H/E SENATOR ORJI UZOR KALU EXHORTS THE PEOPLE OF ABIA-NORTH SENATORIAL ZONE.

PRESS RELEASE!!

The Distinguished Senator representing Abia-North Senatorial Zone, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has called on his people to brace up, in the face of the pandemic that has hit the World today. In a statement released by his Media Aide s/e Hon. Maduka Okoro, the Chef Whip of the Senate expressed his ultimate and abiding Faith in God that this COVID-19 will eventually be a thing of the past.

He asked that this difficult and challenging period does call not only for solemn reflections but for all true/well meaning Abia-North Sons/Daughters, despite the Socio-Political differences to collectively work together to fight this scary scourge that is very devastating.

He said “We must come together as a Nation and People to seek the face of the Almighty God, so that HIS GRACE & MERCY will shine upon us all. I am constantly praying for the people of my Constituency and will continue to work tirelessly, bearing the cross in these trying times. I urge you all not to relent but to keep HOPE ALIVE for soon and very soon the light of Hope will shine at the end of the tunnel by God’s infinite Grace”.

May God continue to bless Ndi-Abia North and our dear Country Nigeria!…

Lagos State EXCO Makes History with First-Ever Virtual Meeting

• 

Banters here and there, waving of hands and laughter.

“Can you see me?” Am I connected?” “Yeah, I’m here”.

Suddenly, at about 11.05am, the Chairman enters and announces his presence by calling the house to order. All is quiet.

It was an exciting moment this morning at the Lagos State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting – the first-ever virtual meeting in the history of governance in the State. Nigeria? Well, not clear.

The Chairman is no other person than Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. The Deputy Chair is Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso said the meeting was held via Zoom, a free HD meeting application with video and screen sharing for up to 100 people.

It was all in compliance with the directive against gatherings as part of the anti-Coronavirus battle-plan.

“The meeting was slated for 10.45am but almost all EXCO members had hooked up to the system by 10.00am, awaiting the arrival of Mr. Governor to kickstart deliberations for the day,” Omotoso said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu came online at about 11.05am. On top of the agenda was the review of the management of COVID-19, especially the provision of additional isolation centres; the fumigation of the State against the spread of the virus, and the package for the less-privileged and daily income earners, the indigent.

“The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal briefed members on the distribution of the relief packages to local governments and local council development areas. Members reviewed areas where teething problems occurred and proffered ideas to solve identified problems,” he added.

There were comments by some members. As the debates and clarifications went on, the Chairman announced that those eager to speak should spend a minute each.

While acknowledging the excitement of members for being part of the first virtual meeting of the Lagos State Executive Council, the Commissioner said the feat affirmed that governance in Lagos will proceed seamlessly despite the 14-day restriction announced by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja are on a 14-day lockdown.

“Members were in high spirits. Some of us were in our offices; others attended the online meeting from the comfort of their homes. With this historic achievement, residents are assured that governance in Lagos State will continue, irrespective of the situation around us,” Omotoso asserted.

The idea of the online meeting was mooted by Governor Sanwo-Olu, who directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to facilitate it. The Special Adviser (Innovation and Technology), Mr. Olatunbosun Alake, moderated the meeting, reading out the dos and don’ts of the session which Science and Technology Commissioner, Hakeem Fahm described as “historic”.

“We should let our people know about this,” Waterfront Infrastructure Development Commissioner, Kabiru Ahmed said excitedly after the meeting.

Source: The Lagos State Government

He’s Creeping Jesus Not Messiah (part one)

Don Norman Obinna (Agu Ibeku)

I will begin this serial – expected to last till mid-2022 – with the words of Steve Maraboli thus: “I’m not crying because of you; you’re not worth it. I’m crying because my delusion of who you were was shattered by the truth of who you are.”

