to provide food palliatives pending the lifting of the Proposed State Government Lock Down.

Speaking further, the Lawmaker sympathized with the women especially those that may not have enough to eat during this trying moment.

Responding on behalf of the women, Hon Mrs Chizurum Uzoigwe thanked the Lawmaker for the wonderful gesture and promised that those food items will get to the rural dwellers.

The Women Prayed God to continue to sustain the Lawmaker through out his stay at the Abia State House of Assembly.

The Items Donated included 60 bags of Rice, Tomatoes, Ground nut oils and bags of Indomie Noodles.

ATTENTION PLEASE:

Disregard the Fake news that the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly Rt.Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji and the Senator Representing Abia Central Senatorial District has been arrested by the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Owners of Igbere TV whose platform was used to publish that fake Rumour are claiming that their Facebook page and Website was hacked.

The Speaker was never arrested by EFCC, the General Public should discountenance such Fake rumour.

Promise Uzoma Okoro

Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker ABHA.

The Purported Sponsored Protest in Abia by some group failed to hold in Umuahia The Abia State Capital.

The Group had threatened to hold a Protest over a Media Publication against the Senator Representing Abia Central Senatorial District Senator Theodore Orji and the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji.

Another Group Abia Youth Frontiers had also written to the Police over their plans to hold a counter Protest.

The Protest did not hold in Abia

A prominent group, Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has warned those planning a protest in Abuja and umuahia against senator Theodore Orji and his son to desist from it and not allow themselves to be used as agents to destabilize the Democratic process in the country.

In a release made available to newsmen in umuahia tuesday and signed by their president General , Mr Goodluck lbem and secretary General respectively the group described all the allegations levelled against senator T A Orji and his son Engr. Chinedum Orji who is the speaker Abia state House of Assembly as baseless and unfounded.


They said "our attention has been drawn to a protest on Wednesday 19 February,2020 by the opposition in Abia state against our distinguish Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji and his family over a baseless and unfounded allegations by some disgruntled opposition elements who wants to take advantage of our gullible youths and women to cause disaffection and destroy the peace and tranquility been enjoyed by Abians and its residents"


" it is very unfortunate that some people believe the drugs sold to them by some miscreants and haters of Abia to be true and factual. People should learn to think and reason when they read some stories.
It is not every story that you swallow line and sinker . Only a brainless individual will believe such falsehood by Ochendo Global enemies" they said.

COSEYL said "these protesters and their sponsors are anti-democratic forces and enemies of Ndigbo and we will flush them out from Abia state"

They stated that "Former Senate President of the 8th Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki was accused of corruption but when he's matter came to court, the took their time to look into the matter and the court discovered that he was falsely accused of all those wrong doings. He was discharged and acquitted.
It is only the court that has the constitutional rights to trail any matter or case. The media is not the court. Senator T. A. Orji and his family are innocent of all these allegations"

They said "the petitioners falsely accused him of embezzling all the allocation sent to Abia state. In their petition, they told the EFCC that he never paid salaries, pension and did not perform any government function (s). Only misfits will write such a petition. We call on those who have been brain washed by these criminal group called ' Save Nigeria Group' to immediately jettison the protesters and go about their normal business"

Since the allegation of looting of N525bn from Abia State coffers by former Governor of Abia State, Senator T.A. Orji, was published by some media outfits, apparently syndicated to execute a hit, common sense appears to have once more fled from people you will ordinarily expect to know better. This could be because of their personal issues with those mentioned or they were sucked in by the elaborate attempt made to hoodwink the gullible into believing what more sober individuals have referred to as media trial without any substance.

We think it is time to examine the facts and see how they stack up.

1. In July 2015, a group known as Save Abia Initiative forwarded a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ostensibly to stop the inauguration of the former Governor of Abia State, Chief T. A. Orji, who was elected to the Senate to represent the good people of Abia Central Constituency on the basis that he allegedly looted all the N474bn revenue that accrued to the state government in the period between 2011 and 2015. As far as the petitioners were concerned, then immediate past Governor of Abia state did not pay one kobo as salary, did not construct any road or other infrastructure and, indeed, did not defray any cost associated with running the government for that period.

2. The petitioners and, indeed, the recent report published by some sections of the media also sought to criminalize the collection and use of monthly security votes which they said was N500m per month for 48 months. This is the same security vote that the president and all 36 state governors still collect to date and which, for all intents and purposes, remain legal in Nigeria to date. Available records show that the Orji administration was collecting less than what at least 3 other south east state governors collected as security votes within the same period under review and just like in other cases, the funds were duly appropriated by the State House of Assembly.

3. The investigation of this petition has been ongoing since 2015 and at all times the accused persons presented themselves to EFCC with documentary and other evidence to prove their innocence. No case has been filed in any court against them by EFCC.

4. The original petitioner has since written EFCC to withdraw the petition and apologized to the former Governor for being misled into endorsing the petition

5. There is absolutely no former Governor or top politician in Nigeria today without an ongoing EFCC investigation. How the ongoing investigation of Senator Orji was deliberately isolated and manipulated for syndicated publication is clear evidence of political interference aimed at subjecting the targets to media trial only.

6. Most of the listed bank accounts with humongous figures attributed to them are unknown to the accused persons and a court room trial will prove that in due course

7. The major company belonging to Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji has been in business since 2001. That was long before his father became Governor and unless we are now saying that whoever his father is a potential Governor should not own businesses in Nigeria then there is nothing to worry about.

8. No single payment, through draft, transfer or cheque deposit, was ever made to the company account from Abia State Government or its contractors. The published petition did not state any such fund movement.

9.The company also did not execute any government contract while the Speaker's father was Governor of the state. Otherwise such evidence would have been presented along with the so called published investigation report.

10. Most of the accounts listed as belonging to Engr Chinedum Orji are unknown to him and we make bold to state that the entries are FICTITIOUS. He does not have such funds anywhere in the world.

11. One of the accounts listed as belonging to Rt Hon Chinedum Orji is actually his salary account opened in 2015 after he was duly elected as Member Representing Umuahia Central State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly.

12. Whoever released the toxic fake account balances is obviously on a mission to demonize the Senator Orji and his family. For the accounts actually belonging to the Speaker, we noted that all the transactions in the account were apparently added up and declared as if they are current balances or the sum total of the alleged looted money from yet to be stated sources. If that is not mischief making, we wonder what it is.

13. Other accounts listed have no link with either the Speaker or his father. We make bold to state that the balances listed against those accounts are FICTITIOUS.

14. As for those calling for the resignation of the Speaker and the Distinguished Senator, they must be in league with those trying to demonize the family for political reasons. Otherwise, it is trite to state that every citizen is innocent until proven guilty by a LAW COURT, and that no action ought to be taken based on mere allegations.

15. Some of the enablers of this malicious petition and media trial are also under investigation by the EFCC as records have shown.

16. Similarly, the recently convicted Senator representing Abia North Constituency, Orji Uzor Kalu, was under criminal trial by a court when he got the ticket of the APC to run for the seat. Not even one of those now posturing in public complained or even whimpered in protest. Even after his conviction, he is yet to resign from office and the same people pushing the current resignation argument are yet to publicly ask him to resign.

17. Neither Senator T. A. Orji nor Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji is on trial in any court in Nigeria, not to talk of being convicted. Is it the new normal in Nigeria that whoever is accused of any crime will have to resign his/her office to satisfy sore losing politicians and schemers?

18. Recent history of Nigeria has confirmed that published petitions only serve to demonize victims in what is popularly called media trial. Dasuki, Deziani, Fayose etc are good examples. Interestingly, our checks suggests that EFCC did not actually release the report published by those media houses but merely confirmed the existence of ongoing investigation.

19. Defeated Abia politicians should not be allowed to use contrived media trial of their opponents to overturn election results.

20. Only a man who is bereft of common sense will believe that all the revenue made by an administration in 4 years ended up in the accounts of a private citizen who was not even in government as at that time.

21. Those who published the petition being investigated are yet to provide any shred of evidence to indicate that Rt Hon Chinedum Orji or any of his authentic companies received a kobo from Abia State coffers while his father was Governor.

22. The people responsible for this malfeasance are now sponsoring protests and media lynching to drive home a non existent point.

23. The current toxic propaganda against Senator Orji’s family is being sponsored from Abia State by known individuals who continue to fret over the possibility that Speaker Orji might harbor future governorship ambitions. To them, his public declaration that it is morally wrong for him to seek the number one position in Abia State in 2023 is not enough. He must be pulled down and destroyed at all cost including conspiring to publish a petition that EFCC is still investigating while passing it off to the gullible as a concluded investigation.


Signed:
Prince Paul Enyioma Okpanku, Esq.
(President)

Barr. Chimereze P. Onuigbo
(Secretary)

Ambassador (Comrade) Chidiebere Kanu
(Member)

Abia Unity Forum (AUF)

The Management of The Sun Publishing Limited ,owners and Publishers of the Sun Newspapers has Officially apologized to the Speaker of the Abia state House of Assembly Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji over needles media Trial.

The Sun Newspapers apology to the Speaker is contained in the front page of her today Friday 14th February 2020 edition with the bold caption our error.

The Media Trial against Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji did not start today, its dated back since 2014 when Sun Newspapers called him a "terrorist".

