​A CASE FOR COMMON SENSE:- By Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu

I just arrived the United States of America from the United Kingdom and trying to locate where I kept my keys and later see how I can get some rest after the long trip. Everything sorted out, refreshed, I have to relax on the internet to keep myself abreast of the goings on in the world, especially my dear country, Nigeria, before delving into the few concerns that took me out of Nigeria.

I dare say with the advent of the social media, take it or leave it; it has in a way given credence to democracy in the country to continue to flourish beyond imagination; now people can express themselves, either on personal matters or matters that affect them through policies of the government. And there can be no better times than this when the country is grappling with recession and the government is doing everything round the clock to bring the economy right on track and begin to bring back that lost smiles and hope on the faces of dejected, and atimes, disappointed and frustrated Nigerians, notably the Nigerian youth who are in dire need to see change in their lives.
The beauty of the social media platform is the protection and assurance of the screen and the use of fictitious identity where issues can be raised or issues criticised without the fear of intimidation from any areas.

I am a regular visitor to the various social media, especially Facebook and Whatsapp. You cannot be older than this trend in the twenty-first century if one really wants to keep in touch with latest happenings. Some of these happenings could really be brash and gossipy without any truth to them, so one has to be careful in the kind of information that is allowed to filter into the brain because without this caution wrong and hasty decision could be reached.

On Facebook and Whatsapp, as I am scrolling through my phone, the most provocative trending is the thirty year old young man who has been remanded in prison custody for failure to meet his bail terms that include the payment of a fifty thousand naira fee for giving his dog a name. To me, this should be a laugh for all Nigerians to ease off the present tension everywhere in the country.

I am not a lawyer, but there are issues, to my understanding, that should not be brought to the attention of the law, instead, it should be dealt with amicably between the parties involved with caution by the police therefore not giving it the national attention whoever is involved wants to generate.
Or, still, the judge, if I am speaking the minds of many who do not take themselves too seriously or see life as a war to be won or lost, would have thrown the case out of his court for lacking a standing  in jurisdiction. 
While still scrolling and enjoying the story-forgive me for this, because the only thing I see in the story is the fun it is generating inside of me right now- the question in my mind is, is the presidency aware that a thirty year old Nigerian is in custody because he is accused of trying to upset public peace and because he cannot afford to meet his bail terms when arrested by the Nigeria Police force and charged to court?

I can authoritatively say the presidency is not aware of this huge joke at a time when its hands are full with both political and economic crises and the issues of the Nigerian youth it is bent on addressing since it came into power in two-thousand-and-fifteen.

Another question in my mind while the laughter inside of me continues to grow is, would the young man had been shown the road to the court if he had bought a one-million-naira shirt and gave it whatever name? Perhaps no. A dog is chosen instead of some expensive and adorable ornaments.
It boils down to the way we treat animals in the country, especially one that has been acclaimed to be human friendly. Elsewhere, will there be a court case if a name is given to a particular animal? I do not think so; nobody would have thought it as something to have sleepless night and good time over. And, moreover, the dog on the screen of my phone happens to be so adorable and beautiful worthy to be domesticated.

The young man has said the reason he gave that particular name-which is not narrowed down to any particularity- to the dog is because of his love for it, whereas others think otherwise, which now becomes a case between the young man having a good and intelligent lawyer to argue his case, which again may just be impossible in a situation where legal aids do not come easy and definitely beyond one who cannot cough out fifty thousand naira.
On Whatsapp, comments have been agog. Some say the young man has erred. Others say he has no respect for the elderly. And yet others bring cultures and tradition into the argument while the young man languishes in cell.

Not any of these commentators ones gave a thought to one of the characteristics of democracy, which is the fundamental human rights of the individual where freedom of expression can only be negotiated on the table of intentional assault, in this case, which the young man has said is not his intention.
 The name is as a result of his mentorship interest and the love for the person that is supposedly involved.

One of the commentators had said, as a father, what one’s reaction would be if a child had walked up to him and say, ‘Father, I just bought this dog and I have given it the name, Arochukwu?’ if Arochukwu happens to be the son’s father’s name.

I will not only respond to the child as a father, but as a leader, too. First, I will have a good laugh that my child did not go to the market to buy a Tortoise and name it after me-we know the connotation of Tortoises in the Nigerian folklores- and secondly, I will tell that child that he should make sure he gives the dog a good training so that it can be responsible to all concerned. And, thirdly, I will pat the child’s head and tell him to go inside and study while I go about my duties as a father and a leader deliberating on serious issues and not on trivia that will take nobody anywhere rather than downing some good and fun creativity because it is all a matter of common sense without a particular issue of note.

​ORJI UZOR KALU HAS ESTABLISHED A LEGACY OF PHILANTHROPY IN LONDON

Above is a testimony from one if the Exco members of Igbo Community London who was overwhelmed with the presence and gestures of OUK at the launching of The Igbo House London by the ICL yesterday. He went further to say that “Truly, Mmiri Riri Enyi, has established a legacy of philanthropy and impartial application of human and material resources. These are credentials for good governance.”

And I strongly and totally agree with his observations and assertion! Let’s all join hands and support Ouk.

Let us today start to convince the doubting Thomases in our society!!!
Let’s stand by him,

Defend his stance,

Enlighten people about him,

Educate those ignorant of his past performances,

Sensitize those that pretend to forget who he really is,

Water the ground for him,

Prevent former persons in same exercise from intentionally making it swampy or slippery.