During the build-up to the 2019 general election, pictures of him kneeling on the altar holding the bible and bottle of anointing oil with the inscriptions; the Messiah, the people’s choice, Uchechukwu ga emeriri, (God’s will must come to pass) pervaded the social media.
The purpose of the phoney sanctimony was to pull the wool over our eyes. Trust a state like Abia with a cornucopia of patsies; the stunt worked like a magic bullet. Embellished with the Federal might hoax, we fell for it hook, line and sinker, and began to see creeping Jesus as Messiah who will lead us to our fantasised Shangri-La.
Hypnotised to deliriousness, we failed to descry that the man who promised us clothes was in his birthday suit. How dim-witted we were, not to have caught sight of his jiggery-pokery on the day he declared his bogus intention.
Attendees – journalists, party faithful and enthusiasts – were left stranded and nonplussed when news filtered that armed robbers had trailed and attacked the man in possession of N7 million cash meant for the settlement of logistics somewhere at Bende road, near the post office at gunpoint.
Wow! What a story! Why make a cash withdrawal of N7 million from a bank in a 21st century Nigeria when there are other safer means available? Why would such blunder come from a man paraded as very intelligent by his managers? Anyways, only stereotypically silly persons would believe this hoax but let’s play fools (they took us for) and stop further scrutiny of the poorly written movie script to avoid another boutade from his E-rats. A “no money submission”, would have been honourable than the shenanigans.
It was a shameful case of betrayal of trust. Dwight D. Eisenhower posits that “The supreme quality of leadership is integrity.” But our creeping Jesus made a pig’s ear of it hiding under his ersatz emotion. The first impression, they say matters; the reason to believe that this prankish display from the onset is proof that Baboons and Hippopotamuses would swallow Abia monthly FAAC allocations and IGR under our creeping Jesus’s watch.
I am sorry to have forgotten to tell us that almost a year the practical joke of N7 million theft was played on us; vital pieces of information such as proof of withdrawal/official report and on the scene eye-witness account of the incident remain concealed. It is a sign that accountability would have been a mirage under the watch of our creeping Jesus.
Only in Abia can we find men living in uncompleted building promising us mansions. How possible is that? A man cannot give what he does not have. Yet, we see some village idiots still believe the misbegotten coinage, “Uchechukwu ga emeriri”. It can never be the will of God for Abians to fall from a frying pan to fire.
There’s no guarantee that a man who owes his factory workers arrears of salaries would solve Abia salary/pension allowance conundrum. The moribund state of his factory along his village road including filling stations (despite oil subsidy fraud) shows how tatterdemalion Abia State would be under his stewardship.
Our audio billionaire has the proclivity for abandoning projects, making false claims/taking vainglory and impoverishing associates. Therefore, Prince Apugo’s assertion is not out of place to attract the argy-bargy so far, from his camp. Do not be deceived by his facade of bonhomie; he is creeping Jesus masquerading as Messiah.
Next week, we will look at the APC primaries that produced him and what transpired thereafter.
Join me.

He’s Creeping Jesus Not Messiah (part one)

Don Norman Obinna (Agu Ibeku)

I will begin this serial – expected to last till mid-2022 – with the words of Steve Maraboli thus: “I’m not crying because of you; you’re not worth it. I’m crying because my delusion of who you were was shattered by the truth of who you are.”

During the build-up to the 2019 general election, pictures of him kneeling on the altar holding the bible and bottle of anointing oil with the inscriptions; the Messiah, the people’s choice, Uchechukwu ga emeriri, (God’s will must come to pass) pervaded the social media.

The purpose of the phoney sanctimony was to pull the wool over our eyes. Trust a state like Abia with a cornucopia of patsies; the stunt worked like a magic bullet. Embellished with the Federal might hoax, we fell for it hook, line and sinker, and began to see creeping Jesus as Messiah who will lead us to our fantasised Shangri-La.

Hypnotised to deliriousness, we failed to descry that the man who promised us clothes was in his birthday suit. How dim-witted we were, not to have caught sight of his jiggery-pokery on the day he declared his bogus intention.
Attendees – journalists, party faithful and enthusiasts – were left stranded and nonplussed when news filtered that armed robbers had trailed and attacked the man in possession of N7 million cash meant for the settlement of logistics somewhere at Bende road, near the post office at gunpoint.