The Sun in that libelous publication which was contained “on page 21 of the March 10, 2014 edition of the paper had said that ‘it is not a secret affair as his terrorist activities in the state are fully documented’ “.

Six Years after, the News Paper has come out with an Open Apology on their Front Page.

"The Sun Publishing Limited hereby express its regrets in respect of the portion of the Daily Sun Publication of Monday, March 10 2014 at page 21 entitled: T.A Orjis 7-year Demystification of Kalu" and disavow the truthfulness of the contents thereof representing Rt.Hon Chinedu Orji as one who engages in terrorist activities and systematic asphyxiation of Abians,the Company tenders its Apology to him for the discomfort the said Publication may have caused him". The Sun Stated.

Buy a Copy of today DAILY SUN to Confirm for Yourselves

Following his unending quest to regain power and hold Abia State to ramsome once again, the former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu took it upon himself to influence and determine the political direction and compass of God's own State in the build up of the just concluded 2019 elections. As usual, his gimmick and 'Gamji' failed due to the irrevocable refusal of Dr. Uche Ogah, the then APC governoship candidate to dance to his deceitful tunes.

It was obvious that after the elections in which Uche Ogah lost out to our incumbent and God ordained Governor of the State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the political rhythms changed to the ministerial slot struggles. Having lost out with the 2019 governoship ambition coupled with his contributions to the party, everybody was expecting that Dr. Ogah would be appointed a Minister to represent Abia State's slot on the list. However, OUK came up again to work against the man, who could be referred to as the popular choice for the Abuja job. OUK vehemently boosted and vowed that Uche Ogah would not emerge. He had already appointed the person he wants for the position, thinking that he still weighs such powers he used to have between 1999 to 2010. Of course, it is a known fact that OUK has held sway from the beginning of this current dispensation till 2010 when the immediate past Governor of the State, Chief T. A Orji broke his political hands and chained him politically for ever. This has rendered him politically impotent before he schemed up to be a temporary Senator.

Few days ago, the Muhammadu Buhari led Federal government finally released the long awaited ministerial list in which Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah's name was there. The release of the list once again threw OUK off balance and he is yet to wake up from his day dream. By this appointment, Buhari and APC have once again told OUK that he is neither in control of APC in the State nor the political father he claims.

As OUK has failed and would continue to fail, let him focus on how to defend his numerous EFCC cases and count charges in the court and leave Uche Ogah alone. For sure, he is afraid that Uche Ogah would not be loyal to him for obvious reasons; Uche Ogah has not been into the mainstream politics until 2014 and has never served OUK. Abians are confident that Uche Ogah would represent the State well at the Federal Executive Council as well as work hamoniouslly with the Governor of the State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu with a view to attracting Federal government attention to the State. Abia State needs interventions in so many areas including road infrastructure, agricultural programmes, trade and industry as well as SMEs. The State is proposing Enyimba Economic City and Agro clusters as well as needs to empower her teaming youths. In all these, the need for synergy between the Federal government and the State cannot be over-emphasized, hence, a good representative like Uche Ogah could cement the already existing relationship between the Federal government and Abia State.
Also, OUK should Congratulate the minister designate, Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah.

Finally, it is unfortunate that OUK has not changed from speaking without thinking. It was amazing to note that he said that he established a RUGA Settlement in Abia State, particularly in Lokpanta, Umunneochi LGA. It is a pity that he cannot differentiate between a cattle market and RUGA Settlement. Infact, any one that knows OUK should tell him that Abia State does not need any distraction again from him. His gimmick and plans has failed. So, himself has equally failed. Enough of this his naked dance as he has lost the battle!

An Ebonyi State business man and chief executive officer of Old and sons Enterprises, a firm that majorrs in the business of granite, chippings and trucks, Mr. Olu Ernest Ndukwe, popular known as Ya'adua has cried out to the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi, Awosola Awotunde, Ebonyi State governor Chief Dave Umahi and other relevant agencies to come to his rescue immediately as a group of individuals are threatening to kill him and take over his business.

Narrating his ordeal to journalists in Abakalike, the Ebonyi State capital, Mr. Ndukwe said the whole incident started on 14th of June, 2019. "I was in my office around after 4 in the evening, a group of boys came to my garage, chased away my workers and one Mr. Albert Umeh Okorie, Innocent Chukwu, Augustine Eke Ajah, Solomon Ogbonnaya (a.k.a OTENKWU), Emenike Ajah, Ebere Ajah, Ezeogwu(a.k.a AA). They stormed into my garage with all manner of weapons, took 500 thousand naira from my office and also stole tires and other valuable things in the office. After the attack, when they pushed me out of office, I hid somewhere where I took pictures of them with weapons. He continued thus "I called the D.P.O. I informed him of what happened and the need to arrest those people. The only thing he told me was that the people also destroyed his own Hilux while they where they were having problems somewhere"

According to him, the Divisional Police Officer (D.P.O) incharge of Ivo Divisional Police Station, Ebonyi State, Gabriel Urom did not make any arrest to that effect. Then "on Sunday morning being 16th of the same month, that's after two days, I was preparing to go to church, I now sighted from a distance this same group of boys and others with all manner of weapons; guns, machetes, chain, axe and other things pointing towards my church and where I used to park my car. On sensing danger, I went back to the house. About after 11, that same Sunday morning, they stormed into the church with that same weapons, going roll by roll in Assemblies of God Church, Amaokwe, in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area. So they came searching for me inside the church, going roll by roll. By that time we were in worship session. My family was in church. They were raising people who were worshipping one by one looking for me.

This incident, Mr. Ndukwe noted that his Pastor confronted them and queried why they were looking for him and the guys replied that they must kill him. He said, it was then that the Pastor quickly called the D.P.O, who also sent a van with a team of Police but he regretted that the Police came and meet with the people within the church premises instead of arresting them, the Police just asked them to leave the church. He said "then I now called the D.P.O, who came to my hiding place and took me to the station where I made entry that Sunday. After making entry, the D.P.O assured me that he is going to arrest them. I also gave their pictures".

Mr. Ernest Ndukwe alleged that the D.P.O, Mr. Gabriel Urom knows them very well but has consistently shown unwillingness to arrest them. He continued thus "So, by 3:30 that same Sunday, they came back to my garage, because the first one they destroyed 3 trucks after stealing my money. So on that Sunday when they came, they chased away both the security and other staff . They came with all manner of weapons and destroyed 6 more trucks", this he said included his newest trucks and windscreen. He said even after making entry of threat to his life, in which the D.P.O sent the D.C.O who came and meet those guys destroying his property, they were not arrested, rather in the night those criminal elements kidnapped one of the drivers and mandated the driver to disguise and call to find out his location, luckly enough, Mr. Ndukwe had left for Enugu that night and told the driver that he was not within.

However, he later had access to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, who took actions that led to the arrest of 5 persons out of which two were not part of those that destroyed his vehicles.

When press men tried to find out the possible reason behind the threat of life to the business man, he said he can't relate it to any thing apart from unnecessary envy against him by the young men , who he said are from Okwe whereas himself is from Amaokwe in the same Ishiagu, Ivo LGA. He further said that
"These people are not members of my union neither am I having any problem with them " and worries why they should be after his life".

He equally informed that he does business with a quarry company known as Pioneer Shining Cino Investment while the boys have been approaching new company that
that deals on quarry sites, Chruch Rocked Industry Nig. limited and these people have been fighting for these companies to include them to be benefiting as land owners of the sites.

Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, who sensed compromise on the side of the Police officers had already sued his traitors to court and the case was supposed to come up on 17th July but has been shifted. His greatest fear now is that they have threatened to kill him on the day they would be appearing in court next week"they threatened that on the day of the court, that they are going to kill me along the road. That somebody has assured them that they would say it is riot. That nothing would happen and Police is by their side. That Police wouldn't do anything".

He requests government to save his life, family and business from his traitors, whom he said have conspired to kill him.

Efforts to reach the State Police Command for its comments proved abortive.

By Enyinnaya Kalu

The sponsored publication by one Lucas Ajanaku with the caption, “Buhari’s Ministerial position tears Abia APC apart”, is indeed frivolous. We salute his attempt to excite readers with brazen falsehood, skewed facts and comical tales.

