Date: December 8, 2013
Chief Garry Nnachi Enwo Igariwey,
The President General,
Ohaneze Ndigbo,
Ohaneze Secretariat,
No. 7 Park Avenue,
GRA, Enugu
Nigeria.
Dear Sir,
Re: The problem with Enugu State: An Open Letter to Ohaneze
The Call to Glory this week of the Madiba, President Nelson Mandela, has provoked important reflections but none is more endearing and enduring than the man’s abiding faith in civil competition and tolerance for opposing views. That is why I cannot begin this letter without extending my sense of appreciation to you and the good people of Anambra state in their just concluded governorship election. Even though it had obvious shortcomings; and regardless of whether it was conclusive or inconclusive, what INEC did or didn’t do, or who won or who lost; there is no gainsaying that the election was very competitive—from the quality of the candidates to campaign funds as well as broad participation.
Yes, dynamic competition is the engine of democracy and has the enormous potential to facilitate checks and balances and transparency in government. Invariably, any political system without true competition for elective offices (or any form of opposition for that matter) is not only dictatorship; it is inimical to both human and societal development. This is exactly where Enugu State comes in.
Perhaps, like any other Nigerian state, Enugu returned to ‘democratic’ rule in 1999, but the nature of its democracy is something else.
Upon assuming office in May 1999, the then governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, adopted a political philosophy called Ebeano that has continued to drive Enugu politics till this date. Its core principle is to sheepishly follow its leaders at all times even though their visions are located on the wrong side of history. The typical Ebeano leaders are a select group of amiable men with good academic credentials but who are willing and able to commit the hard earned knowledge to evil deeds instead of the common good. They entrench the Ebeano doctrine by planting stooges or street dunces in important executive portfolios as well as the judiciary and the legislature. This in turn creates a sense of impunity that makes them unaccountable to their party let alone the masses. To them, ‘democracy dividend’ is neither the wellness nor progress of the governed but the degree by which they can divide public resources among themselves. Their only true passion for the future is the habit of sending their children to elite schools abroad while preying on the innocent youths at home for political thuggery and bourgeoise pimping.
The Ebeano despots gain power by rigging and sustain it through propaganda. Once in, they craft a reform agenda loaded with all sorts of rhetorics that would seem capable of solving every problem on earth. They further the deceit by executing few noticeable projects within the early part of their regime, which easily capture a favorable attention of both the public and the press. Thereafter, they would engineer artificial popularity, including paid commentaries in the news media; and some even go as far as acquiring radio stations and newspapers themselves. They also rent bouncy entourage and gregarious crowds of charlatans who heap their praises in every event. They perfect their strategies by squandering public money on army of sycophants, who fuel the propaganda—not only at the home front but also abroad.
Most fundamentally, the Ebeano doctrine abhors any form of opposition and will do anything, no matter how inhumane, to destroy people with independent views. (Notable victims include the Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Chief Jim Nwobodo and Savannah Bank, Chief Ken Nnamani, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Dr. Hyde Onuaguluchi, Prof. Mark Anikpo, Dr. Walter Oji, Prof. Barth Nnaji, Dr. Alex Obiechina, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Chief Ugochukwu Agbala, Senator Collins Ndu, Arc. Ferdinand Agu; and, more brutally, the Adoration Ground massacre, the late Prof. Chimere Ikoku, late Sunday Ugwu, and the late Engr. Victor Nwankwo, to name a few). Worst of all, as if the living God encourages evil, these Ebeano whited sepulchers only live to ignore the teachings of Matthew 23: 27-28 and in the process fan their masquerades of deceit all the way to the religious community where they donate portion of their loot, with some of them even building mega shrines and churches, thinking that encomiums from religious leaders would bring forth any atonement. Last but not the least, and for their very selfish interests, they work against every collective Igbo interest. And, with opposition lamed in this state, when ever ordinary citizens pose questions for accountability in governance; the Ebeano leaders thunder back with all sorts of intimidation, blackmail, slander, and threats to human lives—all without qualms.
Sir, when there is no consequence for bad behavior, the bad behavior usually worsens.