Wow! What a story! Why make a cash withdrawal of N7 million from a bank in a 21st century Nigeria when there are other safer means available? Why would such blunder come from a man paraded as very intelligent by his managers? Anyways, only stereotypically silly persons would believe this hoax but let’s play fools (they took us for) and stop further scrutiny of the poorly written movie script to avoid another boutade from his E-rats. A “no money submission”, would have been honourable than the shenanigans.

It was a shameful case of betrayal of trust. Dwight D. Eisenhower posits that “The supreme quality of leadership is integrity.” But our creeping Jesus made a pig’s ear of it hiding under his ersatz emotion. The first impression, they say matters; the reason to believe that this prankish display from the onset is proof that Baboons and Hippopotamuses would swallow Abia monthly FAAC allocations and IGR under our creeping Jesus’s watch.

I am sorry to have forgotten to tell us that almost a year the practical joke of N7 million theft was played on us; vital pieces of information such as proof of withdrawal/official report and on the scene eye-witness account of the incident remain concealed. It is a sign that accountability would have been a mirage under the watch of our creeping Jesus.
Only in Abia can we find men living in uncompleted building promising us mansions. How possible is that? A man cannot give what he does not have. Yet, we see some village idiots still believe the misbegotten coinage, “Uchechukwu ga emeriri”. It can never be the will of God for Abians to fall from a frying pan to fire.

There’s no guarantee that a man who owes his factory workers arrears of salaries would solve Abia salary/pension allowance conundrum. The moribund state of his factory along his village road including filling stations (despite oil subsidy fraud) shows how tatterdemalion Abia State would be under his stewardship.

Our audio billionaire has the proclivity for abandoning projects, making false claims/taking vainglory and impoverishing associates. Therefore, Prince Apugo’s assertion is not out of place to attract the argy-bargy so far, from his camp. Do not be deceived by his facade of bonhomie; he is creeping Jesus masquerading as Messiah.
Next week, we will look at the APC primaries that produced him and what transpired thereafter.

Join me.

Court Orders The Immediate Release Of Deposed Emir Sanusi

Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate release of dethroned Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from confinement/detention.

Justice Anwuli Chikere made the order in an ex-parte ruling on Friday morning after listening to lawyer to Sanusi, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) who argued a motion ex-parte to that effect.

The order, made interim, is directed at the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Attorney General of Kano State and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) – who are all named as respondents in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed on March 12, 2020 by Sanusi.

Justice Chikere, in the ruling, said: “An interim order of this honourable court releasing the applicant from the detention and or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant’s rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s originating summons.”

The judge also granted the applicant leave to serve a copy of the release order and the processes in relation to the substantive suit on the respondents through substituted means.

Justice Chikere allowed Sanusi to serve the defendants in the following manner: On the IGP, through any officer in his office at the police headquarters at Louis Edet House, Garki, Abuja; on the the the DG DSS, through any officer at the DSS headquarters at Aso Drive in Abuja; on the AG of Kano State, through any officer at the sate’s Ministry of Justice, Audu Bako Secretariat, Kano, and on the AGF, through any officer at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja.

Sanusi is, by the substantive suit, challenging his purported banishment to a community in Nasarawa State, arguing that such restriction violated his constitutionaly guaranteed rights.

Kalu’s Ordeal Politically Motivated – North American Intelligence Agency, EU Commissioner

A North American Intelligence Agency has frowned at the incarceration of the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, describing his ordeal as “Politically motivated.”

A revered source in the agency who craved anonymity because he is not authorised to speak on the matter said Kalu remains a respected figure globally, especially within the political and business circles, and has been in the fore front of the fight against corruption in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the source : “We have received many highly classified intelligence from Kalu, exposing corruption in several African countries in the past, which makes the charges against him questionable.”

