Lest We Forget!

BY HON. EZE CHIKAMNAYO

Following the flurry of reactions by concerned citizens to my last contribution, I have decided to put the record straight on some of the issues raised. Apparently, the avalanche of mails, phone calls and enquiries point to one useful direction- that our dear compatriots are willing to participate in the governance process. Therefore, I, thank all those that responded.

The problem of Abia State did not start with T.A.Orji and definitely cannot be solved overnight. This point must be well emphasized. We need to properly situate where we are coming from and then outline what we are now doing to ameliorate the challenges we face. This will bridge the gap between perception and reality as well as redirect the minds of those who are coaxed to make hasty conclusions.

In 1998 when the military finally agreed to cede power, most Abia elites, who ought to have moved in to give direction, were either complacent or skeptical. The vacuum they created was exploited by Chief Orji Uzor Kalu. And so for almost ten years, OUK together with his mother devalued governance and converted Abia into a banana republic. Through a heinous system known as “mamakarasi”, our dear state suffered an almost irreparable relapse. They looted the treasury, disorganized the civil service, compromised due process, castrated the institutions and chased away the few courageous citizens. Aided by the corrupt political process, Orji Kalu defied all attempts by Vin Ogbulafor, Onyema Ugochukwu, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Ike Nwachukwu and many others to take the apparatus of power. Abia thus became his kingdom and whoever wanted to be anything was chained with unprintable conditions to serve the purpose of the devilish rapacious dynasty.

By 2010, the Kalu dynasty moved to implement the second stage of their satanic script. In order to further enslave us, they plotted the removal of Gov. T.A.Orji to make way for another member of their family. At this time, it was obvious that the bickering opposition was in disarray. This was what led to the divinely inspired and courageous movement of T.A.Orji to the PDP. Like the hero he is, Ochendo stepped bravely forward to confront the mamacratic monster and in so doing, set Abia free. He took the risk on behalf of all Abians and yanked off the chains of suppression. Anybody who experienced the horrendous situation under Kalu will not fail to take into account this major generational achievement that surpasses all others. Our political, spiritual, economic and social emancipation from Orji Uzor Kalu and his mother is the best thing that has ever happened to Abia State. And forever, discerning Abia people everywhere will have Gov. T.A.Orji to thank for that.

As Nwa Afo Igbo, I am seriously concerned at the seeming shortness of public memory. Most people who abuse Ochendo today suffer from acute political amnesia. The motley crowd of hired thugs in Aba where there when OUK and his mother held Abia hostage. Yes, Enyimba – Enyi – was there and did nothing. Their shops were taken, the monthly allocation to their Local Governments were looted, for over a year salaries were not paid and heaps of stinking refuse confronted them from Ehere junction to Alaoji. Even when their young ones were extra judicially murdered in their presence by the Bakassi brigands, Enyimba – Enyi –cowardly abetted Orji Kalu’s crimes through criminal silence. But today, like the proverbial tortoise they hiss and hoot at a man ready to bring them out of the latrine to which Orji Uzor Kalu, a supposed Aba boy, and his mother mercilessly dumped them for ten years!

That brings me to Rochas Okorocha and his antiquated mob antics. I make bold to say that what Abia escaped in Orji Uzor Kalu has re-incarnated itself more forcefully in Imo State. In the first few months of assumption of office, OUK showed off so many “roads” that even his sworn enemy Obasanjo christened him the Action Governor of Nigeria. He drove around Igbo land like an emperor – insulting his colleague governors and breaching all known protocol. The same band of bandits that are now shouting for Rochas shouted for Orji Uzor in Aba, Onitsha and Enugu. Alas, what has become of the roads and the mesmerizing man? Do we have two Enyimba City? If in less than ten years Aba people are complaining of zero infrastructure, then where went the purported roads which Atiku, N’abba, and everybody in Abuja was brought here by Kalu to commission? So Imo people should wait and see. By the time the real cost of this Rochas razzmatazz dawn on them, they will speak differently! Like Kalu, he rules like an emperor and impulsively takes major state decisions without recourse to due process. For him, anything that can elicit a few claps of hands from the unsuspecting public is in order. Sirs, is this the kind of quality the Igbos are looking for?
Governor Peter Obi and Sullivan Chime have to their credit solid infrastructure constructed in their states. Fortunately, they did not inherit the type of cancerous rapacious monster we had in Kalu. Yet, unlike Okorocha, they conduct themselves with the decorum and restraint their exalted offices demand. They are educated, urbane and lacking in the type of dramatic pettiness that appeal to the boys-o-yea constituency which abuse people on face book without offering alternative ideas.