And 

Publicize his deeds and achievements to all and sundry 

Because 

United together 

Stronger Ouk 

Eugene Dibie 

Nze Nwanoneze

Challenges of democratic governance in Nigeria (1):- By Dr Orji Uzor Kalu

The Kalu Leadership Series

One of the most daunting problems which have stunted the growth of Nigeria democratically and advance its stability is the lack of adherence to ethos, rule of law and constitutionality. For nearly 56 years since it gained independence, Nigeria has found it difficult to attain democratic stability despite efforts by past administrations to achieve this feat. A close study has revealed that it will still stay for a longer time before the dividends of democracy begin to trickle in at the expected proportion.

Some factors account for these difficulties and that is what this piece is aimed to address.

It is a tragedy of lamentable proportion that Nigeria, despite its huge human and material resources, has merely existed on paper as the ‘Giant of Africa’. There are no visible developmental indicators, anywhere, to justify its consistent aspirations for global recognition. Even its efforts in global peace initiatives have not helped to achieve the desired fame.

It is an undisputable fact that Nigeria has been in the forefront of the struggle to win one of the available coveted permanent positions on the United Nations, without commensurate attainments to match such an ambition.

I can state with some surety that there is no nation on the permanent membership of the United Nations that has not achieved some degree of sustainability on the rudimentary and fundamental indices of development.  Is it not, therefore, a mockery of our national sovereignty and an assault on our collective psyche that we aspire to be recognised as a global superpower when we rank as the 127th poorest nation, out of 147, in the world?

We languish at the bottom of the ladder with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, etc.  Our diehard rivals – South Africa and Egypt – are far ahead of us in almost every index of development: particularly in human development initiatives, poverty alleviation and health. These indices form part of a collectiveness of factors that gives democracy its beauty and elegance.

There were even fears at some point that Nigeria might not be able to meet the 2015 deadline for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). And truly it did not irrespective of all the media hype and government’s ostensible indifference in some critical areas.

Smaller countries such as Cape Verde, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal have attained a reasonable measure of success in the realisation of the goals of the global initiative aimed at reducing poverty by half by the year 2015. Where has Nigeria been ever since it missed the mark that year? Instead of buckling up it has been one problem after another.

Poverty has posed a big threat to the development of Nigeria’s democracy. The poverty rate has continued to rise astronomically without any reasonable effort by government to curtail it. The involvement of some people in violence during elections, for instance, is a product of poverty. Politicians, aware of the growing poverty in the country, have continually resorted to recruiting jobless and desperate youths as thugs and bodyguards to unleash terror in the polity. It is these so-called thugs that later turn round to become miscreants – engaged in all kinds of anti-social behaviour.

The worrisome truth is that Nigeria, though a sovereign, independent nation is encumbered by a multiplicity of other problems that has slowed down her advancement over the years. Some of these problems, unfortunately, are self-inflicted and flow from a morbid, deviant inclination of our politicians to unjustly and blindly engage in self-enrichment and general corruption.

Indeed it is important to deal with specific features of Nigeria’s political development that have had far-reaching impact on the wellbeing of the people.

First is that the level of corruption in Nigeria has assumed a frightening dimension even with the draconian enactments put in place by government to deal with the situation.

The political elite have, by their profligate behaviour, worsened corruption in the country. It is no longer in doubt that they have ignominiously shared our common patrimony, leaving the people poorer and infrastructural development stagnated.

The anti-Corruption laws and the numerous fiscal policies of the government have not helped much in the fight to exterminate it. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) are two bodies established by the government to fight the embarrassing menace. In truth, these commissions have, instead of fighting corruption, have ended up as the actual victims of the fight. The greed and avarice of the political class have added up to continually frustrate the efforts by the two bodies to stamp out corruption from our body politic.

I have decided perfunctorily to dwell on corruption at this juncture (even though I can’t change the status quo) because it is at the centre of why all other features of our democracy have remained comatose. The impact of the other features such as ethnicity, violence, insecurity, poverty, maladministration, profligacy, etc are all child’s play compared to the ravaging effects of corruption on our overall democratic development.  This position can be justified when these factors are juxtaposed with the mountainous damage corruption has inflicted on the soul of this nation. The gravity of the situation can better be understood when we take a cognisable look into the accruable revenue to the nation since oil was discovered in Oloibiri in today’s Bayelsa State in 1958. If the revenue from oil (which is 80% of our overall exports and 90% government receivable revenue) had been judiciously invested in infrastructural development since then, Nigeria would have reached the apogee of development and be competing favourably with its contemporaries in global politics and economy.

Statistics released by the Human Rights Watch (a civil organization) some time ago to prove that the anticorruption war in Nigeria has been ineffectual shows that Nigeria lost between $4billion and $8billion (i.e. up to $64billion) to corruption annually over an 8-year period – from 1999 to 2007. Curiously, EFCC was in existence during 5 of the 8 years, having been established in 2002. Another report, this time from the World Bank, shows that US$40billion is stolen every year from Nigeria and other third world countries by their leaders. Out of this staggering amount, according to the bank, only US$5billion has been recovered. It attributes the inability to recover the stolen money to some factors that include complex nature of international corruption cases and generating admissible evidence; lack of modalities to track the proceeds of corruption (which are usually disguised and mingled with legitimate funds); legal barriers in prosecuting offenders and recovering the stolen funds, especially from those that have died, enjoy immunity from prosecution and or were fugitives; and the issue of navigating through varied legal systems of inter-nation jurisdiction.

