KALU CAUTIONS ON IMPOSITION OF CANDIDATES..

Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State against imposition of candidates during the party’s ward congress slated for May.

Kalu, who spoke in Umuahia, during a meeting of APC stakeholders, condemned the recent leadership squabble which tends to factionalise the party in the state, and added that if nothing was urgently done to arrest the situation, it could negatively affect the progress the party has made in Abia.

“It is unfortunate that, of recent, we have had leadership squabble in the party in Abia, which tends to factionalise it. We should do something immediately; to arrest the situation before it negatively affects the party.”

Kalu called on all warring factions of the party in the state to sheathe their swords and form alliances in order to ensure that the party succeeds in the state, and stressed that he and other stakeholders of the party, in Abia, will not fold their arms and watch some members destroy the party in the state.

“All the warring factions of the party in the state should sheathe their swords and form alliance in order to ensure that the party succeeds in the state and win the next election.

“To this end, all the stakeholders of the party in the state should not fold their arms and watch some members destroy the party in Abia state,” Kalu counselled.

VANGUARD AWARD: A TRAVESTY OF JOURNALISTIC ETHICS

When I first read the news about Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s Vanguard award as the best Governor in the country for the year 2017 my emotions were torn between amusement and anger. My initial reaction was to say to myself, this must be some kind of joke being perpetrated on a gullible Abia public by some prankster in this era of fake news. My next reaction was to make a few calls to ascertain the authenticity of the award and the Facebook posting. On authenticating the news, I couldn’t be more disgusted at how low Nigerian journalism has descended. With this award, there is no denying this simple truth, that the Vanguard Newspaper has not only demeaned the profession of Journalism but has also lost its luster as a national newspaper bound by the ethics of objectivity and truth-telling. It is also quite obvious that the newspaper by this singular act has crossed the line from journalism to partisan politics and when you do that, you can’t go back.

At the risk of being too presumptuous in assuming that the management or the editorial board of the newspaper, is involved in this scam of an award informs us that the freedom of journalists has become in most cases a very relative thing. That it ends where the interests of business, and financial benefits begin. For me, this award is not only a definition of wayward journalism but also emblematic of how most institutions in Nigeria have been destroyed by the corrupting influence of money. All over the civilized world, newspapers have a duty, to tell the truth, to do their due diligence in ascertaining the truth and to inform the reading public accordingly. Unfortunately today in Nigeria, the mendacity of the media has assumed dangerous and ignominious proportions. While some lie without hesitating, others becoming mere praise singers and the harbinger of propaganda, a few still attempt to disseminate the truth occasionally so they can deceive the public with the requisite authority when it becomes necessary. Today in Nigeria, absolute truth has become a very rare commodity in the context of professional journalism.

As the Vanguard award has exposed for public awareness, many Nigerian journalists are no more than channels’ and echoers of what George Orwell called “the official truth”, either the version of truth the Government wants the public to hear, hence John Pilger, a prominent American writer once described such journalists as people “who simply cipher and transmit lies” Many of this ilk he went further to opine, “have become what the French describe as “functionaires “, functionaries, not journalists, adding that “with these types of journalists, they are anything but impartial and objective”. The problem with the words impartiality and objectivity in Nigeria’s journalistic parlance is that they have lost their dictionary meaning. A good example or poster boy of journalistic deception and propaganda being the BCA, Abia State radio broadcasting station. For such media outlets like the BCA, the term “propaganda” rings melodramatic and exaggerated, but a press that –whether from fear, careerism, or conviction uncritically recites false Government claims and reports them as facts, or treats elected officials with the reverence reserved for royalty cannot be accurately described as engaging in any other function.