“Since the beginning of Kalu’s ordeal, we have embarked on thorough investigation to ascertain the level of his culpability, but our findings so far show that his imprisonment is politically motivated”.

“Kalu remains a prominent figure and we have gathered that there are plans to annihilate certain parts of the country from the country’s presidency and this is unacceptable”, he said.

“The agency has however opened correspondence with Nigerian authorities on the matter, and we’re hoping the right thing will be done” our source concluded.

Recall that the Former Governor of Abia State, and Senate Chief Whip was recently found guilty of N7.56bn fraud by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by the presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Idris.

However, many pundits and political analysts have described his imprisonment as a plot by powerful political interests to frustrate him and Ndigbo ahead of 2023 presidential race.

Kalu is one of the strongest voices in the South East who has been campaigning against the continued marginalisation of Nigeria’s South East in the political equations of the country.

In the same vein, a European Union commissioner (Name withheld) has commended Kalu for the great feat he achieved for his home state of Abia and Africa generally.

The EU Commissioner, who is a personal friend of Kalu, said the former governor is loved because he is not just a politician but a renowned philanthropist whose work is enviable across all regions of the country.

He said : “I have known Kalu for many years, and his good works and passion for the people speak volume. He is a giver and a man with compassion.”

“We have partnered with him through Orji Kalu Foundation for several humanitarian services, many of which are still running.”

“I have no doubt of his innocence in the charges and strongly believe he will come out better and stronger to serve his people”.

©IgbereTV

Emir Sanusi Dethroned Arrested, Exiled To North Central State

Security Operatives on Monday arrested dethroned Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II and whisked him out of the ancient city amidst tight security.

It was gathered that the security operatives are heading to Nassarawa state where Sanusi will spend the rest of his life in asylum.

Before he was taken away, Sanusi was said to have been put under house arrest by the heavy security personnel of DSS, Police and Military.

The arrest was after the security operatives sealed off the Palace.

An impeccable source at the Government House hinted that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who is presiding over an emergency Executive Council Meeting, is set to announce the new emir any moment.

The Nation reports that the names of some powerful aristocrats with direct lineage to the Palace were tabled before Ganduje, who has the constitutional powers to appoint an Emir.

©TheNation

A Lie Against Me By Creeping Jesus:- By Don Norman Obinna

The misbegotten allegation: “He asked me for money to blackmail Ochendo, and I said no,” peddled publicly by cantankerous Demian Igbokwe and Chima Obiwuru was made against me by Dr Uche Sampson Ogah on one of their WhatsApp social media platforms, for cautioning them to be mindful of their intemperate billingsgate on Prince Benjamin Apugo –

See screenshot evidence below –

Except for the screenshot evidence below, the general public, especially the patsies and the dyed-in-the-wool supporters of Ogah would believe that my riposte is a deliberate ploy to besmirch the reputation (if any) of their principal.

Before my arrest on March 1 2019, during a live radio programme and subsequent five weeks’ incarceration at Afara prison, Abians for Good Governance (AGG) under my watch as the convener, held a peaceful protest in Umuahia, warning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against rigging.

Following the discontentment over the outcome of the election, the AGG, after our general meeting proposed a week-long protest in Abuja to make public our grievance. To actualise the objectives of the planned protest, we reached out (through email and WhatsApp) to opposition parties, leading political figures in Abia State and civil societies.
Accordingly, formal letters duly signed by me (the convener) were dispatched to selected individuals – through email and WhatsApp – after consensus. (read the copy below). A careful perusal of the proposed letter of protest shows the exclusion of accommodation for the protesters; thanks to a patriotic Abian – who prefers anonymity – for accepting to foot the bill.
The outlined objectives of the protest, (copy below) never suggested the blackmail of anybody nor focused on any individual to give respiration to Ogah’s callous allegation against me.