The former Chairman of EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, lamented at one point what she called the deliberate ploys by accused persons and their defence counsels to circumvent the cause of justice through unnecessary applications for injunctions and adjournments. Section 308 of the Amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is another obstacle to the fight against corruption. Though Section 308 is not within the purview of this piece, it is important to stress that unless the section is expeditiously expunged all efforts to fight official corruption will amount to a waste of precious time and resources.

Undoubtedly, the annual loss of a princely sum of 40billion US dollars by developing countries to corruption is one of the key factors stunting the growth of such nations. Imagine how far such an amount will go in the provision of social infrastructure in those countries.

Is anybody still confused in any way why Nigeria occupies a place of notoriety on the global corruption map? Okay, if you are not satisfied with the statistics adduced above, now look at this: The outflow of resources from the national kitty into the funding of corrupt practices is mind-boggling. Because of this fact Nigeria has consistently been ranked low on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The outlook in the rating of CPI is becoming gloomier as the days go by. It was 2.7 out of 10 in 2008, sliding further to 2.4 in 2010. The rating has steadily risen.

Wastefulness (popularly known in the local parlance as squandermania) is another major feature of Nigeria’s democracy. It is generally believed that the cost of running government in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world. Those without access to government spending patterns may not understand the gravity of the situation. Overheads, including personal emoluments of elected and appointed government functionaries are outrageous and scandalous. For instance, a reasonable percentage of the earnings from oil annually may not be enough to pay the salaries and allowances of politicians and public sector workers plus their endless travels within and outside the country, tea and coffee, etc. How much is then left for the provision of infrastructure for the uplift of the downtrodden masses? To underscore the mindlessness and recklessness of spending by public officials, it is true that it is only in Nigeria that the cost of general administration ranges between 50 and 70 per cent of the annual budget. What is obtainable in other countries, particularly China and India (with the largest bureaucracies globally) is between 10 and 12 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The contrast between Nigeria and the rest of the developed economies is that while our cost of general administration is inexplicably very high, with nothing to show for it, other countries with lesser costs have advanced impressively – lifting their people out of depressing poverty and degradation.

What of the cost of maintaining our legislators – state and federal? Let us use the national assembly as a case study. Facts gleaned from the National Assembly website show that the 469 members of the federal legislature and their support staff spent a total of N150 billion (as contained in the 2011 Appropriation Act) for their upkeep that year alone.

Current efforts to reduce the figure have not achieved anything tangible. Even the willingness of the legislators to reduce their annual accruements has waned in recent times, despite public outcries.

The ongoing controversy over the padding of the 2016 Appropriation Bill shows how mindless some of our politicians could be. The nation has been visibly scandalized by the facts coming out of the House of Representatives. This has set many asking: Was that the reason they were elected in the first place?

Do not forget we have just computed the cost of maintaining our legislators. Do we need to go into details about the cost of running the other arms of government – judiciary and executive? It amounts to a whopping N94.9billion per year as at 2012. If we replicate this simple exercise in every sector of our national economy some people may develop shock. But that is the reality of our present nationhood.

The simple truth is this: we cannot build a strong and progressive nation without first reordering our priorities and imbibing the tenets of responsible and responsive leadership. I wonder if the present crop of leaders can take Nigeria to its God-given destiny.

If I continue to list the consequences of corruption and wastefulness on our national life we may not be able to do justice to the other factors of democracy that affect, in marked degrees, the lives of the people. But the truth that must be told is that corruption has affected adversely every facet of our lives. And this is why there is an urgent need to mobilize the citizenry to fight it.

The release of the report of the Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu Committee on Project award and implementation a few years ago revealed worrisome facts about high-level corrupt practices that had taken place. The kernel of the committee’s report is that prioritisation of contract awards is influenced primarily by the personal interests of those charged with the responsibility for the award and evaluation of contracts. According to the committee the nation lost over N328 billion in contract inflation, overvalued pricing and manipulative variations. If one adds the money lost to padding of budgets in the past then the figure can be maddening.
Apart from inflated contract pricing the committee discovered that personal interests played a considerable role in the award of contracts. It revealed that those in charge of awarding the contracts were more interested in their own cuts (where they are usually paid upfront) rather than ensuring the strict adherence to specifications and schedules. This was adjudged as the major reason behind the spate of abandoned projects all over the country. It referred specifically to the Alaoji Power Plant in Aba, valued at US$123million, and which has been abandoned due to poor materialisation. Curiously, 12 diameter pipes instead of the required 24 diameter pipes were used in the construction of the present gas pipelines at the plant.

What it means is that the plant cannot take off until the pipes are duly replaced. Who then picks the bill for the replacement as the case may be? The fear then is that Nigeria would be heading for the precipice if the present trend is not reversed promptly.

Those familiar with the political development of Nigeria will attest to the fact that ethnicity is one of the greatest albatrosses to the growth of its democracy. The creation of northern and southern protectorates by the British instead of advancing development has been antithetical to peace and tranquility. It has succeeded not only in polarising the nation but aggravated the ethnic hegemony and loyalty that afflicted Nigeria. This is why the fight against corruption has not yielded sufficient dividends.

Indeed ethnicity has found its way into every sphere of our national life and now draws us back in many ways. The sharing of political and national cake has been reduced to a mere ethnic activity. What this means is that qualification and experience, and such other salient factors as patriotism and zeal, play little or no role in who gets what. Probably, this is why we have square pegs in round holes in crucial and critical national offices. The results of this sad development are low productivity and inefficiency in service delivery.

​Abia PDP Is A Ring Of Occult — Uche Ogah

After emerging from his dogged fight to become Abia governor to no avail the president of Masters Energy Group, Mr. Uche Ogah has dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah Addressing

There had been insinuations that the oil magnet and industrialist was no longer in love with the PDP, under which platform he made strenuous efforts to become the chief executive of Abia without realising his dream.

But speaking with journalists at his Unuaku country home in Isuikwuato local government Ogah confirmed without mincing words that he had left PDP and pitched his tent with APC, which is holding sway at the federal level.

“It is not a rumor, it is the truth,” he said, adding, “You know after the Supreme Court decision on the 2015 Abia Governorship Election, I took time to rest (and) after careful consultations, I decided to finally join APC even though many political parties had approached me to join them”.

Ogah, whose long drawn legal struggle to unseat Governor Okezie Ikpeazu really jolted the ruling PDP, further explained that he jettisoned his former party because it lacked internal democracy.

He said: “The way PDP is structured in Abia is like a cult. Cult is not for the masses. Cult protects the interest of its members alone and popularises itself. In Abia state, people are sitting on the resources of the entire state, sharing public fund among themselves. I believe that anything that will not benefit or interest the masses, I get myself out of it. My belief is adding value to the lives of the people”.
Ogah explained that he joined APC because it is “a party at the centre and Abia as a state needs the party,” adding that “those in APC are all progressives and the party is well positioned.”

The Masters Energy boss was effusive in praising his new found broom brandishing political party, saying that APC would not impose candidate on its members as it “will choose among the best to be its flag bearer not just any person like the PDP does”.

Apparently alluding to the forthcoming 2019 gubernatorial election in Abia, Ogah asserted that PDP must be dethroned in Abia, which according to him, was in dire need of good governance.

“I believe in change. As long as Abia State is concerned, the state needs a change for better governance and to achieve this, Abians voting for APC in 2019 is the answer”.

On his political plan for 2019, Ogah said he was yet to make up his mind whether or not he would once again throw his hat in the ring for Abia governorship race.
“For now, I have not made up my mind on the 2019 governorship race in Abia state. I believe that the party APC will choose who runs and that person must be the best. It is not about saying it is this party or the other, APC will rule Abia,” he said.

The industrialist cum politician argued that it would be in the interest of Abia people to vote APC come 2019 “because it controls the central government and the state will benefit much not only in political appointments but in the provision of infrastructure”.

©Emmanuel Ugwu 

​NDUBUEZE TACKLES CHINEDUM ORJI, SAYS HE HAS FAILED AS LAWMAKER.

The President-General of Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku community in Abia state Chief Ikechukwu Ndubueze has said Honorable Chinedum Orji(Ikuku), the member representing Umuahia central constituency in the  State House of Assembly has failed to provide democracy dividends to the people of his constituency.
He said the lawmaker has made himself inaccessible to his constituents, accusing him of running away from his responsibilities as representative of the people.

Ndubueze who said this in an interview with newsmen in Umuahia, the state capital.

His words:”The issue there is that we are not impressed over his leadership styles. Is it a representative that you see. Because I remember there was a time Afaraukwu Ibeku community had cattle issue, destroying our farms, we tried to see him our representative to complain to him, because that is why we elected him. Unfortunately we got to his office in the state House of Assembly without seeing him”.

“Every attempt to see him(Orji) proved abortive. I wouldnt know why I will be satisfied with the style of his representation. Because sometimes, when you go for a certain position, you know the reason why you are going there. We have not seen any good representation. 
Chinedum Orji has failed. We have not seen anything, I mean any achievements rather than hearing it on radio”.
” And I know for a very long time, I have not travelled. I have been at home, so I don’t know where his(ikuku) representation is going. We really really can’t feel it. And our people have not seen anything”. Talking about the person representing us, he doesn’t know if we are existing”.

He commended the state government for the rehabilitation of dilapidated portion of Afaraukwu road, urging all and sundry to support government to enable it take Abia to a greater height.
Like Our Facebook Page 

Dr Orji Uzor Kalu Condemns Anti-Igbo Song

A former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Kalu, has condemned, in strong terms, a provocative song against Ndigbo trending online and offline.

According to the front-line politician, Nigeria’s ethnic, religious,  cultural and political diversity  should be seen as an advantage and not a minus and as such hate speeches should be discouraged at all levels.

He lambasted the sponsors  of the hate song , adding that Nigeria has come to stay as a heterogeneous nation and no amount of hate campaign can break the country.

Kalu made these remarks, on Tuesday, at a meeting with a group of Igbo professionals in London.

He  said, “The anti Igbo song being circulated is another ploy to provoke Ndigbo.

“However, despite all these nonsensical theatricals, Igbo will  remain calm, peace loving and law abiding. We shall continue to resist all temptations as patriotic Nigerians.

“Nigeria is a diverse country made up of different ethnic groups and no single tribe can lay claim to the country. We are all stakeholders be it Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Tiv, Efik, Ijaw and many others.

“Igbo will continue to play a significant role in national well being regardless of these provocations especially in the areas of employment generation, wealth creation and industrialisation”.

The former governor who expressed optimism at the level of condemnation of the song from different quarters, added that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable .

Kalu called on Nigerians to embrace love, brotherhood and selflessness in their daily pursuits, adding that the nation can only be great in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

Like Our Facebook Page 

​UNITY AND PEACE – Hallmarks To Love And Progress:- Dr Orji Uzor Kalu

Abuja: The above are sincere and honest wise words of an elder cum leader of thought, OUK in Abuja, today!
Inestimable rich words on marble of a great statesman, nationalist and patriot!!
Evil triumphs when men of virtue and righteousness keeps quiet and become complacent!!!
OUK has joined the likes of great men like IBB, Nwodo, OBJ etc to counsel for peace and unity; to seek the way of justice and fairness; as well as join other peace loving members of the International community to appeal for peace, coexistence and harmony! But some rascals at both extremes are thinking otherwise, playing with fire and human minds; expressing uncontrollable rage, scorn and acrimony.
He has been spending time, energy and resources seeking passionately for peace and love that he cherishes and knows to usher in progress and good livelihood for all. But our people have been turning deaf ears! Forgetting that “a fly that doesn’t listen to advice follows the corpse to the grave” – Igbo proverb. 
I call on all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or creed to seek the road to love, unity and peace for like OUK has kept reminding us, is our sure way to survival as the other road – hatred, insubordination and stubbornness leads to disaster, extinction and death!
The choices are ours to make 

OUK has spoken 

And he has said it so loud and clear 
United together 

Greater OUK 

Eugene Dibie 

Nze Nwanoneze

Paris Club Refund: Court Freezes Bank Accounts Of Abia State, Others

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has issued an ex-parte order directing that the Paris-London Club Refund bank accounts of Abia, Cross River, and Delta states be frozen.

The accounts to be frozen are listed as follows: Abia state Paris and London Club Debit Refund, 1019892950, UBA Bank Plc; CRS Paris and London Club Debit Refund, 101989719, UBA Bank Plc; and DTSG CRS Paris and London Club Debit Refund, 1012906702, Zenith Bank Plc respectively.
The court gave the order amidst allegations that the governors of the three states preferred payment to family members, friends, and cronies in the guise of settling the fees for consultancy services at the expense of the real consultant progenitor of the Paris-London Club Refund.

Abia state government reportedly owes the real consultant progenitor the sum of $11,325,000 and N1.72bn; Cross River state government owes the sum of $8,050,000 and N1.2bn; While, Delta state government owes $27,274,135 and N3bn.
According to documents exclusively obtained by DAILY POST, the court order

was sequel to an affidavit in support of ex-parte originating summons sworn to by Dr. Maurice Ibe, the Chairman and Managing Director of Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd, and filed before the court by his Counsel; Alex Marama, Charles Ude, and Kenneth N. Esq.

Ibe averred that there is an urgent need for the court to direct the third defendants (United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Zenith Bank Nig. Plc) in the suits CV/2470/17, CV/2536/17, CV/2469/17 and motions M/8777/17, M8780/17, M/8784/17 to, in the interim, stop further disbursement of the money already in or accruing to the respective Paris-London Club Refund accounts domiciled with them which belong to the three states respectively.

The Court also ordered the banks to set up an escrow account where the said funds will be deposited pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
Abia state government led by Theophilus Orji had engaged Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd on the 3rd of November, 2014 to pursue the refund of excess deductions on foreign loans and miscellaneous charges in exchange of 30 percent of any fund recovered.

Similarly, Cross River government engaged the same consultancy firm on the same date for the same purpose in exchange of 20 percent of any fund recovered.
Delta state government under governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan also engaged the services of Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd in exchange of 30 percent of any fund recovered.

Justice Halilu, while granting the order freezing the accounts, adjourned the suit to 7th September, 2017 for hearing.

©DailyPost

Church Shooting : Moghalu Visits Hospital, Commiserates With Families

Depressed with the news of mass murder which occurred in a Catholic Church in Ozubulu in Anambra State ,  a frontline gubernatorial aspirant for the 2017 Anambra governorship election and National Auditor of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief George Moghalu had yesterday,  visited Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital ,Nnewi ,where scores of the dead persons were deposited and other critically injured worshipers being treated.

Arriving in company of many others ,  the APC top chieftain was lost with words at the number of people murdered in cold blood  and the conditions of the surviving victims . 

What seemed like a  mild drama  occured when a family member of one of the victims on sighting the confounded state of moghalu wept loudly and began explaining to him without request how she is yet to believe her sister has gone forever. 

Moghalu expressed his deep  sympathy with her and promised to be a pillar  to the family in this their most trying moment .

Earlier, Moghalu in a signed press statement from his media office  has described the act as one of the  worst reprehensible act in Anambra State 

He called on the federal government, state government and security operatives to unravel the broad day murder of innocent lives and further ensure that no such terror is visited on worshippers in any part of the country.

In the statement, the Anambra governorship hopeful  wondered how values for human life is eroding and fizzling out . He queried the rationale behind such barbarism and stated that such heinous act is alien to the people of Anambra State
He said: ” It is very painful and at times like, we all wish things were different, that we knew more ,that we could be a bit more humane. We wish that God would grant us some rare privilege of taking us into confidence, that He would open our eyes and whisper some privileged information so that those of us who are yet to value human life,those of us whom are living without conscience ,  might rethink and desist from some depressing, reprehensible and uncommon wicked act. ”

To the families of the victims , the Catholic church and Ozubulu community  Chief Moghalu urged them to remain spirited and not give in to prejudice and anxiety created by the unspeakable sacrilege. .
He also commiserated with the state and federal  govermment and charged them to take expedient measures to arrest the rising insecurity in Anambra state

Like Our Facebook Page 

​Re: Chinedu Orji; The Shameful Misfit Cum Illiterate House Leader:- By Damian Ifeanyi Igbokwe

At times like this,we all wish things were different, that we have more reasonable people parading as leaders,that we could permanently fill the  dungeon pit some scoundrels have continued to dig for their own people.Ordinarily,I would have ignored all the rabble rousing written about me in nairaland by some pseudo names whom I know are paid agents of the son of the former Governor of Abia state ,Chinedu Orji also  known as ikuku. A man  who even in his best state  cannot make a sentence without exposing his intellectual nakedness. A man bereft of every uncommon idea but mastermind of threats and terror on Abia.

Last month,I made a rebroadcast that led Chinedu issued a dozen of press release and in all, they rained abuses on me and probably people he perceives as threat to him and his father Sen. TA Orji.

What caught my fancy was when the Deputy Speaker of Abia House of Assembly Cosmos Ndukwe  joined the media war with his own press release and stated that I brought the ABHA into my issue with Chinedu Orji hence their Press release. 

In that said publication that was a copied and rebroadcasted post,there was never a line where the writer stated that the conversation took place in the chamber of ABHA. He wrote, “House of Assembly complex” which implies that it could be around the premises or office of Chinedu Orji. However,that’s not why I am replying Chinedu.

 His numerous attacks are  against my person thereby leaving the real issue and chasing shadows. 

Why the sudden reverse when all he has always done is to attack President Muhammadu Buhari’s supporters across the State? If he is denying not sponsoring media attack against President Buhari,who is sponsoring the group planning to stage a protest by this week against President Buhari to demand for his impeachment? 

Who funded  the lawyer Barr. Nnamdi Nwokocha Ahiwe and the media over President Buhari’s Certificate case in court? And who later compensated him by pushing his name to the Governor  for appointment as the Chairman Board of Abia State Infrastructure and Fiscal planning?

In Chinedu’s poor response to me in Naira land through a pseudo account name Charles Onwuka, he stated that I am a ‘semi’ illiterate,that I didn’t graduate from Abia State University. He even   went barbaric calling me a rapist,cultist and an armed robber and bravely insinuated that I was expelled from school. 

The word “semi” implies little, meaning if I am semi illiterate,I actually went to school small? ,but between you Chinedu Orji and I,who has a record of not being in school? 

Prof.Ajah Kpuru Ajah,Dr.Steve Egbo,Dr. Uduma,Sir Iheonu,Dr. Nwosu,HOD Osi,Dr.Okerere,Alozie and host of other sound lecturers wouldnt have graduated a semi illiterate from their department. Lets assume I never went to school,but I am not a murderer. 

Your sycophants often address you as Engineer Chinedu Orji,is the Engineer also an alias as Ikuku? If you truly graduated from the said school,why did you fill in only School Cert/WAEC in your INEC declaration Form #CF 001?
What happened to the Degree Certificate?

Who will the World remember for sleeping with his aides wife and on the day the young man found out,he was assassinated in an occasion for a cover up so that he won’t talk to the World and it was tagged accidental discharge by the blood suckers?

Do you think that the wife of that young man hasn’t spoken to some close people? It’s painful that Mr. John is no more alive to tell the World what actually went wrong that cut short his life.

Even if I am an  illiterate as you imagine, I don’t sleep with my friends’ and colleagues’ wives. Let me be an illiterate  but not a murderer whom only option is to plot assassins against oppositions.

The threat you issued to me has been tabled to the relevant authorities and your hirelings blackmail is not new to us in Abia as I will always diffuse your strategies against me.

I don’t have anything against the Abia State 6th Assembly as insinuated by Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe, and I am aware of the limited powers of the House. We are in democratic regime and everything has a laid down procedure. I will state that while some of them felt slighted by my rebroadcast,a post not originated by me,good number of them still understood that it was strictly Chinedu’s business.

I challenge you Chinedu Orji to publish your certificate if you truly graduated from FUTO. We live in a World where every information can be accessed from a phone on your palm or system on your table or laps. For clarity purposes,publish your certificate.

Stop sponsoring media attacks on me and other President Buhari’s supporters. Stop sponsoring attacks on President Buhari. It will do Abia people more good if you concentrate your energy in legislative duties (that’s if you understand what you are doing there) than attacking the President,his supporters and APC.

Hon.Demian Ifeanyi Igbokwe 

Wrote from Isuikwuato.

Like Our Facebook Page 

​Re: Chinedu Orji; The Shameful Misfit Cum Illiterate House Leader:- By Damian Ifeanyi Igbokwe

At times like this,we all wish things were different, that we have more reasonable people parading as leaders,that we could permanently fill the  dungeon pit some scoundrels have continued to dig for their own people.Ordinarily,I would have ignored all the rabble rousing written about me in nairaland by some pseudo names whom I know are paid agents of the son of the former Governor of Abia state ,Chinedu Orji also  known as ikuku. A man  who even in his best state  cannot make a sentence without exposing his intellectual nakedness. A man bereft of every uncommon idea but mastermind of threats and terror on Abia.

Last month,I made a rebroadcast that led Chinedu issued a dozen of press release and in all, they rained abuses on me and probably people he perceives as threat to him and his father Sen. TA Orji.

What caught my fancy was when the Deputy Speaker of Abia House of Assembly Cosmos Ndukwe  joined the media war with his own press release and stated that I brought the ABHA into my issue with Chinedu Orji hence their Press release. 

In that said publication that was a copied and rebroadcasted post,there was never a line where the writer stated that the conversation took place in the chamber of ABHA. He wrote, “House of Assembly complex” which implies that it could be around the premises or office of Chinedu Orji. However,that’s not why I am replying Chinedu.

 His numerous attacks are  against my person thereby leaving the real issue and chasing shadows. 

Why the sudden reverse when all he has always done is to attack President Muhammadu Buhari’s supporters across the State? If he is denying not sponsoring media attack against President Buhari,who is sponsoring the group planning to stage a protest by this week against President Buhari to demand for his impeachment? 

Who funded  the lawyer Barr. Nnamdi Nwokocha Ahiwe and the media over President Buhari’s Certificate case in court? And who later compensated him by pushing his name to the Governor  for appointment as the Chairman Board of Abia State Infrastructure and Fiscal planning?

In Chinedu’s poor response to me in Naira land through a pseudo account name Charles Onwuka, he stated that I am a ‘semi’ illiterate,that I didn’t graduate from Abia State University. He even   went barbaric calling me a rapist,cultist and an armed robber and bravely insinuated that I was expelled from school. 

The word “semi” implies little, meaning if I am semi illiterate,I actually went to school small? ,but between you Chinedu Orji and I,who has a record of not being in school? 

Prof.Ajah Kpuru Ajah,Dr.Steve Egbo,Dr. Uduma,Sir Iheonu,Dr. Nwosu,HOD Osi,Dr.Okerere,Alozie and host of other sound lecturers wouldnt have graduated a semi illiterate from their department. Lets assume I never went to school,but I am not a murderer. 

Your sycophants often address you as Engineer Chinedu Orji,is the Engineer also an alias as Ikuku? If you truly graduated from the said school,why did you fill in only School Cert/WAEC in your INEC declaration Form #CF 001?
What happened to the Degree Certificate?

Who will the World remember for sleeping with his aides wife and on the day the young man found out,he was assassinated in an occasion for a cover up so that he won’t talk to the World and it was tagged accidental discharge by the blood suckers?

Do you think that the wife of that young man hasn’t spoken to some close people? It’s painful that Mr. John is no more alive to tell the World what actually went wrong that cut short his life.

Even if I am an  illiterate as you imagine, I don’t sleep with my friends’ and colleagues’ wives. Let me be an illiterate  but not a murderer whom only option is to plot assassins against oppositions.

The threat you issued to me has been tabled to the relevant authorities and your hirelings blackmail is not new to us in Abia as I will always diffuse your strategies against me.

I don’t have anything against the Abia State 6th Assembly as insinuated by Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe, and I am aware of the limited powers of the House. We are in democratic regime and everything has a laid down procedure. I will state that while some of them felt slighted by my rebroadcast,a post not originated by me,good number of them still understood that it was strictly Chinedu’s business.

I challenge you Chinedu Orji to publish your certificate if you truly graduated from FUTO. We live in a World where every information can be accessed from a phone on your palm or system on your table or laps. For clarity purposes,publish your certificate.

Stop sponsoring media attacks on me and other President Buhari’s supporters. Stop sponsoring attacks on President Buhari. It will do Abia people more good if you concentrate your energy in legislative duties (that’s if you understand what you are doing there) than attacking the President,his supporters and APC.

Hon.Demian Ifeanyi Igbokwe 

Wrote from Isuikwuato.

Like Our Facebook Page 

​My support for His Excellency Dr Orji Uzor Kalu (mon) is born out of my belief in 2nd chance doctrine.

if the truth is to be told, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu had the luckiest opportunity to lead the South Eastern Nigeria but for obvious reasons he messed it up.

As a result of his inactions, the people of the East are today without a leader. Dr Orji Uzor Kalu would have become to NDIGBO what Tinubu is for the Yoruba people today.

While he looks forward for a greater opportunity to serve again, his eyes must not be off from Abia State for Charity they say starts at home.

Dr Orji Uzor Kalu must create platform and rooms for new leaders to emerge. He must look inward to discover new breed of leaders and give them hope to grow.

It is never too late for him to bounce back but a few things must be considered.

Dr Orji Uzor Kalu should be much concerned with leadership role than being political. His attention should go beyond party lines.

2. He must fashion a new way and agenda. Thinking that he will lead our people again with the same old people and partern could be disastrous.

For Dr Orji Uzor Kalu to have another take at any form of leadership in Nigeria, He must invest his time and resources in the youths. Create every avenue for the  younger generation to meet and under study him. such investment will payoff in no distance time.

The forthcoming elections in Anambra state will be a clear attitude test for Dr Orji Uzor Kalu on this regards.

The true quality of a man is not known for where he stands in time of comfort but in time of  controversy.

While we support him, we should as well pray God to guide and direct his steps and CHASE AWAY the old bad people.

KEEP HOPE ALIVE.

Achilihu Destiny 

writes from Ntigha

Ozubulu killings Worst Barbarism, Wickedness On Southeast Soil- Dr Orji Kalu

 Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has condemned the gun attack on worshippers at a Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Anambra State. 

Speaking in a signed press statement by his Special Assistant, Mr Peter Eze,  Dr. Kalu said the attack is the worst form of barbarism and wickedness on  Southeast soil.

He called on both the Federal and State governments to get to the root of the attack and ensure that no such terror is visited on worshippers in any part of the country.

According to him, worshippers should be free to worship God without fear of terrorist attacks.

He said those who masterminded the Ozubulu attack, must be brought to book and judicially punished.

“News of an armed attack on worshippers at St.Philips  Catholic Church  in Ozubulu in Anambra State hit me with a shock. As I send this, I still am unable to fathom the rationale behind such barbarism and clear wickedness. 

“ It is very depressing and no reasons justify such act of terror. It is condemnable. It is wrong. It is uncalled for. We do not need further bloodshed in Nigeria.

“I urge the security agencies, Federal and state governments and all local security apparatus to ensure that those behind this barbaric act, and their sponsors, are exposed and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“ We can’t continue like this. No one, no matter how highly placed, should get away with such acts. 

“ While I commiserate with families of victims of the attack and the Catholic Church in Anambra State,the state government  and Nigeria at large, I also wish to call on all Nigerians to remain vigilant at all times and report suspicious movements around them to nearby vigilantes and  Police”, he said.

Dr. Kalu also urged the Inspector General of Police to beef up security around places of worship across the country so as to protect worshippers.

Like Our Facebook Page 

​MY CONFRONTATION WITH OBASANJO:- FAYOSE

“When I was to return to PDP, Segun Oni was already the PDP Governor of Ekiti.
The next time I saw Obasanjo was in Osogbo when there was a thanksgiving service for Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

 

I got there and met General Ibrahim Babangida, Alao Akala and a host of sitting governors. I remember Kenny Martins was also there. As I entered, Obasanjo sat at the extreme right and Babangida sat at the extreme left.

Then I started greeting people from the center towards the direction of Obasanjo. Then Governor Alao Akala of Oyo State told me, ‘can’t you see Baba sitting at the other side? And I said, ‘which Baba? Which one? He said ‘Obasanjo’ 

Before I could say anything, Obasanjo said ‘Ah, he cannot see me. You know he is a bastard’. Then I got really angry and faced Obasanjo and told him, ‘Baba, you are the bastard! You are the bastard and the father of all the bastards’. I said in Yorubaland and in Nigeria, tell me another family called Obasanjo. 
I told him, ‘You will find a Fayose in Ekiti, Akure, Ilesha, Kogi. Where is another Obasanjo in Nigeria? I challenge you to show me where there is another, which shows you are a real bastard’.

General Babangida was shocked. If you had dropped cotton ball at that moment, you would have heard a sound. There was pin drop silence. I was really angry and I told him he was not going to leave where he sat. Oyinlola came and started begging me. I told him that Obasanjo was a former President and I was a former Governor that it would end up in two fighting.

People had to plead with me to allow Obasanjo leave the venue peacefully. I remember very well that afterwards, IBB came to me and shook my hands and said ‘young man, I have not met a brave man like you’.

You know Obasanjo lies a lot. He likes to present himself as the only leading light in Yorubaland. He does not see anything good in any other person apart from himself. That is why it was so difficult for him to give Awolowo his due and also acknowledge Abiola for the hero he was while he was in power between 1999 and 2007.”

Culled from The Interview Magazine, Issue 18, July 2017, pages 19-20 by Adedoyin Banjo-Adeniyi.
Like Our Facebook Page 

‘DAY OF ODESSA’- Ukraine Invites Orji Kalu For Celebration

 

Ukrainian government has written former governor of Abia State and Chairman of Slok Group, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, requesting his presence as Special Guest of Honour for the 2017 ‘Day of Odessa’ celebration in Ukraine. 

Day of Odessa is an annual event held in Odessa, a city governed by a Mayor and ranks as the third most populous city in Ukraine 

A letter personally signed by the Major of Odessa, His Excellency Gennadiy Trukhanov, said “many reputable international figures with prowess in leadership and business had honoured the occasion in the past” and asked Kalu to honour the event on September 1.

The Mayor said: “It is a pleasure for me to invite you as our Special Guest as well as accompanying persons to visit Odessa and take part in our celebrations during which everybody enjoys inimitable atmosphere of beautiful multidimensional Odessa and unquenchable optimism of its citizens.” 

“Your acceptance of this kind request would undoubtedly propel a strong rallying point for establishment of cross cultural relationship and exchange of experiences between the people of Nigeria and Ukraine,” Trukhanov said.

Like Our Facebook Page