This has been the problem with Enugu State since the 4th Republic. That is exactly the same problem that troubled the father of the present day Enugu State, the late Chief C. C. Onoh, when he wrote that, “We dreamt of a New Jerusalem and to hand over to our children a state that will promote sustainable economic growth for the benefit of generations of unborn, where the Wawa shall be united in culture, religion and economic development, where equity, justice, transparency, accountability and probity will flourish.” Sadly, Onoh would conclude (before leaving this earth) that things have gone upside-down, mourning that the people of Enugu State now “believe that all their labours have been converted for the benefit of Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani and his bunch of cronies.” (See Onoh’s last book, The Nnamanis Loot N42.8 Billion in Enugu State, p. 15).
Prominent among the very cronies Onoh referred to while Chimaroke (now in social hospice) was butchering and burying Enugu State were able pallbearers, such as Sam Ejiofor (now a political leper); Ike Ekweremadu (now Deputy Senate President); Ayogu Eze (now Chairman, Senate Committee on Works); Gilbert Nnaji (now Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications); and Sullivan Chime (now the State Governor). Therefore, the itching assumption within some quarters that Ebeano is a past metaphor is a wishful thinking. While there has been a serious power struggle among themselves in recent years, the philosophy and its lackeys remain intact. This objective fact was buttressed by the former PDP National Auditor, Barrister Ray Nnaji (now an image-maker of Governor Chime). (See Sun Newspaper, August 3, 2013: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/
Agwo anaghi iha imu ihe ogologo odu (A snake never fails to beget a creature with a long tail)
That is why I was sad when a friend woke me up one early morning in 2006 with the bad news that then governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, had ordered his Attorney General, Barrister Sullivan Chime, to pick a form for governor. That is why I remain sad that, true to expectations, Governor Chime has literally banished meaningful opposition activities in the state to the extent that all elected offices from councilor and upwards are now controlled by Ebeano PDP. This pattern of dictatorship has reached a maddening peak whereby the man was able to singlehandedly pick all the local government chairmen and their councilors in the just concluded local government polls in the state—all against popular wishes. Even bonafide PDP members who bought and completed forms were barred from the elections. That explains why, even though there is upswing of youths and women in Nigeria’s body politics, Enugu politics continues to revolve around the same Ebeano cult that has kidnapped it since army gave way. And not to be outdone, like Chimaroke before him, Governor Chime is not only boasting to dictate who and who occupy all elective offices in Enugu State, come 2015, but also embarking on numerous clandestine but undemocratic moves to further cripple opposition in the state.
Perhaps the significance of opposition is well chronicled in history. But besides the Mandela legacy, there can be no better advice on this area than that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the chief priest of one-man rule himself. Recognizing the implication of any world view that Nigeria’s democracy was evolving to a one-party state, Obasanjo is on record to have cautioned the then PDP Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, to ensure that some states were conceded to the opposition in the fraudulent 2007 election that brought Sullivan Chime to power. In Obasanjo’s words,
“The chairman wants victory for us to win all the 36 states of the country. I will not argue with my chairman. But if we can leave a few for the opposition so that we can be a truly democratic country, I will not object to that. We can leave just a few for them” (See Punch Newspapers, April 12, 2007 “PDP should concede some states to opposition – Obasanjo”. http:www.punchng.com).
Obasanjo’s frolic style apart; fast-forward to Goodluck Jonathan. Now, notwithstanding the clear shortcomings of INEC, headed by a former radical University Vice-Chancellor, Attahiru Jega, then generally hailed by Nigerians upon appointment to be the Election messiah; the success of the opposition in other states is an undiluted testimony that President Jonathan also recognizes that dynamic competition as well as opposition is vitally essential for effective democratic leadership.
But the reverse continues to be the case for Enugu State. In eye of Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, opposition is a taboo.
This lack of opposition is how and why, despite all the atrocities committed by his predecessor, Chimaroke Nnamani, Chime elected not to probe the rogue governor.