Even as a former low- level journalist or Reporter trainee with the now-defunct Imo broadcasting Service right after high school, I knew then that journalism was not the noble profession it professes to be, at least in the Nigerian context. I saw brown envelopes being exchanged as they still occur. I knew also that the politician who handed out those brown envelopes stuffed with Naira bills received favorable news coverage. I also was aware that the fact that the Imo broadcasting corporation was owned by the Imo state government, meant that news stories were always slanted in its favor. This practice evidently still continues as can be seen by most state-owned media outlets. In essence, what I am trying to say is that I am not like the guy in the movie “Casablanca” who expressed surprise there was gambling still going on in the casino. However what I am shocked about is that what used to be the individual indiscretion of the journalist has today become a journalistic malpractice also perpetrated by media management officials. If not, how can anyone explain the award by the Vanguard Newspaper on a Governor who is arguably one of the worst in the nation?.

The questions I’m sure are fermenting in the minds of everyone are these-what criteria did the vanguard use in determining the qualifications for this award? What were the benchmarks used for measuring effective governance and achievement? What parameters did they use in assessing transformational leadership? What poll did they conduct to gauge public support and rate of approval by the Abia people for the job performance of Ikpeazu? This is a Governor who owes civil servants and pensioners in his state 7-10 month’s salary arrears. A Governor, whose administration has accumulated more debt than can ever be repaid in the many years to come. A Governor, who has done a horrible job of being a prudent manager of the state financial resources. A Governor, who has been judged to be a purveyor of nepotism and favoritism, surrounding himself with intellectual misfits and drunks that can be described as square pegs in round holes. A Governor, who lives in a cocoon of alternative reality and his twisted and distorted view of it. The truth is that an award such as this has to be in line with competence and ability hence we don’t need the Vanguard award to shock our consciousness.

As evidence or proof that this Governor suffers from serious moral impairment, how can any Governor in good conscience, considering the poor financial state of his administration, the on-going strike by AbiaPoly staff and students for non-payment of salaries, not to mention that of teachers, spend millions buying first class plane tickets, chartering private jets and reserving dozens of hotel rooms in Lagos for the large entourage that accompanied him to receive his fake award. An act, reminiscent of Nero, the Roman Emperor who fiddled while Rome burned. That this Governor will receive a ‘Best Governor” award instead of such Governors as Obiano of Anambra State, Umahi of Ebonyi or Ambode of Lagos state boggles the mind and is beyond comprehension. That the Vanguard Newspaper will prefer Governor Ikpeazu to the afore-mentioned Governors is proof positive that the newspaper has sacrificed its virtue as a serious newspaper and that it celebrates mediocrity at the expense of true achievement.

Albert Einstein the renowned and celebrated scientists once wrote and I quote, “not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that is counted truly counts”. I will bet that in the minds of a majority of Abia citizens and in the annals of history, this award does not count and will never count for anything. That in a few months to come, no one will remember it and neither will it be a determining factor in the way the Abia people will vote come the 2019 elections. As this Governor and his band of sycophants continue to luxuriate and celebrate this award, I make bold to say, it will not be worth the plaque on which it was engraved hence as the 2019 election approaches the venality, turpitude, and corruption of the Ikpeazu administration will be made manifest. This award in all reality is a lie and like all lies, they start out sweet and end up bitter while the truth starts out bitter and ends up sweet.

As in the words of Robert Muller, the Special Counsel who is presently investigating Russian Collusion in the 2016 U.S presidential elections, “if you have integrity nothing else matters and if you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters”. This Governor is a man without integrity, vision, ability or governing competence hence no number of awards, staged adoption ceremonies and even endorsements by witch doctors will cloak him with an aura of integrity, acceptability, reverence or wash away the stain he has wrought on the art of governance. To the vanguard Newspaper management and journalists, I will say “you never justify someone’s incompetence with an award. If you do, you are not making them better, rather you are making them worse on the bad things they are doing”.

Nnanna Ijomah Is a New York City-based Political Science lecturer.