It is our opinion that, it is either Lucas Ajanaku never witnessed the Abia APC 2019 campaigns and elections or he is being economical with the truth about the 2019 elections and post election issues in Abia State.
It’s a natural phenomenon that once you put an effort on a practice, there must be a result at the end of the practice. During the 2019 elections. The Presidential campaigns that were organized across the 17 LGAs in Abia were organized by a candidate of APC who hails from Abia North Senatorial district.
It is on record that Abia North is the home and the comfort zone of APC in Abia. Candidates of APC from Abia North committed their resources and time for the success of the party unlike other zones.
The determined zeal by the Abia North APC was evident in their electoral results at the Presidential and National and State Assembly elections. Determination and zeal for a Buhari victory were superior considerations of the Abia North Senatorial District Party members. The Zone got lesser funds for logistics and mobilization in comparison with other Senatorial districts in Abia State. Yet Abia North achieved more than other zones which calls to question the leadership credibility and integrity of Abia South and Central districts, APC candidates and leaders.
Ajanaku also asserted in the article that, “some of the candidate never truly came to contest, but to use the party platform and ticket to seek for Federal appointment”. We quite agree with Ajanaku’s submission, because, there is no other way to describe a situation, where a man who did all to take the party’s Senatorial ticket for himself, ensured his cronies got that of his State Assembly and his Federal Constituency, only ended up giving President Muhammadu Buhari 3,000 votes on the day of election from his two Ukwa Local Government Areas.
This is the same Abia South Senatorial zone that produced the APC State Deputy Chairman and the Publicity Secretary. None of the State Party officials from this senatorial zone, were in any of the polling units or collation centers on the day of the Presidential election. They were in hotels around the city enjoying themselves with party funds meant for logistics and mobilization and got the polling agents stranded.
It was a deliberate plan by the leaders of APC from Abia South and part of Abia Central to work against the interest of the party because, of the rookie stipends the State Governor allocates to them monthly. True to their agreement with the Governor, the Abia South APC, ended up working for the PDP Presidential candidate. We challenge them to produce the election results of their zone. They connived with PDP to allocate results to PDP at the detriment of APC.

It is on record that Prince Paul Ikonne from Abia South, and Chief Ikechi Emenike from Abia Central who both lost the gubernatorial primaries, worked against the re-election of President Buhari so badly that, they could not hide their disdain for APC and President Buhari. On the 7th of March 2019, barely 48 hours to the gubernatorial and state Assembly elections, both came on a live radio programme and requested Abia people to vote for the PDP. Ikonne told Abians that his message was from the Presidency. That was how bad political jobbers could go.
A leader who kills his devotees is not a leader that inspires devotion. This is the best description of the APC leaders from Abia South and part of Abia Central. It’s saddening that, the same candidates and questionable leaders who jeopardized the interests of the party, are now jostling for Federal appointments from this same President Muhammadu Buhari they worked against.

Mark Wabara has never been the Abia South choice for Senate due to how his brother disgraced Abia people when he was the Senate President. it made it even difficult for him to be elected. Mark is not accessible as a leader, the Ukwa people dislike his personality and that was why he failed even in his own ward. What is the ground of this his tall dream? How could you work in G.Cappa and head for Julius Berger for your salary? APC actually lost Abia South Senatorial seat when that ticket found its way to Mark Wabara’s pocket.

As a group that has worked tirelessly for the APC in South East, Nigeria and for the President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election, we plead with our amiable President to go through the Abia State Presidential result, and reward the people who kept vigil to work around their communities to get him re-elected, despite the propaganda by the Abia PDP against his person.

We are also aware that some of the APC candidates from Abia South and part of Central, were actually sponsored by the Abia PDP government. Their nomination forms were paid for, by the State Governor, but it’s quite unfortunate, that the real stories with facts, came after the election. We have made the mistake in 2019, we will never make that mistake again.

Enyinnaya Kalu
State Coordinator
SOUTH EAST YOUTH FOR BUHARI (SEYB)
Abia Chapter

Following the latest bad blood existing within the All Progressives Congress(APC),which was occasioned by the zoning pattern of the Party in the 9th Assembly, where the Southeast zone was completely relegated to the background,news filtering out of the Presidency, looks to be quite favorable to Abia State.

From reliable feelers,the President is said to have pencilled Abia State to have two Ministerial nominees.

It could be recalled that, during the Presidential election campaign, the President had promised Nigerians that he would in this second tenure run a large cabinet that would seek to redress earlier cries of non-inclusion by certain political constituencies and persuasions in his first term. The foregoing goes to tell why Mr President is expanding the number of Ministerial hopefuls and taking nominees from each State, making the number of States 36, including 1 from each Geopolitical zone,which brings the number to 43 when the FCT is added. To me,the number 43 is not too big for a nation with our numerical strength.

Our sources,also, revealed that the President has duly taken 2 Abia sons for the position of Minister. Despite the present ding- dong moves on the appointment of SGF,there is no gainsaying the fact that,barring any last-minute changes, Ebonyi State is set to land the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) job. From all indications, former Governor and immediate past Minister of Science & Tech., Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, is good to go. There are some who,even from a kilometer, could read the body language of Mr President. Such people insist that Dr Onu is the man;of course,all things being equal, as they say in Economics.

Hon. Emeka Wogu, the former Minister of Labour and Productivity in the Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Administration, is said to have been tipped for Trade and Investment ,while the Abia APC Deputy Governorship Candidate in the just-concluded 2019 election, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike is said to have been tipped for Ministry of Justice.

In keeping with his promise, that he won’t have a Super Minister,one holding more than one portfolio as we saw during his first tenure with Fashola and Rotimi Amechi,President Muhammadu Buhari will now have an Attorney General in the person of Barr. Abubakar Malami and a Minister for Justice , Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike.

With all the above, Abia State is in a jolly good position to play very outstanding roles in the politics and Administration of President Buhari's second coming, as Hon. Wogu and Hon. Azubuike are seriously pushing, using all arsenal to make it a reality. What is now left is for Abia people to get their acts together in order to ensure that this great opportunity and moment do not elude us. From all indications, Abia APC will be rewarded for their performance in the 2019 general election.

By Demian Igbokwe

The drum for support and political power-play of who and what zone gets what in the 9th Assembly is on-going, as the 9th Assembly is set for its inauguration on Tuesday this week.

In a brief interview with our correspondent in Abuja, Hon. Demian Igbokwe, an APC chieftain and National Coordinator of COALITION OF SOUTH EAST YOUTHS FOR BUHARI(COSYB),a Buhari Support Group that played a major role for Mr President in the 2019 General Elections,poured his heart out about the current happenings in the national politics.

We sought to know how he feels about the clamour for the Southeast to be accommodated in the 9th Assembly, Hon. Igbokwe has this to say:

“It’s against the federal character arrangement for this Administration to look the other way while the Southeast is sidelined in the helms of political affairs. It’s absurd for anyone to refer to the Southeast as a zone the nation can do without.

I am seeing a nation drifting into total disunity, and I am surprised that those running the system are very comfortable with it. It’s also very sad for anyone to subject the Southeast to the condition of begging to be accommodated. How do we reconcile the fact that the third leg of a tripod is being neglected in a nation State where the Igbo,the Yoruba and the Hausa/Fulani are the biggest three? Is it not funny that the Yoruba and the Hausa/Fulani want to take everything with what they have introduced as a new lexicon in our national politics? They ask:What did the Southeast bring to the table? When did that become a national benchmark for national inclusion on the basis of population, spread and just whatever?

“We have had Assemblies before this 8th and 9th. All the previous Assembly arrangements have been accommodative to all the zones of the nation, why would the 8th and 9th Assemblies be such a ridiculous set-up? If you have six or ten offices to share among six geopolitical zones,why would any zone take two at the expense of others?We can now see through the hypocrisy of some of our so-called leaders!When Sen.Ngige had failed to return to the 8th Assembly, the leaders of our Party were busy telling anyone who cared to listen that if only the former Governor had returned, he would have been automatically anointed President of the Senate. Compare then to now,how many Senators-elect do we have? It' s aIl cheap politics. I once heard my
friend from the southwest say that the Southeast didn’t vote APC and, as such, shouldn’t expect much.

Again,as I said before, I have always found that laughable, because, the Southeast voted for the APC, but results were written against APC by the Southeast PDP which, I believe, was done in connivance with a part of APC high command. I know what I am saying because I participated fully in the elections. I am not ashamed to say it,we from the Southeast played into the hands of those who do not want any good for us.”

“The INEC dribbling on Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s Certificate of Return, the INEC-mediated impasse on Sen. Ben Uwajumogu’s re-election and the speed with which the all-scarce Certificate of Return was issued to Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba of Accord,who came third in that election ,by the same INEC that are delaying that of Rochas after court ruling, while withdrawing that of Hon. Chike Okafor .All of these are a sad proof that somebody or a group somewhere does not want to see the Igbo in a major political position in the land and I am surprised that our leaders are not talking,they are all systematically gagged! All of these were orchestrated,in the first place,to quarantine the Southeast into a cull de sac from where we can merely plead,as we are doing,for a crumb from the master's table without a position in the next Assembly or any where that could offer us a strong leadership voice in the country.”

“From the arrangement on ground, the Muslim/ Muslim slot will tell badly of the next Assembly! The Senate President, a Muslim and the Speaker and his Deputy,from all indications, Muslims.
The Judiciary,another arm of government itself, is also headed by a Muslim;both at the level of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.So what has happened to our balancing ideals in a secular State like ours? Or have we suddenly become an Islamic nation without knowing as some are wont to allege? APC, are we that insensitive to fundamental realities and nuances as a Party or are we condemned,cursed to make these mistakes that will never allow any escape route when President Buhari eventually ends his tenure in 2023? When that time comes,who will bail the cat for the APC?Among those currently on parade as national and regional leaders of the Party I see no head that can fly past all the realities I have itemised;unless and,of course,until the Party chooses to retrace its steps from the path of perdition that we have witnessed in recent times.Thank you."

“How fast it has always been for the Igbo nation to kill their best. A practice, you can never find in the Hausa/Fulani or the Yoruba’s Political settings! No wonder, we circle within as the 2nd class citizens on the political equation of this country.”