An essential quality of good leadership is critical thinking and responsible behaviour. It is a long distance race. It is not quite a déjà vu. That is why after bequeathing Abians with liberty, Gov. T.A.Orji moved quickly to provide security, political stability, infrastructure and a harmonious inclusive atmosphere for all Abians to excel. You no longer hear of Abuja politicians and home politicians. Those divisive demons left Abia with Orji Kalu and are now building their nest in Okorocha’s Imo State.

We are building roads. I am posting a follow up to this write up to prove, LGA by LGA, verifiable evidence of the visible development in every area achieved under Gov. T.A Orji. We have built over 200 health centers in all the local governments. This is because primary healthcare benefit the rural populace and is central to effective healthcare management. We are creating a New Umuahia- complete with a new International market, Industrial market, new Government House, new International Conference Center and new structures for the Legislature and Judiciary. I am inviting a random selection of the contributors to this page on an all expense paid visit to Abia and some of the sites I have mentioned. Gradually, but steadily, we are focused on clinically implementing the Transformation Agenda of Ochendo.

Today, as I watch the unfortunate re-enactment of the Orji Uzor Kalu tragic episode in the style and content of Rochas Okorocha, I wish to remind Ndigbo that it is our adulation of such unprepared men that has kept us in limbo. What we need to do is to responsibly engage our elected officials while giving time the chance to determine who will go the long haul. Ejighi ututu ama nje ahia. In the next twenty four months, Onu kwuru njo ga ekwu nma as far as our Ochendo, Gov. T.A. Orji, is concerned. By then those who confined Orji Uzor Kalu to oblivion will be bearing their stretcher ready to condemn his copy cat whom I am sure will over reach and exhaust himself sooner than later.

Ndi Igbo should abhor the culture of hypocrisy. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. When Abia people where sacked in other Igbo states, it ought to have elicited the same uproar that was the case when our government reluctantly reciprocated as a result of practical realities. Yes, Aba belongs to Ndi Igbo but it is still part of Abia State. We cannot allow the residents there to treat our government with contempt and treat our laws with levity. Most of the residents do not pay taxes regardless of whatever government does to improve the infrastructure there. They have over the years converted every room and corner to stalls and markets. In the process, waterways, drains and even major roads are blocked. When you pull down the illegal shanties to prevent flooding, they revolt. When you build a new market for them, they resist. No matter what you do, they complain. But when it is time for them to carry out their civic responsibilities, they move back to their home states. So, we know Aba. We also know those sponsoring the few street urchins for useless political effects. Majority of Abians are not perturbed. They know what Chief T.A Orji has achieved and are dutifully supporting him to achieve more.

Ndi Igbo must evolve a system where all public officials are rated based on character, competence and visible results and not just on the basis of publicity stunts pulled mostly by the empty vessels that straddle into our political space. Ndi Igbo must beware of this second Orji Uzor Kalu making more noise than meaning. We should not forget how some, in the last batch of governors, pummeled us with pageantry only to leave us with debts, disillusionment and disunity. These are fleeting wayfarers whose foray in politics has created credibility problems for Ndi Igbo.

For us in Abia, we are happy and satisfied with the consistent political and visible infrastructural achievements of Chief T.A Orji. Like all men of history, his place in Abia and Igbo politics can only be correctly assessed at the end of his stewardship. He has taken a lot of courageous and necessary decisions to further the Abia interest. In the last few months, he has proven to all and sundry that the political and economic liberation of Abia State is all that is needed to make the desired change. Ndi Igbo, therefore, should join hands with Abians to appreciate and applaud his outstanding efforts.