2019: Ohiri Unveils ‘Stay Baba’ Group For Buhari

A pro-Buhari reelection organization known as ‘Stay Baba’ has been formally unveiled in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at the event which took place on Saturday at National Press Centre, Radio House, Garki, Abuja, the national coordinator, Ohiri O. Lewis reaffirmed the commitment of the organization to mobilize support for the reelection bid of President Muhammad Buhari.

He described President Buhari as a transparent leader whose emergence as President in 2015 saved the nation from a disastrous collapse owing to the alarming level of corruption that characterized the past administration.

The Abia-born businessman cum politician, who highlighted the numerous achievements of President Buhari, maintained that the reelection of President Buhari will further stabilized the economy as well as guarantee massive developmental projects across the country.

He, therefore, appealed to the youths and Nigerians to think the nation first by supporting the reelection bid of President Buhari.

In his votes of thanks, Deputy Director, Mobilization & Stategy(North), Mallam D. Alancha, described President Buhari’s reelection bid as priority to the organisation and the entire nation.

He also enjoined Nigerians to see President Buhari as the best and credible choice for the nation’s plum job.

The event was well attended by the national and zonal officers as well as state coordinators of ODO.

How much do you know Dr Orji Uzor Kalu ?

*This is what my friend and colleague from another state wrote about Dr Orji Uzor Kalu and why we should all support him for this humanitarian race*

Orji Uzor Kalu a Magnum Opus (part 1)

I must say, amongst igbo elder statesmen there are a few of iconic value that I hold on a high esteem and Orji Uzor Kalu is one. Born April 21, 1960 , the chairman of SLOK Holding and the Daily Sun and New Telegraph newspapers in Nigeria, who served as the governor of Abia State, Nigeria from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. Prior to his election, he served as the chairman of the Borno Water Board and the chairman of the Cooperative and Commerce Bank Limited. Kalu was also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and the chairman of the PPA Board of Trustees. He was the party’s presidential candidate in the April 2007 general election. At the moment He is currently a member of the ruling party after he officially announced his resignation as a PPA BOT.

Kalu headed First International Bank Limited at the age of 33.[6] He also stewarded Nigerian commercial relations with China’s SinoPacific Shipbuilding company while serving as a principal of SLOK Holding.

In the recent time Kalu has been a staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, a “close friend and father, who deserves all the support to make Nigeria better.
Never the less, as a petrotic igbo man Kalu is involved with the Njiko Igbo Movement, whose purpose is to help secure the presidential seat for a Nigerian citizen of Igbo extraction; an Igbo has only held the presidency for six months since Nigeria’s independence.

The movement has branches and support groups throughout the diaspora.Kalu launched the organization together with former Nigerian Senator Emmanuel Onwe, a human rights advocate and lawyer earlier based in the United Kingdom. And with all these one don’t need to be told that Kalu is a man that believes in the igbo nation and strives hard to see the igbo race relevant through diplomacy.

As a lover of peace, Kalu paid a courtesy visit on the Oba of Lagos, His Highness, Rilwan Akiolu, as part of his peace tour initiative, said peaceful co-existence is the only way to make the country progress effectively. Kalu pointed out that the country would not make any significant progress if the citizens were not united, saying that the country is an asset that should be harnessed. Responding, Oba Akiolu noted that the country was going through difficult times and, therefore, is at the mercy of God. He urged politicians and the citizenry to always put the country first in all they do, urging the political class to be “new born politicians.”

He thanked Kalu for the visit, urging him to continue the tour, which he noted would promote unity among Nigerians.

Chief Orji Uzor Kalu has not only made peace advocacy imparative in the igbo nation but in Nigeria at large. Words pouring out from the ink in my hand and body full of mouth will not be enough to go on to share the good and of Orji Uzor Kalu.

AnDre Chukwudi Harriman.
For Tuwantu Media

Kalu Expresses Confidence In Tinubu

From Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos

Former Governor of Abia State and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Orji Kalu has expressed confidence in the ability of the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, to reconcile all warring groups and individuals within the party.