It’s also imperative to note that our proposal strangely received a lukewarm reception from the recipients after several follow-ups; forcing us to call off the protest. In other words, we received no financial or moral support from the opposition elements in the state, including Dr Ogah, who acknowledged receipt through Demian Igbokwe.

It is a shame that Dr Ogah, a frontline gubernatorial candidate (who is paraded an outlier by his blind followers) would tell such a coldhearted lie against me. The same man whose pictures kneeling on the altar saturated the social media during campaigns? Hmm! It goes to show the character aspiring leadership in Abia State.

Anyways, there’s a limit to deception. Nothing lasts forever, including false distinctiveness.
Uche Ogah never showed sincere commitment towards Abia’s liberation. Even when the AGG listed him among the 100 individuals to donate meagre N20, 000 to complement our planned protest for the pensioners slated for June 2019, he also opted out. (See screenshot evidence below).

Because of the non-commitment of some individuals, we reached out to, we, held several emergency meetings on our AGG online platform compelling members to make donations.
At last, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) volunteered to mobilise its members. I even contacted Dr Cfine for the provision of ambulance and medics in the case of an emergency. Except for my arrest (a week before the protest), AGG would have had a mother of all protest.

It is a shame that what I get (as a reward) for my sacrifice, near-death experience in the prison custody, harassment from the commissioner of police and government, is blackmail from a creeping Jesus masquerading as opposition in Abia State.
Let’s even assumed that I asked Dr Ogah for monetary assistance, or discussed something very confidential with him; he would have let it out before the public. Where, then, lies his integrity? Would it not be disastrous to hand a state to such a character? It is a lesson for everyone, including his E-rats who approach him for assistance.

You will soon read your ordeals in the pages of newspapers. It is a disgrace!

Members of the AGG cut across political parties; members of the public, APC, APGA, and the PDP. They are all Facebook users, let any counter what I have said if there was an iota of embellishment in my narratives.
Now, that I have cleared my name, join me every week (till 2022) for exciting revelations on the character, called Uche Ogah.

PRINCE BB APUGO AND HIS TRADUCERS,TIME TO SPEAK OUT..

As a concerned citizen of Abia State, I think it will be morally unjust if I fail to officially lend my voice to the ongoing war of attrition and belligerency between an Elder statesman, Prince BB Apugo and Hon.Minister Uche Sampson Ogah.

Prince BB Apugo is currently the BOT of APC in Abia state who has paid his dues .As a septuagenarian, he has seen it all. He has nothing to lose for saying the truth. He has reached his climax of making peace with his creator. He is a man who we should run to for some knowledge when we seek for one.

Few days ago,Prince Apugo granted interview to the Sun Newspaper wherein he stated the obvious .He said without mincing words that Dr.Uche Ogah collided with the PDP in Abia state to subvert the will of beleaguered Abians.

He did not allege rather he spoke authoritatively that Okezie Ikpeazu and PDP bought APC guber form for Dr Ogah.

Prince Apugo’s uncommon courage and revelations are not only timely but heroic. Abians should be happy and encourage such men.

To any discerning Abian, this news is not new to us. We have alleged this in the past that Dr Uche Ogah did not contest the last election to win. It is also believed that he came in only to use the party to get his ministerial post.

However, whatever the situations are, Dr Uche Ogah has a lot of questions to answer.

Is it true he connived with the PDP to subvert the will of Abians?

Is it true he was fully bankrolled by the PDP in Abia state?

Did he tell many political stakeholders that he is not contesting to win?

Did he declare his governorship ambition in his office instead of an open field?

Did he intentionally refuse to go round all the 17 local government of Abia State for electoral campaign?

Did he intentionally refuse to challenge his electoral defeat in tribunal?

Did he hold several close door meetings with Ikpeazu and his aides before ,during and after election?

Did he pocket the millions of naira sent to him by the national secretariat of APC?

Did he tell Prince BB Apugo and others that the best thing would be to leave Ikpeazu to complete his tenure?

Did he deliberately refuse to print posters, fliers, radio jingles and other traditional campaign strategy?