One would wonder what could be the need for all the libelous articles being shunned out by a group of People from the Abia South against the person of Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, who, indisputably, is one of Abia bests.

Lately, I have read articles with the intent to damage Dr. Ogah’s towering reputation within the eyes of his people, and I have never wondered less, how such articles could help redeem the present Abia quagmire.

Most of such articles has tried so hard to portray Dr. Ogah in a bad light as someone who scuttled the chances of the Abia gubernatorial struggle of 2019, this, a very clear indication, that the sponsors, thought that those mischievous steps will determine the fate of Dr. Ogah’s ministerial nomination. Of a truth, Dr. Uche Ogah is unperturbed!

The saying that “A lie unchallenged, suddenly appears to be truth”, could be the reason why I decided to drop a piece this morning to challenge the numerous wicked and scandalous but watery articles being sponsored by same group of people.

As the multiple articles bears almost the same drive, I challenge the writers to produce one single dude Cheque issued by Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah to Abia APC or one of its leaders in the name of pledge to the party of any form. If any of the party leaders embezzled the money given to the party by Dr. Ogah at anytime, which was rumored at a time. Why should such take a toll as tool of blackmail.

It’s not a hidden fact, that Ogah was, and is, the biggest financier of Abia APC. The evidences are their on paper. The State Chairman, can also attest to this fact or, we can as well call for the financial audit of the Abia APC account, while Dr. Ogah, will also produce his account details of every transactions he made in and around Abia APC.

Dr. Ogah, doesn’t need to be a Minister, to beat any candidate at the Primaries, should he decides to re-contest by 2023. His goodwill and humble lifestyle will always speak for him. In 2015, Dr. Ogah contested under the platform of PDP, as against the tide of the choice of the Governor then, he beat every one of the political office holder that contested the same ticket with him, ranging from an active Minister then, to the serving deputy governor at that time to emerge second, despite how hard, the State Government worked to see him score last. He came brazen second. I had to go this deep to butteries my facts.

Why would anyone insinuate that Dr. Ogah is interested in the party money when the Federal Govt. just paid huge sum of money to him, part of debt being owed his company. It’s laughable when someone make posts insinuating that he withheld funds released by the Party National body for the State.

The Presidential and National Assembly logistic fund were duly released to Senators with a tabulated template arranged by the APC NWC and which, Dr. Ogah worked within its framework, despite, some of the party leaders wanted otherwise.

The gubernatorial logistics fund, which came very late on the morning of that gubernatorial election from the National, was duly shared at one of the Abia APC leaders house in Umuahia to every State constituency through their leaders, coordinators and aspirants. Though, regrettably, some of the aspirants and leaders absconded with the money without getting it reach the party polling units and ward agents and other needs of the fund.

Apart from Dr. Ogah, nobody brought a dime in the rallies and visits to the 17 local government across the State. At a point that some fund came, it was a loan from one of our leaders that was repayable to the lender.

It’s very clear how good number of party members from Abia South Ngwa extractions, took money from the Abia PDP and worked tirelessly against the Abia APC both in Presidential and gubernatorial. Part of the reasons why it looked as if we didn’t make much enroll in Abia Central part of Ngwa and the Abia South, despite fielding very marketable candidates for the National Assembly positions. They were betrayed by same party men and I can list names if need be.

As determined as they were to destroy APC chances in the last general, the results from the APC agents in Abia South was never submitted, areas that were submitted were sketchy, a development that made the candidates to go extra miles to get the original copies because most of the leaders that left with the logistics fund absconded with the fund. All was a deliberate act to frustrate the tribunal, incase if Dr. Ogah wanted to go to the tribunal by same group of brigands.

I have always advocated for the National body of our party to call for the original polling units and ward results of every so-called leaders in Abia, findings will shock the national body!

Using most of the people who jeopardize the APC chances in Abia as members of the election finding committee in Abia is also laughable, as they will do all to cover their tracks!

There is no comparison in Abia political sphere, the manner Dr. Uche Ogah, a singular entity, carried his party since his joining the ruling party. Despite being perceived as a green horn in the murky waters of Abia politics, he is till the only Gubernatorial candidate in the whole of Southeast who won all the elections in his Local government and Constituency in 2019 general elections. His contributions to the APC in Southeast can not be ignored. Dr. Ogah believes that governance is circled around administrative system and he can do more to reduce, if not a complete wipe out, the suffering of Abia people. He also believes that good people can truly be involved in Abia politics as against what is holding sway today!

It is indeed laughable that a shenanigan and a vitriolic blackmailer whose means of livelihood is subsistence criminal pursuits and sophistry calls Dr Ogah's Governorship campaign a deceit. It is amusing that these character hide under pseudo names and social media accounts to tarnish and violate the image of reputational capital of leaders like Dr Uche Ogah, whose only sin is his quest to change the ugly story of his dear State.

In the spirit of oneness, but regretablly, we worked with these shenanigan as a team during the last 2019 Governorship election. These political urchins made of black blood also existed within Dr Uche Ogah's Campaign Council because his master and sponsor (Martins Azubuike) was Dr Ogah's biggest political blunder and miscalculation during the last governorship election. His sponsor was made a running mate to Dr Ogah to the dissatisfaction of the party members, Party leadership and to the people of Abia State.

They betrayed Dr Uche Ogah and the Abia APC. This betrayal started immediately Dr. Uche Ogah won and became the Abia State APC Governorship candidate against every Ngwa son who contested primary elections with him.

It’s on record that before the primaries, Dr. Ogah was begged by Abia APC to come and stand for the 2019 guber election as he was about the only person, who could make the party win that election in Abia and he proved it during the gubernatorial election by winning the majority votes at all the polling units in Abia State including that of the Government House polling unit Umuahia where the staffs of Abia State Government voted massively for APC/Uche Ogah but the results were later altered by PDP with the connivance of compromised INEC and security agents because of the lackadaisical attitude of moles Dr. Ogah trusted like this senseless writer called Damian Kamalu and his sponsor.

It’s also on record that Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu purchased expression of interest and nomination forms for the whole Ngwa APC gubernatorial aspirants and some of the Senatorial aspirants with the exception of Barr. FN Nwosu and Amb. Chief Okey Emuchay during the run up to the 2019 elections. The Ngwa plan from the beginning was not to win but to scatter APC and make it possible for the return of their weakling as Governor.

Records has it that, without Dr. Ogah, APC as a party could not have won a single seat in Abia State House of Assembly. Most of the candidates for that election had failed severally in the past contesting for same seats which they now won under Dr Ogah's leadership as an APC Governorship candidate.

Further, Dr. Ogah's entrance into APC changed the fortune of the party in Abia, being the State of origin of Nnamdi Kanu and also IPOB headquarters, before the Operation Python Dance which it's aftermath, caused the APC electoral victory and valuable chances in the South East.

Before Dr. Ogah came into the party, APC in Abia State was like a leprosy camp where people avoided and could not dine on same table with others, it is on record that there was no house owner in Umuahia that agreed to give his/her property to APC to use as their State Secretariat, for the fear of being burnt down by Abia people until Dr. Uche Ogah joined the party.

Immediately the news of Dr. Ogah joining the APC filtered across the State, most property owners who earlier rejected renting their properties to the party, turned around to offer their houses to APC.

As a participant observer of Abia political activities, the biggest mistake that happened to that Uche Ogah’s ticket was the wrong choice of picking an empty Martins Azubuike as running mate through the manipulative influence of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. Some claim, it was a deliberate attempt to destroy the ticket while other merely rejected the arrangement. I submit to the earlier thoughts that it was a deliberate ploy to destroy the ticket because there were other Ngwa sons and daughters who are far better than brain dead Martins Azubuike.

It is known and also said publicly in Isialangwa North that Martins Azubuike has never won election before, rather has always benefited from results being written and announced for him by his then mother party, the PDP. It’s also a public knowledge, that one of his boys, Chuks Dennis Amalaha had in previous election, won him in Primaries but conceded to the party arrangement because Martins Azubuike was tipped to be the next Speaker by the retrogressive Abia cabals in that administration arrangement.

Back to the main issues; During the last APC Governorship campaign in Abia State, we experienced clannishness and sabotage from some southern Ngwa people. These factors had a negative impact within our party and thousands of our supporters from Abia South. The Party Chairman never joined Dr. Ogah to any campaign in Abia State because he was against the choice of bringing in Martins Azubuike as the deputy without the party making an input. He was angry that Dr. Ogah allowed Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to handpick Martins. The party’s choice for Dr. Ogah’s Deputy was Amb. Chief Okey Emuchay, and was never Martins Azubuike whom every one attested to his clannish and treacherous lifestyle.

It was later revealed that Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu did not know much about the young man( Martins) but was carrying him along because, he had earlier promised his endorsement as the APC gubernatorial candidate before Dr. Ogah declared interest to run for the election. So, when Dr. Ogah declared interest, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu saw a better deal for him and the Abia APC.

The blackmailer that penned that article could not even write a single article in support of the campaign, despite Martins sending his name to the campaign media team. It’s on record that one of Dr. Ogah’s aides who was in the same media committee with the same blackmailer, once asked this blackmailer why he hasn’t put up any post for the campaign team anywhere despite parading himself as a so called seasoned journalist?