Kalu, who hailed the choice of Tinubu recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to reconcile various interests and stakeholders, however, tasked the national leader to expedite action in the reconciliatory efforts.

He decried a situation where a Minister and state governor work at cross purposes in some state chapters, saying the development does not augur well for party cohesion.

Speaking with newsmen on his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA2), Kalu said President Buhari would soon make his intention known on whether or not he would contest in 2019.

According to him, Buhari would win a re- election because he enjoys the support of the masses.

Emphasizing the need for reconciliation, he made reference to the development in Oyo state which he said he reported to the party authorities in Abuja.

He said: “I reported it to the highest levels of our party and our government. This was three weeks ago, immediately I left Ibadan, I felt it wasn’t the right atmosphere to continue the party where a governor and a minister will be going on two parallel ways. It is not for the benefit of the President, it is neither for the benefit of the party nor for the benefit of the Nigerian people. The synergy will not be there.

“He is entitled for a second term. Even people that fail class also repeat class in elementary school and secondary. Buhari has done very well, have you gone to see the Niger bridge? It is reconstructed; so you can see and I know things are very difficult.

“As Ibo, I know also we have been cheated in many ways but this is a new beginning. They have been cheating us since 1960 up till today, so the issue is that we must build a national cohesion. What is lacking in Nigeria is inability to build national cohesion by all stakeholders. We are still building a tribal cohesion where people remember where they come from.”

He is of the view that the Igbo support for Buhari’s re-election would pave way for Igbo presidency in 2023, adding that their presidency would bring greater prosperity to Nigeria.

As Abia Teachers and Poly Lecturers Begin Their Strikes, It Can Only Get Worse For Okezie Ikpeazu.

1. If you are still in doubt that the award conferred on Mr Okezie Ikpeazu by the editors and management of Vanguard newspaper last Saturday as the governor of the year was purchased like pure water from street hawkers, the unfolding events since Monday offers all the proof.

2. Less than 48 hours after Vanguard newspaper and her management decided to reward bad behaviour by honouring Mr Ikpeazu, teachers under the umbrella of NUT began an indefinite strike. Almost immediately, their colleagues at Abia state polytechnic Aba also shut down the institution.

3. Both the NUT and staff of Abia poly have made it clear that they will only return to work after their salary arrears of more than 7 months are cleared.

4. Sharing in the burden of their teachers, students of the polytechnic today took to the streets of Aba to register their displeasure with Mr Ikpeazu’s brand of wickedness.

5. The staff of the local governments and those of ABSUTH would also be starting their industrial action in no distant time.

6. In truth, the whole of Abia ought to be on strike to protest the mismanagement and blind looting of the state resources by a small cotiere of men connected by association with Nweke Street.

7. Daily in Aba and Umuahia, thugs and criminals empowered by the state government harass and intimidate taxi drivers, keke riders, artisans and traders into parting with sums ranging from N200 to N1000 in the name of revenue drive.

8. On the average, these thugs rake in between 40 and 80 million naira daily.

9. Okezie Ikpeazu himself did admit that Abia’s monthly IGR is 1.2 billion naira. That’s about the highest in the entire Igboland.

10. For the past three years, Abia’s FAAC receipt on the average is N2.5 billion.

11. Inflows from intervention funds like ecological funds, foreign donations and accruals from multilateral organisations stands at 600 million naira monthly.

12. If you make a rough calculation, the least the Abia state government raises each month from external and internal sources is 4.3 billion naira.

13. How can a state that earns 4.3 billion naira and above each month be owing pensioners for 11months, teachers for 8 months and workers across departments and agencies arrears of 8 months and above?

14. Abia state like we have established has the worst infrastructure in the whole of southern Nigeria.

15. Projects like the Osisioma half bridge and ifeobara drainage project are inflated by close to 2000%.

16. Is it not callous for Mr Ikpeazu to have spent over 500 millions naira on the charade of Vanguard Award ceremony last weekend when millions of families are starving?

