In July of 2019, recall that Mr Eze Chikamnayo, former Commissioner in Abia state for Information wrote an Open Letter to Okezie Ikpeazu the current Governor of Abia State, Chinedum Orji the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and Theodore Amaefule Orji the former Governor of Abia State.
In his no holds barred missive now making it rounds on Social Media as well as in the Print Media Chikamnayo outlines a slew of issues that continue to plague Gods own State and calls on the aforementioned players to come to the rescue of the State and its citizens.
This is what the former Commissioner wrote:
Sirs,
IT’S TIME TO DO THE NEEDFUL.
It’s with a great sense of history and responsibility that I write to you today on behalf of millions of suffering but silent Abians.
As usual, you may decide to instruct your idle emissaries, after reading this missive, to go to town and engineer another smear Campaign.
Unfortunately for you, Sirs, I don’t care. Your attempts to shame and silence me only serves to increase my resolve. Unlike some others that fear you’re worn out tactics, I am so used to your predictable antics that I am not perturbed.
But, I must warn you that if you continue to assassinate my character, one day, I may wake up to take you up on morality, wine and women.. and that day, a lot of trouble will befall your domestic space.
For now, let’s FOCUS on the ISSUES OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE.
1) INFLATED CONTRACTS IN ABIA STATE
Sirs,
As I write, Contracts in Abia State are awarded in a very opaque manner. The lack of transparency is due to the gross inflation of the figures.
Before Okezie Ikpeazu, at least, the Commissioner for Information comes out to announce the Contracts and their figures. Today, it’s all shrouded in secrecy. THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE OVERBLOATED AND HUMONGOUS FIGURES.
Abians are daily defrauded by this means. That’s why simple obligations like regular payment of salaries and Pensioners ABSUTH WORKERS AND HMB WORKERS amongst others cannot be met.
The other day, I published a picture of the only building Okezie Ikpeazu completed in FOUR YEARS at the State Capital, Umuahia. The Contract for the construction of that two storey building- THE SO-CALLED ABIA INVESTMENT HOUSE was reviewed SEVERALLY until it amounted to nearly a Billion Naira.
Theodore Ahamefule Orji may recall how I, Eze Chikamnayo, recovered the land on which that Building is located. As Commissioner for Information, I observed that the premises of Abia Newspapers and Publishing Corporation were parcellated to Individuals. It was the Late Commissioner for Health, Dr Nwosu who got that portion and resold it to the in-laws of Barr Chima Mgbeke. I recovered those lands. Today, Okezie Ikpeazu has given it back to his wife for the Construction of her private outfit…Vicar Hope Foundation.
I challenge Okezie Ikpeazu and his Government to come clean on that Contract. Let them within 48 Hours publish the Contractor, Contract Sum and payment vouchers relating to the so-called Abia Investment House (below).
It is this Culture of Inflation of Contracts that is killing Abia State and making it impossible for Okezie Ikpeazu’s Government to discharge its obligations.
At ASUBEB, ASOPADEC, ASEPA, ETC ETC, CONTRACTS ARE AWARDED TO FRIENDS, RELATIONS AND CRONNIES AT VERY INFLATED RATES. And ABIANS are paying the price through the UNMITIGATED poverty and lack of development that has become our lot.
From Orji Uzor, Orji Theodore to Okezie, THESE THREE Os, have finished Abia State. They are more interested in stockpiling money than in serving the Interest of the poor masses. AND INFLATION OF CONTRACTS IS THEIR MAIN STRATEGY.
Abians deserve to know what their money is buying, why and for how much. That’s called TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
A situation wherein a kilometre of Road, with very thin Asphalt, is valued at over N100 million is not only wicked but despicable and mindless.
2) CONVERSION OF PUBLIC PROPERTY
Okezie Ikpeazu’s Government must promptly Probe and recover the following Public Property illegally appropriated by Theodore Ahamefule Orji and Chinedum Orji and their avaricious family.
a) THE FORMER TIMBER MARKET AT WORLD BANK IN UMUAHIA
This land was given to Olisa Metuh for cover. Up till now, five years after, over 500 plots of choice land at the heart of Umuahia, which has now been overgrown with weeds, remain abandoned. Why? Because Olisa Metuh and his Company is in Limbo.
Theodore Ahamefule Orji wickedly chased out long-suffering Abians and ruined their lives and businesses only to relocate them to a non-functional, unserviced site and appropriated land. Many of these displaced Abia traders have since died. Others have been permanently damaged and DESTROYED. Okezie Ikpeazu MUST RECOVER THIS PRIME LAND AND RESTORE THE SAME TO ABIANS.
b) THE FORMER ASUBEB PREMISES AKA ABIA MALL ( SHOPRITE)
This has now also been taken over by Theodore Orji and family.
