The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has declared former governor of Gombe state, Alhaji Danjuma Goje wanted over allegations of mismanagement and diversion of over N52 billion state funds.
The Commission in a statement on Friday October 7, 2011 explained that
it has to come to the decision of publicly declaring the accused person wanted after an endless search for him and his failure to submit himself for interrogation over the alleged fraud even when he was in receipt of a letter of invitation giving him up to 12noon today to come out of his hiding.
According to the statement, “ Patriotic Nigerians who may have useful information on the whereabouts of the wanted person are urged to kindly send same to any of the EFCC’s offices across the country or the nearest police station.”
The Commission further said that while it will continue its search for the accused person, it will always work within the ambit of the law in the discharge of its responsibility and expects all citizens especially those being investigated to respect and obey the laws of the land.
On Monday, 3rd October 2011 , I received a mail from a Mr Chinedu who threatened to deal with me for what he sees as giving the government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha a bad press. The threat was in reaction to an article I wrote on governor Okorocha’s autocratic government in Imo State published in some national dailies and in some online news outfits. The Mr Chinedu called me a grumbling loser. He said I am the man who along with Chief Ikedi Ohakim siphoned the resources and finances of Imo State. Na waow for him-o. If Mr Chinedu has any evidence of crime against me, he should not hesitate to report me to the appropriate authorities for my arrest and prosecution and should stop sending me empty threats.
To me, my article looks unpalatable to Mr Chinedu and attracted his uncontrollable outburst because he is one of the uninformed, money hungry, favour seeking, supporters of the present unproductive government of Imo State that I have been talking about . The proper thing that he ought to have done was to respond to the article and point out what he see as the good side of his boss thereby leaving the judgment for the people to make.
Unfortunately, Mr Chinedu did not think it wise to do this simple work. Instead, he dragged himself into the theatre of absurd and comically rehearsed how he hopes to deal with me for portraying his boss in what he described as bad press. Chinedu should know that we have thousands of voices against the misrule going on in Imo State. We have thousands of voices against dictatorship taking place in Imo.We have thousands of voices against the broad daylight rape on Imo State.
Governor Okorocha believes that the end justifies the means; that fear rather than love is the best weapon in the hands of a ruler or leader; that a ruler or leader has no business keeping to his promises, that in fact, the best ruler or leader is that who is a master of lies and deceit. Above all, that a good and successful ruler is one that is very ruthless with his subjects.
Those who saw Okorocha to power are now all licking their wounds: the party leaders, the financiers, the okada riders, the market women, the farmers, the students, the workers, etc. They are all weeping now in Imo State. Every group has its own painful story to tell. They are all wondering if this is the same Owelle they defied the sun and the rains for his sake, risked their lives and their all to get him to power. The people are all shouting now that Owelle is driving Imo into a rock of destruction. The people are now singing a new song(Ikiri ka Onyeoshi mmaee)
Mr Chinedu should tell me why i should not join other Imolites in shouting against a governor that runs to USA and other parts of the world now and then to squander investment funds as opposed to giving employment to the youths in Imo state . Mr Chinedu should tell me why i should not join other Imolites in shouting against a governor who dissolved elected council chairmen via radio broadcast and appointed his boys as SOLAD of the LGA’s and is busy looting council funds. He should tell me why I should not join other Imolites in shouting against a governor who goes to the media to announce allocations sent to the LGA’s while the money he claims in the media that he gives the local government councils is different from what actually gets to them.
Mr Chinedu should tell me why i should not join other Imolites in shouting against a governor who finds it difficult to pay salaries to workers and who refused to pay minimum wage to Civil Servants of the state.He should tell me why i should not join other Imolites in shouting against a governor who sacked 10,000 Imo sons and daughters in the Civil Service and turns round to provide 100 vehicles for Imo State Police Command to harass the jobless youths of the state.Mr Chinedu should know that for his boss,Okorocha, to sack 10,000 workers ,he has pushed the sacked workers into kidnapping and armed robbery.
In a very brilliant write up in a forum, Prof Dimgba Igwe asked Owelle’s supporters if, in keeping with his promise, Imo people are being rescued today? If Okorocha can be said to be doing well for the state. The answer is a capital ‘NO’. Government in Imo today is Owelle only . Those in government today are suffocating. For self respect, endurance has become their motto. Governance in Imo State today is one huge deception.
Most of his fanatical supporters are today his worst victims. The students were ready to die for him. Today Okorocha is ready to harm them. When students in the state called for a 50,000 man march against his government over the sack of 10,000 graduate workers, what did he do? He stationed military police all over tertiary schools in the State with a shoot at sight order. He promised to pay 100 naira daily to each primary and secondary school students in the state but yet he sacked 10,000 workers in pretence that Imo cannot pay the salaries of the 10,000 workers.Who is fooling who?
The market women were ready to die for Governor Okorocha. What is their reward today? We were told that they are being driven out of most of their locations. What affordable alternatives have they gotten up till now? Are their children not among the sacked 10,000 workers ? What have they benefitted from their hero apart from tears and harsh conditions?
Teachers were ready to die for the man who they saw as a Messiah. Today, instead of bread, Governor Okorocha is offering them stones .5000 teachers were among the sacked 10,000 workers. Teachers are owed salaries. He even made jest of teachers of the state daily by saying that some of them will be drafted to teach the Awusa’s in Imo under contract.
The workers erroneously believed that a peoples welfare conscious governor was coming to power and so they were ready to die for him. Today, they know better. Okorocha was the first Governor to boast on the National Television that he is going to pay the minimum wage. Today,he has reneged on his promise. He has resorted to threats. When workers went on strike over the minimum wage, what did Okorocha do ? He ran away from the state like a chicken. Okorocha is not moved by their strike action over minimum wage. He is a master of the game. He is prepared to dribble them till the end of his tenure.
Okada riders were ready to die for Owelle who promised them that Okada will return to Owerri when elected. Today, they know better. Where are the Okada’s in Owerri?.Owerri the once cleanest city in Nigeria is now very dirty. When was the last clean up exercise in Imo state? 4 months ago. We are tired of this government by deceit. Save us o’ God.
Today in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, Tribunal One pronounced judgement in favor of Honorable Chris Azogobu of the All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] against a petition filed over the 2011 National Assembly elections for Nnewi Constituency. The petition was field by a Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] House of Representative candidate, Julious Ofoma.
The panel ruled in favor of Hon Chris Azobogu following what was deemed by the panel of Judges as the abandonment of the case by Julious Ofoma. Mr. Ofoma was reported to have stopped showing up to the Tribunal of scheduled case hearings.
Hon Chris Azubogu’s father was recently kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Sunday.
This week PhotoNews presents the crisis in North Jos, the capital of Plateau State. It tells the story of injustice against a people in the same language used during the 1966 prognom that degenerated to the Nigerian invasion of Biafra 1967.
As the tears of the silent voices continue its run down the cheeks of the helpless surviving victims of the Jos masacre, the violence and threat of more violence continue to ring loud in Jos. The Islamic militants appear determined in their quest to push the Christian native of Jos away from the community, dead or alive.
Over 8,000 deaths have be recorded since the start of the crisis in Jos. And it continues. Villagers believe that since Jos is not an oil producing area that the leaders of the country have de-priotized the mounting deaths. Many more bodies are expected to be buried – as the native youths in the inner communities parade around in brewing anger – expected to blow open soon.
The properties and human lives in Jos tell the same horrid tale.
Below is a picture story of the damage of properties belonging to Christians in North Jos;
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will launch a job creation scheme that enables young people with knowledge and capacity to employ other young people.
President Jonathan disclosed this to Mrs. Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, at State House, Tuesday.
‘We are going to launch a programme to enable young people create jobs for other young people’, he said, adding that, ‘instead of government creating a hundred jobs, we will encourage those hundred to create enterprises and employ other young people, thereby multiplying the jobs possible’.
The President appealed to UNDP to ‘robustly assist Nigeria in this programme aimed at providing jobs for the young people’, informing Mrs. Clark that by November 2011, Nigeria’s population would rise to 166m, with 50% under 35 years of age.
President Jonathan said he appointed private sector operators into the country’s Economic Management Team in full recognition of the crucial role which that sector plays in the provision of employment, and pledged Nigeria’s willingness to partner with the UNDP in all areas of national development.
The President also expressed condolence to the UN family on the bomb blast at the UN Building in Abuja.
Earlier, Mrs. Helen Clark had told President Jonathan that she came to Nigeria to offer the world body’s ‘support for your vision for transformation of Nigeria’, adding that UNDP desired to add value and expertise to government’s efforts in the challenging areas of health, environment, poverty reduction, climate change, agriculture and women development.
Mrs. Clark acknowledged that most countries were facing the challenges of youth unemployment, but said efforts must continue to be made to provide jobs, schools, shelter and food for this most important segment of society.
The UN Administrator commended Nigeria for ‘the tremendous support’ provided to the UN since the bomb blast, especially in health care, adding that this was evidenced by the fact that none of the blast victims taken out alive from the scene died.
Musa Aduwak
For: Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity)
The head of the State administration in Kebbi State, Governor Saidu Usman Dakingari appear to be caught neck deep in shark infected waters. This is as information available to 247ureports.com indicates that there appear turmoil within the home of the Governor and his famous wife, the daughter of the Late President Yar’Adua, Zaynad.
According to the information gathered, the governor of Kebbi State, Saidu Usman Dakingari during his first tenure as governor had been given the daughter of the then President [Yar’Adua – May His Soul Rest in Peace] as a third wife through the efforts of the then 1st lady. Following the marriage, Zaynad was made the official 1st lady of Kebbi State -with the associated appurtenances. And as political pundits commented on the marriage, they postulated that Saidu Usman Dakingari was being groomed to take over from the then President Yar’Adua – at the end of his first term.
But last week, the two called the marriage quits. And the family of the governor who appeared preoccupied with grappling with the effort to keep the breakup a secret, is said to be facing the repayment of N500million loan as campaign contribution by Zaynad.
Our source in Kebbi State states that the reason for the breakup was that the Governor used and refused Zaynad. The governor was said to have promised Zaynad the position of 1st lady. And the governor, while Zaynad’s father was alive made her the 1st lady. And in the euphoria of newly weds, Zaynad was said to have contributed N500million to the campaign purse of her husband towards the general elections of 2011 – for a second term in office.
Following the victory at the polls for the governor, and having the assurance of a second term governor, Saidu Usman Dakingari dropped his promise and removed her as the 1st lady. He replaced her with his first wife, Asamau. This did not sit well with Zaynad who reacted to ask for Saidu Usman Dakingari to refund her the N500m. According to our soucre, the relationship quickly turned ugly.
The governor has asked Zaynad to leave his house. Zaynad is currently seven [7] months pregnant and has two children aged 2.5 and 1.5yrs.
By Omoyemen Odigie-Emmanuel, Originally published in Pambazuka
The Protocol to the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa is a unique piece of legislation because it takes into consideration the provisions of other international instruments on human rights that touch on women’s rights, the need for equality and freedom from discrimination. It also takes into consideration the peculiar circumstances of women in Africa and their vital role in development. The protocol certainly could have been the key to a new dawn for Nigerian women, but the sad thing is that the reality seems a far cry away. You can only stare and wonder if some hearts thought before they signed.
This paper seeks to appraise the unique provisions contained in the protocol, assess the current situation of women in Nigeria and ask, ‘How far has the protocol helped the situation of women’s rights in Nigeria? What needs to be strengthened and what are the glaring gaps in implementation?’
Introduction
The protocol was adopted on 11 July 2003 by the AU to strengthen the promotion and protection of women’s rights. The preamble highlights several considerations necessitating the protocol. These considerations include a recognition of Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which enshrines the principle of non-discrimination. It includes Article 18, which calls on all states to eliminate discrimination against women. It also includes provisions which recognise women’s essential role in development, the principle of promoting gender equality as enshrined in the Consultative Act of the AU as well as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. The considerations also take into account other relevant declarations, resolutions and decisions which underline the commitment of African states to ensure the full participation of African women as equal partners in Africa’s development.
By virtue of the protocol, Nigerian women are guaranteed the right to dignity; the right to life, integrity and security of persons; freedom from harmful practices which negatively affect the human rights of women; equal rights in marriage; equal rights in cases of separation, divorce and annulment; the right to equal protection and benefit of the law; the right to participate in political and decision making process; the right to a peaceful existence and participation in the promotion and maintenance of peace; the right to education and training; equal opportunity in work and career advancement; the right to health, including sexual and reproductive rights; the right to food security; the right to adequate housing; the right to a positive cultural context; the right to a healthy and sustainable environment; the right to sustainable development; widow’s rights; the right to equitable share in inheritance; the right of elderly women to special protection and freedom from violence; the right of women with disabilities to special protection and freedom from violence; the right of women in distress to special protection; and a right of remedy to any woman whose right or freedom has been violated.
The obligation of the Nigerian government under the protocol includes ensuring that women enjoy the rights mentioned above through the following actions:
(a) Enactment of appropriate legislation to combat all forms of discrimination, and specifically to prohibit all forms of violence against women; to ensure prevention, punishment and eradication of violence against women; to prohibit and punish all forms of genital mutilation; to guarantee that no marriage takes place without free will and between consenting adults; to ensure that men and women have the same right during separation, divorce and annulment of marriage; and to guarantee equal opportunity in work and career advancement.
(b) Appropriate and effective education, administration, prohibition, protection, promotion, institutional, implementation and regulatory measures.
(c) Integrating a gender perspective in policy decision.
(d) Modifying social and cultural patterns of conduct of women and men through public education, information and communication.
(e) Positive action to promote participation of women in politics and decision-making.
(f) Provision of effective remedies.
(g) Ensuring full implementation at the national level.
(h) Providing budgetary and other resources necessary for full and effective implementation.
So far, some of the positive actions taken by the Nigeria government are:
Adoption of a gender policy in 2007;
Establishment of science schools for girls;
Establishment of women development centres in 36 states;
Adoption of the Trafficking in Person’s (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act;
Establishment of a national agency for the prohibition of trafficking in persons;
Adoption of a national policy on HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and female genital mutilation.
Aspects hindering the rights of women include:
The patriarchal structure of Nigerian society;
Failure of the National Assembly to pass the Abolition Of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women In Nigeria And Other Related Matters Bill and failure to pass a national bill prohibiting violence against women.
Failure of the government to domesticate the protocol or enact appropriate legislation necessary for bringing to pass its obligations and undertakings under the protocol is worrying.
The questions that come to mind are: Why did the Nigerian government sign the protocol? Did the government sign as a mere formality, knowing that the protocol could be frustrated by non-domestication by virtue of Section 12 of the Constitution? Or is there just a divorce between the arm of government that signs international instrument and the arm that domesticates these agreements? Or do we align our thinking with Richard Falk, who says: ‘For various reasons associated with public opinion and prides, governments are quite ready to endorse (even formerly) standards of human rights despite their unwillingness to uphold these standards in practice.’
The Nigerian Reality
Despite the provisions of the protocol recognising and guaranteeing rights and the obligation of the Nigeria government, the lives of Nigerian women is yet to attain a commensurate level of improvement. Women rank lower than men in all indices of development in the country.
Economic and Social Welfare Rights
Paul Ogunyomi, writing on the typologies of discriminative practices in the Nigerian workplace, identified sex discrimination as being prevalent in Nigeria. This takes the form of a woman being treated less favourably than a man on the grounds of sex, or indirectly by conditions applied equally to men and women which are detrimental to women.
Research reveals that adequate maternity leave is important to enable the women’s body to recover after delivery. A study of the Nigerian workplace has revealed that ‘…gap is identified between law and practice with wide patterns of protection resulting in some women enjoying good benefits, while others are wholly or partly unprotected within the Nigeria workplace…’
Women still have a higher unemployment rate than men. Those employed are concentrated in the informal sectors like agriculture, petty trading and services. Home-making is still not recognised or compensated.
Health and Reproductive Rights
With a maternal mortality ratio of 704 to 1,000 per 100,000 live births, Nigeria continues to have one of the highest levels of maternal mortality. Incidences of gender-based violence have health consequences and result in health complications including miscarriages, long term disabilities, unwanted pregnancies, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Right to Education and Training
Access to education is still low, especially in the northern parts of the country where withdrawal of girls for the purposes of marriage or for care giving is still practiced. According to ActionAid, ‘…educational developments in northern Nigeria is lagging behind other parts of the country on practically every indicator, number of facilities, transition rates, girls enrolment, number of teachers…The girls are hawking wares or doing household chores…Low girls enrolment is bound to aggravate gender imbalances that skews present and future opportunities against women.’ Nation wide, gender gaps still exist at the higher levels of education.
Right to Participation in Political and Decision Making Processes
Significant advances have been made in the area of women’s participation in governance, yet the political participation of women in Nigeria remains one of the lowest in the world. Women’s participation in government is still below the 35 per cent stipulated in the gender policy.
Marriage, Separation, Divorce and Women’s Property Rights
Although Article 7 of the protocol provides for both parties of a marriage to enjoy equal rights within and after the marriage, in issues of custody and access to an equitable share of the joint property deriving from the marriage, this is not the case. Three forms of marriages are recognized in Nigeria – customary, islamic and legislative marriage. The reality of women married under customary and Islamic law has not yet been affected by the protocol. A woman married under customary law is entitled to be provided with a home by her husband as long as the marriage lasts. She is also entitled to use her husband’s property, but cannot dispose of it as her own. The right to be provided with a house by her husband terminates upon divorce. Upon divorce, a woman married under customary law has no claim over a house jointly owned by her husband. Her position is not helped by the provisions of the Matrimonial Causes Act in respect of maintenance and settlement of property, which expressly excludes the application of its provisions to marriages under customary and Islamic law. However in the case of women married under law, where she is able to produce documents showing she made a contribution to the property, she is entitled to the part of the property commensurate to her contribution. Many women are denied custody and access to their children. Among those under Islamic law, child marriage is still prevalent. According to BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, ‘…girls are often married between the ages of 9-14. The occurrence of child marriage is common.’
Violence Against Women
The protocol guarantees women freedom from violence. In reality, there is a prevalence of violence against women in our society. Violence takes several forms, including domestic violence, early and forced marriages, female genital mutilation, widow torture and inheritance related violence. There are also direct forms of violence against women in Nigeria. For instance, in discussing the impact of the activities of militias, cults and security forces on women in the Niger Delta, Emem Okon states, ‘…When a culture of armed gang violence takes root in a society that does not recognise and respect women’s rights, the result is a higher level of gender-based violence against women. In this case, the proliferation of guns in the Niger Delta has increased the risk that girls and women will be targets of sexual assault.’ In another section of the same article, she stated that, ‘The consequence has been disastrous, as women have suffered massive massacre, rape, sexual abuse, social psychological trauma…aggravated poverty, unemployment, hunger, anger, low self esteem, bitterness, frustration, desperation, fear, tension and more conflicts.’
Some violence is performed by law enforcement agents. This can be direct or indirect. Direct assault by security officers is becoming prevalent. For instance, a case was brought before the Gwagwalada High Court in Abuja in which a police man raped two girls. In the Odioma community of Brass Local Government in the Niger Delta, Amnesty International reported a case where a rape victim described how she was raped alongside her mother by security officers. Two-months pregnant at the time, she lost her baby.
Access to Justice and Equal Protection Under the Law
The Constitution and certain laws in Nigeria still contain discriminatory aspects. For instance, Section 26(2) of the Constitution does not allow a Nigerian woman to transmit her nationality to her husband if he is a foreigner. Section 55 of the Penal Code applicable in northern Nigeria permits wife battery as chastisement, as long as grievous harm is not afflicted. Section 55 of the Labour Act prohibits women from working in the night.
Elimination of Harmful Practices, Culture, and Discrimination Against Women
In some parts of Nigeria, women are still regarded as part of the husband’s property and as such she cannot inherit her husband’s property, but must be inherited alongside his other property by another male of the family. Also ‘a lot of customs still continue unabated…that infringe greatly on the human rights of women’.
According to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), challenges to the promotion and protection of women’s rights still include harmful tradition practices such as female genital mutilation, widowhood rites, child marriage and violence against women.
Right to Inheritance
In most parts of Nigeria, female children are still discriminated against on issues of inheritance. With the decision in Mojekwu v Mojekwu, in which the Court of Appeal declared the ‘oli-ekpe’ custom of Nnewi – which permits the son or the brother of a deceased person to inherit his property to the exclusion of his female children – discriminatory, it was expected that discrimination against women and the girl child on the issue of inheritance would end. This is definitely not the reality, probably because the decision has not gained nationwide popularity and poverty prevents women from going to court to assert their rights.
Poverty and the Right to Dignity, Food Security and Adequate Housing
One major hindrance to the right to dignity, food security and adequate housing in Nigeria is poverty. Although Nigeria is richly endowed with both human and material resources, the Nigerian government, Nigerian civil society and the UNDP all state that approximately 70 per cent of Nigerians as poor. The majority of the poor are women. Also, Nigeria does not have a social security plan for providing food and housing to the poor. This makes the situation of women precarious and exposes them to the sex trade and destitution.
The Right to A Healthy Environment and Sustainable Development
Every woman in Nigeria has a right to a healthy environment that is favourable to their development. In reality, the environment in Nigeria has not been favourable to the development of women.
According to Abiola and Iyare, ‘Since oil struck four decades ago, the ecological and environmental hazards from indiscriminate exploration have constituted an affront on the community and the survival of its people…the effects of oil exploration has produced debilitating effects on the peoples traditional occupation – fishing and farming…’.
When the environment is degraded, as is the current situation in Nigeria, women are most affected because of their culturally and socially defined roles and responsibilities, because their adaptive capacity is low due to poverty and because their livelihoods are tied to the environment. In sum, any damage to the environment is damage to women as it affects their potential and their productivity.
Conclusions and Recommendations
The rich provisions of the protocol recognising and guaranteeing women’s human rights in Nigeria promises a beautiful future for women – if the government fulfills its obligations.
In light of the current realities, government should redeem its image and show its commitment by:
Domesticating the protocol;
Passing the bill on violence against women;
Reviewing laws on women’s property rights and all other laws discriminating against women;
Adequate budgetary allocations to issues that promote women’s rights and bridge gender gaps;
Integrating women’s right issues and gender education into the school curriculum.
The oxford English Dictionary describes Anarchy as a complete disorder due to lack of Government and Control. A situation that shatters hope and aspirations of citizenry and automatically creates loss of confidence over any administration that may exist in such an environment.
Akwa Ibom State was created on the 23rd of September 1987 as the 21st State of Nigeria by General Ibrahim Babaginda. It was an irony of history that the people who started agitation for separate political existence for the people of the minorities of the former Eastern Nigeria in particular, and the country as a whole, came to realized their own aspiration after sixty (60) years.
Col Tunde Ogbeha, was posted as the first Military Governor to the baby state, and he rule for less than two years. It was he who started the infrastructural development of the young state by way of planning and designing what was going to emerge as a model in the Nation’s Committee of States. He was later replaced by Col. Godwin Abbey who ruled from 1988 to 1990 and actually built on that foundation until Group Captain Idongesit Nkanga, the first indigenous Military Governor of the State was brought in. There is no doubt that he fully enjoyed the support and loyalty of the people of the State. He ruled for a period of 9 months and left an indelible mark on the sands of time. He built the State Secretariat Complex, Ibom Hall and did several State roads across the State and the first Government House occupied by Obong Akpan Isemin the first Civilian Governor in 1990. Obong Akpan Isemin did not accomplish much due to the fact that the Federal Government rendered them financially impotent through in-adequate funding.
The Military returned after the annulment of June 12th 1993 election. The regimes between Col. Yakubu Bako, Navy Capt. Joseph Adewusi and Group Capt. John Ebiye existed during Sani Abacha’s interregnum which recorded disasters upon disasters on Nigeria as a nation and Akwa Ibom was not an exception till May 29th 1999 when Obong Victor Attah, an Architect was elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ruled the state for 8 years between 1999 and 2007.
There is no doubt that the state experienced an unprecedented growth and development, apart from the physical infrastructures he waged an indefatigable and unrelentive war with the Federal Government over the onshore / offshore oil dichotomy which had humiliated and impoverished Akwa Ibom State and the rest of the Niger Delta as a whole. Arc (Obong) Victor Attah made good his professional prowess by transforming the state to an enviable status. Today, Akwa Ibom enjoys a status of a mega economy as a result of the abrogation of the onshore / offshore oil dichotomy which drew the wrath of the then president General Olusegun Obasanjo who saw and took the actions of the former governor as a personal affront. This is how and why he used his position as the president and leader of the party to impose Godswill Akpabio on our dear state, which we cherishly call “The Land of Promise”. Akpabio did not have the pedigree admirable to the extent of being trusted, and as such met a lot of resistance even at the polls in 2007. Since his assumption of office, the only thing we have to show has been woes after woes punctuated by the most licking lips in our contemporary world. Corruption has reached the highest level in the history of Nigeria from the 1st Republic to date.
In Akwa Ibom State, the amount of money collected from the Federation Account has been in the region of N1.3 Trillion Naira. The Governor has a standard personal mark up of 30 percent in addition to the fact that all the building material needs in all government building contracts are obtained from a personal outfit. The first family is stupendously rich and the Governor has become the greatest financier in the Nigeria corruption industry making nonsense of all the corruption persons put together in the Murtala Mohammed revolution of 1976. As far as financial recklessness with corruption is concerned Akpabio has amended the Guinness book of records. Properties acquired include several mansions across the globe, through one Sylvester Okonkwo he has chains of companies such as Prod Global a Sub Conglomerate in the Empire. They run a 400 ton per hour quarry in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State to feed construction industries in Akwa Ibom State as well as a Bureau de Change. Akwa Savings & Loans apart from being the State fraud and corruption clearing house was used to purchased 17 hectares of land from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Abuja, but has since been converted to be part of the afore mentioned Conglomerate at the expense of Akwa Ibom State.
Mr. Don Etim, the Hon. Commissioner for Works and Transports is leaving a record that will be impossible to surpass. He is the closest ally to the Governor and can award contracts directly to himself and such awards have been traced to bank accounts and their operators, but regrettably no action has been taken. For example how can a 20 kilometer road gulp N56 Billion Naira on behalf of the Federal government? How much did the Federal Government vote for the construction of the 238 kilometer Benin-Shagamu dualised Federal road? I remember Prof. Dora Akunyinli, the former Minister of Information saying that the contract had been awarded for N47.2 Billion Naira. We were told that an underground drainage system which was first of its kind in African Continent (Courtesy of President Goodluck Jonathan) was a part of the 20kilometre Federal road. The project has now failed. Who pays for such a drain?
Mr. Don Etim is the person charged with the responsibility for defense activities. Arms and ammunitions are imported into the state, all the cults groups are amalgamated into an amalgam called “Peace House” which killer squads emerged to chop lives out of their victims, always perceive to be enemy of the Governor and Government. Early this year in Ikot Ekpene, the niece to Mr. Don Etim, the Hon. Commissioner for Works during her traditional marriage in their family compound when they suitor was brought out for presentation by his people kidnappers took away the suitor and shot randomly in to the air scaring away the huge gathering.
Recently two High Court Judgments exposed their position. Don Etim is the principal agent of the government in arrangement to buy the security community against the Nigerian citizens. They shamelessly are the coordinators of the terrorist activities going on in the state. That is why the cultist are incontrollable. Don Etim is working in tandem with Umana O. Umana the Secretary to the State Government, a man greatly gifted in the art of forgery. His original portfolio was budgeting where he retired as a permanent secretary in 2003 under the Attah’s administration. He became Commissioner for Finance in 2003-2007 when he was appointed to the present position. The budget section of the Ministry of Finance was transferred to form a part of the Office of Secretary to the State Government. Some of his intellectual prowesses have been proven in a number of estimates and procurement. In the contract analysis between 2008 and 2009 taken as a case study it is interesting to find items repetition at an alarming rate.
For example a situation where the Government House built at a cost of N7.4 billion Naira had in the following year budget attracted additional N10 billion Naira to provide what they call The Banquet Hall of the Government House. It is not imaginable that this is an event in human society. In the contracts to purchase motor vehicles, something that has never happened were noticed, vehicles are not purchased in terms of cost per unit rather we saw how companies were merely ordered to supply vehicles worth a certain amount. Specifically Prod Global mentioned above was given purchasing order to supply vehicles for N99 Million Naira in two slots and N66 Million Naira to Chinto Technologies. Both companies belong to Governor Akpabio and his wife respectively.
There is no need to mention other duplicating and bogus procurement, such as contract awarded to Messrs AEC owned by the brother of the Secretary to the State Government through which state funds are known to have been looted.
Another strong member of the cartel, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, the Hon. Commissioner for Finance, a member of the KKK Cult fraternity. He plays an important role in the state fraud activities as the Chairman of Inter Ministerial Direct Labour Committee. He enjoys a reasonable share in the looting spree and almost brought the state to a stalemate when the Governor attempted to replaced him with his new Deputy as Chairman of Inter Ministerial Direct Labour Committee. He threatened to open the Pandora Box of the Government in the public and Akpabio had no alternative than to reverse himself and he maintained the Status quo. Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan runs a killer squad in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area known as Ibiono Ibom United Movement.
This group is a conglomerate of various groups with leadership drawn from some cult groups. Identifiable component groups are Ibiono Ibom Youth for Democracy headed by Moses Essien, PA to Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, the Hon. Commissioner for Finance Akwa Ibom State, Ibiono Ibom Supreme Council of Youths led by Ndueso Akpan, Ibiono Ibom Grand Alliance Youth Wing headed by Etebong Ndarake Odiong.
On inauguration, the aim of these groups was primarily to serve as opposition to the third term bid of the former Speaker and then member representing Ibiono Ibom Local Government at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Ignatius Edet. The groups also serve as antagonist to Engr. Edet’s arrow head position in Ibiono Ibom politics. Financing of these groups and other unnamed groups came from the Hon. Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan.
Results started trickling in when Engr Ignatius Edet was removed as the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, which in turn force him to abandon his third term aspiration to the State House of Assembly. When opportunity came, the ACN came in rapidly as a viable alternative to the ruling PDP. Meanwhile it was apparent that political leadership had moved from Rt. Hon. Ignatius Edet to Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan. It became necessary that each of the groups wanted to assume not only relevance but also supremacy at public functions / rallies.
To assume leadership positions in any of the groups, there must be proof of one’s membership of secret cults like VIKINGS, MAF, KKK, BUCHANEERS, AXE, etc. This was to ensure that the larger membership of the cult groups would be drafted effectively for electioneering and elections proper, thuggery and procurement of arm, ammunitions and other offensive weapons. After each campaign rally, money for the boys were always routed through a leader of one of the known groups and they arose struggle for supremacy.
A meeting to settle the differences was summoned and it took place at Toyo ID’s country home off Calabar Itu Highway, owned by Barrister Bassey Ekerete, former State Secretary of the ruling PDP. At the meeting, the host, Barr. Bassey Ekerete, appealed to the various cult/interest groups for cooperation and doled out N3 Million Naira ostensibly from Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, Hon. Commissioner for Finance. Non-initiates of cult groups from Ibiono Ibom Grand Alliance were banned from attending the Toyo ID country home meeting. The leadership of the cult groups was to later arrange the initiation for those willing to join. All these later formed the Vanguard which executed thuggery, rigging, impersonation, shooting and killings which characterized the 2011 elections in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area.
Recently the Chairman of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area Hon. Godwin Ekpo was kidnapped in a Commando manner at a football field where he was special guest, a serving Councilor representing Ibiono Ibom Ward 9 of the Local Government was apprehended by the Police and he made a confessional statement mentioning Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, The Hon. Commissioner for Finance among other dignitaries in the Local Government as their sponsors, the Hon Commissioner instructed the immediate past Commissioner of Police Mr. Felix Uyana to ensure that the Councilor was eliminated in other to stop the implication of important personalities in the area and that order was judiciously implemented. The Commissioner is the sponsor of the terrorist organization known as Ibiono Ibom United Movement. It can be recalled that the posting of Police Commissioner Mr. Felix Uyana to Akwa Ibom State in March 2011 was purchased by Gov. Godswill Akpabio to co-ordinate pre-election terrorism and ultimate rigging of 2011 polls in the States, an assignments which was creditably accomplished. It is difficult to know where things fell apart for the State House of Assembly to remove the Commissioner by the House resolution which indicted him on the state of insecurity in the State. This was done in defiance to the Governor’s position and the Governor could not reverse the situation.
PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENT STRIDES
There has been no other time in our history that media sycophancy reached the present level. History of Nigerian Media before and after Independence shows that our battle have always been won by our vibrant press. The greatest war Nigeria faces today as a nation is corruption and the press who are supposed to do what they are noted for have simply made themselves available for the highest bidder.
The word PLC has come to assume a good measure of popularity. It ordinarily means Public Liability Company, but Akwa Ibom PLC referred to here means Painting, Labeling and Commissioning. This was simply the hall mark of Akwa Ibom State Government. For the first 2 years or so all that we witness was repainting, labeling and commissioning of projects already completed by the Attah’s administration. Health Care Facilities, Electricity Projects, Water projects as well as Road Projects. We recall one incident in Etinan urban where they went to commission an electrical project which had laid valor for more than 4 years. They did not succeed in fooling themselves due to the onslaught of stones, broken bottles and even human waste which rained and made that environment unendurable.
They fled for the safety of their lives. Then came the celebrated major schemes such as the flyover bridges at the entrance to the city of Uyo that had no traffic problem, since Uyo had been well designed to accommodate traffic. If all the five ring roads were constructed, Uyo City would not only expand in terms of physical development, but would make traffic congestion a non issue on our traffic situation in the city. What has now come to past for the flyover bridges constitutes complete confusion as the contour of Itam Junction has been eroded, making a distance around it and the motor park including the model market shows that the project had little proximity to Civil Engineering. Nobody has ever been told the cost of the project which we learnt was paid upfront. At the last count an estimated amount of N20 Billion Naira had been expended.
We were also bombarded with story of the Tropicana Garden and the Galleria which was going to attract tourism and render Akwa Ibom, Africa’s tourist destination. The project which was originally put at N33 Billion Naira has since been raised to N70 Billion Naira and yet has not reached any appreciable stage apart from the facility for 1,200 cinema watchers. An important trade point that would be favorable with New York and Paris to mention just two. Adverts by way of branding on the property would attract an annual earning of $100,000,000. But today instead of the envisaged mention above the only commodities displayed for sale are Donuts, Popcorns, Groundnuts and Ice cream. So far, no human being has come from beyond the state capital for shopping as we were told.
There is something called e-library, first of its kind in Nigeria that would attract patrons from all over the world. When President Jonathan visited the state he saw books hired from private bookshops for decoration to impress the number one citizen who was apparently excited. But Mr. President does not know that those books develop wings as soon as the show was over. In the first place what is e-library? Is it supposed to be a building rather than the provisions of computer programs browse able for dissemination of information to educate, inform and entertain human race. Again this is a clear case of intellectual illiteracy in high places. In a our society where reading habit has died among school children, the proper thing for a conscious leader should be to commence massive library at the grass root level (i.e.) primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Any person who initiates the vital facility at the international level must be an Ex-asylum mate and should be re-examined.
Akwa Ibom International Airport was conceived and built by the Attah administration up to 80% in terms of physical development, commitments of funds for engineering components such as the MRO facilities as well as payment of compensation to land owners over the project site. When Akpabio could not influence Dyncorp for kick-back he bastardized the project and went to re-award the contract for $150,000,000 to Messer Alcon Construction Company Ltd for the same job that have been paid for up to 80%. He then went to town with press hipe and massive propaganda to portray his achievements. Major media organizations such as the famous CNN, African Magic, AIT and the print media were not spared.
All the engineering components of the Airport project had arrived in crates and have been stored at the site. The franchise of the designs of the components originally belonged to the project managers, Dyncorp, and as such the Airport cannot proceed beyond one runway in spite of the $150,000,000 that was added to the original cost. The truth is that since they do not have the franchise to install the MRO equipments, the are stocked, and recently in an efforts to pass a negative buck and cover themselves, the Federal Government has been requested by Mr. Godswill Akpabio to take over the Akwa Ibom International Airport and complete the second runway and the MRO facilities. Can somebody ask Gov. Akpabio what he actually has done on that project? Nigerians can not afford to be kept in the dark on this issue. Where are the investigative journalist we used to have?
President Goodluck Jonathan was told that Akwa Ibom State has spent 280 Billion Naira on Federal roads in the state. Does this not amount to miss-application of public fund? Recently Akwa Ibom Government put up an advertisement inviting tenders for the construction of Uyo-Aba Federal High Way. There is no doubt that the State House of Assembly is a mere rubber stamp.
During the second republic, it can be recalled that there was a scuffle between the then Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Gov. Jim Nwobodo over who should construct a Federal road in the former Anambra State.
Recently another scuffle was reported over a portion of Lagos/Ibadan High Way within Ogun State between Ogun State Government and the Federal Government. Does it mean that Godswill Akpabio has been baptized by the Federal Government to perform the role of Raymond-de-Maxican in Nigerian Politics. All the film acting in the name of infrastructural development and giant strides that we are bombarded with is a mere smoke screen for our hard earned money to be siphoned in several banks in Europe, America and Dubai. This is where resources fly into the pockets of corrupt judges who sell judgment to the highest bidder. Today our judiciary is on trial as a result of criminal adulteration meted to it by people like Godswill O. Akpabio. The reliable information at our disposal has it that the recent judgment form the court of appeal in Calabar was given in exchange for N6 Billion Naira of Akwa Ibom State money, hence they saw nothing wrong in a judgment delivered by the election tribunal in Uyo against the petition of the ACN candidate. Nothing can be more laughable that Judges could be so intrigued by credit alert grinned into their bank account, to the extent that they forgot to append their signatures on a judgment written from the bench possibly, by Mr. Asam A.. Asam (SAN) the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, Bar. Ekpeyong Ntekim, Commissioner for Transport and Emmanuel Enoidem (All members of Ogboni Fratanity)
The Court of Appeal has insulted the intelligence of Nigerians and abused our Constitution by asserting that manuscript of a judgment had been signed. May the learned Justices please give us the dictionary meaning of the word “manuscript”? Let us thank God that both the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Nigerian Bar Association have given indication of a remedy.
Another way our hard earned resources are wasted in the drains is through purchase of Awards, Titles and Doctorate Degrees. Recently a solid and well respected institution, the Nigeria Defence Academy conferred Obong ,Dr., Engr. Goswill O. Akpabio with a Doctorate Degree. Why not a full General or even Field Marshal? What he has meted to Akwa Ibom in areas of cultism, assassinations, terrorisms and kidnappings support nothing less. This was not a surprise noting the fact that the Governor won the hosting right of the last edition of the Nigerian Army Remembrance Day. Each award attracts a minimum of N100 Million.
Our indefatigable Governor graciously without the consent of the State of House of Assembly built Police Secondary School in Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Mobile Police Base Ukana, Nigerian Prisons has been moved from Ikot Ekpene to Ukana, all in Essien Udim Loal Government Area. One project at the Nigerian Institute of Security Studies (SSS) at Usman Dam Abuja, has been sponsored by Governor Akpabio. He is also building an Army Barracks between Obot Akara and Abia State and another one at Ikot Umoessien.
Regarding the recent congressional award said to have been accorded him in the USA through Hon. Sam Ikon’s sycophancy for his ambition to become the speaker in the State House of Assembly, America the citadel of democracy who had to remove a Governor for attempting to influence electoral process over Barrack Obama’s replacement in the Senate, can not be part of any coloration of a mandate thief. That trip which had a strong contingent of 100 Government officials and some other elements dogged from Museum and Archives in the name of cultural exposition to advertise their permittivity in God’s own country. At this point we can only appreciate the patience of God. If this was not the case, there was no reason why the iron bird did not empty its cargo of squanderers and looters of public funds into the Atlantic to end this nuisance and nightmare.
THE BOTTOM LINE
This write up represents an open letter to the Nigerian people who must be placed on notice that their brothers and sister are under siege in the hands of the cultist and former member of the Late Sani Ababcha despotic regime that was removed by divine intervention on 6th of May 1998.
Resources from the Federation account has been diverted to personal use by this ruler of evil, darkness and mediocrity. Today, Akwa Ibom Economy has been totally bastardized and crumbled, our civil servants have not been paid for months. Information from the enclave of absurdity is that Governor Akpabio recently summoned his Commissioner for Finance, The Accountant General of the State and Local Government Chairmen to mobilize all available funds for the purpose of procurement of Judgments at the Federal High Court over pre-election cases pending there. This is being planned at the expense of Engr. Frank Okon whose Lawyer is also penciled down to be settled out at all cost. This is a confirmation to what an aid of the Governor told a Judge a short while ago, to the effect that the Governor has no burden in paying anything between One and Three Billion Naira, rather it was the learned Judge that had the burden of choosing within the scope.
Commercial motorcyclist also known as Okada have been banned from existence. This service itself shows the level of poverty we are passing through in Akwa Ibom State. The government claims that their existence created nuisance and promoted crimes in the Capital City. This is not true, it is difficult to find the relationship between Okada People and Peace House, an Amalgam of all cult groups working for the State Government.
Kidnapping people, assassinations and robbing banks are parts of their operations as a terrorist organization. The people involved actually go about in tinted jeeps and used sophisticated weapons in their nefarious activities. We see it as a punitive measure for their disenchantment against the State Government for ruining the economy at the expense of the masses, promoting corruption and nepotism at the highest level in Nigeria. The market traders, church goers who pray for God intervention on our plight. The State embraced the ACTION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA and gave their support whole heartedly to Senator J J. Akpan Udoedeghe for the last Gubernatorial election in the State. It will be recalled that Godswill Akpabio is the only civilian Governor to enact an emergency law to arrest and detain people who are oppose to his position even on public issues in what is supposed to be a democracy. The picture in Uyo today is a chaotic situation which now constitutes the real nuisance. The crimes have continued unabated.
We challenge, Godswill Akpabio to emulate Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State for parading kidnappers, robbers and assassins on the occasion of the Independence Day celebration. He is not likely to be predisposed to such a progressive exposition. Rather he would use the Police to discharge them as was the case when Mr. Walter Rugbere was the Commissioner of the Police during which 25 kidnappers and arm robbers were set free. In addition he would lavish them with heavy money and jeeps, including inter-ministerial direct labour jobs.
Recently, the Chairman of Uyo Capital City Development Authority, Mr. Charles Umana, a close aid of the Governor was mentioned as the sponsor of a kidnap attempt on a popular Architect and Publisher, Arc. Ubokutom Nyah, by kidnappers after being apprehended in Ekot Ekpene. As this piece is written now, a prominent medical practitioner, Dr. Ime I. J Usanga, a native of Obong Itam in Itu Local Government Area and Medical Director of Ekemini Medical Centre at F Line Ewet Housing Extension Four Lane has been kidnapped in his hospital and his abductors are demanding for N100 Million Naira ransom. Akwa Ibom records averagely 10 deaths per village monthly due to hunger and starvation even though the state collects the highest revenue from the Federation Account.
Few weeks ago, three armed robbery incidents occurred in Uyo the State Capital, the first was recorded at the Junction of Barracks road and Brooks street a distance of 500 yards to (A) Division of the Nigerian Police Force, three Police men were killed and the Bank PHB Manager was arrested at the instant of the State Government and detained, blamed for not using a bullion van. The second robbery took place at the State House of Assembly Complex where money brought in a bullion van from Zenith Bank was robbed off and two Mobile Police men were killed while others escaped with bullet wounds and the Zenith Bank Manager was arrested and detained. The third occurred along Aba road where the ETB Bank was attacked and four people including a Policeman were killed in the vehicle conveying the money.
Let me insert Judgments from two separate Courts in a case of frame-up by the State Government against Dr. Chris Ekong, a lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Uyo and former Dean of Commissioners in Akwa Ibom State Government.
1. (a) Judgment by His Lordship, Justice Edemekong Edemekong, page 17
PW5 was Kemsy William Ekanem, who hails from Ikot Adaidem in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He said he was a member of the Akwa Ibom Youth Forum and the immediate past Secretary General. He said this was a group of Youths from Akwa Ibom State and that they held their meetings on the last Sundays of every month. He said the name of the group was a cover-up as most members of the group were militants and kidnappers. He said they were into gun running, oil bunkering and kidnappings.
(b) DW1, Barrister Ackere Agbor said PW2 alias Dagogo Minanyo confided in him that all the evidence he gave in Court pertaining to the fact that he was a militant was all lies, and that he had been paid money to come and testify in Court. He said it was the State that paid him to come and give the evidence he gave in Court.
DW1 said the PW2 was charged to Court a day after his interaction with him with murder, at High Court No5 Uyo. He said on the same day the information was filed, the Hon. Attorney General enter nulle prosequi and terminated the proceeding. After the termination of the proceeding against him the witness entered the same vehicle with the Hon. Attorney General Bar. Ekpeyong Ntekim and drove out of the court premises together.
2. Judgment by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Andrew Okon, Page 13
The mobile phone analysis report dated 19th May 2010 and voice calls / SMS messages report which he tendered as exhibits B & C.
He testified further that in exhibit B there are three phones, two of which belong to Dr. Chris Nyong and one to an unknown Assassin that he analyzed the phone numbers and 38 other phone numbers belonging to different persons including the State Governor, Don Etim, Dr. Chris
Ekong and a member of the State House of Assembly, that his analysis showed that the unknown Assassin’s phone number had communication with the Governor, Don Etim (PW6), Gift Jackson, Dr Chris Ekong and Dr. Chris Nyong.
This document is place on the door step of Nigerian conscience in general and the civil society groups in particular. Akwa Ibom State the Land of Promise must not die. This position has by way of petition been made available to the Presidency and relevant agencies of Government as well as the international community and the all seem to be looking the other way.
Nigerians must arise and protect our collective destiny with all the boldness necessary. We can do it before a Jerry Rawling emerges to take us by surprise. We cannot afford to fold our hands watching corruption swallow our entire system including the Federal Government and its institutions.
Godswill O. Akpabio like Raymon de Maxican is truly on Rampage. A man who has never experienced paternal love as he is traceable to four fathers and certainly has no love to give to Akwa Ibom people. A sadist who could shade crocodile tears at the burial of our Late Lady of song Mrs. Christy Essien Igbokwe, shortly after he mocked her, is the height of what we are talking about. As fellow citizens, please Save Our Soul in Akwa Ibom State.
Information recently made available to 247ureports.com indicates the turmoil within the All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] may be getting worse. This is as credible information obtained from persons within the inner caucus of the Peter Obi administration in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, confirm that stakeholders of the APGA from across the nation is scheduled to gather in Awka on Thursday October 6, 2011 to cast a vote of no confidence on Chief Victor Umeh’s piloting of the APGA as the National Chairman.
The information gathered does not make clear what will follow after the vote of no confidence but insiders believe the vote of no confidence to be a precursor to the removal of Chief Victor Umeh as the National Chairman of APGA.
Credible but unverified sources revealed to our correspondent in Awka that the embattled Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, who recently returned from London where he inuagurated APGA United Kingdom Chapter, is said to have sought the attention of Governor Peter Obi to help plead on his behalf – to reverse the trend of activities that points to his inevitable removal. Gov Peter Obiwas said to be hesitant to intercede.
As a caveat, Chief Victor Umeh and his NationalExecutives are reportedlyfaced with a fierce challenge in Anambra in the hands of Governor Peter Obi’s spiritual mentor, an Uncle and an aide – Chief Nwaobualor. Chief Nwaobualor and Chief Victor Umeh are said to have had a falling out over the manner the APGA is being managed by the present Executives. Resulting from the unresolved squable betweenthe two APGA giants, Chief Nwaobualor launched an intense campaign for he removal of the present National Executives including Chief Victor Umeh. Nwaobualor proceeded to appoint parallel APGA structure in Anambra State and nationally – with Governor Peter Obi’s blessing/support.
Initially, Chief Victor Umeh, who is alleged to have amassed significant financia resources during the April 2011 elections, prepared to battle with Nwaobulor for the control of APGA. He confidently under estimated the reach of Nwaobular and the extent of support from Governor Peter Obi. Nwaobualor is said to have total/complete control of the grassroots in APGA Anambra.
And so as the two APGA giants began their struggle for control, it quickly dawnon Chief Victor Umeh that all was not well. Chief Victor Umeh found himself and his National Executive members having to answer to the interrogating agents of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] over charges of mishandling of N2.6billion of party funds.
Chief Victor Umeh quickly turned to Peter Obi for help. As 247ureports.com learnt, Chief Victor Umeh reached out to Governor Peter Obi pleading with him to help him beg Chief Nwaobualor to let bygone be bygone. But Peter Obi responded to Victor Umeh telling him to go himself and present his case to Nwaobualor. Victor Umeh refused. Victor Umeh then asked that Peter Obi accompany him to go visit Nwaobualor – Peter Obi refused and insisted that Victor Umeh go present his case by himself. It is uncertain whether Victor Umeh gained the access he sought to Nwaobualor.
In reaching to the Victor Umeh camp, a source stated that they are not aware of such vote. They added “Nwaobualoris only making noise. It took the party 6 years to remove Chekwas“.
New details into the Sunday morning kidnap of the father of a member of the House of Representative, Honorable Chris Azubogu representing the Nnewi federal constinuent in the national assembly under the All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] have emerged, and information available 247ureports.com indicate that the kidnap may have been politically induced, and that the lawmaker may be aware of the identitiy of his father’s kidnappers.
It is recalled that the father to House of Representative Member, Mr. Louis Azubogu of Umudim-Nnewi was kidnapped in his home at Nnewi at minutes after 9am as he prepared to leave for early morning Sunday Service. Mr. Azubogu is a 78 year old business man who is an Anglican by Church denomination. The lawmaker [son] had confirmed the sad news to 247ureports.com on the phone – stating that the family is yet to be contacted by the kidnappers but that they are keeping their phones lines open.
On the first level, in the build up to the APGA primary elections in Anambra State, a period covering between February 2011 to April 2011, the community of Umudim in Nnewi experienced a suspicious level of kidnappings that raised concerns within the State Security Service [SSS]. According to information received from an agent with the SSS, three [3] kidnappings had occurred within a mile radius of the lawmaker’s home. Chief Oformata, Emma Aba, and a renowned medical doctor was abducted by unknown kidnappers immediately following the general elections of April 2011 in Anambra State. And now the kidnap of Pa Azubogu.
Perplexed by the attraction to the Umudim community, security experts in Anambra launched an inquiry into the continued interest of kidnappers with the said community. The security agent in studying the pattern of kidnappings immediately uncovered a similarity in the four [4] kidnappings. It gathered that in all of the cases, the kidnappers did not contact the family of the kidnapped victim until about 5-7days after the abduction – and the abductions were carried out inside the home of the abducted victim.
On the second level, security operatives gathered that the lawmaker may have owed debts to political godfathers -stemming from the activities of the general elections of April 2011. It was gathered that the candidacy of the Nnewi lawmaker was bankrolled [to the tune of N25million] by an APGA stalwart who originates out of the South Senatorial District of Anambra State. The lawmaker was reported to have promised to repay the loan once he mounts the seat at the National Assembly. And as gathered, the APGA stalwart, who used to be a recent member of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] before defecting to APGA, is said to have yet received payment in part nor in full. He has not received returns on his investment. Caping matters, the APGA stalwart become particularly angered by the lavish Thanksgiving ceremony held by the lawmaker at his father’s home in Umudim Nnewi – where an estimated N4million was expended – indicating that the lawmaker may “have come into cash“. The lawmaker’s refusal to pay his godfather on the agreed arrangement is believed by the SSS agents to have possibly resulted to the kidnapping of his father.
On the third level, 247ureports.com investigations gathered that the ongoing troubles and factionalization within the APGA in Anambra State may have contributed to the kidnapping of Pa Azubogu. In Nnewi, one of the major political hubs in Anambra, there exits two warring APGA factions – the Victor Umeh faction and the Peter Obi faction. Immediately following the elections, one of Peter Obi’s aides, Chief Nwaobualor, presented to the people of Nnewi a new party Chairman for the Nnewi Local Government Area [LGA] to replace the seating Chairman believed to be from the Victor Umeh faction of APGA. This action resulted to the formation of a parallel APGA structure in Nnewi [and in the other communities of Anambra State]. The lawmaker was reported to be not interested in the activities of APGA in Nnewi nor in the activities of APGA in general. So he chose not to heed the calls of members of his constinuents who reached out to him to involve himself in amending the fractured APGA or to join forces with one of the factions in Nnewi. His refusal to join issues and his recent appointment as a deputy chairman in one of the lucrative committees in the House of Representatives- raised suspicions among APGA diehards that the lawmaker may have struck a deal to defect to the PDP. This did not seat well with the many supporters in Nnewi.
In addition, close associates of Pa Azubogu in Umudim tell 247ureports.com that he had no personal emenies who would have kidnapped him in such manner. They strongly believe his kidnapping to be the result of his son’s politrical activities. In confirmatory manner, they point to his political godfathers and activities sorrounding his electoral victory as responsible for his abduction.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker is yet to be contacted by the kidnappers.