Is it true that APC won in some Abia North because of Dr Ouk?

Is it true he has been promised PDP guber ticket come 2023?

I strongly believe that if the Ogahs can clear the questions above,we will have a better picture of who brought him to contest 2019 Guber election in Abia State.

For some years now,we have been seriously looking for ways to dislodge the vampires in Abia corridor of power and if it is true that Uche Ogah is conniving with these men,it will be very unfair and we shall reward him.

It is now very clear that Alex Otti is the only sincere and genuine opposition figure in the state.

There are more to come in the days ahead.

Stay tuned

©Ihedigbo Mbaukwu

ABIA DRAMA: Gov. Ikpeazu Bought Form for Uche Ogah to Contest 2019 Election – BB Apugo Reveals.

Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo is a member, Board of Trustees (BoT) and also member, National Caucus of All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview, he urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Presidential Liaison Officers (PLOs) as was the case during the ex-President Shehu Shagari era to monitor the Federal Government’s projects in the states. He also spoke about APC forming the next government in Abia State, and other issues.

Work on the Umuahia/Aba section of the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway is nearing completion; do you give kudos to the Federal Government?

It is not only the road the Buhari government is doing, the government is working everywhere. It is that in our own case, when the Federal Government releases something to Abia, it never gets to the state. Having said that, I’m happy about the road you mentioned, but the Federal Government should also look into the Umuahia/Bende and Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene Roads, they are important to our people. The Federal Government should build airpor; that is what they should do for us to make us look like others. But the issue remains that when the governor in the state is not interested in all these things I’m talking about, he will not even make any request. I am thanking Governor Dave Umahi of Ebony, I’ve not been there but I have heard what he is doing. I am also thanking the governor of Enugu; I have also heard what he is doing. I am thanking them, but in Abia, nothing. For over 20 years of PDP in power in Abia, Umuahia, the state capital is still worst than a village.

There has been influx of people from other parties into APC in Abia of late, how do you feel about this trend?

I feel very happy, I have been arranging it, I have been talking to a lot of prominent Abia sons and daughters to come to the rescue of Abia people. And the only way they can do that is to join APC en masse so that we can take over the government of the state. It is true that as far as we are concerned, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State is dead, completely dead and buried, yet we have to mobilize Abians to be able to have one single project that Abia can say for the past 20 years, this is a single project we have. I have been shouting and crying that Abia does not look like a state because we have nothing to show for it and today, all that I have said have come to pass. Every money that was given to Abia for development, none came to the state.

Before the 2019 election, APC leaders in the state boasted the party was going to form the government in Abia, but it never did, what went wrong?

The truth remains that we had no candidate, the candidate that stood for us, Uche Ogah, was just a makeup. He did not come to contest election; in fact before the election, he called and told me that it would be better to leave the governorship seat for Okezie Ikpeazu. It was from that time that I kept myself off him. It was not an accident, it was a clear game that Ikpeazu played with the seven APC governorship aspirants; he bought the forms for all of them. Well, that is by the way because we are not going to compare the past with what we are looking forward to get in the next election if God permits.

Going by what you said, it’s like your candidate betrayed the party, why did the leadership not reprimand him?

There is nothing one can do when the oil is spilled,;you don’t do anything, but many have now known Ogah, before they did not know him.

There is this belief in some quarters that Ogah will get APC’s banner in 2023, do you think differently?

Forget about that, we don’t talk about 2023 now; nobody knows who will live up to that time. We can’t talk about 2023, it looks funny.

We heard that many APGA members in the state are now joining APC; can one say that APGA is collapsing into your party?

No, no, no. We are not talking about APGA; we are talking about prominent Abians. As we speak, prominent Abians from all walks of life have decided to come into APC to rescue the people of the state. If they had done that earlier, Abia wouldn’t have been in this mess.

Could you tell us some of these prominent Abians that will soon join APC?

You will soon see them, not even hearing the names. In less than another one month, you will see them and I’m happy they are many.