Most of the people Martins brought into the campaign team were just out for the money they could grab from the Ogah campaign team. This same blackmailer sent in a budget of N78M for billboards across the State at N450,000 each while others quoted N140,000 per billboard. This was happening just 7 weeks before the election. The refusal to issue him the billboard contract got him agitated, probably because he had planned his rescue mission from poverty through the said billboard deal. During this time, Dr. Ogah’s billboards across the State where being torn and brought down by this same blackmailer cum aide of a supposed APC Deputy governorship candidate working in concert with PDP agents

In the course of that campaign, Dr. Ogah did a heart to heart touch campaign with Abians, he visited the college of Bishops and changed their perceptions about President Muhammadu Buhari and APC as a party. He went to churches to talk with Abians, he branded buses and shared to his LG coordinators, so when I read the line that talked about “no buses”, I wondered why such wickedness.

When Dr. Ogah constituted his campaign council in Umuahia, he told Abians that “If you won’t vote for Buhari, don’t vote for me!” That Statement caused serious media uproar in Abia and across the South East. One of the Senatorial candidates then, questioned the political validity of Dr Ogah's statement but Dr Ogah stood his ground to the consternation of the senate candidate.

Dr. Ogah was the only gubernatorial Candidate in the South East, that won 5 over 5 in his Local government and senatorial zone for APC . I will challenge any other APC leader in Abia to show his Ward and LG result for the 5 conducted elections.

When people like me hear that the likes of Martins Azubuike and Prince Paul Ikonne are seeking to be made a Ministers or anything close to it, I laugh. What can they show as their bargaining chips? Martins Azubuike stage managed and concocted a harassment of himself by soldiers on the day of election, to justify the result that was to be written against his own party from his local government. This, he perfectly planned with the Abia PDP government.

Martins held various meetings with Sen. TA Orji to ensure Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu fails in Isialangwa North with the promise of giving him House of Representative ticket by 2023. It’s not a hidden fact that Martin planted his boys on Mrs. Blessing Nwokonneya’s camp to ensure she didn’t win while the innocent woman, who also funded Martins, believed Martins was with her. How treacherous people could be?

The gang of Ikonne, Emenike and Akomas went on public radio, asking ngwa people and Abians to vote for the PDP Governorship candidate against the APC candidate on the 7th of March 2019, barely 48 hours before the election. This was never a factor considered by the malicious shenanigan author.

It’s on record that during the Presidential rally that was to mark the endorsement of Dr. Ogah by President Muhammadu Buhari in Aba Stadium? The APC State Chairman Hon. Donatus Nwankpa disappeared in the name of being kidnapped, all in the bid to scuttle the President’s visit to Aba for Dr. Ogah, and also went as deep as conniving with the Abia PDP to block the Local government party faithfuls and pro groups coming from different LG’s to Aba Stadium to welcome the President. The intend was for the President to meet empty Stadium, but the turn over of the Aba people sent shivers into the spine of our guests that day when God played His Almighty hands’

This serial blackmailer didn’t also see the factor that is in the public domain, where after the visit of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to Abia for a town hall meeting for the APC gubernatorial election, days before the election, the handful treacherous APC members from Ngwa had a close door meeting that night, in one of the APC leader’s house who was a former minister, and decided never to allow the governorship leave Ngwa, “that it was better they bring an Ngwa goat than allow Dr. Uche Ogah win that election”.

Of importance, Dr. Uche Ogah won in 14 local government out of 17 during the APC gubernatorial primaries to prove his popularity and wide acceptance in Abia State and those trying to defame his image can never match or come close to the towering personality of Dr. Uche Ogah.

Also, the gubernatorial election which is still subject of litigation where PDP and compromised INEC allocated second position to Dr. Ogah after he clearly won the majority votes across Abia State is a pointer that this serial blackmailer and his doomed sponsor are hallucinating.

One of the reasons why the so called elites had issues with Dr. Ogah was his refusal to share the Presidential logistic money to them, but, he insisted that, he will followed the tabulated manual given to him by the party national body, which stated inter alia “among other things” that the logistic money most be taken to polling units and Dr. Ogah delivered as directed by the NWC of the party. Instead of Martins Azubuike and his hatchet jobber indulging in this cheap blackmail, why not write petition directly to APC national if they have any case? Thus, needless to even dignify Martins Azubuike because it is a known fact that he is suffering from acute retrogressive syndrome and soon depression will set in...

Anyone in Abia will attest to the fact that Dr. Uche Ogah ran an issue based campaign and spent money where necessary. If the likes of that writer were truly out to win an election, they shouldn’t be seeking Dr. Ogah to equate the same spending with the government of the day in Abia. It is rather foolishness for them to wish for such.

The campaign of calumny and malicious statements that characterized that article can only define one thing, ‘A bitter man and one who planned to make money from Dr. Ogah’s pocket during the election but was nipped in the bud, hence his disjointed article is all about money without mentioning his sponsor’s financial contribution to the campaign’. He stated that Dr. Ogah owes workers which is totally false. Ogah is the biggest employer of labor from the South East. His Aku ruo ulo project in Uturu (Masters Energy Industrial City) can only define a man that loves his people. He has a viable factory in Agbara, Lagos and Mowe, Ogun State where every other person would have invested more to get more in return in short term, instead, he took major part of his business back to Abia to create such hope and base for employment! Politics or not, an urchin as that serial blackmailer shouldn’t for anything call Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah OON FCA names.

Dr. Uche Ogah has paid his dues as a good statesman in Abia and Nigeria at large and his records are open for verification.

Dr Uche Sampson Ogah, will always do his best for the Abia APC and the people of Abia State. Till date, his interest remains how to lift the people out of the poverty trap and bring prosperity to them. He is not interested in recreating himself or searching for public wealth or positions. He wants power to help build the State and Country but certainly not for personal use.

Clinton Otoro Nwaubani
Writes in from Umuahia

By Arc. Joseph Onuigbo

Recently, some disgruntled elements came up with one of the most flippant, shadow and freakish blackmail efforts targeted at denigrating and discrediting the high flying law maker and Majority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji ( Ikuku Abia).

The team infused fear in the people by alleging that Hon. Orji would impeach the Governor if he becomes the Speaker of the House. The reason behind the accusation is what one cannot explain except that the initiator of the campaign of calumny is seeking to achieve sympathy and cheap popularity. He is just like a drowning man, struggling to be saved by anything including the rootsless grass on the shore. The reports are not just baseless but loathsome mendacities and traitorous falsehood that should be jettisoned and treated as mere bear palour gossip. Infact the stories they carry around exist only in their thoughts and unholy imaginations of their paymasters.

Unfortunately to them, they came up with the lame and faulty suspicion that cannot hold water. This is because Abia people know the person and humble disposition of the Majority Leader, Hon. Orji. Hence, their intentions, plans and ideas are dead on arrival and can never resurrect. They should have found a more intellectually and politically sound arguments to present against the man they are fighting. Of course, they cannot find any, because Hon. Orji is very much on ground and is accepted by his colleagues. It is obvious that members of the House and even the incoming ones have unwavering confidence in him and would vote him in as their Speaker by next month during the inauguration of the 7th House.

They simply do not understand the fundamentals of attracting or wooing people or colleagues to oneself through good character and healthy political strategies. This may be why they are still wandering in political darkness without knowing that this is political day break. They are advised that the best approach to becoming a principal officer or gaining colleagues to one's side in a legislative house is by reaching out and lobbying among the members. And if it comes to that, the members themselves know that Ikuku is the man to beat in Speakership position.

It is surprising to see these people expressing unnecessary fears about Hon. Orji. Honestly, this fears were initiated to discombobulate the masses and make them see this intelligent and easy going law maker as a man with bad intentions, whereas it is not. People are therefore encouraged to see these allegations as imaginary and hoax
and should be discountenanced. Also the issue of Old Bende and Old Aba Divisions should be thrown into the dustbin.

The childish outpour is regrettably unfortunate. Well, one may not blame them much because like drowning men, they need to fashion a way to save themselves from obvious fact that Hon. Orji's interest in the Speakership would send them to political boys' quarters in the House of Assembly.

It is noteworthy that the man, Hon. Chinedum Orji (Ikuku) and his colleagues in the House are more than poised to work with the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and members of his executive to bring about good governance in the State. Yes, together they will take Abia to amiable destination!

All hail the incoming Speaker of the 7th Abia Assembly!

Arc Joseph Onuigbo wrote from Umuahia.

SOURCEl PUO REPORTS

https://puoreports.ng/2019/05/21/abia-speakership-a-second-look-at-hon-engr-chinedum-orji-ikuku-abia/

As the inauguration of the 7th Assembly of the Abia State House is gathering momentum with people indicating interest for various principal offices in the House, it has become imperative that Abia people grasp and understand the true person of Hon. Chinedum Orji, the Majority Leader of the State House and by the grace of God the incoming Speaker of the hallowed House.

This clarification becomes much more necessary against the backdrop of the activities of some misguided elements who are going around with campaigns of calumny aim at blackmailing Hon. Orji to achieve their ungodly desires (which of course cannot work). These politictians use
pseudonyms on social media and employ some political jobbers to do hatched job of discrediting Hon. Orji. These jobbers are on an unfortunate ungodly mission of damaging the hard earned image of Ikuku.