I was in the Executive Council of Abia State. At no time did we get the details of this transaction. THE ABIA MALL (below) belongs to Theodore Orji until he comes out to tell Abians otherwise.
His Son, Ugonna Orji, was the one doing the negotiations with Spar and later SHOPRITE. It’s very disheartening to note that such a premium Public Property will be appropriated and converted without any explanation to the real owners – Abians.
c) THE FORMER MINISTRY OF JUSTICE PREMISES ALONG FINBARRS ROAD UMUAHIA.
Abians are embarrassed DAILY to know that it is only around the personal Estates of T.A. Orji that quality roads, pavements and walkways exist in Umuahia. The former Premises of the Ministry of Justice was APPROPRIATED AND CONVERTED TO PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. Till today, the process is shrouded in secrecy. Fronts were used as Contractors. Abia money is deployed. Abians are made to believe that it is a PPP. And I laugh. Okezie Ikpeazu should go and recover that premises for Abians.
d) THE FORMER UBANI MARKET PREMISES AT ISHI GATE AROUND OKPARA SQUARE
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This is the most wicked thing any human being can do to another. IT IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY! Theodore Ahamefule Orji drove out families, took over their heritage and pushed them into the forest, kilometres away from Umuahia without any SUSTAINABLE plan.
Do you know how many traders that have died within these five years? Can you quantify the losses? And to add insult to injury, Theodore Ahamefule Orji imposed his in-laws, Ebenezer Offor and co. to go to the new site and continue the despoliation and dehumanization of the poor Abia Traders.
Today, after five years, OKEZIE IKPEAZU IS PROTECTING THIS RAPE ON THE ABIANS HE SWORE TO SERVE. In fact, do you know that throughout his Four years as Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu NEVER did anything to make the so-called NEW UBANI MARKET to function? All he does is to drive with Theodore Orji in his convoy to that cursed land they have stolen and organize rallies at the graveyard of the DESTROYED Abia Traders?
Now, who is the REAL owner of the OVER 10,000 Plots where the old Umuahia Market was located? They say it’s a PPP with one Mbaka at Isukwuato? Okay. How much was paid into the coffers of Abia State before Theodore Ahamefule Orji handed over the C of O of this PRIME Property forcefully taken away from Abia families to this individual?
HOW MUCH REVENUE has the Abia State Government garnered from this property since the five years Theodore Ahamefule Orji took it over? Who is the owner of the Estate built Inside this former market? Under what condition was it ACQUIRED? Who are the People that own all the adjoining lands up to and after the current ABIA LINE PARK? OKEZIE IKPEAZU MUST PROBE THESE MINDLESS conversions.
e) OTHER PUBLIC PROPERTIES CONVERTED TO PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
The BCA Substation at Aba ( over 5 Hectares, the land at MGBARAKUMA UBAKALA meant for immigration and Customs, the seat of over 10 Kilometers of Land purportedly donated to Patience Jonathan for the Establishment of a University, the part of Commissioners Quarters fenced away and developed as a private Estate and many others ( Details contained in my upcoming Book: ” TWO DECADES OF DECADENCE – The Abia Experience. )
Because of space, I will continue this letter within the week to give you time to assimilate the serious issues RAISED.
Most Abians are angry and distressed by this brazen display of CORRUPTION AND WICKEDNESS. Most Abians are also silenced and AFRAID. And you, Okezie Ikpeazu know why.
In the last two weeks, Chinedum Orji has sponsored urchins and Marabouts to assassinate my character. Their tepid tales by moonlight centres around my family.. how many wives and children I have or where I go dancing in the evening. See? They have even resorted to traumatizing my children in Schools. The other day, one Gbalex Chikezie, one of Ochendo Boys led a group who attempted to kidnap my Son.
Okezie Ikpeazu, ALL THIS UNDER YOUR WATCH?
Like I said earlier, I will continue this letter and call your attention to more specific areas of rot. I hope that the trio of you… OKEZIE IKPEAZU, ORJI CHINEDUM AND ORJI THEODORE, will realize that it’s not going to be business as Usual. The money you spend every day belongs to ME AND OTHER ABIANS. The land you dole out belongs to ME AND OTHER ABIANS. The contracts you award at your whims and caprices are awarded on MY BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ALL ABIANS.
So, it is our RIGHT TO KNOW.
