SPECIAL REPORT

… Deputy Ude Oko Chukwu hosts APC guber candidate in his hometown
… Official activities in his office severed
“D-Gov, still in PDP, remains loyal to Ikpeazu” — Associates

A scenario that is akin to that of former governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and his then deputy, Prince Eze Madumere suspected to be playing out in Abia Government House, Umuahia, between Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, who were said to be enjoying the best of relationship, until recently, precisely after the party primaries were Oko Chukwu’s ambition to succeed his boss, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, was truncated in a manner that the deputy, alleged believed that his crash was as a result of his loss support from his boss.

It could recalled that in 2018, as the drumbeat of who succeeds then Governor Rochas Okorocha was sounding loud, Prince Eze Madumere, Okorocha’s Deputy Governor became a star man in the lineup of those in the other side of the field challenging his choice of Uche Nwosu.

Madumere, who was a long term friend of Okorocha even before becoming his Deputy, was also termed a loyal Deputy by many who were always around the corridors of power in Owerri, until Madumere decided to pursue his own political ambition—-to rule Imo State as Governor.

Initially, Madumere’s ambition sounded like a sweet rumor in the ears of Okorocha until he made it clear to his then boss, that he was actually in the game to replace him.
Okorocha, who considered Madumere’s interest as a big threat to his plans to install his son-in-law, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu as his successor, reportedly offered Madumere several options including Owerri Senatorial ticket in APC to dissuade his guber ambition.

But to Okorocha’s ‘chagrin’, the Mbieri-born Deputy rejected the overtures, preferring to vie for APC guber primary polls in 2018.
During the executive fiasco, Madumere was allegedly in contact with some notable politicians in Imo including those in PDP, counting on their support to win the APC primaries.
For these his alleged disloyal activities, Madumere had it rough in the hands of some aids loyal to Okorocha, as they accused him of ingratitude and also slammed him for trying to rock the Uche Nwosu boat.

The Mbieri-born administrator bitterly complained of being denied several entitlements by the Owelle administration, including salaries but these were denied by Okorocha’s media aids.

He later headed to the Court to have his salaries and other entitlements paid to him and the case is still a major socio-economic factor in Imo State today, and the rest is now history.

Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Abia Deputy Governor
Fast forward to 2022 in Abia State and meet Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, the ‘most loyal Deputy Governor,’ has now become a major news maker in Abia’s political parlour.
Oko Chukwu’s ambition to succeed his boss, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has affected his smooth relationship with his boss, as every indication from his office at government house can attest to.

On April 1, 2022, he declared his guber ambition at a well-attended event at Abia Hotels, Umuahia.
During the declaration, he said he had the experience to rule the State.

The intimidating crowd which accompanied him to Abia Hotels ground made some political calculators to assume that he was enjoying the support of his boss, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.
This was deduced from his 7-years smooth relationship with his Oga described by many political watchers as Father/Son relationship.
His declaration took place at the same time rumours were gaining ground that Governor Ikpeazu was supporting another aspirant, Prof Uche Ikonne, former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, who is now the PDP candidate in Abia.

But behold, Governor Ikpeazu came out to declare that had no preferred candidate in mind but believed in the emergence of the best candidate from pool of aspirants in PDP.
The drumbeat was equally happening at a period Abia State PDP zoned the guber race in the party to Abia North and Abia Central Senatorial districts, thereby ending Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s guber ambition as he hails from Abia South.

Abaribe is now in All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) as the Senatorial candidate, to face Governor Ikpeazu in the 2023 game.
But did Oko Chukwu inform his boss of his ambition, and did Ikpeazu endorse him?

Oko Chukwu, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Obasi Onwukah said his principal informed Governor Ikpeazu of his ambition during a private meeting he held with Ikpeazu.
According Oko Chukwu’s CPS, “To set the records straight, the Deputy Governor , a man reputed for humility and loyalty, could not have made known his governorship ambition without the knowledge and approval of his boss, the Governor of Abia State.”

“The Deputy, actually visited his boss and duly informed him about his ambition to succeed him. However, details of the private discussion may not have been made available for Governor’s aids including Ememanka to feast on.”

Deputy’s CPS went on, ” The Deputy even did not fail to further let his boss know of the day of his formal declaration at the State PDP secretariat in Umuahia.”, said Obasi Onwukah.

The Chief Press Secretary nevertheless, did not state the date of the private meeting between Ikpeazu and Oko Chukwu or even the venue they stayed.
However, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in making his first and only remark about his Deputy’s guber ambition, lamented that Oko Chukwu threw respect to the wind by failing to inform him (Ikpeazu) about his governorship interest before joining the race.

Ikpeazu, who expressed surprise and disappointment about the issue, said his ability to forgive those who offended him, had made him to continue working with his Deputy.
He revealed that Sir Oko Chukwu only informed him of his ambition, after he had gone round to tell others, pointing out that if not for his clear mind on people, he would have applied the same measure taken by some Governors who found themselves in the same situation.

“My Deputy didn’t tell me he wanted to replace me. He did not consult me; he had gone everywhere before they advised him to talk to his Governor. When he finally came, I told him he came a bit late. ”

“Mind you, I am the only Governor in Abia State that has ran almost 8 years with his Deputy.”
Ikpeazu went on, “He became very ambitious and refused to consult me. I don’t have any place in my heart to harbour bitterness; otherwise, I would have done what I should do. Everybody knows what a person in my position can do to a recalcitrant Deputy but I don’t think that is the way to go”, Ikpeazu told Dickson Iroegbu in the interview.

Nevertheless, Sir Oko Chukwu, the Knight of the Catholic Church who hails from Etitiama Nkporo, Ohafia LGA continued his guber game and was among the aspirants who opposed the 3-man ad-hoc delegate congress of PDP, prior to party primaries in Abia.

But a day to the guber primary held at Umuahia township stadium, Oko Chukwu was among the PDP guber aspirants who withdrew from the exercise, citing alleged irregularities and imposition of a preferred candidate.
Other aspirants who withdrew were Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Engr Enyinnaya Nana Nwafor, Chima Anyaso, Samson Orji, Ncheta Omerekpe.

Prof Greg Ibe, another major aspirant about two months earlier, quit PDP and joined All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and later won the party’s guber ticket.
Only three aspirants namely Prof Uche Ikonne, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe (Don Lulu) and Mrs Ezenwanyi Ngozi Jonah participated in the Abia PDP guber primary with Prof Uche Ikonne emerging victorious with 468 votes, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe getting 45 votes while Mrs Jonah for only 5 votes .

The end of the primary did not bring an end to Sir Ude Oko Chukwu’s political interest as he silently salivated the hope of ruling Abia State, despite all odds, or at least, playing a major role in who becomes the new State supremo.

But to realise this ambitions, he must operate from a platform which may mean him leaving his party, PDP.
However, that would have been a big gamble as quitting PDP may also mean quitting as the Deputy Governor and for this reasons, he decided to stay on, according to a PDP insider.

Before the storm, his kinsman, David Iro who is the Secretary of Abia PDP was suspended by PDP for disowning the conduct of 3-man ad-hoc delegate congress in Abia, a situation interpreted by some party members as a reduction of Oko Chukwu’s wings and this position was concurred by some Abia North gladiators.

However, in announcing Iro’s suspension, the Deputy Chairman of PDP for Abia North, Chief Amah Abraham said the suspended David Iro overstepped his bounds and embarrassed the party through a media interview he granted, where he (Iro) disowned the 3-man ad-hoc delegate exercise.

The suspended party secretary is yet to say more on the issue, but inside source from Abia North assured that Iro would still regain his position as the party scribe, later.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor has not been much regularly in office as usual, a recent visit to his office inside the government house confirmed that he rarely comes to office personally, though, the office of the Deputy Governor still functions, but not on the same scale before the guber primary.

Also, the frequency of his representing Governor Ikpeazu at events has dropped drastically, as other senior government officials now perform these functions on behalf of the Governor.

For instance, during Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s vacation in faraway Turkey with his friend and colleague, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, the Nkporo-born chartered accountant was not around to act in Ikpeazu’s absence.

Also, the recent trip of of Ikpeazu to the United Kingdom to celebrate with Governor Wike on Wife’s son graduation from a higher institution, Sir Oko Chukwu was also not seen to take charge of the State.

His conspicuous absence has continued to amplify the fears in some quarters that his relationship with his boss has broken down, though; the two sides have not issued any statement to that effect.

Oko Chukwu, who has spent 19 years + 2 months in governance, was the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2015, before being elected as Deputy Governor in 2015.

He was first elected as a House of Assembly member in 2003, winning all re-election battles into the legislative chambers in 2003, 2007, 2011 until 2015 when he became a running mate to Ikpeazu in guber race.