They are poisoning the minds of the right thinking members of the society to believe that Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, Ikuku, does not mean well for the State. They have already started dishing out their media concoctions through various means, alledging that Ikuku wants to hijack the government of the State and possibly impeach the Governor. This to say the list, is grave falsehood cooked from uncircumcised mouths of politictians whose Ikuku's sagacity, influence and interest in the Speakership position have relegated to the political boys' quarters.

Come to think of it, is it not Ikuku's father that midwifed the shift of governorship position to old Ukwa/Ngwa division and ensured that the same Ngwa man, Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D is reelected to continue his good governance in the State, a feat that made him the father of equity in Abia State? If Ikuku was not in support of the father, doesn't one thinks that he could have influenced the father to act otherwise? Why then should people come up with this unfounded allegations just because, they know that the young man is very grounded and that they cannot beat him in the contest?

For the avoidance of doubt, in the presidential governmental system, there are three branches or arms of government. These are the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. It is common knowledge that the general function of the legislature is to make laws, the executive carries out the laws while the judicial branch interprets the laws when there are disagreements about their application in a given case. Hon. Chinedum Orji as a good citizen knows his boundaries and cannot go against the law. He is at home with the fundamentals of governance of different arms.

After all, the position to occupy is the Speaker and as the Speaker, his opinion in an issue remains his until the majority of the House affirms such opinion. So anyone thinking in that direction is just trying to ignite unnecessary hatred and crises and should not be seen as a good citizen of Abia State. It is equally a sign that such a law maker doesn't know his left from his right in the law making business. Even a layman knows that one person alone, no matter who he is or the position he occupies cannot unilaterally take a decision on behalf of the entire legislative house.

It is important to understand that the man, Engr. Chinedum Orji is a good person, well-groomed and one who respects the rule of law. He is a gentleman, whose constituents, friends and associates testify of his humility, character and ingenuity. A level headed young man with greater and better vision for the people of the State. His natural endowments and gift have made him a rallying point among his peers and this has made him a celebrated leader and coordinator of renown.

It may not be out of place to assert that Hon. Chinedum Orji
possesses good leadership qualities in his DNA as the father, Chief T. A Orji grew from an Administrative Officer to Chief of Staff to Governor and later two term Governor of the State and currently, a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His mannerism and approach to issues are undeniable testimonies to that fact that he is well-positioned to lead the the 7th House of Assembly and n the State. Hon. Orji is a man, whose dreams and aspirations are that the people of the State would get the best from the PDP and government of the day. The achivements of this quintessential member of the House of Assembly is unparalleled. If he can achieve so much for the members of his constituents and even extended to others, how much more, when he assumes the position of the Speaker of the House? Of course, it is certain that he would influence his colleagues to drive home dividends of democracy to their various constituencies.

Abia people and residents are enjoined to discountenance the information being carried about by those who are bereft of ideas and strategies of how to lobby and woo their colleagues to elect them as the Speaker of the House.

It is instructive that Ukwa/Ngwa nation should not be moved by the antics of non progressive people, whose stock-in-tread is to forment unnecessary political trouble capable of bringing enmity and distrust among the political blood brothers. Ikuku, his family and the entire Ikwuano/Umuahia extraction of Abia Central have championed the issue of equity which made an Ukwa/Ngwa man an eight year Governor like his predecessors, so, if the people that championed the equity seek equity, it is not being ambitious. It should be supported by all and sundry. Campaigns of calumny and distructive criticism cannot stop Hon. Chinedum Orji from emerging as the Speaker of the 7th House, God willing! He is a man with grace and no one should fight a man with grace because no one has ever stopped a man with grace.

Congratulations in advance Hon. Chinedum Orji, the seat is yours!

Arc. Joseph Onuigbo wrote from Ikwuano,Abia.

Source: PUO REPORTS

https://puoreports.ng/2019/05/20/abia-speakership-understanding-the-man-chinedum-orji/

-Says any Further attack on the Ochendo Family will be Responded Accordingly-

The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has been called upon to sanction the embattled Lawmaker Representing Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly Hon Bishop Kennedy Njoku.

The Group said the Lawmaker is Complicit over the recent Media attacks targeted at the Majority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly Hon. Engr. Chinedum Orji and his Family.

The Group under the aegis of Umuahia Unity Front (UUF) in a Statement signed by its Spokesman Arc. Joseph Onuigbo and made available to Journalist in Umuahia wondered the Osisioma Ngwa North Constituency Lawmaker will embark on a smear campaign against the Ochendo Family over the Speakership of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly.

Arc. Onuigbo accused Hon Bishop Kennedy Njoku of operating a Pseudo Account on Facebook where he carries out his smear Campaign against Hon Engr. Chinedum Orji(IKUKU) .

'We want to draw the attention of the Leadership of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State to the rascality and unbecoming conduct of Hon Bishop Kennedy Njoku and his activities on the Internet especially Facebook "

"We make bold to state clearly that Hon Bishop Kennedy Njoku is the brain behind a pseudonym account (Abia Integrity Forum) on Facebook where he is running series of smear campaign against the person of Hon Engr Chinedum Orji over the Speakership of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly"

"We wish to remind the State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State of its Warning in April to Lawmakers elect,and call on the Party to Investigate ownership of that Fake page to believe the State of our Group" the Statement Said.

The Group Vowed to recruit INTERNET Warlords to defend Hon Chinedum Orji of the Party fails to activate disciplinary Measures Against Him.

It will be recalled that the State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in a Communique Dated Thursday 25th April, 2019 had warned Lawmakers to desist from sponsoring attacks against another Lawmaker.

" That SWC, hereby, instructs that henceforth any Member-elect who is found to be sponsoring any hostile and(or) damaging post(s) on Social Media or any other medium, shall be disciplined accordingly"

"That any Member-elect that is interested in any position in the 7th Abia State House of Assembly is free to go about his aspiration but without creating any image problem for the Party by being unduly quarrelsome, especially using the Social Media" the PDP had Said.

SOURCE : https://puoreports.ng/2019/05/14/breaking-group-ask-pdp-to-suspend-abia-lawmaker-bishop-kennedy-njoku/

The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion in the Diocese of Arochukwu /Ohafia in Abia State has dismissed two Ministers from its Ministry Over Homosexuality.

The Letter of Dismissal was contained in a Notice Circulated to all archbishops/Bishops of the Anglican Church.

A Copy of the Letter made available to PUO REPORTS and Signed by The Rt Rev. Johnson C ONUOHA, the Anglican Bishop Diocese of Arochukwu/Ohafia said the affected Reverends Rev Chukwuemeka Duru and Rev Solomon Chukwuzubela Okonkwo were found guilty of Homosexuality.

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from Our Lord Jesus Christ who strengthen us through the Holy Spirit Amen”

“We wish to inform you that the Following clergy have been dismissed from the diocese of Arochukwu/Ohafia namely Rev Chukwuemeka Duru and Rev Solomon Chukwuzubela Okonkwo”

“The report got to us that they were indulge in the act of Homosexuality,we Investigated and found them guilty of such accusations”

“We were left with no other option than to withdraw their letters of order and Dismiss them from Ministry”

The Church urged anyone dealing with the dismissed Ministers to tread with Care.

SOURCE: PUO REPORTS
https://puoreports.ng/2019/05/06/anglican-church-sacks-two-gay-pastors-in-abia/

For some weeks now, the media, particularly the social media have been awash with speculations and personal opinions on whom would emerge as the next Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly. Obviously, the pendulum is swinging towards one man of impeccable character, a political mobilizer and collosus of a sort. This man is Honourable Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, popularly known as IKUKUOMA ABIA, by his admirers. Hon. Orji is the current Majority Leader in the Abia State House of Assembly and member representing Umuahia Central State constituency.

Born on December 25th, 1970 to the amiable family of Chief T. A Orji, a seasoned technocrat, who later became the Governor of Abia State and now Senator representing Abia Central zone, from Amaokwe Ugba, Umuahia Ibeku in Umuahia North Local Government Area. Little Chinedum started his academic pursuit in Ugba Community Primary School between 1976 and 1982, from where he proceeded to Government Secondary School Owerri, between 1982 and 1987 and in 1989, quest for higher education made him to enroll in the prestigious Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), where he earned a Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering in 1996.

Highly intelligent and gifted, Chinedum became a rallying point among his peers as he exhibited a high level of coordination, a trait that distinguished him as a naturally endowed leader. No wonder, many people, including his constituents was very much happy, when in 2015, he indicated interest in representing them in the State House of Assembly, an opportunity he has used to redefine representation, not just for members of his constituents but everybody that comes his way.

Again on March this year, Hon. Chinedum Orji was re-elected to continue his good work in the State House of Assembly. This time around, a higher call is beckoning seriously; he is expected to emerge as the Speaker of the seventh House. Because of his political muscle, it may not be easy for anyone to challenge IKUKU in the speakership race. The truth remains that , Hon. Chinedum Orji, the IKUKUOMA ABIA is the man to beat in the speakership position of the State House of Assembly. His colleagues are all his friends and he can easily win their support.