17. I had said it that Okezie Ikpeazu is Abia state’s version of Chinweoke Mbadinuju who like a fool ran after rats while inferno raged in his house.

18. I had also made it clear Abia state is in a strong Satanic bondage whose foundation was laid in 1999 and most elites in the state can’t speak out because they all are deeply compromised.
19. It is now left for the true victims of the leadership disaster playing out in the state- the people to rise up and like Anambra people in 2003 say in one accord- “enough”

20. The task of sacking Mr Ikpeazu has become too important that we can no longer leave it solely in the hands of politicians. Everyone in Abia state must now get involved in showing this befuddled fellow the road to his village.
21. Say it everyday- Abia deserves better than Mr Ikpeazu’s best.
Vanguardnews, Ihedigbo Mbaukwu, Nnamdi Obasi, Stephen Chinomso Ogbonnah, let us please take this message round.

Group Lauds Keyamo’s appointment As Buhari’s Campaign Spokesperson

A pro-Buhari group known as One Destiny Organization, ODO, has applauded the appointment of Festus Keyamo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, as Director of Strategic Communications of the Buhari Campaign Organization, BCO.

The national coordinator of ODO, Ohiri O. Lewis said the appointment of Keyamo was in recognition of his integrity, commitment and dedication to the cause of President Buhari’s reelection.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday and signed by Ohiri, also known as NG-1 Designer, the group said, “It is a well deserved appointment. Nigerians know that Festus Keyamo is a committed Buharist, an ardent supporter of the policies and programs of this administration and not a frivolous person.

“He has overtime shown commitment in the president’s war on corruption, he has been steadfast in helping to drive home the new culture of transparency the president wants Nigerians to embrace through his numerous media interventions and has proven beyond any iota of doubt that he is ready to give his all for the reelection project of Mr President.

“We in One Destiny Organization have no doubt whatsoever that Keyamo will bring his youthfulness in driving the positive narrative of this administration.”

Keyamo was via a letter dated April 16, 2018 and signed by Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, the Director General of Buhari Campaign Organization, appointed the Director of Strategic Communications.

According to the letter, Keyamo is to be the spokesperson of the organization both for party primaries and the general elections.

ODO also said Amaechi exhibited a high sense of good judgement by appointing Keyamo to lead the the strategic communications arm of the campaign, saying that with this appointment, the road to the reelection of President Buhari in 2019 has become smoother.

The group has also pledged its commitment to the reelection project and said it would leave no stone unturned in seeing that the project becomes a success.

Jonathan Did Nothing For Igbos – Nwosu

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan did not do anything for the South East, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Imo state Uche Nwosu has alleged.

Nwosu also urged the Igbos to reject the Vice President slot being touted to be given to them by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said this in reaction to President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to run for a second term in 2019.

According to him, the “Vice Presidential slot in any party including the PDP is a complete waste because what a President can achieve in one day, a Vice President cannot achieve in eight years,” Nwosu added.

“The Igbo should not be distracted by any offer from opposition parties but should remain focused and support President Buhari.

“If President Buhari is re-elected, it there means that we have only four years to wait but if any other person emerges as President from any other zone, what it means is that we will have to wait for another eight years. This is our best chance and the Igbo should grab it with both hands”, he maintained.”

He continued that, “aside from the Igbo Presidency which the Buhari’s second term will secure for the Igbo, he has also done very well for the Southeast.

“Take the second Niger Bridge for instance, work is going on and you can see it, not the fluke that was done by former President Goodluck Jonathan. The only man that talked about the Port Harcourt-Enugu road, the Onitsha-Enugu road, is President Buhari.

“Today we have a Cargo Airport in Owerri and President Buhari did it and today, Anambra state has been enlisted among the oil producing states, all these and many more are done by President Buhari, President Goodluck didn’t do it for us.”

WHY I PARTED WAYS WITH SEN. ORJI – NORMAN OBINNA

The former media aide to the former governor of Abia state, now senator T .A Orji has revealed why they parted ways. In this article, Don Norman Obinna tells his story.

Having inveigled himself into my affection during our 29th December 2015 meeting, Sen. Orji then put a call across to me on Wednesday 27th January 2016. He drew my attention to a documentary by Dr. Alex Otti and APGA on AIT. It dovetailed how he intimidated Selina Okoh to reverse the canceled Obingwa, Isialangwa North/South results.

He was barely eight months in the Senate and was subjected to assortment of spiteful taunts. With the prospect of PDP getting favorable Supreme Court judgment still iffy; flaccid and pedestrian rebuttal wasn’t an option. He wanted a perlocutionary rebuttal. It was an undemanding decision for me having reconciled our differences in December.

But the challenge was whose signature will be appended to the rebuttal. I initially refused to sign but because I was in Lagos and he in Abuja, he appealed to me to do so since it must be given to the Nation Newspaper before 4pm for publication next day.

As I shilly-shallied, he reassured me of his capability and urged me to resign and consider the media adviser offer on the table since 2015. He swept me off balance with several enticing words embroidered with consanguineous sentimentalism. I would have been considered a misanthropist if I had rejected his appeal any further.

At that point my heart was softened and I truckled to his demand; left my bastion to a voyage that would turn me a victim of political grudge. That act of solidarity (appending my signature to the rebuttal) instantly took away the shine off my weekly column in New Telegraph popularly known as ‘Banters with Don Norman’. My readership reduced significantly and most of them texted to register their discontentment.
ALSO READ: WICKEDNESS! Secondary Student Tied To A Pillar By Teacher As Punishment (Photos)

I had not only risked the wrath of my readers but also the management but felt satisfied making such sacrifice for Ochendo even without receiving a dime, a written agreement or assurance if sacked. Yet resentfulness could not allow him take note of my sacrifice. To him it was a payback time. Having given him the rebuttal he craved for he requested that we meet in Umuahia the next month being February for the craic.

But we never met until Sunday 27th February 2016. He had called me on Tuesday 23rd February to inform me of an interview by Chief B.B Apugo published in Sun Newspaper of Monday 22nd February under the headline: B.B Apugo Bombs Ex Gov T.A Orji Again. He wanted another strong worded right of reply and also discussion on terms of agreement.

When I arrived at Umuahia, we met on Sunday and after extensive negotiation, we settled for N700, 000 monthly package. The N700, 000 was to take care of my salary, data bundle, (N36k), 10 copies of newspapers daily, (N60k) online publications, (N40k) hotel accommodation flight tickets and data gathering, (N200k). These expenses leave me with N364k. But his assurance of improved package if I proved my competence spurred me to action. Needless to tell you how effectively I managed Ochendo from my salary without single Kobo designated for the office of a media adviser for journalists or any other emergency.

The only responsibility he accepted was to provide money for right of replies. On job security, he assured me of his first four years at the senate, which was acceptable to me because I had no plan to work for him beyond May 29, 2019 because I planned to concentrate on my PhD programme thereafter.

Leveraging on the cordiality thereafter Ochendo pressurized me to shutdown The City Reporters – a viable news website- that generated $1, 000 monthly from Google alone with a promise to compensate me adequately. His reason was to ensure that detractors do not lift negative stories against him from it.

It was a difficult decision but I shutdown The City Reporters to demonstrate solidarity and loyalty. I also spoke to few online editors close to me to step down every negative story on Sen. Orji and also not give prominence to new ones.

ALSO READ: FEAR OF OCHENDO: WHEN SEN. ORJI ARISES, CYNICS SCATTER — Don Norman Obinna

Not until resumption that I realized the enormity of my assignment. It was sacrilegious to mention Ochendo on social media. Having analyzed the trend, I had to quickly come up with a planned action. But it required extra cost but Ochendo wouldn’t have any of that. To ensure the successful execution of the strategy forthwith, I employed 12 man online media team led by Ugochukwu Ezenwa and paid them N120, 000 monthly from the N364k left after expenses. That left me with N244k but I was never bothered.