Going by your assessment, PDP has ruled Abia for over 20 years without anything to show for it. If APC takes over power, what difference would it make?

I don’t want to mention PDP because you cannot compare it with any other political party in Abia. It was PDP that robbed Abia of their funds, the federal allocations; none of them came to Abia, everybody has seen it now, do I need to tell you about PDP again? APC has a manifesto, it has a programme and I know if APC governor assumes power in Abia State, in less than 30 days, people will see changes, I mean positive changes. The era of workers being owed will be over. We know they are being owed, but since they are not complaining, some of us will continue to keep quiet.

When you talk about allocations not coming to Abia, is it that the Federal Government denied the state of her statutory allocations or what?

I have been talking about looting of Abia funds, you have seen now, it has been written, it has been published, every money of Abia didn’t come to the state. Individuals took this money, it has been discovered. If all these money that were recently reported and are still being reported came into Abia, what is building of airport, roads and stadium? Abia would have turned like small London. The money was given and somebody looted it, somebody fixed it for himself.

Are you happy with the level of Federal Government presence in Abia State?

I have sent an SOS before, I have called on the Federal Government to come and take a look into Abia. I have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Presidential Liaison Officers in states where APC is not in control so they can handle federal projects in those states.

This will make the people know that the Federal Government is doing something to change their lives for good, but nobody is listening to that. The Federal Government will bring rice, bring money for the school feeding programme and give them even to non APC state governors who are not interested in those programmes. Take the school feeding programme for example, it’s going on everywhere, but none is happening in Abia because the governor will not do something that will promote the Federal Government since his party is not in power at the federal level. The president must look into some of these things, he got over 25 percent votes during the last election and it was human beings that voted for him and they are supposed to benefit from the Federal Government.

What’s your take on the Supreme Court judgment on the Bayelsa governorship election?

Well, I’m not a lawyer. Sometimes, the Supreme Court could be misled and this could be done through misrepresentation by counsel. APC won overwhelmingly in Bayelsa and we have found out that the running mate to the APC governorship candidate in the state did not forge his documents, but the Supreme Court’s decision is final as they say. Forget about what is happening today whereby people go to ask the Supreme Court to review its decisions, but if I should go by what I believe in, the apex court should not be used as a toy. I know if the case should be reviewed, it will favour APC but the Supreme Court should not allow itself to be drawn into this issue of reviewing of its rulings back and forth.

The crisis in Edo APC is still on, what do you think is the solution?

It’s only Mr. President because of the office he is occupying that can solve the problem. Setting of committee this or that may not bring the needed peace.

How do you access the Buhari administration?

Buhari is doing well, but because we do not have APC government in Abia, we are not feeling the impact of what he is doing. I know that states where APC is in control are doing very well and that’s why I said that the Federal Government should use its power to find out if the allocations given to Abia are well utilized. I say this because the money given to Abia does not get to the state, it is hijacked somewhere; for the over 20 years PDP has been in power in the state, no single monument has been built in Abia.

What’s your take on the constituency allowance given to NASS members?

As far as I am concerned, that shouldn’t be because the NASS members came from Local Government Areas and states that should be in a better position to handle such projects. However, some of them particularly those from the North have done well with the money given them, but in case of Abia, it is a complete waste because there is no single project anybody has done.

©Okey Sampson, Umuahia

Sen. Uzor Kalu: 20 projects for Abia North captured in 2020 budget.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO SENATOR ORJI UZOR KALU, ABIA NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT.

I write as the Special Assistant and Head of Administration to His Excellency, Senator Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Whip of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria to issue the following press statement.

From my over 20 years of unbroken legislative experience at the National Assembly, I state without equivocation that the massive developmental and infrastructural transformation specially designed and targeted for Abia North Senatorial District remain unequaled owing to the master plan and robust developmental plans of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu starting with the 2020 appropriation act.

