ORJI’S ATTITUDE TO KALU
The Bible account says that God said 'let there be light, and there was light.' But some people yet preferred to walk in darkness. The later is the disposition of Governor T.A. Orji of Abia State. Sometimes, one thinks with embarrassing intuition and asks what his political mentor and predecessor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, did against him that he could not forgive and forget and make peace with him, owing to the glaring fact that in Nigeria today, we need more peace than we need problems.
As it is very sad that Orji could bite the finger that fed him with the golden spoon and, at the same time, cannot forgive himself, it is even worse that he is bent on a mission to bring the hard-earned reputation of Kalu down, to make him bite the dust by all means, and be sold for less than 25 pieces of Silver. God forbid!
Only a man who knows his onions can boast of forgiving, but this is not Orji. He is boasting and fighting Kalu everywhere and anyhow when there is hardly functional electricity, roads, water and good governance in Abia State. The students today are shouting 'Holy Ghost Fire!' in Abia State, because of their school fees he has recklessly hiked to Olympian heights. These are the kith and kin that Kalu gave free education in all the schools in Abia State, when he was governor. This poses a question to Orji: what is he using the collective money of Abia people for?
Most urgent needs in Abia State are not attended to. But, we heard last time that – like father like son – Orji's beating about the bush compelled his son to also be beating about the bush, thereby allegedly intimidating Abia residents with impunity. But, inopportune for him, he fell into the hands of some Army personnel, who taught him a lesson he will live to remember all his life.
This Orji's son was alleged to be painting the state red, whereas there is no light, water and roads, for the people living outside the Government House, Umuahia, the state capital. On whose expense? The same way people are murmuring that majority of the lands and buildings in the state have been bought by the Orjis? Are they not saying that the present government is squarely a government of Orji for the children and by his wife? Ekputu!
Abia people have to find a solution. When will this kind of thing end? He was bent on destroying every legacy that was left by Kalu, culminating in a lot of problems that need to be solved. Can they rise and tell him to find solution to electricity, construction and maintenance of roads, and potable water that have to reach the villages? Though, the people have risen. They have pelted him, yet he has not woken up from his premeditated slumber to work, in order to prove a point that, yes, it is not only the Orjis that need electricity, tarred roads and water in Abia State. Everybody does!
Because Orji has refused to attend to the pressing needs of the people and stop the chasing of frivolities on Kalu, the consequences are high death rate, poverty and sicknesses which have increased among the people in that state. Why not! When Orji has seen every Igbo who is not from Abia State as a non-indigene? This is what we are saying about people who have chosen to walk in darkness.
He is not thinking and working towards making sure that industries spring up speedily in the state and see businesses booming, Rather, he is after making sure that people's shops are christened illegal structures, and destroyed. Imagine a governor owing workers untold months arrears of salary, which didn't happen during Kalu-led government. Provision of desks and chairs to schools has become the most essential achievement of his administration, if actually they are not newspaper achievement.
Orji should have human sympathy for Abians and Abia State. He should understand that he is not a robot; even robot has some sense of decorum. If he refuses to turn a new leaf, we will not relent in enlightening him.
Onwumere writes from Rivers State.