This lack of transparency and checks and balances is why Chime’s whole account in office has turned out to be more of ‘the more you look, the less you see’. For over six years, he has been busy with bogus projects that serve no purpose than to provide the pipeline for siphoning of public money. He has pumped and continues to pump billions of naira into Agriculture without a day of harvest in sight. Instead of salvaging numerous abandoned State businesses, building new schools, and new factories that could contain our teeming youths or capitalizing on the abundant coal deposits to explore coal-powered Gencos; Chime is getting away for burying a whopping N13 Billion of the state’s meager funds in the needless replacement of secretariat structures that were before then the treasure of the whole Eastern Region. Instead of investing on any form of youth employment, Governor Chime is now dashing out over N1 Billion to his political sympathizers through BOI ahead of 2015 elections—all in name of business loans. (See: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/
Further, it is clear that Chime’s utter disdain for the values that our heroes, such as Azikiwe, Nkrumah, and Mandela hold dear, particularly tolerance for opposing views, is the politics behind his history of conflict with Enugu leaders of independent minds. It is also the reason behind the needless delay to immortalize with a befitting institution the legendary C. C. Onoh, who departed over four years ago. More sadly, the culture of lack of competition and accountability within Ebeano PDP (and outside it) is why, even though major social amenities (including schools, hospitals, and roads) are in perpetual decay in rural Enugu State, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime is about to complete 8 years in office without any tangible accomplishment besides the propagandist beautification of a state capital handsomely built by our heroes past.
The cumulative effect of all these failings is that, despite the fact that it benefited heavily from inheriting a capital city fully developed since time immemorial (by the entire Eastern Region, East Central State, and down to old Anambra and old Enugu); the Coal City State continues to hover at the rock bottom with the likes of Ebonyi (another state without serious opposition activity)—in terms of both GDP and HDI—when compared with the other States that make up the same old Eastern Region.
Sir, that is a glimpse of Sullivan Chime for you…But quite frankly, his appointees to the National Assembly are even worse. Yet, any effort to begin to enumerate the inequities of this group is as agonizing as counting of dead bodies and thusly better imagined than written, but please brace up for a preview.
First of all, the absence of internal democracy within the Ebeano PDP has led to the emergence of many misfits in the Enugu representation at the National Assembly. And given that there is no serious opposition nor checks and balances in Enugu State as a whole, the Ebeano representatives at the National Assembly (anchored by Senators Ike Ekweremadu, Ayogu Eze, and Gilbert Nnaji) have never accounted for the billions received for constituency projects (some of which are larger than the state budget) talkless of what they are doing with such funds. Instead, they prefer to generate lists of accomplishments padded with phantom projects. And even if and when they undertake what may seem like real projects, the contracts are awarded based on crude political cronyism, insanely inflated, with the proceeds carted to their private bank accounts. They would in turn deploy part of the loot to ostentatious lifestyles, including armored cars, helicopter rides; and exotic mansions around the world, most of which are better habited by lizards and roaches. These whited sepulchers are also known for hoodwinking their local communities by committing a fraction of the loot for petty philanthropic causes in exchange for primitive accolades. The only time they grab real attention is for infamy. That is why and how a recent Vanguard Newspaper report concluded that most of the Enugu legislators at the National Assembly are a disgrace to humanity, pointing out that, “Their intellectual impairment has somewhat reduced them to perpetual bench warmers who laugh away as others state the agenda of their various constituencies. This category of representatives are keen to savour the benefits associated with the offices, but are incapable of rising up to the challenges and weight of the expectations heaped on such high positions.” (See http://www.vanguardngr.com/
Lately, and very interestingly, there has been serious infighting within the Ebeano jungle, with all manners of propaganda on the media, particularly between Governor Sullivan Chime and the same National Assembly group. Of course, their beef is not for good governance. It is simply who controls the structure of PDP in Enugu State so as to continue to propagate the Ebeano philosophy, particularly toward 2015 elections. Déjà vu all over…A relay to hell~
More annoyingly, the Ebeano boys are honing their curriculum vitae with amazing pomp, taking credit for the recent work at the Enugu Airport, particularly the new coal-tar at the tarmac and gazzetting it to international status.
But their audience better be babies in diapers.
As we all know, the clamor for Akanu Ibiam International Airport has been reigning for ages but heightened by the World Igbo Congress, including a powerful world-wide petition drive (See http://
But who really cares who now did this or who now did that to an airport built since Nnamdi Azikiwe years?
The question remains: When will this airport be shifted from an ‘international airport-by-mouth’ to international airport indeed? In short, declaring this Uli redux as otherwise or celebrating Enugu-Ethiopia as an international route only reminds me of one Igbo man who declared an expansive Send-Off party in Kano in the early eighties because he was “traveling overs”, in this case, Niger Republic. The venerable Ohaneze chieftain, Chief Enechi Onyia (SAN), was of similar thinking, when he lamented that the jingle about Akanu Ibiam International Airport is a hoax. Enechi said:
“As far as I am concerned, this airport is not up to standard. I led a delegation to Obasanjo about this airport 10 years ago, and this is not what we asked for. I am disappointed…I am not interested on something being done. I will be interested that a good thing has been done. Once a good thing has been done, then I am interested. But if you deceive people telling them you are building airport and it is not what is expected, what do you want me to do? I am urging government to do its duty; that’s all. They have a duty; don’t beg them. They think these are amenities you beg for; that if they bring it to Enugu it is for Enugu people, it’s not true.” (See Sun Newspaper, August 23, 2013: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/
Instead of traveling to collaborate with the Diaspora Igbos currently making efforts to attract proven Airlines that can fly to and fro Enugu to the Western world or the other places where Igbos are in large numbers, these Ebeano clique only prefers to embezzle our meager resources to fly private jets to Abuja or Lagos, onward to America/Europe just to sample choice properties, armored cars, and other unworldly acts unworthy of electronic print—while the masses at home are engulfed in abject penury and despair. This is not good…
Today, besides the endless openings of Enugu Airport, which is now quarterly, the only federal presence Enugu State knows is the numerous times federal officials throng to town for private ceremonies. Instead of joining patriots to impress upon President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan for the actualization of unending promises, such as creation of additional states and local governments in Igboland, the 2nd River Niger Bridge, Dredging of River Niger, comparable road networks in Igboland and, more relatively, a true international airport at Enugu; my Aso Rock source tells me that, despite Jonathan’s well known interests in Igboland, what Enugu leaders at the National Assembly are known for is wonton requests for the presence of the president at their individual events, such as naming, burial or chieftaincy ceremonies. This is not good…
By all indications, the Ebeano curse is no longer just an Enugu problem; it has become a major problem for the entire Igbo race. After all, as an original governor of the most total PDP state in the Southeast, Sullivan Chime is the de facto head of South Eastern governors; and Ike Ekweremadu is the Deputy President of the Senate, the highest position zoned to the Igbos in the Jonathan Presidency. And not to be lost is the fact that the Ebeano henchmen—from Chimaroke, Chime, Ekweremadu, to Ayogu Eze, down to Gilbert Nnaji—are quintessential saboteurs. For example, not only did they support the criminal elongation of Obasanjo’s term in presidential power (aka Third Term) against Nigeria as a whole; they have historically joined enemies of Ndigbo to frustrate the different attempts to produce a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction. This is not good…
What is more?
Today, despite the fact that Senator Ayogu Eze chairs the Senate Committee on Works, Igbo roads have continued to remain death traps. Rather than fix these bad roads for the masses, the Ebeano politicians have resorted to use of helicopter rides within Igboland. To diffuse the prevailing label of a “Paper Senator” ahead of an ambition to run for governorship in 2015, Ayogu Eze recently doubled with federal agents to pronounce an award of N26.4 Billion in contracts for couple of roads around his native Enugu North senatorial constituency. Interestingly, this figure is about three times the budget said to have been committed to the recent work at Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu and, perhaps almost half of Enugu State yearly budget. However, any visit to any of the roads so listed will be consumed by a nauseating smell of the rot these Ebeano boys are cooking (See: http://theeagleonline.com.ng/
Today, despite the fact that Senator Ike Ekweremadu is the Deputy Senate President, Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, and also chairs the committee on Constitution Amendment, what we are being bombarded with on creation of more states and local governments in Igboland are wind-vaning remarks carefully crafted to suit selfish individual political interests. Granted, creation of states is a constitutional mess and promises to be difficult. But if Jonathan can become Acting President by virtue of a necessary doctrine of necessity; if Nigeria can adopt contingency approaches to appease both the radical Islamic sect Boko Haram Boko and the Niger Delta militancy; what is wrong in making a case to invoke similar contingency provisions to undo a national security threat that is the naked marginalization of Ndigbo through continual deprivation of revenue to our people? Or do we talk of any concrete position by the Igbo leadership at the National Assembly for addressing other Igbo concerns, such as the Boko Haram victims, and the Diaspora Vote? Even this very week, instead of emulating the visionary Ken Nnamani who, as Senate President, compelled EFCC to checkmate corrupt governors during the Obasanjo years; Senator Ekweremadu’s most burning desire for a doctrine of necessity is to extend the tenures of the current breed of rogue governors. The emerging raison d’être for this despotic imagination is twofold. Such extension would clear the way for Ekweremadu as the sole Ebeano candidate for Enugu West Senatorial slot currently eyed by Governor Sullivan Chime and his kinsmen; and, by consequence, guarantee a perpetual stay as the Deputy Senate President, the second fiddle position dumped to the Igbos. (See for your self: Vanguard Newspaper, December 2, 2013: http://www.vanguardngr.com/
Truth be told, Nigerians are not bad people, and definitely not as inconsiderate as some may think. The Igbo problem is Igbo-made, pure and simple. Instead of the current breed of Igbo politicians at the center with Ebeano mentality, what we direly need are true Igbos—selfless and patriotic individuals who are capable of providing effective leadership through bold and constructive engagement of stakeholders from other parts of the country toward common Igbo causes and concerns.
Thus, every, and any effort within Igboland (and even outside it) should be channeled to ensure that these Ebeano despots (who have now assumed Igbo leadership) are checkmated. But considering the role of money in politics, especially in Nigeria, and given that looted funds continue to give the Ebeano undue advantage; it is time patriotic Igbos rally to the rescue of Enugu State and its people, by deploying resources to encourage competition within PDP or help promote opposition activities in this state. Although this task may seem unattainable at a glance, but it has been done before in Igboland, and similar developments are taking place in other regions. Lets we forget, it took the leadership of Senator Bola Tinubu of Lagos State and few other Yoruba patriots to rescue other Southwest states from the Obasanjo curse. And Nigeria is better that General Muhammadu Buhari (RTD) has refused to allow a one-party rule in the North. At the same time, while they may continue to wait for manna to fall from heaven, the misruled people of Enugu State must also recognize that the Igbos and Nigerians, too, help those who help themselves…
Some may attempt to counter this report by suggesting that these types of Ebeano characters exist in other Ohaneze states besides Enugu. For sure, they do, but the appealing difference is that those other states (with possible exception of Ebonyi) roundly boast of abundance of men and women of immense political as well as financial means, who have continued to provide a semblance of the much needed checks and balances either in form of competition in their ruling parties or through vibrant opposition activities.
Finally, Sir, please carefully evaluate all the points raised in different parts of this mail. Consider in particular the teetering dilemma that has befallen Enugu State in recent years from military dictatorship to the Ebeano—beginning with Chimaroke tyranny and now to Sullivan despotism. Thereafter, factor in the troubling implication that the Ebeano (both at the State and the National Assembly) has crept into the apex Igbo political leadership by default. Then consider, and more crucially, that the reigning political culture within Igboland of praying to get less with the hopeless hope of getting more thereby allowing corruption and ineptitude to thrive in our society is an abomination in every Igbo lineage; it becomes crystal clear why this Ebeano curse must be confronted by all. For even as patience is a virtue, blind following has never been a characteristic of the true Igbo DNA. Agu anaghi amu okpu~ (A tiger cannot, and should not, beget a weakling).
(BTW: You probably do not know me well. Over the years, my brand of activism has attracted a wide range of unbiased critics—both favorable and unfavorable—but none has ever doubted my commitment to the truth or sincerity of purpose. Thus, whenever called upon, expect that I will be ready, willing, and able to support with hardcore evidence the different charges leveled in this letter).
Sincerely,
Dr. SKC Ogbonnia
Houston, Texas
Email: SKCOgbonnia1@aol.com
CC: -World Igbo Congress
-Media Houses and Internet Groups
-All Ohaneze State Governors and elected officials
-Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP)
