The Abia State’s Naive Probe

Nigeria is becoming a den of news. The Abia State Government-led by Governor Theodore Orji is one of the most hit states in recent times. His government is a beehive of off-beam news and he does not stomach criticism or make use of observers' critiques. But Abia people can endure his foot soldiers' show-of-aggression when the government is reminded of its clueless, visionless and clownish embarrassment in governance. Ndigbo can endure his misplacement of aggression and remind him that governance is a serious business.

Anybody may say that it is pertinent to probe ex-government officials. But this orchestration by the Abia State Government that the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu would be probed, is a show of shame, and depicts the direction of a derailed government. Many of us had kept quiet for sometime hoping that Governor Theodore Orji would make use of some blueprints we had brought to his doorstep in the form of criticisms, but he is far from utilizing the opportunity. Let's not delve into the pitiable condition of roads in Aba for a moment, because under Kalu he said that he wants to probe at least, there were roads he maintained and built new ones, but Orji has only succeeded in drawing tears out of the people's eyes.

We are not holding brief for Kalu here, but the truth can be told that Kalu was a governor that didn't owe workers a single month of their salaries, unlike the tradition of no-payment-of-salaries we have now come to endure in Abia State, under the unfocussed government of Governor Theodore Orji. Upon the fact that salaries have not been paid workers over six months in Abia State under this present dispensation, it would be very optimal to ask Orji where he has kept the money that was supposed to serve as salaries for the 'non-indigenes' he once chased out of Abia State. Also, was he given any money by the presidency amounting to millions of naira for the control of ocean surge in Abia State?

While anybody may be misleading Orji to probe Kalu, it is better he is reminded that his case has no rival if his Pandora's Box should be opened. Right now, this writer has vital documents that would be presented to the public soon about the menace called governance in Abia State. These documents were gotten by our moles in the Abia State Government House, and have been distributed to thirty-six members of our rebellious-writers team and our syndicates scattered all across the country and overseas.

It is very sad that people lose enthusiasm anytime Abia State is mentioned, but it was not like this under the government of Kalu whom he says he will probe and taking the goodwill of the people for a ride. Orji should have told us that he wanted to research on the government of Kalu so as to tap from the master strategist's ever-present government, but he was perhaps shy to say it publicly, hence he characterized it as probe. Again, instead of Orji saying that he wanted to seek a motherly advice from Kalu's mother thus, he said that was beaming his very dark searchlight on the actions of the former governor's mother. Did he say “in relation to contracts awarded”? Is someone laughing? People should ask Orji who is the governor whose children are buying virtually every property in Abia State and beyond even overseas.

It is incongruous to join issues with the State Commissioner for Information, Eze Chikamnayo, amongst others, whom Orji has been using to downsize himself hoping that he is molesting Kalu at will. The records are there about Chikamnayo's fibrotic literary assaults on Governor Orji before he was made commissioner. So, Chikamnayo is no longer seeing those things he once saw in the inept government he is serving because of his job? How chameleonic some people can be!

Yours truly have tried in some progressive ways, off-stage, to bring peace to Abia State, between the perceived warring political groups in the state, but as it can be deduced, some persons love their job so much more than seeing that everlasting peace is brought to stay in the state. Who are the Abia people whom Chikamnayo said were bundling immensity on Orji to probe Kalu? It is evident that Chikamnayo is the only Abia person that we have heard this from. And it will not be out of place to say that he is the initiator that the in-the-clear Kalu should be probed, of which many true Abians have lamented against the Kangaroo move, and characterized it as a witch-hunt.

The Orji-led government of our once endearing Abia State should stop being marooned by the aides whom he was supposed to be their boss. And he should stop capitalizing on the worldwide praised eight-year performance of Kalu as an excuse to shy away from his non-performing government. Afterall, have the people of Abia State stopped paying their revenues and taxes since Kalu was out of office (but not out of power)? What about the state's allocation from Abuja? What again will Orji tell us about the allocation we know that has been increased up to fifty percent more than what Kalu received?

Odimegwu Onwumere who has temporarily relocated to Abia State, contributed this piece from Aba. Email: [email protected]