On my appointment letter, he said I will pick it up whenever I come to Abuja. But he kept making excuses even when I told him that I needed the appointment letter to open a salary account. He kept dribbling me because unknown to me, he had clandestine motives.
Then few months to the job, after the dissenting voices had fizzled out, Sen. Orji started reminding me almost every week how I attacked his government. From his body language, I could tell he was up to something sinister. Shortly afterwards, he sent me a text message that read thus: “Due to financial constraint, your N700, 000 monthly package has been reduced to N500, 000. You are therefore expected to carry out your responsibilities adequately. I regret any inconvenience. Thanks.”

I reminded him that his decision was a breach of contractual agreement and insisted that it must be rescinded because that will leave me with N44, 000 at the end of the month. I refused to accept it but then had to dissolve the media team. I however maintained quality P.R.O in order not to give him reason to effortlessly fulfill his desire.

ALSO READ: ABIA COURT UNLEASHES A 74 YEAR OLD HOMOSEXUAL PEDOPHILE ON OHUHU COMMUNITY iN ABIA

His character towards me changed. His security aides surprisingly, no longer allow me access to him when he was in Umuahia. We hardly communicate. In fact Piro Siro was the one notifying me of outings and engagements through Whatsapp. I knew trouble was brewing on the horizon but I was looking for a silver lining.

Having looked for excuse to sack me to no avail, on September 29, Sen. Orji sent me yet another message that read thus: “Due to financial constraint, your N500, 000 monthly package has been slashed to N250, 000. You are therefore expected to discharge your duties adequately. I regret any inconvenience. Thanks.”

At first I thought it was a shavie and sought for reconfirmation from him. I almost got a bit cuckoo on realizing how I had been played for a fool. He knew what he did. It is absolutely impossible to operate with N250, 000. To him, he has fulfilled his long awaited desire to have his revenge on me. After all, he had tricked me to shutdown The City Reporters-my means of livelihood-; truncated my media career because I cannot go back to New Telegraph due to his constant media war with Orji Kalu that kept me at the center of the battle. I knew it was time to say goodbye and I actually did. But then I had lost $22, 000 for the 22 months I worked for him. I needed him to keep to his promise of compensating me as agreed and also pay me what was agreed. But then something unbelievable happened.

Group Drums Support For Buhari’s 2nd Term Bid …Applauds Kalu’s Push For 2023 Igbo Presidency

A pro-Buhari group, One Destiny Organization(ODO), has thrown its weight behind President Mohammadu Buhari declaration to seek reelection for a second term in office.

The group also called on Igbo political leaders and youths to quickly queue behind President Buhari’s 2019 reelection bid to further brighten the chances of electing a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

In a statement made available to newsmen and signed by ODO’s national coordinator, Ohiri O. Lewis, the group posited that President Buhari remains the best option in terms of performance and credibility for the nation’s plum job considering his achievements in office.

“It is with great joy that all of us in One Destiny Organization (ODO) welcome the declaration of President Mohammadu Buhari to seek reelection as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We ideally share the sentiment and clarion call by many Nigerians that President Buhari needs another four years after May 2019 to further stabilize the nation economically and otherwise” Ohiri said.

Describing President Buhari as the best material for the All Progressives Congress(APC) and the Presidency come 2019, the Abia-born businessman cum politician expressed that President Buhari’s election about 3 years ago expediently marked a turning point in the political annals of the country hence his administration saved the entire nation from economic and infrastructural collapse.

“President Buhari’s election in 2015 was the only development in our political history that saved the nation from economic and infrastructural collapse. We can’t forget in a hurry how our national treasury was looted by the operators of the past administration to the extend that projects were no longer funded. But, it took the intervention of President Buhari and his dogged fight against corruption to rescue the country from such a disastrous collapse” he also posited.