Why Hon Chinedum Orji? one may ask. Hon Orji is not only educated, well-informed and outspoken but is mature and poseses a human face in administration. He has what it takes to galvanize the legislative house. Having been the Leader of the House in his first tenure, he has garnnerd experience and is one of the ranking members of the State House of Assembly. In terms of zoning, fairness and equity, Hon. Orji is from Abia Central of the State. Since the Abia South is occupying the governoship position, Abia North, the deputy governoship, then the speakership is naturally zoned to Abia Central. It is equally important to stress that, Abia Central has two political blocs; the Ikwuano/Umuahia and Umunnato-Ngwa extractions. In the current House, the three Local Government Areas in Ngwa extraction of Abia Central have occupied the speakership position. Equity, justice and fairness demand that a legislator from Ikwuano/Umuahia occupies the position this time around. Of course, IKUKUOMA ABIA is the only House member from Ikwuano/Umuahia bloc that is a principal officer of the House and could be termed most experienced and qualified for the job.

Apartfrom from that, this young man has a knack for excellence, truth and openness and flows with uncommon milk of human Kindness which has touched many people within and outside his constituency.

Hon. Chinedum Orji, the Majority Leader in the Abia State House of Assembly has shown explicit manners and gentility in his private and official duties and can handle the position. Anybody who knows him can attest to the fact that he is consistently polite but firm and modest in the way he discharges duties.

Recall that, against the thinking of some people that he would hijack the House of Assembly and impose himself Speaker of the House, Hon. Chinedum Orji disappointed people of such school of thought and took his time to learn the rudiments of legislative house and can now be said to be ready for the position.

He has introduced beautiful programmes for his people. Also, Abia youths have been engaged in the Ochendo Youth Foundation in which at least, over 20, 000 youths from the State were trained in different skills acquisition and were empowered afterwards. Hon. Orji has given out some empowerment materials under the youth empowerment programme, hence, people have received vehicles, tricycles, sewing machines, generating sets, sets of clippers, call-centre equipment, grinding machines, wrappers, cash among others. These have helped in job creation among youths in the state.

This dynamic young politician introduced a paradigm shift in the relationship between a representative and the electorate. It is called Direct- Touch. Through this, the good people of Umuahia-Central State Constituency enjoy direct dealings with their representive. The Direct Touch initiative has established many life-touching projects for his constituents. His scholarship programme for students from the constituency has directly affected in the most positive manner such students and the youths of Umuahia-Central State Constituency who desire to be trained and empowered in various skills have benefited from him. It has also affected churches, health and trade & investment. 

In all, Engr Orji has never been found wanting in carrying out his primary duties of representation, law making and oversight functions and is poised to more the next four years.

Distinguished members of the 7th House of Assembly, whose business it is to select their principal officers are urged to do the needful and elect Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji. After all, the cap fits him!

Arc. Joseph Onuigbo wrote from Umuahia

Barely 48hours after Some Stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Abia State announced the endorsement of a Former Governor of Abia State now Senator Elect for Abia North Dr Orji Uzor Kalu for The Position of the Deputy Senate President and Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha for the House of Representatives Speakership, a Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress in the State Chief Amobi Ogah has advised the Party to go for one out of the two Sensitive Positions.

PUO REPORTS recalled that some Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia had on Sunday met and formaĺly for the Deputy Senate President Seat.

The meeting, which took place at Camp Neya, the country home of Kalu in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area of Abia, also endorsed Rep. Nkiru Onyejeocha, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, for the Speakership of the House of Representatives.

The endorsement followed a motion moved at the meeting by Sen. Chris Adighije, the Abia APC caucus leader.

But reacting to the Endorsement, Chief Amobi Ogah said the action of some Stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress in Abia State has shown that some of the Party Leaders will ridicule the Abia APC before other Chapters of the Party in the Country.

Addressing a Press Conference in Umuahia on Tuesday,the APC Chieftain said it was "unreasonable for the Leadership of the Party in Abia State to ask for two things at a Time.

" Count Me Out of that Purported Endorsement on Sunday, I cannot be part of such an unreasonable decision "

"How can One Party in One State be Asking for Two Sensitive National Assembly Positions at a Time?"

Chief Amobi Ogah advised the Leadership of the APC in Abia State to have a rethink over its hasty Decision of Endorsing two Members for Two Principal Positions at the National Assembly.

"I want to Appeal to the Leadership of our Great Party in the State to have a rethink over such Purported Endorsement, they have to do that before the Inauguration of the 9th Assembly because a Man cannot be asking for Two Things at a Time" He Said

A renowned gospel artist, Blessed Samuel Chimnyeremka Manuanwu, has cried out to Nigerians for help over what he called a threatening challenge.

Samuel is known for several gospel tracks, including Jesus Onye Mme Mme, Jesus Nmanu Anu, Favour Room, among others.

The Imo State born singer, in a video that has gone viral, said he was in dire need of the sum of N12 million in order to come out of the problem.

In the video, he was also heard saying “I have come to understand that sickness, problems, challenges of any kind don’t consider who you are before it comes to you.

“It is not easy for me to come on air to say this but because it has gotten to the neck.

“My people, I am in pain, I am in trouble and I need N12m to come out of this problem. I plead to faithful Nigerians to come to my aid.”

“Whatever you contribute as an individual will go a long way to make me come out of this problem. May you never see problem that is bigger than you.

“Whatever that you are contributing here, may it be a means of taking you to another level. Please, save a life. May God answer you when you are in need, please my people, please faithful Nigerians, save a life,” he concluded in the 2-minute video.

When contacted, Samuel confirmed the video.

He asked Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, others Southeast governors and good spirited Nigerians to come to his aide.

According to him, “I’m begging the Governor of my State, His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha to come to my aide. He is one of those in so much love with my songs. In every event he attends, he always punctuates his speech with one of my tracks, ‘Onye bi na igwe, anyi abiaruola’.”

“I’m also pleading with the people’s governors of Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi, as well as our Daddy, Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church and Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka to help me out. I will really cherish his fatherly assistance in any way.

“Anyone touched could assist me via my Account Details, Chimnyeremaka Blessed Samuel, Account No: 3075720732, Bank: First Bank,” he added.

SOURCE: https://puoreports.com/2019/04/06/popular-gospel-artist-blessed-samuel-cries-out-to-nigerians-over-threatening-challenge/

The Campaign Council of the 2019 Governorship Candidate of the All Progressive Congress(APC) Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah has dismissed insinuation that Mr Uche Aguoru,a Member of the Campaign Directorate was a Spokesperson to the APC Governorship Candidate.

A Statement made available to Newsmen in Umuahia the Abia State Capital and signed by Comr Demian Igbokwe on behalf of the Campaign Council said Mr. Uche Aguoru, was never the spokesperson for Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, nor for the campaign council of Dr. Ogah.

The Statement Reads in Parts”



”Our attention has been drawn to the publication making the rounds and published by Daily Post online, where it is said that, Uche Aguoru, my friend and who happens to be a member of the media directorate of the Uche Ogah Campaign Organisation has resigned as Dr. Ogah’s spokesperson, to join Ikpeazu, and also advised his supposed former boss and Alex Otti to jettison the idea of tribunal”.

”The lines credited to my dear friend who happens to be a good guy with the pen is quite laughable, but I wish to state it here, categorically, that Mr. Uche Aguoru, was never the spokesperson for Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, nor for the campaign council of Dr. Ogah.

”Yes, I will not deny that Uche Aguoru never worked with us during the period of the campaign, he did and it was also nice sharing ideas with him in that media office of the campaign building. But he was never head of any of the subcommittees in the media directorates as I was the secretary of the media directorates of that campaign council”.

”I don’t actually understand the take of the peddlers of such propaganda. It is normal everywhere that, once an election has been held, no more campaign. What would one call these stories, the Ikpeazu’s media goons are dishing out?

”It is normal for a chicken to come home for roast, after a hard day walk. My dear friend, Uche Aguoru, must have returned back to where he left to join us. No one in our campaign team and structure will begrudge him”.

”For the peddlers of such rumour, Uche Aguoru can never say that he was Dr. Uche Ogah’s spokesperson in any way or at any point in time. Dr. Ogah has been groomed from the cooperate World, and understands what it means to make employments of any kind. Dr. Ogah, never employed Uche Aguoru. In the campaign council, the media directorates has over 50 members and Mr. Aguoru was one of them”.

The coalition of Rivers NGOs is an amalgamation of both indigenous and other NGOs in Rivers State convened to project and protect the peace, unity and development of our dear State.

We closely monitored the March 9th governorship and Assembly elections and we are alarmed by the treachery exhibited by the State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Obong Effanga and his staff , especially the Admin Secretary who openly collaborated with the incumbent Governor Nyesom Wike in trying to manipulate the governorship election in his favour failing which Mr Effanga had the effrontry to wrongly advise INEC headquarters to suspend a smoothly running election.
We the members of the coalition, true sons and daughters of Rivers State and law abiding citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wish to state as follows:
1. That the suspension of the election process was a well orchestrated move by Governor Nyesom Wike and his co-conspirators, Obong Effanga and Elder Etim Umoh of Rivers State INEC.