Frankly speaking, the District is set to benefit from massive infrastructural and developmental projects not recorded in the history of the District not just through the budgeting process but through grants and empowerments that will change the existing narrative and leave the entire district, men, women and youth, the better for it.

From all indications, the projects will commence shortly across the length and breadth of the District as the entire Aides and staff in the Senator’s office have been directed by the Distinguished Senator to monitor the projects and ensure compliance by MDA’s officials and contractors.

This is to state that ABIA NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT stands to lose nothing as all that is due to it will certainly get to it with the required assistance and cooperation from designated authorities.

Some of the projects already captured for implementation in the 2020 budget include the under-mentioned;

1. Construction of 2km road with asphalt and drainage at Elele road – Ohafia junction in Bende LGA,

2. Construction of 2km road with asphalt and drainage at Ameke – Apaanu item road in Bende LGA.

3. Provision of motorised boreholes each at Amaekpu, Amaugwu, and Federal Government College Ohafia in Ohafia LGA,

4. Provision of motorised boreholes each at Umuobasi, Igbere Secondary School Ezeukwu, Okagbue Item, all in Bende LGA,

5. Drilling of motorised boreholes at Aroikpa and Isuochi in Umunneochi LGA,

6. Construction of 2km road with asphalt and drainage at Arochukwu LGA,

7. Construction of 5km rural road(2km phase 1) for rural farmers with asphalt and drainage at Akanukwu in Ohafia LGA.

8. Construction of 2km road with drainages and asphalt from Arochukwu road(Chief Joe Ezearo house) to Atani Ihechiowa, Arochukwu LGA,

9. Construction of 2km road with drainage and asphalt from Umuobasi Amankalu to Abiriba Ohafia road.

10. Construction of 1km rural road with drainage and asphalt from Amoku Amakwu in Alayi, Bende LGA,

11. Drilling of motorised borehole at Ndiagbo Nkporo, Amurie Nkporo, Aro town, Arochukwu

12. Rehabilitation of 2 primary school blocks in Ohafia LGA,

13. Rehabilitation of 3 primary school blocks in Bende LGA,

14. Rehabilitation of 3 primary school blocks in Ndiagwu Abam, Ozuabam, and Aro town in Arochukwu LGA,

14. Rehabilitation of 2 primary school blocks in Nneato and Isuochi in Umunneochi LGA,

15. Construction of 3km( 2km phase 1) road for rural farmers with asphalt and drainage at Amaiyi Amibo road in Isuikwuato LGA,

16. Construction of 8km road (2km phase 1) with drainage and asphalt at Bende road Itumbuzor in Bende LGA,

17. Rehabilitation of Okafia, Umuisi and Onuibina erosion sites in Bende/Ohafia which is ongoing
18. Rehabilitation of 2 primary school blocks in Isuikwuato LGA,

19. Construction of 5km rural road (2km phase 1) for farmers with asphalt and drainage at Isingwu road in Ohafia LGA.

Other dividends of democracy attracted by Senator Kalu include both sustenance of on-going and new NDDC projects in the District. Ongoing projects include;

Okafia-Ozuitem road, Bende LGA 3.250km,
Ndi-Oji Abam road, Arochukwu LGA 3.25km,
Ezere-Acha Ndi Okwukwu road, Isuikwuato LGA 3.250km, Amaiyi-Umuhu road, Bende LGA 4km and others.

By all standards, the Senator’s assurance is that the temporary setback in his profile will not in anyway impinge on the district’s match to greatness and transformation, an impression every constituent will be proud of by the end of the day.

It is important to advise all well meaning citizens of the district not to be dissuaded by unpatriotic few who are always ready to flaunt their selfish ingredients. I equally urge all not to be distracted by the propaganda of those few who have nothing to offer the district.

Finally, I thank all the good people of Abia North Senatorial District for standing by their senator at all times.

All members of the public especially from the district are enjoined to remain steadfast and expect their fair share of the dividends of democracy like never before.

Thank you.

Signed
Barr. Emeka Nwala
SA to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu