SAM OBINNA IBE takes a look at the pressure on the immediate past governor of Abia state and senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, at the National Assembly, Senator T.A. Orji to lose focus
At the beginning of his crisis occasioned by intense opposition against Senator T.A. Orji, many Abians viewed the public outbursts by some of his contenders as the normal political tantrums. But with the passage of time, its underlying meaning was made manifest as the arrow head of the opposition Chief Uche Akwukwaegbu took the verbal war against the incumbent Abia Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu to the door step of Orji, his kinsman, who is allegedly said to have installed Ikpeazu.
Many have argued that Bawas as Akwukwaegbu popularly called cannot summon the courage to sustain the fight given the material benefits and political recognition he got from the Orji’s administration.
About two months ago, his Ibeku kinsmen through a media statement cautioned Akwukwaegbu not to speak on behalf of the clan. In short, that he does not have what it takes to speak on their behalf while he Akwukwaegbu having taken sides with the embattled Dr, Uche Ogah who was declared as the governor of Abia state by Justice Okon Abang of Federal High Court, Abuja.
The Ibeku people in their estimation wondered how Bawas would be the one that rock the boat given the collective support of their people to Ikpeazu, and anointed son of the former governor.
Not only that, considering the closeness of Bawas to Ochendo when the latter was in the office as governor Ibeku people express disbelief that they could become political enemies so soon. Still expressing dismay the Ibeku people passed a vote of no confidence in Akwukwaegbu for joining forces with Ogah to fight a brother that uplifted him financially.
Thus, as Akwukwaegbu continues to show solidarity to his friend Ogah, his Ibeku people disowned him through a media statement signed by eminent sons of the land saying that Bawas is not speaking for them. Ibeku people have collectively decried Bawas position describing him toying the path of dishonour, given what they claimed Orji did to elevate him financially, politically and otherwise. They accused him of lack of appreciation because his wife, Hon. Grace Nkem Uche’s ambition to return to the Abia House of Assembly for three consecutive times was stopped, by Orji’s son, Hon. Chinedu in a keen political rivalry.
Akwukwaegbu a dogged fighter will not go down on the ground without fighting back. He replied his critics, challenging them to come up clean with what they claimed Orji did for him and his family, compared to what he did in return for Orji and his family.
Not done yet, he boasted that Orji’s government owed his family millions of Naira and that closeness to the former governor improvised him the more. Because he was already a self-made man before Orji came to the saddle as governor of Abia State.
The war of attrition continued unabated to the disbelief of many a watchers of Abia politics who had thought this media war would soon fizzle out just like every others. But rather than die a natural death, many aggrieved politicians and business personalities in Abia have joined forces with Bawas against Orji.
The list include: Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governorof Abia state, Chief Tony Ukasanya, pioneer Chairman of PDP now an APC Chieftain, Chief Laz Onwuneme and his son, Engineer Nwabueze Onwuneme, the paramount traditional ruler of Ibeku land, HRH Eze Samuel Onuoha, the Ogurube IV, and lately, Prince B.B. Apugo, formidable politician and a no none sense kinsman of Orji.
Two weeks ago, Chief Ukasanya called a press conference at Isicourt Event Centre, where he castigated his former boss, Orji describing him as the worst governor, Nigeria ever produced. He noted that there was nothing tangible to show for within the eight years Orji held sway as the governor of the state.
He further said that as former political Adviser to Orji, he tried his best to boost his government both in the state and at the national level, adding that he worked with Orji for 29 months while Orji Uzor Kalu for three to four years and that “you cannot compare between the two former governors”, even as he concluded that Kalu was a be better manager of men and resources.
Ukasanya who told newsmen that he was reacting to newspaper report which was credited to the former governor who described Ukasanya and his group as fair weather politicians that jettison their benefactor once the benefits are no longer available arguing that he is not that Orji knew his status before he joined his government among other points he raised.
As for HRH Eze Onuoha, he stated that he never benefited anything from Orji’s administration as his kinsman, even as a foremost traditional ruler of Ibeku. He therefore begged the former Kalu on behalf of what he called Orji’s ingratitude to the man that made him a governor”.
To Igwe Laz Onwuneme, whatever Orji did against Kalu would not diminish the stature of Kalu as a cult-hero in Igboland.
On his part, Prince B.B Apugo accused Orji of master minding his EFCC’s ordeal. He said that throughout the time his kinsmen was the governor of the state, he did not visit him either in his private house or office even though he contributed in making him the governor.
He accused Orji of misrule and insensitive to people that were his hitherto close allies such as Kalu, Akwukwaegbu, Ukasanya, Onuoha, Onwuneme who have now disowned him due to his “unreliable character” among others.
Responding, one of Senator Orji’s media aides, Eddy Onuzuruike said that Abians should disregard the tantrums of Ukasanya because he is a frustrated and failed politician.
He noted that Orji as governor of the state elevated governance to a height that well meaning Nigerians are still praising the developmental strides recorded by his administration, be it in the area of health care delivery, purposeful governance, infrastructural development, security, education, environment and above all, ensuring that power shifted to Abia South Senatorial zone that was yet to produce a governor since the creation of the state.
He noted that Ukasanya served Orji for 29 months without raising a memo has now been recruited to speak for the few disgruntled politicians in an unholy alliance as one of the liars.
“As against his many liars, Abia State Ministry of Health had the biggest push under Orji and had testimonies from far and wide”. Orji’s media aide said.
He added that Dr. Okechukwu Ogah the elder brother to Dr. Uche Ogah was the Commissioner of Health when this feat was achieved, the said feat as primary; secondary and tertiary health sectors under Orji were revolutionary and witnessed visitations of local, federal and international bodies in acknowledgment and endorsements.
He also explained that due selection process was followed with the election of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as a governor of Ukwa Ngwa extraction, the first time somebody from Abia South to emerge as governor adding that PDP met and zoned it to Abia South and it was ratified by the stakeholders. “And that Ikpeazu went through a highly contested primary; a structure Ogah is contesting, Ukasanya is backing”.
He challenge Ukasanya on his allegations that Orji never built a single road during his tenure, and asked what contractors like Bawas, Pumeco Chikwe Tech, Chomen were doing in the state. He therefore called on Nigerians to disregard Ukasanya and his likes while describing him as a politician that has outlived his usefulness in politics should be seen now as a political tout. The media aide to Orji insists that his boss is not bothered by the tantrums of these failed politicians, rather, he is moving ahead to render quality serve to the people of Abia Central.