Initially, Oko Chukwu was said to be counting on the demand for power shift to Abia North, his own political zone until the dual zoning arrangements of PDP and the 3-man delegates brouhaha disrupted his earlier calculations and enhanced Prof Ikonne’s chances.
In June, some posters without a political party name and logo, bearing the image of Sir Oko Chukwu, were pasted all over Umuahia, though without any statement coming from the Deputy affirming or disowning the posters.
The picture was boldly captioned “Ude is Coming”, suggesting that the chartered accountant may still contest for Governor in 2023 in another party or at least, play a big role on who wins.
A fresh dust was raised on Sunday, 10th July when the soft spoken Deputy Governor pulled a surprise to receive High Chief Ikechi Emenike in his country home at Etitiama Nkporo.
Emenike is the governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Abia State and is also the husband to Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States of America (USA) Dr Uzoma Emenike.
During Emenike’s visit, Sir Oko Chukwu described the APC guber candidate, Emenike as a virtuous and honest leader.
According to the Deputy Governor, “No man or woman is bigger than where he or she comes from. We will do all we can to raise the bar. Anybody who is in that direction has my support.”
“You can’t take it away that from him that he is a forthright and honest person and this is what I want in this business. He has the virtues we need in a leader to move the State forward.”

He sounded further, “Happily, I have seen that he is prepared and has what we need to move the State forward.”
Responding to Oko Chukwu’s encomiums, APC guber candidate, Emenike promised to capture the Deputy Governor’s community if elected the Governor in 2023.
“We are consulting people like you. Nkporo will not regret this visit. I assure you that if we win, the country will not regret it. My vision is to rescue and develop the State.”

Reacting to the development, a PDP chieftain from Ikwuano LGA, Chief Anselm Tobias cautioned the Deputy Governor of playing into temptations and political miscalculations as according to Chief Tobias, “What he did is pure anti-party activities.”
Interestingly, Abia State government and the PDP did not respond to the visit or Deputy Governor’s accolades on Emenike but is understood PDP is watching the developments with keen interest.

Ude Oko Chukwu comes from Nkporo, one of the three clans that make up Ohafia LGA and Ohafia LGA as a whole is one of the LGAs that determines who rules the State, judging by Ohafia’s dense population,
Ohafia clan accounts for about 65% of total population of Ohafia LGA while Abriba and Nkporo shared the remaining 35%
Recall that PDP lost Ohafia in 2015 to APGA and Alex Otti but regained it in 2019. Ohafia nation in 2021 unfortunately lost her son, Chief Ukpai Agwu Ukpai, a friend to Governor Ikpeazu who died a day after leading PDP and Hon Chimaobi Ebisike to defeat APC’s Mascot Uzor Kalu and other political parties in a by-election for Aba North/ Aba South federal constituency.
But Governor, understanding how important and strategic Ohafia is, in Abia State electoral system, appointed another Ohafia indigene, Kalu Ugba as the Deputy Chief of Staff office of the Governor among other appointments as well as projects.

In Abriba, the Governor has kept their son, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, an ICT specialist as the longest serving Commissioner, working in Ministry of Information for more 6 years before moving to Ministry of Trade and Investment, till date.

Ikpeazu also appointed Chief Mba Okoronkwo Ukariwo, another Abriba indigene as as the Chairman of Governing council of Abia State University, Uturu, to replace Senator Adolphus Wabara whose tenure the State government said, had elapsed.

Some road projects have also been completed in Abriba to the delight of the indigenes and this explains why neither the Governor nor PDP seem perturbed about Oko Chukwu’s next moves.

In 2015, Eze Madumere did not succeed in his quest to succeed Okorocha but he contributed in stopping Okorocha’s anointed son, Uche Nwosu and the rest is now history.
In Abia, the Deputy Governor has continued to pledge his loyalty to his principal, but his body language and accolades on APC candidate recently leaves a lot to imagination.
But Abia PDP in the efforts to reconcile all aggrieved members has been holding reconciliatory meetings in the party secretariat, aimed at calming every frayed nerve.
Among those who have accepted the olive branch is Mayor Lucky Igbokwe who came second during the primary polls.

Igbokwe has accepted to work for the success of the party but some close friends to Sir Ude Oko Chukwu are of the opinion that the number two man has not been treated well for his ‘long years of loyalty to the State’ but assured he won’t dump the party for another platform. Unfolding months would explain better where and how things will work out.

Any person travelling to Uturu, Isukwuato, Isuochi, Leru, Umuchieze, Nneato, Lokpanta and some other communities in Isukwuato and Umunneochi LGAs of Abia State now go with two prayers: God save my soul and lead me home safely.

It is the same with travelers along Okigwe-Ihube portion of Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.

Such traveler must also ensure that the trip is made while the sun still shines bright and must avoid identified risky spots if he wishes to reach his destination in peace.

This is because of deadly activities of armed bandits who operate on and around bushes and roads in the above listed communities.

These men of the underworld who have left untold sorrows in their trail, have now become self crowned kings on these roads, and are also threatening to assume colonial masters of several bushes that stretch the flanks of the the roads.

Students of Abia State University, Uturu and some of their lecturers have fallen victims in the past and recent while traders and transporters are being kidnapped and later released by their abductors, after spending some days in tick bushes and yielding bag full of ransom.

While many victims of these nefarious activities come out alive, some either die in the hands of their kidnappers of torture or sickness especially if their relatives were not able to provide financial demands of the bandits.

Farming activities have also nosedived as natives of affected villages sometimes, are either afraid to go to farm or, now operate with fear, in their own farms!

This situation has in return, affected food production in some of those parts of Abia State and their neighbors in Imo as they complain that their crops are allegedly destroyed by cows belonging to Fulani herdsmen or, that the farms are left unattended to, because of presence of strange persons.

In the last two months and counting, over 130 persons have been kidnapped on these roads with students of Abia State university, Uturu, indigenes of Umunneochi, Isukwuato, farmers, travellers, traders, transporters being among the list.

The most latest notable victims are His Grace, Prelate Samuel Kanu-Uche, of Methodist Church Nigeria and Mr Uche Nwube , a media staff of Ebonyi State Government House Press Corps.

While Prelate Uche and his church confirmed paying whopping N100m to alleged Fulani bandits before being allowed to go, nothing much was heard of the kidnapped Ebonyi State Government House staff who was abducted along the Okigwe-Ihube axis of Enugu-Port Harcourt road.

In his chilling account after his release, Prelate Samuel Kanu-Uche pointedly alleged that he and two other priests of Methodist Church were kidnapped by young Fulani boys numbering about 8.

He further lamented that he was held in a bush not far from an Army checkpoint in Isuochi, adding that his abductors gave him a bloody eye and later took him to a corner where body of dead past kidnap victims were dumped.

The Methodist number one man in Nigeria wondered why the bandits would freely operate freely in the bushes despite the presence of Army checkpoint.

According to him, ” They are Fulani boys: all the 8 are Fulanis. They said the day they will see the President or any of his representatives, they will chew him raw, that he is their brother but has disappointed them and has disappointed Nigeria.”

“I told them we will raise the money for you. But the irony of it, where they were situated, the soldiers, all of Fulani extraction, Nigerian soldiers, they were at Lomara junction and these boys were going behind them.
Meanwhile, they kept their cows somewhere numbering about 200.” Prelate recalled.

But Nigerian Army in a statement by Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations rejected the Prelate’s narration linking Army officers with kidnapping and other criminal activities in Umunneochi, Abia or any part of the South East.

The statement read, “The Nigerian Army (NA) has been notified of the insinuation making the rounds on social media, alleging complicity of troops of the Nigerian Army in the kidnap incident of the Methodist Prelate in Abia.”

The Army made it clear that the case of Prelate and other priests’ kidnap was never reported to the troop in charge of the unit where the incident took place, neither was it reported to Army checkpoints at Okigwe or the one stationed in front of Abia State University, Uturu.

“While the Nigerian Army expresses concern and sympathy for the victim of this heinous crime and shares in his pains, the insinuation that troops are complicit in the kidnap incident is not entirely premised on any findings of investigations and therefore cannot be swallowed hook, line and sinker.”

Gen Nwachukwu went on, “The allegations therefore raises some pertinent questions which are still unanswered. Given the spate of insecurity in the region, the question would be: Was the issue reported to the unit covering the area?

“Did the Methodist Church take the NA into confidence while negotiating the ransom with the kidnappers?

No formal complaint has been received by the unit. More worrisome is the fact that it was alleged that the ransom was paid in less than 24 hours. Was the ransom paid to troops”, said the Nigerian Army.

The Army noted that the Methodist Prelate may be invited by the Army to explain more about what transpired in his hours of captivity.

However, some groups and human rights activists like Chief (Barr) Mike Ndu have called for thorough investigation into the account of the Methodist Prelate, demanding serious actions by the Abia State government and security agencies.

Abia State government had soon after the Prelate Uche and others’ release, attributed his freedom to the efforts of Abia government and security agencies.

But Prelate Uche in his own account said otherwise, insisting that he was only set free after his church members mobilised N100m for the men of the underworld, not by any special government or security interventions.

A day after the Methodist Prelate’s release, youths of Umunneochi, led by one Devine, embarked on a heavy protest around Umunneochi areas, demanding the immediate removal of an Army checkpoint in Lomara junction in Isuochi and also called for demolition of the largest cattle market in Lokpanta, Umuchieze.

The protesters who marched to Umunneochi LGA headquarters at Nkwoagu Isuochi, later moved to an Army checkpoint at Lomara where they accused the Army officers there of allegedly aiding operations of bandits and other criminal activities.

From Isuochi, the youths proceeded to Leru junction, along Enugu-Port Harcourt road where they caused over two hours of traffic hold up, obstructing vehicular movements on the federal highway.

On Okigwe-Uturu Afikpo road, the story is even gorier, as natives, travelers, Abia State University students and their lecturers who ply the roads have now become regular victims of bandits operating from surrounding bushes along the highway.

Apart from students of Abia State university who have been kidnapped three times in 2022 alone in large numbers, some lecturers of the institution have also tasted bitter waters of attack by the bandits, alleged to be of Fulani identity.

Timeline of kidnappings around Okigwe-Uturu -Isukwuato axis are as follows : April 2022, 7 ABSU students kidnapped and later freed after their parents allegedly payed ransom to the kidnappers.

September 2021, 2 ABSU students kidnapped and later freed. September 2021, 1 student of Marist College Uturu, Master Edeh Donald was shot dead at Ihube junction along, very close to Abia State University main campus. August 2021, 2 lecturers of ABSU, Prof S. O. Eze and Mr Christian Afulike were kidnapped by suspected Fulani bandits along Uturu-Isukwuato road. Prof Eze is of Department of Industrial chemistry and Mr Afulike is of Department of Mass Communication.

Christian Afulike escaped from his abductors at night and walked several kilometers in the tick of the night before locating his way back.

In his narration, the Mass Communication lecturer alleged that his abductors were Fulani, two of them the spoke Igbo, and one other spoke Akwa Ibom- Cross River accent.

April 2022, seven ABSU students kidnapped by bandits. May 2022, 7 ABSU students kidnapped again while the driver of the commercial bus conveying them was shot dead by the bandits. November 2021, 10 persons were kidnapped along Uturu-Isukwuato road by armed bandits and a female fruit seller in front of ABSU was raped to death on her way to her home at Amagu Mbaugwu community of Uturu.

In Umunneochi LGA, 11 local government workers from Umunneochi were in February, ,2022, kidnapped at Leru community by bandits who demanded N25m ransom.

Their abduction was confirmed by Comrade Ikechi Nwaigwe, Abia State Chairman of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) who said the victims were returning from wedding ceremony.

In May, 2022, Methodist Prelate, His Eminence, Samuel Kanu-Uche and two other priests of the church were kidnapped by bandits, who collected N100m before releasing them, after subjecting them to physical and emotional torture.

In his narration, Prelate Uche insisted that he was kidnapped by young Fulani bandits.

June 2022, a photographer with Ebonyi State government house press corps, Abakaliki. Mr. Uche Nwube was kidnapped along the same Leru part of Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.

Also on June 25 during the burial of gospel singer, an unidentified man riding in a black Jeep was kidnapped by some bandits at Umuaku Isuochi who bundled him into the nearby bush after firing blasts of gunshots, though the Police said the matter was not reported to them.

Lokpanta, Umuchieze, Lomara, Nneato and other communities in Umunneochi are also in the ugly pictures of criminal activities by bandits.

And the list goes on and on.

One recurring decimal in all these kidnappings is that the bandits always emerge from flanking bushes, shoot guns, grab their victims and then return to the bushes from where they communicate to their victim’s families in demand for ransom payment.

Some female victims who were released by their captors or rescued by local vigilante groups, painfully complained of being sexually harassed or abused.

The terrible situation has put the two LGAs in the edge of insecurity and social instability, with Hon Chima Agbaeze, Isuikwuato LGA boss and his Umunneochi counterpart, Chief Ifeanyi Madu losing sleep every night because of the turn events.

Also, member representing Umunneochi constituency, Hon Okey Igwe has repeatedly cried out that his constituents are now at the mercy of criminals.

Bemoaning the situation, women of Uturu community and farmers from Isukwuato and Isuochi lamented that the presence of military and Police checkpoints in their locality had not provided them the efficient protection.

According to them, most kidnapping activities like the one at Isuochi and Ihube junction before Abia State University are allegedly perpetrated at places not far from Police and Army checkpoints.

But the Nigerian Army says there is no truth in such claims, wondering why its men are not appreciated for their efforts in maintaining security of life and property.

Also, Abia State Police Command, through its PPRO, Geoffrey Ogbonna said that most of the kidnap incidents involving students of Abia University are recorded at boundary towns with Imo State, noting that it is not right to assume that Abia State Police Command was not doing enough in policing Abia’s territory.

Ogbonna stated that that Abia Police has in collaboration with other security agencies, been helping in rescue of kidnapped students and other victims.

But several members of the affected communities would not accept the explanations of these security agencies.

To them, the crimes allegedly happened under the nose the security organisations.

To them also, Abia State government had abandoned them to fate, only choosing to adopt the same strategy of issuing statements condemning the attacks.

According to a traditional ruler in Umunneochi LGA who spoke to News Echo under anonymity, ” We are only remembered during election period, after that, Umunneochi does not matter thereafter. Our people are afraid to sometimes go farm to avoid being kidnapped. Tell the Governor to do something. We are tired of assurances,” said the young traditional ruler.

Another traditional ruler from Isiukwuato LGA who also craved anonymity, alleged that criminal bandits operating in his community allegedly takes off from Lokpanta cattle market and also return there to share their booty, calling for the closure or total security check on and around the Lokpanta market.

But the Senatorial candidate of PDP for Abia North polls, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa told the people of Umunneochi that the call for total demolition of Umunneochi cattle market and removal of security checkpoints were not the best option in ending the menace.

Investigations by News Echo states that the palace of HRM, Eze Godson Ezekwesiri, the Ochi(1) of Isuochi is not happy with the turn of events in his kingdom.

The Ochi (1), according to the findings, together with other royal fathers are unhappy that a peaceful nation like Isuochi land was being turned into crime zone by undesirable elements.

Abia State University town of Uturu is also suffering from the effects of killings, kidnappings and other crimes, as student population is dwindling.

This is happening at the same time the National Universities Commission (NUC) is yet to restore the admission accreditation it withdrew from ABSU about two months and this has affected the economic fortunes of Uturu.

 

We are doing our best, herdsmen should leave Umunneochi forests – Abia govt

Abia State government on its part says it had always done its best to ensure the safety of the State since 2015 when Governor Okezie Ikpeazu took over.

According to the government in various statements signed by Barr Eze Chikamnayo, Commissioner for information and strategy, Ikpeazu is not happy with the ugly developments in these two LGAs and has always applied the best measures in ending the menace.

To this end, Abia State government has ordered all herdsmen operating inside bushes in Umunneochi to relocate to Umunneochi cattle market, warning that his government may not guarantee their safety if they failed to heed the directive.

A special security committee to tackle the problem has also been set up by the Abia government and indigenes of affected communities are hopeful that the committee would bring the desired results and not end up as mere political jamboree.

Abia government has however, observed that the tasks of securing Umunneochi and even Uturu is the collective responsibility of South East States who share boundary with the affected communities, observing that Imo, Enugu and Anambra States share common boundary with Umunneochi LGA and some parts of Uturu.

Isuochi is home to late Senator Uche Chukwumereije.

It is home to Dr Ichechukwu Madubuike, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejiocha of House of Representatives, Chief Odinaka Igwe, Barr Okey Igwe (PDP deputy governorship running mate) etc.

Uturu on the other side is the home of Dr Uche Ogah, immediate past federal minister and Prof Greg Ibe, the founder of Gregory University, Uturu and is also APGA guber candidate in Abia State.

Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, Prof Maxwell Onyemachi in reaction to a recent kidnap of his students, queried the relevance of SIM card registration and linkage with NIN, as according to him, kidnapping and other criminal activities were still on exponential rise despite the ongoing registration of SIM cards.

He also challenged security agencies to arrest those tormenting his school’s students and lecturers.

A former Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government Matters, Chief Okey Ani, has appealed to elder statesmen and party stalwarts in the state to stop over pressurizing Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to produce his successor in 2023.

Ani, who is also a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), gave the warning while speaking with newsmen in Enugu on Sunday.

He said that Ugwuanyi, as the leader of the party and Enugu State, must be given the liberty to use his wisdom, wide consultation, and engagement of stakeholders and due process to produce his successor.
“The idea of respected elder statesmen and political stalwarts in the state to out rightly telling Gov. Ugwuanyi which council area or even possible the person to appoint as his successor is uncalled for and not in the overall interest of the state.

“Ugwuanyi remains our leader in PDP and in the state and should be accorded that respect as our leader, given the liberty and latitude to chose a person with integrity, sound mind and wisdom to hand over power to.
“In the history of the state, previous governors have been given the liberty and chance to choose and present their successors. Why is it difficult in Ugwuanyi’s turn or they scornfully look at him with the negative stereotype of ‘that Nwa-Nsukka’?

“Statesmen and elder political stalwarts should desist in heating up the state’s polity unnecessary; they should stop these newspaper/press engagements. I am sure that Ugwuanyi by his nature is open to engage with them one-on-one if they approach him.

“Statesmen and party elders should behave as elders by seeing, hearing and acknowledging more but speaking very little with restraint and wisdom,” he said.

Ani, who is the Coordinating Chairman of Nsukka Zonal United Forum, also urged statesmen and elders not to take Ugwuanyi meek and humble nature as a weakness or someone who is clueless on issues of governance and political calculations.

The former commissioner noted that notwithstanding every human have weaknesses and shortfalls; Ugwuanyi had brought in and produced some unique and distinctive style of governance.
Ani noted that Ugwuanyi peaceful nature had been contagious in the state, bringing unprecedented peace at all levels in the state be it politically, socially, economy, at council, community levels and even wading in into family disputes.

“The former administration of Gov. Sullivan Chime, which I served, did much for peace to reign in the state; but Ugwuanyi has deepened the peace in the state in any ramification you look at it; thus, making the state the most peaceful state in the country.

“This is why people are troop in and in their numbers to come and live, school and relax in the state. The noticeable increase in number of residents is daily in the growing road traffic and population in all nooks and crannies of the state.

“Another is that Ugwuanyi through his humble nature has demystified governance. He has made governance simple, open and to the reach of all. A governor that is receptive and open to all strata and shade of the residents.

“Little wonder he relates to everyone both artisans, vulcanizers and others; while many people have direct access to him and he picks their calls and shows keen interest and attention to their matters.

“Today, every type and shade of unions and associations have access to the governor and often times the unions’ members march direct and with direct access to the government house to express their grievances on any matter and solution found after seeing the governor,” he said.

He noted that apart from his two qualities emanating from his personal nature, Ugwuanyi has done well in opening up and building hundreds of rural access roads than any other governor in the country presently.

According to him, these rural access roads have helped in evacuating farm produce, improved rural economy and made communities at the hinterlands host sign-posts of their names; thus, answering their names instead of answering generic (popular) names of areas they are located.

Ani said that Ugwuanyi administration had made outstanding legacy on health provision and delivery in the state, adding that the state’s Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) are scattered in every community especially at rural communities in the hinterland.

travel from communities in the Uzo Uwani council area to Nsukka to access a PHC with maternity facilities for child delivery. But today, PHCs with capacity to offer such services are scattered within every community and it only takes a few minutes to access healthcare.

“These PHC centres also offer vital services to the residents especially the rural dwellers, which included immunization services, treatment of ailments and referral services among others,” he added.

The former commissioner said that Ugwuanyi had managed the scarce resources of the state prudently, adding that he had judiciously handled issues of award of contracts, project funding and payment of counterpart funds for joint funded projects with transparency and due process.

“Notwithstanding, the difficult times created by recession, inflation and COVID-19 economic lock down as well as then oil price downturn, Ugwuanyi have continued to manage the state’s financial resources very well, borrowed no money for recurrent expenditure, fulfilled the state’s financial obligations and lots more.

“Ensure that the state workers get ‘alert’ of their monthly salaries every 25th of each month and regularly pay pension and gratuity to retired civil servants as much as the scarce financial resources of the state can carry,” Ani, who is also the National Chairman of Igbo-Etiti United Forum, said.

He also called on prominent politicians from the Enugu North Senatorial Zone, including former Gov. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Sen Ayogu Eze, Chief Nnia Nwodo and others to rise in defense of an illustrious son of the zone, who have changed the narrative and style of governance for the better in Enugu State.

“Ugwuanyi, to say the least, deserves the support of everyone in the state especially elder statesmen and political stakeholders for him to intelligently present another people-friendly, people-focused and a person with a nature full of milk of human kindness like him, as our next governor,” he added

A Human Rights Activist, Emperor Ogbonna has said that nobody should doubt the determination of Igbo leaders and Igbos in general to support any of their sons to emerge as the president of Nigeria come 2023.

Speaking to journalists in Aba, the firebrand lawyer however said that the only reason why it seems as if nothing much is being heard right now is that nobody knows what the major political parties want to do.

He said that since the political parties are yet to have their conventions and decide on zoning, it will be difficult for the real politicking to begin, stressing that once the two main political parties in Nigeria and others decide, Igbos will not sit on the fence.

“Trust me, once it is clear that the south is to produce the next president, there would be alignments and realignment of interests and you would see how the Igbos shall unite and support their own.

“Also, once the parties conduct their primaries and an Igbo person wins the endorsement of a major party, many would drop the issue of secession and embrace Igbo presidency, and unite behind their son.

“It shall happen. Let’s just wait for the zoning issue to be sorted out. Once that happens, you will see handshakes across the Niger and consolidation within the South-East.”

The renowned lawyer said that of a truth, Igbos are divided on this issue of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, adding that while some Igbos want Igbos to break away from Nigeria, others want the next person to be sworn in as the president of Nigeria to be someone from the South East.

He however said that such issues will be sorted out soon, adding that if an Igbo person is elected president, the majority of the problems bedeviling Nigeria today as it relates to secession would cease.

He cited examples of how the emergence of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as president in 1999 helped to calm the South-West after what happened to Chief Moshood Abiola.

“The Niger Delta people felt marginalised and they started bombing the creeks and pipeline. The Nigerian nation quelled it by bringing in Goodluck Jonathan as the vice president who later became president.

“Now the Igbos are causing their own trouble as a result of marginalisation and the only solution to unite the country is to bring an Igbo man on board as president.”

He also said that it is true that many Igbos have declared to run for president, but reiterated that some of those interested are waiting for their parties to decide on the zoning formula.

Emperor also said that until primaries are done and concluded, it is difficult to know which aspirant is serious, adding that Igbos are ever ready to do the right thing when the need arises.

Meanwhile in a related development, an Igbo leader and Abia State Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Hon. Ceekay Igara has said that the technical committee leader, Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi has shown he has a dead conscience.

Dokpesi, technical committee leader, Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, in Umuahia, Abia State capital solicited support for a one-term presidency for the former Vice President from the South-East.

He said that if elected, Atiku would rule for a single term of four years, which would pave way for the South-East to produce the president in 2027.
Reacting to Dokpesi’s comment, Igara said that it is unfortunate that despite the injustice causing problems in Nigeria, some people do not want the problems to be solved as they keep calling for more injustice.

“It’s unfortunate that Dokpesi is championing this kind of advocacy against the South East Zone at this critical time despite the current maginalization that is glaring to everyone.

“He has a dead conscience and that’s why he could come to the South East to talk about this kind of advocacy. Let it be known to everyone who cares to listen that whoever must come to equity must come with clean hands.
“Nigeria is still having problems due to the level of injustices to the south east, unless it’s correctly addressed, we will remain at square one. Mark my words.”

…Old Aba Division insists that power will not go to Old Bende Division

…T. A Orji supported Ikpeazu for selfish reason, not for equity – Don Ubani

An Igbo adage says “obu so anu ji eze ari elu na ama osisi na enu inu” (it is only animals that climb trees with their teeth that can dictate a tree with a bitter stem).

Whenever Sir Don Ubani, Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of the Deputy Governor of Abia State speaks on a matter concerning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), many people listen because he has been there from the formation stage to where the party is now.

Ubani who has served in different governments and different capacities under the PDP is known for his usual open letters and this time around, he has as usual written to express his view concerning who becomes the next Governor of the State and the much talked about Abia Charter of Equity.

Ubani’s recent letter, however, may be more effective than all he has written considering the content and those he tried to push for public discussion and the reactions that have followed it.

According to the letter obtained by News Echo, Ubani who hails from Asa in Ukwa West Local Government Area said that the Abia North Senatorial zone has no right to demand that the Governorship sit come back to them in the name of equity because there has never been any form of equity in Abia Governorship contest.

Ubani in his letter lampooned a former Secretary to Abia State Government, Dr. Eme Okoro who hails from Abia North for demanding an apology from the state Chairman of PDP, Hon. Asiforo Okere for failing to attend a meeting of Abia North PDP stakeholders where they were to discuss equity.

He vehemently insisted that the Abia Charter of Equity was meant to be followed according to the original political blocs in the state: Old Bende Division and the Old Aba Division. He said that those linking the Abia Charter of Equity as an agreement to distribute power between the three Senatorial zones are not telling the truth.

News Echo reports that out of the 17 Local Government Areas in Abia State, the Old Bende has 8 which include Arochukwu, Ohafia, Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ikwuano, Isuikwuato, Bende and Umunneochi. The Old Aba Division popularly known as the Ukwa-Ngwa has 9 which are Aba North, Aba South, Osisioma, Isiala-Ngwa South, Isiala-Ngwa North, Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West.

However, there is one area causing problems today in Abia political divisions. Three out of the nine LGAs of Old Aba Division: Osisioma, Isiala-Ngwa South and North and three out of the eight LGAs of the Old Bende Division: Ikwuano, Umuahia North and South were merged to form a Senatorial Zone called Abia Central.

Ubani said that in 2007 when the immediate past Governor Theodore Orji who hails from Umuahia North LGA took over from his predecessor Senator Orji Uzor-Kalu who hails from Bende LGA, the Old Bende PDP stakeholders kept quiet, without reminding their people that Abia has only two political blocs.

“Let me take the Crux of the matter of Dr. Eme Okoro’s threats and lamentations. The first is the issue of the Abia Charter of Equity. Without any waste of time, I would like to remind Dr. Eme Okoro that it was the People of Old Bende, himself conspicuously inclusive, that erased the Abia Charter of Equity from the political register of Abia State.

“If Governor Orji Uzor Kalu had, as he was expected, handed over the reigns of power to someone from Old Aba Division in 2007, the question of power rotation should not have been an issue in the State today. It simply would be rotating between Old Bende Division and Old Aba Division.

“Nobody should hide under the administrative creation of Senatorial Districts to play down on the reality of the Two major Blocs in the State. If Okezie Ikpeazu, for instance, had chosen his running mate from Isialangwa or Osisioma areas of Abia-Central Senatorial District in 2019, the People of Old Bende Division would have seriously protested against it because they know that, despite the creation of Senatorial Districts, Governor Ikpeazu is of the same Bloc with them.

“It was Dr. Eme Okoro and his likes in Old Bende that forgot that no condition is permanent that selfishly thwarted the intended directions and workings of Abia Charter of Equity.”

Ubani went further to say that Former Governor Theodore Orji who is currently the Senator representing Abia Central never supported the incumbent Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on the platform of equity for Abia South Senatorial Zone, stressing that Orji supported Ikpeazu so that the Old Aba Division in Abia Central will vote for him to become a Senator.

“Some people, merely out of pretentious amnesia, claim that the immediate past Governor, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, gave impetus to the concept of Equity in the State by assisting the present Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD, emerge in 2015.

“Personally, I have never been convinced that Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji’s support was born purely out of altruism and patriotism. I am sure if Governor Orji was not interested in going to the Senate in 2015, nothing on earth would have made him support an Ngwa Man to become Governor.

“He did it because he knew that without Ngwa votes in Abia Central Senatorial District, nothing on earth would have made him go to the Senate.”

Ubani further said that those talking about equity should also recall that in that same 2015 governorship election in Abia State was, Dr. Alex Otti from Arochukwu Local Government Area did contest the election and was not prevented from doing so adding that in 2019, the case was not different.

“So, where lies the equity Dr..Eme Okoro is talking about, even after he had deliberately killed it? The voting pattern of the people of Old Bende in both 2015 and 2019 leaves no one with any iota of doubt on the wishes and sentiments of the People of Old Bende towards their now claimed equity.

“Dr. Eme Okoro’s alleged demand for power rotation to Abia-North is, by my own assessment, an unwarranted calculated vain attempt to deride and insult the collective intelligence and sensibilities of the peoples of Old Aba Division.

“By his alleged acrimony, what Dr. Eme Okoro and those on the same boat with him are fruitlessly wishing to achieve is an inexplicable governorship score card of 24 years for Old Bende of only eight Local Government Council Areas and a humiliating and most insulting and embarrassing 8 years for the entire Old Aba Division ( Ukwa La Ngwa), that has 9 Local Government Council Areas, with five of them being the Economic Hub of the State.”

As if the above letter which was written on the 25th January 2022 with the title: “Must Dr. Eme Okoro Fume To Make His Point” is not enough damage to the PDP, Sir Don Ubani proceeded to write another the next day, 26th January 2022 with the title: “My Simple And Honest Response To Dr. Eme Okoro’s Reply And Conveyance Of Threat To My Life From The Quarters Of An Ex-Governor Of Abia State.”

In the new letter, Ubani alleged that Former Governor Theodore Orji and his son, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji who is currently the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly is threatening his life for insisting that power should stay in the Old Aba Division and not be moved to any part of Old Bende be it Abia North or the Old Bende Division in Abia Central.

Ubani who was reacting to the statement made by the Chief Liaison Officer to the Senator Theodore Orji, Mr. Ifeanyi Umere who warned him to stop insulting his principal and said that, “Any more mention of the name of the Most Distinguished Senator by him will be visited with more brash response from the office of the Senator,” said he is not afraid of Senator Orji and his son.

News Echo further looked into Umere’s reply to Ubani where he described the allegation that Theodore Orji supported Ikpeazu for selfish reasons as a careless and unwitting insinuation aimed at causing disaffection among people of esteem.

He warned Ubani to desist from using the privilege of being part of the present administration to insult and demean the integrity and personality of Senator Orji.

He said, “My attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of the Deputy Governor wherein he carelessly and unwittingly insinuated that the Distinguished Senator transferred power to Abia South because of his interest to run for Senator.

“May I use this very auspicious medium to appeal to all men of good conscience to not only warn and caution the likes of Don Ubani serving in the present government but also to bring him to order to desist forthwith from insulting and demeaning the integrity, dignity and personality of a Statesman like Senator T. A. Orji so that he (Ubani) doesn’t cause and sow disaffection among people of esteem by insulting them without cause or provocation.

“This serves as the last warning to Ubani who has no integrity and will soon dump Governor Ikpeazu as soon as the rice or meal on the table is finished. Such has been his bane and antecedents.

“May this also be the last time the likes of Don Ubani serving in the present administration would be insulting and abusing elder statesmen and walk away freely and scotfree and unperturbed.

“Any more mention of the name of the Most Distinguished Senator will be visited with more brash response from the office of the Senator.”

In response to Umere’s statement, Ubani who is known for letters quickly replied and said, “On the threat to my Life by the immediate past Governor of Abia State and his son, through his Liaison Officer, I only want to say that their penchant for brutality and heinous activities are well known even in their nativity.

“Intelligence I have is that the son summoned and presided over a meeting last night, during which he gave money to his Cyber Bullies to unleash attacks on me.

“The Bullies were also instructed to recruit as many other Cyber Attackers as they could. He boastfully told them that he had an unimaginable amount of money to pay with.

“The same intelligence revealed that, with unbridled arrogance, he told his audience, that as long as money is concerned, nothing will deter him from being the next Governor of the State.

“He is ‘God’ and, so, has the power of Clairvoyance! Only time will prove if he is, indeed, God or not. The most important aspect of the Intelligence available to me is the plot to get me assassinated in Umuahia or elsewhere.

“I can not be cowed down by such machination. After all, the Ex-Governor and his son are not God, even though they think they have become God.

“In as much as I am not afraid of their resort to assassination or attack by their hired hoodlums, they should know, and quickly too, that they do not have the monopoly of violence and brutality.

“My own part of Asa is within Ariaria environ. Many people from the Ex-Governor’s place are living in my area. Of course, I have communicated this threat to my life to my people. I am not afraid.

He challenged anybody in Abia to prove to him what in his said write-up, which Theodore Orji reacted to that is a lie.

He further said that when Senatorial Districts were to be created in Abia State, Theodore Orji as an Administrative Officer in the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), did everything he thought he could do to make sure that only the two Local Government Areas of Isialangwa-North and Isialangwa-South would be part of Abia-Central Senatorial District to enable his Umuahia clan to control that Senatorial Zone in the future.

“Of course, what he wanted was to make sure the Ngwa Components of Abia-Central Senatorial District would be a perpetual minority to be electorally squeezed and suffocated by the three Local Government Areas of Ikwuano, Umuahia-North and Umuahia-South.

“But for the courageous intervention of a prominent Ngwa Son, Dr. Max Nduaguibe, who deployed benefits of his connection with the Shehu Yar’adua political machinery and included Osisioma-Ngwa in Abia-Central, no Ngwa Man would ever think of being a Senator from that Senatorial District. So, when did the desire for equity spring up in the Ex-Governor?

 

Enugu governorship race is gradually gathering momentum. Expectedly, political gladiators and opinion leaders have gone into subterranean moves with a view to reshaping the political landscape of the Coal City State in 2023.

First to break the ice was Ex-governor Chimaroke Nnamani, representing Enugu East Senatorial zone at the National Assembly, when he visited Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at Government House, Enugu, last two years.

During the solidarity visit, Senator Nnamani fused his structure with the one of Governor Ugwuanyi-“Guburugburus” further consolidating the “Ebeano Structure”, a political platform he (Nnamani) used effectively to keep his perceived opponents at bay.

Unfolding events indicate that zoning system among the three Senatorial zones namely; Enugu-East, Enugu-West and Enugu-North has resurfaced in public domain and it will be a strong determinant in gubernatorial pursuit.

Already, the people of Enugu East Senatorial zone have begun playing up the rotational arrangement as they contend that their quest is based on equity, justice and fairness.

Strictly, the phrase equity, justice and fairness depends on the side of the prism one is viewing it from.

While the people of Enugu-East Senatorial District are speaking in unison, the indigenes of Enugu-North Senatorial zone prefer they kick-start the second round as they argued that they had waited patiently at the rear for 16 years before they took their turn. But the people of Enugu-West Senatorial zone seem to be polarized along two fronts on the issue of zoning system.

It could be recalled that the Convener and Chairman of the Central Organising Committee of the Enugu-West Senatorial rally held last year, Senator Ben Collins Ndu, told Governor Ugwuanyi that the people of Enugu West Senatorial District had assembled to speak with one voice that the zoning of the governorship seat of the state favours Enugu East Senatorial District.

Senator Ndu who disclosed that the people of Enugu West Senatorial District are 100 percent in support of Governor Ugwuanyi and his decisions in respect of his successor in 2023, maintained that they firmly stand by the decision of the State caucus of the PDP in 2013, that the governorship position of Enugu State should rotate to Enugu East Senatorial District after the expiration of the turn of Enugu North Senatorial District presently occupied by the governor.

The Convener revealed that he seconded the motion moved by Chief Hon. Dubem Onyia, at the said PDP caucus meeting of July 7, 2013, that the governorship position of the state should rotate to Enugu North Senatorial District in 2015 with an understanding that it should rotate to Enugu East Senatorial District in 2023, after the turn of Enugu North Senatorial District.

Senator Ndu pointed out that the PDP meeting of 2013 was attended by the party leaders such as the then State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Vita Abba, then Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime (from Enugu West Senatorial District), then Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, then Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eugene Odo, other members of the National and State Assemblies who were members of the caucus.

He added it was based on the PDP decision on zoning of the governorship position that Rt. Hon. Ugwuanyi from Enugu North Senatorial District emerged the governorship candidate of the party and thereafter the Governor of Enugu State in 2015.

“What we are saying in Enugu West Senatorial District is that in Enugu State, governorship position rotates among the three senatorial districts. You (Ugwuanyi) are a beneficiary of the motion I seconded that the governorship seat should rotate to Enugu North Senatorial District.

But Senator Hyde Onuaguluchi thinks differently as he told the bewildered audience that “there is no zoning arrangement for the governorship election of Enugu State”

Despite being a key member of the organizing Committee, who even donated two million naira to host the rally, “Odenigbo” as Onuaguluchi is fondly called by his admirers, stunned everyone at the rally when he mounted the podium and challenged all key stakeholders therein present to state the specific details of such an alleged zoning arrangement, that he, himself was not privy to.

Facing Governor Ugwuanyi, Onuaguluchi said, “Your Excellency, 2023, it is the turn of the South East to produce the President and we are asking you to run for President”.

He however urged the Governor not to mind those talking of zoning regarding the Governorship as there had never been such an agreement.

His words: “Dont mind those “after their own pockets” trying to mislead by claiming that there is zoning in Enugu State. It has never been so.

“In 1990/1991,when I contested for Governorship, there was no zoning. In 1999, when Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu East, Victor Nduka Agu from Enugu West and Gbazueagu, also from Enugu West contested there was no zoning. In 2003, Hon Fidel Ayogu from Enugu North, Ugochukwu Agballah, Anayo Onwuegbu and Alex Obiechina, all from Enugu West contested against the incumbent, Chimaroke Nnamani, there was no zoning. In 2007, it was Okey Ezea from Enugu North versus Sullivan Chime and Ugochukwu Agballah from Enugu West. In 2011, it was Okey Ezea from Enugu North and the incumbent, Sullivan Chime from Enugu West. It has always been so.

As it is, the numbers of likely aspirants for Enugu 2023 governirship race are already in progressive ratio.

A research by the Coal City Youth Development Initiative pegged the figure of likely aspirants in the state at 26.

Prominent among the aspirants are: Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Professor Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji, Hon. Chijioke Edoga, Chief Chinyaka Ohaa and Peter Mbah.

Interestingly, these front-liners including Nnaji and Ekweremadu are under the umbrella of the PDP.

Inside source said that Ekweremadu who is representing Enugu West Senatorial District at the National Assembly has told Governor Ugwuanyi his intention to succeed him in 2023.

If Ekweremadu’s declaration to the incumbent is true, then the battle line is drawn as the former deputy president of the senate has to contend with the issue of rotational system said to have entered orally by the founding fathers of the State.

As it is, many people believe that Ekweremadu’s political height and many years of experience in the Senate should have been channelled towards realising the Presidency of Southeast extraction rather than his governorship dream which is seen by many as a step that may torpedo the tranquillity of Governorship rotation which has been acquiesced to by all political stakeholders in Enugu.

Indeed, this is not the first time Ekweremadu is being tipped for gubernatorial seat as in 2007, book makers narrowed the flag-bearer of PDP to him before Sullivan Chime who was single-handedly picked by his predecessor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, eventually won the poll.

Ekweremadu also kicked vehemently in 2015 when Ex-governor Chime zoned the governorship seat to Enugu North senatorial zone.

To pro-Ekweremadu’s acolytes, merit should be used for election of Governor Ugwuanyi successor, insisting that rotational system has not be adhered to ab initio.

To many people in the Coal City, if knowledge is truly “power” as posulated, then Professor Nnaji is the man to beat as he is “powerfully” equipped to take any nation to the echelon of her dream.

A Public Affairs Analyst, Jerry Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said, “Since it’s practically unwise to argue the pertinence of education and goodwill to human/societal administration and management, then arguing Professor Nnaji’s capacity in this regard is totally uncalled for, not just because he is a guru in political and administrative tenets but because he is a man with very visible admirable traits, a man with conscience and great sense of understanding; visibly evident in his adjudications as a Judge at the ICCMCC, Hague Netherlands.

“Humility and tolerance are virtues he has always held to the brim and of course, I could vouch for that.

“He is also a Professor of International Law and Global Politics. A Professor and Visiting Scholar, University of Kansas Law School, USA. A Merit Award Winner – University of Naples II, Italy. A Vice Chancellorship Candidate – Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) – 2015. A Senatorial Candidate in the 2019 General Elections of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he added.

Will the current clamour for an Enugu governor of Nkanu East Local Government Area extraction by the likes of Senator Jim Nwobodo and Chief Ken Nnamani, a one time president of the senate, sway the chances of Ekweremadu and Professor Nnaji?

Are Isi- Uzo and Enugu North Local Governments not part of Enugu-East Senatorial configuration? If they are, then they should be given the opportunity to produce governor in 2023 as Isi-Uzo local government in particular has not had the privilege to have its son or daughter as governor of the state. Isi-Uzo shares cultural afinnity with both Nsukka and Nkanu people.

Many believe that for equity, justice and fairness to reign, the electorate should decide on two options; either for the gubernatorial seat to be thrown opened or allow the Enugu-North Senatorial zone to produce Ugwuanyi successor.

The President-General of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies of Nigeria, Engr. Chris Okonkwo, while speaking on Enugu politics, suggested that the successor of Governor Ugwuanyi should come from Enugu-East Senatorial zone.

Dr Okonkwo who spoke to newsmen shortly after receiving the executive members of Enugu State Citizens Support for Equity and Good Governance (ESCSEG) led by Comrade Emmanuel Onyedonzi Onwe in his Amurri country home, recently, said emphatically that it was the turn of his Senatorial zone to produce the next governor in 2023.

“Justice, equity and fairness demand that Governor Ugwuanyi successor should come from Enugu-East Senatorial zone”, he added.

Be that as it may, many residents of Enugu metropolis interviewed, opined that if merit becomes the alternative, then it will be a battle of wit between Professor Nnaji and Senator Ekweremadu.

 

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has called for calm from all the parties involved in the crisis going on at Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state, urging them to give peace a chance and allow the State Government an opportunity to find a solution to the matter.

The Governor through his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, expressed grave concerns regarding the ongoing reprisal attacks in Owaza by soldiers of the Nigerian Army following the alleged killing of some soldiers in the community.

News Echo reports that soldiers attached to the 144 Battalion, Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have allegedly set ablaze homes at the oil-rich Owaza community over the death of their colleagues.

It was learnt that gunmen suspected to be illegal oil bunkers on Monday night attacked three soldiers at a checkpoint near the oil pipeline between Owaza and Obuzor communities in Ukwa West killing two in the process.

Infuriated by the killing of their colleagues, the soldiers stormed the community setting fire to houses, shops and any structure on sight.
Reacting, Ikpeazu through his Chief Press Secretary, tasked the soldiers to show a high level of patriotism and not allow the situation to degenerate any further, as the State Government continues to engage the leadership of the Army on the issue.

Consequently, Ikpeazu invited the leaders from Ukwa West LGA to a crucial meeting scheduled to hold on Saturday, January 22nd, 2022 at the Governor’s Lodge, Aba.
News Echo gathered from sources that there was a mass exodus of people from Owaza, as residents have deserted the area even before the arrival of the rampaging soldiers who reportedly met empty buildings they have set ablaze.

The oil-rich Owaza is a boundary town between Abia and Rivers State and is regarded as one of the towns with the largest deposit of oil, as it boasts of over 150 oil Wells.

A source also told News Echo that one of the soldiers that survived the attack alerted the 144 Battalion military camp at Asa where soldiers attached there subsequently invaded the community razing buildings in retaliation after the suspected bunkers must have escaped.

The source also said that aside from the alleged killing of the two soldiers, another issue that may have brought about the military invasion is the report that the rifles of the two soldiers were carted away by their killers.

The source said that the recent events in Owaza cannot be far from the fight the Rivers State Government has declared on illegal oil bunkers and pipeline vandals who are currently running for other safe places to continue their illicit business.

“What’s happening in Owaza could be linked to bunkering. This is not the first time this is happening. Soldiers in Owaza can attest to the fact that they live in peace with our people. Our people can never hurt those soldiers.

“They’re like our brothers because their presence is for our good as well. Nobody will be bold to come out but I can tell you that this issue is not far from illegal bunkering. They may not be expecting to meet soldiers there.

“Those who did this are not from Owaza that I can say because our people relate well with soldiers there. I’ll advise the Abia state government and the Federal Government to join what’s happening in Rivers State and intensify the fight against illegal oil bunkering.

“If Rivers State succeeds in chasing them away, they have Abia, Bayelsa and Imo as options. Mind you, wherever they go, death follows. In my view, let nobody twist anything here, oil bunkers are at it again.

“Just last week many tankers were impounded in Aba while they left this area. They’re armed and ready to fight. I believe that the army knowing our relationship with them can make more inquiries rather than doing what they’re doing there.”

 

A serious war is ongoing among the members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) in Abia State.
News Echo gathered that the fiasco which began at Ugwunagbo Local Government Area (LGA) is currently spreading like wildfire as it has led to the death of one person at Ikwuano LGA.

Narrating the genesis of the crisis, NURTW Secretary, Ugwunagbo LGA, Chief Peter Asagwara, told journalists in Aba on the 8th of December 2021 that they have tried to manage the situation so that it will not escalate, but regretted that some politicians are sponsoring the crisis underground.
Asagwara specifically accused the Chief of Staff to Abia Governor, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere of fueling the crises and acting as de facto leader of NARTO in the state.

He also fingered Mrs. Chinasa Nnata, the Chairman of Ugwunagbo LGA, as dancing to the tune of Agbazuere.
He said that the genesis of the crisis was the unconstitutional tenure elongation by Mr. Chukwudi Ahuama (Eshiwe) who had against the constitution of NURTW stayed in office as Chairman of the Ugwunagbo branch of the union, for 16 years.

Asagwara said that as of 2016 when Ahuama insisted on going for the third tenure, the crisis got so hot that thugs were sponsored by Ahuama to deal with the members, leading to Mr. Chimyeze Irondi, losing one of his eyes, as it was plucked out by the hoodlums.

He also said that in 2020 when Ahuama came up with his power elongation strategy for his fourth tenure, some stakeholders of the NURTW Ugwunagbo; Alozie Onuoha and Chidebe Adiele went to the National Industrial Court and instituted an action against that tenure elongation.

Asagwara however said that while the matter was on, Dr. Agbazuere called him to see how Ahuama can be allowed and managed to remain in office, having been there since 2008.

He added that when Dr. Agbazuere called him, he was still at Law School and that he bluntly told the COS who is also a lawyer that the issue of tenure elongation is a constitutional matter.

Meanwhile, Asagwara said that while at Law School that he got series of complaints from his members of ill-treatment from Mr. Ahuama, whom he said was been sponsored by Dr. Agbazuere for some unknown political reasons.

“They complained that he doesn’t pay allowances, our National Union receipts were not being purchased. When I tried to call him, he kept giving excuses. When I came back and met him, he told me how he donated millions of Naira to one brigade commander and how he donated for school buildings elsewhere, which I later found out were all lies.

“I asked him why he should prioritize showmanship against the welfare of his members? A member of the Union was ejected from his residence, by his landlord, he went to Ahuama for assistance, which was his entitlement, but never got it. Another member of the Union, who was also one of our trustees, gave that member N200,000 from his pocket and Ahuama disengaged him for assisting a member.

“Whenever he does these illegal disengagements, he used the excuse that those people are not from Abia State and that they’re not Ngwa people, as yardsticks to justify his ill treatment against them.

“I made it clear to him that this is National Union of Road Transport Workers where every Nigerian who is a road transport worker has a right to be a member.
“On the 21st of September, the State Administrative Council (SAC) of the NURTW in an executive meeting called everybody involved and considered the implications of allowing Ahuama to continue as Chairman at Ugwunagbo which is an aberration to the Union’s constitution.

“After the deliberation, the Abia State Administrative Council of NURTW dissolved the entire Ugwunagbo LGA Executive of NURTW while caretakers were appointed.”

Asagwara said that to their shock, the next day, precisely on the 21st of September 2021 Ahuama came out with a letter from Mrs. Chinasa Nnata, Ugwunagbo LGA Chairman which purportedly authorized him to keep operating as the transport union leader now under a newly created union in the LGA called National Union of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) which never existed there, a decision he said they opposed.

He said, “Mrs. Nnata, the LGA Chairman came to question us on why we should dissolve NURTW Executive without letting her know. I made it clear to her that our duty is to communicate to her the decision of the union and not to take orders from them. As we tried to convince her, Ahuama sent thugs and cultists with guns and machetes and injured some of our members.”

According to Asagwara, Nnata gave NARTO the directive to confiscate and take over all the parks and loading bays rightfully owned and established, by NURTW with government approval and handed over the leadership to Ahuama who was recently removed by NURTW as Chairman having overstayed his constitutionally allowed tenure.

Asagwara said that while Nnata and those behind her decision were brewing crisis in the LGA, in order not to make sure NURTW does not get itself into issues that will lead to bloodshed, they approached their lawyer who wrote to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on the 23rd of September 2021 on the matter.

He said that after the governor had looked at the content of the letter which included that: “the LGA Chairman be directed to rescind her decision of directing for the arrest of the NURTW caretaker committee members of Ugwunagbo, LGA Chairman, should allow the NURTW to carry out its activities without undue harassment and unconstitutional meddling by her; “that LGA Chairman should annul or withdraw immediately the purported approval for the establishment of a new Transport Union (NARTO) in Ugwunagbo for peace to reign in the area; “that the LGA Chairman should be held responsible for any breach of the peace or violent clash between members of the NURTW and the newly created NARTO in Ugwunagbo,” and minuted the above which Dr. Agbazuere completely ignored.

In the photocopy evidence of the letter which he made available to journalists, which he submitted to the Governor in person and watched as he on receiving the letter minuted and directed his Chief of Staff thus: “COS invite the Executive Chairman of Ugwunagbo LGA. We must align with the views of the State Administrative Council (SAC) of NURTW.”

The letter as made available to journalists was written by Barrister Hagler Okorie of the Winners Chambers, Aba on the September 23, 2021 and the Governor’s directive to his Chief of Staff, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere to invite Mrs. Chinasa Nnata to enable them to align with the views of SAC NURTW was given on September 25, 2021.

“In the letter which the Governor minuted, he used the word we, which I believe included the Governor whom we all know is a law-abiding man. However, Agbazuere turned down the Governors directives.

“This neglect of the Governor’s directive allowed Ahuama to recruit some cultists known as Aro-Boys, who used guns to pursue our members at the Flyover at Asa-Nnetu.

“We went to court. On the 28th day of September, 2021, the Aba High Court restrained them. But when the court looked at our order three which captured Aba High Court’s jurisdiction about trespass, but because the main issue is who becomes chairman and who operates, the Aba High Court said it’s the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court.

“To our greatest shock, Agbazuere used a lawyer in his Chambers to go to the National Industrial Court, Owerri, Imo State in favour of Chukwudi Ahuama and served us the order of the court. We said okay since it’s that let’s go there. When we got there, the court in its wisdom adjourned the matter till February 10th, 2022.”

Asagwara who also presented the document of the ruling on SUIT NO: NICN/OW/44/2021 between Mr. Chukwudi Ahuama and others vs NURTW and six others pointed out where the court said in the ruling on Wednesday 17th November 2021 that, “mediation is encouraged. As such, parties are ordered to explore settlement on or before the next adjourned date.”

According to him, the court never ordered that Ahuama and NARTO should take over NURTW’s loading bays. He added that immediately after the matter was adjourned, Ahuama intensified his violence with the open statement that as long as Dr. Agbazuere is involved, nothing will happen.
He said that before the court ruling on the 17th of November, some of the armed thugs recruited by Ahuama who were arrested with guns and charged to court were released within 48 hours by the court.

“The thugs came out and their boastful comment is that since Agbazuere is there, nothing will happen to them. They’ll openly tell you that we don’t know how powerful Agbazuere is.

“I don’t know the arrangement they did to release criminals they recovered guns from. Whenever you approach Agbazuere to ask him why he ignored the governor’s directive, he’ll excuse himself saying the matter is in court, because his Chamber is the one handling a matter his boss, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has ordered him to bring a solution to. This is conflict of interest.

“Rule 17-5 of the rules of professional conduct of lawyers doesn’t allow Agbazuere to get involved by using his Chambers to engage in a matter his boss has already directed him to settle. The Governor had directed Agbazuere, but he practically did otherwise.”

Asagwara who said he has served the Abia State government from the era of Governor Theodore Orji to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in different capacities said he has tried to bring an amicable solution to the issues raised, but that the interest of people like Dr. Agbazuere are making things difficult.
“On the 2nd of December, Ahuama and his thugs macheted members of NURTW for telling them that what they are doing is not right. I have reported to the Commissioner of Transport to address this matter.

“The Commissioner of Police, Janet Agbede gave an order detailing RRS to maintain peace and order at Flyover Asa-Nnentu that since we’re in court, nobody should be at the loading bays for now until the court decides.

“The CP sent police officers there from RRS. Agbazuere called the Commander of RRS, SP Johnbull Obioguru and told him that Ahuama and NARTO are the people recognized by the government to be there and the RRS pulled out of that location while the crisis continued.

“We also learnt that Agbazuere asked them to go to Ikwuano LGA, disengage members of NURTW and establish NARTO to take over as they’re trying to do in Ugwunagbo. The question is must he disengage people to get established? Can’t he create fresh loading bays?
“Our agreement with Ugwunagbo LGA which is written down stipulated that our contract with Ugwunagbo LGA will stand from 29th August 2008, till the 30th of August 2023.

“Another point in that agreement also said that the council shall not during the subsistence of this contract, approve, allocate or assign any part of the park to any other Union or individual. This agreement was signed while Ahuama was the chairman which disqualifies him.”

Asagwara also said that part of the agreement stated that should the NURTW breach the agreement through unruly behaviour or unlawful conduct, the LGA shall have the right to terminate the contract, but must give two months notice, stating an intention and reasons to disengage them.

He also said that even if the members of NURTW has erred or gone against their agreement with the LGA in 2008 which he insisted they never did, why should the LGA give authority to the man that has led NURTW throughout the period of the supposed error if there is anything like that?

“I stand by my word, Agbazuere is the one bankrolling Ahuama. He is the one telling them that the Abia government is with them. He is the one giving them authority to take over all the motor parks established by NURTW in different local governments he’s instructing them to go to.
“If Agbazuere had implemented Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s directive, Ahuama wouldn’t have had the strength to instruct one Ejike to go to Ikwuano to establish NARTO which led to the death of someone.

“I have been speaking out about this before today, and I have challenged Agbazuere to take me to court if he feels I’m lying against him. I stand by my words.
“Agbazuere is using his office to intimidate people. How can he keep intimidating people like this to the extent of asking NURTW members to withdraw their court cases.”

The pioneer chairman of NURTW Ugwunagbo LGA, Chidebe Adiele Onuoha said that when he and the current caretaker Chairman, Alozie Onuoha went to the National Industrial Court to challenge the tenure elongation of Ahuama in NURTW, Agbazuere invited them together with Mrs. Nnata in a hotel in Aba for discussion.

According to him, as the discussion was ongoing, Dr. Agbazuere openly told them that they can go ahead to any court of their choice, but they should realize that he has the contact of all the judges in those courts and will ensure he uses his connection to get judges to rule in Ahuama’s favour.
When contacted on the 9th of December 2021 to enable him to respond to the allegations leveled against him, by the NURTW Ugwunagbo LGA, the Chief of Staff to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere threatened our reporter who made the call on behalf of the Aba Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) that they were walking into serious trouble for digging into the matter.

He went further to say that he does not even know anything about the matter and allegations the NUJ was trying to get his response from and further said that if NUJ needs any information from him, they should come straight to his office in Umuahia as he cannot say anything on phone.
At this point, our reporter asked him for a date and time to come to his office to get his response, Dr. Agbazuere said that he does not even book an appointment on phone, saying that our reporter should just come to Umuahia without a date and a time.
“I don’t grant an interview on phone. If you want anything come. I don’t even say or grant anything on phone but I’m saying if you want anything you just come. I don’t book appointments on phone.

“You people are just walking yourselves into trouble. Do you understand? I know you’re recording what I’m saying but I don’t care about that. What I’m telling you is that I don’t grant interviews on phone. If you want anything come to my office,” he said.
To exhaust every stipulation of balance, objectivity and ethics of journalism, further efforts were put to get Dr. Agbazuere to respond on the matter despite his initial threat and willingness to stand by it.

Dr. Agbazuere later fixed Tuesday, 14th December as a day he will respond to the allegations in his office. However, when it was getting close to the date precisely on Monday, 13th December 2021, he said one of his children outside the state was sick and that he had taken her to hospital.
After that day all efforts which included phone calls and text messages meant to get Dr. Agbazuere to speak on the matter failed as he refused to pick nor respond on the matter till the time of filing this report.

When contacted to respond to her own allegations, Mrs. Chinasa Nnata, the LGA Chairman of Ugwunagbo said that upon her assumption of office, she revoked every revenue group and union existing in the LGA.
She however said that she gave room for the Unions and other group affected by her decision to come and renew whatever contract they had with the LGA, but NURTW never showed up until August 2021 after she must have recognized NARTO.

When reminded that NURTW had an agreement with the Ugwunagbo LGA before her being elected and that government is continuum, she insisted that she has the power to revoke any existing contract in the LGA whether there was any agreement or not.
Our reporter also contacted the NARTO Chairman at Ugwunagbo, Mr. Chukwudi Ahuama to enable him to respond to the allegations against him, but he said he does not know anything about NURTW or Chief Peter Asagwara.

“There’s nothing like NURTW in Ugwunagbo LGA. Peter Asagwara is not a member of NURTW. He is an informant. I don’t deal with informants. All I know is NARTO, because it is NARTO that the LGA empowered to operate at Ugwunagbo LGA.”

Barely a week after a former Abia State Attorney General, Chief Umeh Kalu SAN urged Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to look into the dilapidated conditions of court halls in the state, a courtroom has collapsed on Tuesday.
News Echo learnt that a disaster was averted at the High Court Four, Aba, Abia after the roof of a court building collapsed a few minutes after a session on Tuesday.

It was learnt that the judge in charge of the court, Justice Uche Okoroafor was on Wednesday forced to take cases under him in another court building, as a result of the collapse.
Kalu said that there is a dearth of court halls in Abia State, as most judges and magistrates do not have court halls.
He also said that there are instances where judges sit out of their jurisdiction due to non – availability of court halls within their areas of jurisdiction.

The former Attorney General also told Ikpeazu the court in your local government area, Obingwa – has been sitting at Aba since the time of his predecessor and has remained so six years after you assumed office.

“My personal experience from the reconstruction of the burnt Ohafia High Court puts the conservative figure of twenty–five million Naira (N25, 000, 000) as the cost of constructing and furnishing a befitting High Court hall, with adjourning offices for the judge and support staff.
“With a modest sum of two hundred and fifty million Naira (N250, 000, 000), you would have built ten court halls across the State. Let me equally draw your attention to the deplorable condition of the main High Court complex at the Abia State Judiciary Headquarters, Umuahia, built by your predecessor a few years ago.

“This building is more of a monument presently, requiring entire re-roofing of the building and refurbishing of all the court halls, amongst other areas of immediate attention.”
When News Echo visited the Aba High Court Four, the roof of the court building was still as it was when it collapsed with debris littering the whole building.

Eyewitnesses told News Echo that the building was renovated in 2018, but was not done properly as half of the woods and ceiling were too old to be joined together with the new ones brought.

“We were lucky that we had finished sitting before the incident occurred. If not only God knows what would have happened.
“If you enter this court hall during the rain you’ll not believe what you’ll see. From the place where the judge stays to this other side where you see files leak without control.

“In 2018 when they came to replace the roofs that were blown away by winds, I reminded them that they were doing a shoddy job, but they ignored me. Even after replacing the roofs the building still leaks.”
The Chief Justice of Abia State, Justice Onuoha Ogwe said that the situation has been reported to the state government for appropriate actions to be taken.