Also declaring ODO’s position on the age-long agitation for Igbo presidency, Ohiri alluded that President Buhari’s declaration has brightened the chances for Ndigbo to produce the Nigerian president come 2023.

While commending the former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, for sensitizing Ndigbo as well as proffering a clearer political direction to Ndigbo towards the actualization of Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, Ohiri also enjoined the political and opinion leaders from south east to urgently queue behind President Buhari’s second term bid to among other political gains make the realization of Igbo presidency an easy one in 2023.

He also described Kalu’s ongoing visit to political and traditional leaders from other geo-political zones as timely and strategic, adding that such political initiative will definitely reintegrate Ndigbo into the mainstream of the national polity.

Convoy Accident: Ohiri Condoles With Ikpeazu’s Wife, Deceased Families

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Abia State, Ohiri O. Lewis has commiserated with the wife of the governor, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu over the tragic death of two women following a fatal accident involving one of the vehicles in her convoy.

In a statement made available to the media, Ohiri also known as NG-1 Designer, described the incident as very unfortunate and a monumental loss to the state and the deceased families.

While extending his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and government of Abia State under the leadership of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ohiri also prayed God to grant the affected families the grace and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

He, however, urged the governor and government of Abia State to urgently retrain all convoy drivers to reinvent their consciousness towards good driving and traffic codes to among other things forestall future occurrences of such unfortunate incident.

Emulating Ohiri’s Politics of Togetherness

The foray of Ohiri O. Lewis into partisanship was greeted with great excitement. His choice of political party, though a surprise to many, also explains a greater vision and radical departure from the general expectation. While some political permutations as upheld by some bookmakers had favoured the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and alternate All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA), Ohiri’s entry to the fold of All Progressives Allisnce(APC) hugely ignited more confusion to many that ordinarily lack political knowledge and its dynamism.

The Abia-born businessman and national convener, One Destiny Organization(ODO) has not hidden his love and unquenchable support to President Mohammadu Buhari. His resolve to set up a pro-Buhari organisation that presently mobilizes the youth and other Nigerians across the six geo-political zones of the country practically explains his dream for a stabilized and prosperous Nigeria under Buhari.

Though an APC member from Abia, Ohiri who is also a patron/member of Friends of Buhari(FoB) has never assumed a confrontational posture with his kinsmen who are of the PDP and APGA afilliations. He plays the politics that is clearly separated from rancour, bitterness and treachery. Little wonder he throws his door wide open to everyone irrespective of political leaning. Beyond that, Ohiri has always preached peace and togetherness to gladiators and political power seekers. There is no gain saying that Ohiri, popularly called NG-1 Designer has redefined politics in his own unique form.

A typical Ohiri and his style of politics is the manner he organised two different political programmes for the two major political parties in Abia. It was first the ‘Abia APC Mega Rally’s held about three months ago at Umuahia Township stadium. He provided his state-of-the-art equipment and hi-tech sound system to the party. He was equally on ground to surpervise the technicians and utility workers towards ensuring a hitch-free programme.

After a while, the PDP came calling. The party equally sought for Ohiri’s services. Of course, the cost wasn’t a problem either. He made it clear to the organisers that the ‘Ukwa La Ngwa’ declaration for Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, his cousin from same compound, equally involved him as a son of the soil. The programme which took place on Tuesday 2nd April 2018 at Ngwa High School, Aba, Abia State, was superlatively successful as six trucks trucks laden with all manner of equipment, sound system and giant generators were deployed to lighten up the venue. The event was indeed colourful courtesy of Ohiri’s equipment and supplies.

What manner of politician is Ohiri, one may ask? A member of APC and close ally of President Buhari and brothers? A brother to Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and supporter of his government? A friend to Dr. Alex Otti and supporter of his struggle and dream for a better? What then become the lessons one can draw from Ohiri’s uniqness and brotherliness that drives him politically?

Well, the NG-1 Designer emains a man to watch as 2019 draws nearer.