2. That since the suspension of the collation of results in the State on March 10, 2019, the outgoing Governor Nyesom Wike and the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner Obong Effanga have been re-writing and doctoring unit results already collated in Rivers State Government House to favour Wike.

3. The suspension of the largely smooth running electoral process in the State is a flagrant violation of section 26 of the electoral Act. 2010 (as amended).

4. INEC's refusal to publish the names of the aclaimed collated seventeen(17) LGA's and the outstanding Six(6) LGA's is a clear act of deceit and treachery & confirmation of our long held suspicion that all is not well with the current Rivers INEC team .

5. That the clearly and openly compromised actions of Obong Effanga and Elder Etim Umoh have made us lose confidence in them to complete the process as this will be tantamount to Wike being also the umpire in his own election. We will resist this to our last blood.

6. The activities of the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner Obong Effanga and the Administrative secretary Elder Etim Umoh is a breach of public trust and abuse of public powers.

7 We have it on record the Governor Wike through the Rivers State REC Obong Effanga secretly changed the list of the Collation and Returning Officers who conducted the presidential election and replaced them with card-carrying members of the PDP who realising that the elections were not favouring their paymaster, triggered the illegal suspension order by INEC

8. We hereby inform these conspirators against the sovereign will of our people that we know them by name and have all their details . We will not sit idle and watch them destroy the peace of our State and return Scot free to their own States. The coalition will act as one United body to ensure that the Rivers State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obong Effanga and the Administrative Secretary, Elder Etim Umoh and all those who are a party this nefarious activity are held responsible for any break-down of law & order in the State.

9. We warn the national security agencies of an impending breakdown of law and order should unholy alliance/collaboration with Wike to force himself on Rivers People using INEC and the Jidiciary is not nipped in the bud right away

10. We are sure that by now the intelligence agencies have confirmed that if not for the highly professional conduct of the security agencies especially the Military in protecting the electorate during that elections, Governor Wike and his thugs dressed on military uniforms would have turned Rivers State into an ocean of blood, worse than what they did in the 2015 general elections.

SEQUEL TO THE AFOREMENTIONED; WE DEMAND THAT:

1. The Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner Obong Effanga and the administrative secretary Elder Etim Umoh be redeployed with immediate effect to forestall any foul play that will lead making our dear Rivers State a theatre of war..

2. We call on the INEC Chairman Prof. Yakubu Mamood to replace them with people of integrity and sound reputation that cannot be bought over by tyrant Governor Nyesom Wike and his blood sucking thugs; we also call on EFCC and other agencies to as a matter of urgency investigate and arrest Obong Effanga, Elder Etim Umoh and their partners in crime.

We remain faithful in the service of our State and Nation.

Signed
Somina Wokoma
Convener , along with eight other signatories.

It’s no longer news that INEC declared the incumbent Governor of Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D. the winner and elected governor of the state 2019 -2023, however it beats the imagination of sane minds that some fellows are contesting the results of the elections. As we saw in many states one would have thought that having seen the clear signs and handwriting on the wall, the opponents would immediately congratulate him and let the state move on smoothly on the already laid down trajectory of sustainable development. Some issues needs to be highlighted for the uninformed to come to terms with reality.

Every keen observer of the Abia polity knew long before the election that Ikpeazu was as good as elected for so many reasons.

1. Zoning- this factor played a major role in 2015 and was another deciding factor in 2019. The Governor comes from Ukwa/Ngwa with 9 Local government areas out of the 17 and hugely populated. The people are testing the number one seat for the first time in human history and were not ready to let go. What happened to Otti and Ogah was a typical guyman/mugu arrangement. Some few elements from Ukwa/Ngwa who supposedly felt left out in the activities of the current administration tried to find succour with the opposition, but weeks and days to the election the adage that no place is like home sank deep and many of them did a 360 degrees turnaround to support the Ikpeazu PDP ticket. When Paul Ikonne went on air, some minions around Ogah unfortunately dismissed him as the ranting of an ant, but on 9th all he said came true. The result showed clearly that the Ukwa/Ngwa clan stood strongly behind their son in whim they are well pleased.

The zoning argument was based on the principle of equity which got endorsement from other parts of the state including Umuahia and some parts of Abia North Zone. Those who believed in justice and equity were not confused about their support for the Governor.

2. Performance, naysayers and propagandist may say all they can, but the truth is that no government since the creation of Abia has performed better than the Ikpeazu administration within its first term in office. They Governor understood the Abia environment and developed policies and programmes that responded to the issues of development in the state making him irresistible. Abia saw through his 5 pillars and enablers agenda which revolves around the key developmental issues in the state. The people also saw that within the limits of resources and time he was religious in following through those programmes, hence their decision to stick with him for more years. Abia and the governor attracted several commendations and endorsement from all and sundry. From the Presidency came the MSME Governor of the year award, the media was not left out several media houses dubbed him their man for the year for several reason ranging from road infrastructure, SME, education, health etc.

3. Governance Style, Ikpeazu governance style is very unique, simple, accessible and people oriented. Most of his policies and programmes was structured around the people especially those at the lowest rung of the socio-economic ladder. On mounting the saddle of governance in the state he simplified the office of governor by stripping himself of all those paraphernalia that distanced leaders from their people. He will remain the first govenror to have engaged more with Abiand through several channels. His passion for town hall meetings is legendary. You may say he is a homeboy. Unlike his opponent, every Abian young and old knew what Ikpeazu stood for and they knew his narrative. They understood his language, they understood his signs. They other 2 major opponents were urban gorillas who would fly in from Lagos or PH anytime election is close to begin a campaign of calumny, something Abians were tured of.

4. Abia is a PDP State, from time immemorial Abia has remained a PDP state with solid and strong structures across the nooks and crannies of the State. Theres hardly a village in Abia you would not find a strong politician, businessman, leader or entrepreneur who is a strong bonafide member of PDP. These people command not just fellowership they also command respect and could sway support to any candidate of their choice. Unlike the other parties PDP had such persons in their numbers.

5. Ikpeazu’s Personality, one of the killer punches Ikpeazu throw on his opponents was his very humble, courageous, peaceful, respectful, sacrificial, accommodating, focused personality. This is the first time a deputy governor would run out a term with a governor and pair with him to run a second term. This singular point spoke so much about the person of the Governor. Ikpeazu restored tranquility to Abia politics, for the past 3 years and few months no state has enjoyed the level of political tranquility as enjoyed Abia. All the arms of government worked like kits and kins, the federal legislators and state government worked so well together. Even the only federal minister from the state serving in a different party was in bed with the Governor and supported all the good economic and investment policies of the state Government. Dr Enelamah facilitated several programmes to the advantage of the state. The stage government enjoyed tremendous goodwill from the APC led federal government due to his constructive engagement approach. He was smart about it. Governor Ikpeazu is very respectful, he brought all the leaders and elders of Abia under one umbrella of brotherhood to support the kind of peaceful society he wants to create. He is loved by the old and young in Abia die to his personality, he is very humble, accessible, down to earth. One feature that endeared the Governor to many his respect for people. With all the propaganda against him during the campaign period, there was no single slip from the Governor to insult any member of the opposition. He saw all as brothers and sisters and major stakeholders in the Abia project.

It was therefore very clear that Governor Ikpeazu was going to win the elections in Abia. Conduct it 100 time he will win.

To be continued..

Source: https://puoreports.com/2019/03/14/contesting-abia-2019-results-a-joke-taken-too-far-by-chinenye-nwogu/

Why Rivers People voted massively against Wike and his PDP in Rivers state. Call us anytime we will tell u same thing.
1. Staff School Teachers - sacked
2. Ken-Poly Lecturers - sacked.
3. Timariv Officers - disbanded
4. RSSDA - disbanded
5. Overseas students - abandoned
6. Greater port Harcourt - abandoned
7. Songhai Farm - collapsed
8. Buguma Fishfarm - closed
9. Students bursary-cancelled
10. No payment of gratuity
11. No payment of pension allowances to retirees that retired since 2015 till date
12. Abandoning of state Secretariat (No light, No water, damage roofs etc)
13. Introduction of levies in our primary and secondary schools
14. Increase in sch fees in all our state owned tertiary institutions, too bad
15. Increase in crime as a result of lack of political will by the government

16. No clear social investment by the current administration

17. No capital project going on or completed only on social media’s check well
18. The current administration does not have a blueprint on governance

19. Monthly deduction of workers salary
20. Add yours
Their DECEIT
1. Recruitment of Neighborhood watch bad agenda hence scam
2. Employment of 10,000 academic staffs and 4000 none academic staffs within 3 weeks - scam
3. Employment of Liaison Officers - scam
4. Real Madrid academy-scam
5. Health workers recruitment-scam
6. judiciary workers recruitment-scam
7. Rivers state waste management agency-scam
8. civil servant loan- scam
9. business people loan-scam

10. Abandoning of State Own Media Outlets.
Some times let’s take a stroll to our various communities in Rivers state to see things ourselves even the primary health centers, modern primary schools etc built and furnished by the past administration Has been woefully abandoned.

Rivers state is indeed need of a messiah we need to get Rivers state working again let’s ignore party sentiments let’s put forward first our state and see how we can get it back from the hands of wicked even the Bible confirmed it “when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.