Senator Wabara, a benefactor of Don Ubani, does not in any way deserve the derogatory remarks made on him by a supposed Chief who like a proverbial son, decided to throw his father up. Now, he should be ready to see what his sight is not meant to behold!

It only smacks of arrogance, disrespect, ingratitude, and of course, shameless display of stupid ignorance for a man who few years back, served as a Liaison Officer to the Distinguished Senator, to turn around and begin to de-market his former boss on the social media, simply because he feels he can construct few sentences and post on the social media.

How come Chief Ubani, a former Commissioner in Abia State, who is expected to comport himself with a level of dignity and decorum, suddenly decide to dance naked and take up arms against an innocent man who he acknowledged, made him a car owner few years ago? How come, Chief Ubani suddenly decided to fight a kinsman he rather should be celebrating? Is it envy or merchandise that drove Ubani into fighting a man he may not come close to his enviable achievements and height in life?

Well, the reason is not far- fetched. It’s a combination of acrimony and pull-him-down syndrome – Ubani trademark for ages. Secondly, as a frustrated failed politician, the self-imposed Asa mouthpiece must have hired himself for a pot of porridge to those uncomfortable with the unbiased position of Senator Wabara on issues of importance to the PDP.

It is a fact, that Senator Wabara as the BoT Chairman of the PDP, has courageously as demanded by his exalted position (Conscience of the party); and true to his temperament, spoken out against injustice and anomalies not minding whose ox is gored. Those who feel threatened and hurt by his uncompromising posture on both national, state or party issues are really fighting back.

These elements, unfortunately, have seen a willing recruit in a man without any modicum of shame. They have seen a man ready to do anything including pulling down his own just for a wet pocket.

I know that His Excellency, the Distinguished Senator Wabara, certainly does not have Ubani’s time. He definitely will not have the time and patience to read most of his uninspiring long epistles. But folks like us will not allow Chief Ubani get away with his unprovoked insults against an innocent statesman.

Ubani should not expect Senator Wabara to stoop so low as to begin to join issues with an ex-Liason Officer. He should also know that a former Senate President and an incumbent BoT Chairman of a big political party like the PDP, will be belittling himself and office to begin to trade words with a serial blackmailer and expired ‘food is ready’ political megaphone. Chief Ubani behaves like the nwanza (miniature bird) that does not know his size and wants to fly with any bird.

If Ubani who prides himself as an orator and advocate of the Ukwa nation lacked, and still lacks the courage to ask his pay master what he did for Ndi Ukwa, then he has lost the morality to disparage Senator Wabara. All through the time Ubani served in the State Executive Council both as Commissioner and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, what did he attract for ndi Asa and Ndoki other than bad image and hatred by other people? He should first give a scorecard of himself, before looking the way of another.

Should Ubani not bury his face in shame that the man and administration he served for eight years completely abandoned Ukwa land? During that infamous and better-forgotten era, virtually all roads in Ukwa, the only oil producing area in Abia totally collapsed. Was there any remarkable project that Ubani and his sponsors point at which they sited in Asa or Ndoki land? Should Ubani not be ashamed that because of the peanuts he gets from those who used and dumped him, he has continued to defend their indefensible anomalies even at his age?

This self overated advocate of the Ukwa nation was rather used by his pay master as an attack dog against anyone who did not share their self-centered opinions. Regrettably, the only legacy of Ubani for the Ukwa people is the enmity he earned from our Abia North brothers who he rudely carpeted for demanding that power should rotate back to them in 2023. Chief Ubani was being used by his pay master to defend the indefensible under the illusion of juicer political rewards in the event that their selfish political game worked out. But alas, it was a flop just as it was never meant to succeed! Regrettably, Ubani was a captive of non existent Ukwa la Ngwa slogan that is only activated to serve the political interest of certain individuals.

If Ubani is honest to himself, he should have known that he has continually been used against the interest of Ukwa people. The next time he is mobilised to castigate Senator Wabara, Chief Ubani should find out why those he was defending against the wise counsel of elders did not have their way in the last general elections contrary to their expectations and initial boastings?

It’s only political hirelings like Ubani that would misconstrue Senator Wabara’s fair comment on the courage and openness of the incumbent Abia Governor to embark on the total rehabilitation of the critical Port Harcourt Road Aba, which the Master Ubani served for eight years could not fix despite its strategic importance to the economic survival of the state. It’s only a mischievous character that will interprete true and fair comment as anti-party.

The likes of Ubani are the reason the PDP lost Abia in 2023 because, instead of speaking truth to power, they chose to sycophantically massage the ego and lick the boots of those who had a wrong idea of what it means to occupy a privileged position. Ubani rather chose to be a praise singer instead of a true Counsellor. Today, he should be able to tell himself the obvious truth.

Don Ubani should be fully aware that he is on a self destruct for choosing to pull down his own. The Asa and Ndoki people will never take him serious and history will always be unkind to traitors. Our fathers told us that some migrants from neighbouring Rivers settled in our land out of the benevolence and hospitality of the ancients. Perhaps, time has come for true screening of the ancestry of everyone in Ukwa to know true sons from pretenders!

By Chijioke Dimgba Okere

The post The Wailing Of A Frustrated Political Attack Dog first appeared on National Ambassador News.

In whatever we do as humans, pedigree and antecedents are strategically essential. No matter how wealthy and well dressed a motor-park tout may be, any close contact with him immediately betrays the crudeness of his orientation and background.

Unfortunately in our clime, any person that thinks he has mustered enough material wealth, no matter how it was acquired, looks up to only one destination, Politics. In the calculation of such a person, there is nothing money can not fetch him. Such a person does not know and believe that Character is primarily of essence.

In this period of declarations, there is an avalanche of characters, spurred only by perception of the quantum of money they think they have, gunning for one elective position or another.

Here in Abia State, there are many of such characters seemingly throwing themselves forward even to be Governor of the State. Interestingly; in my Political Party, PDP, I am a Statutory Delegate, up to the level of Governorship Primary Election. This position is simply by virtue of having assiduously, honestly, transparently and meritoriously served the Party as a Member of the State Working Committee. It is a right, not even privilege, conferred on me by Statute.

So, as long as God sustains life and good health, I would be one of the ‘Beautiful Brides’ that would be either at Umuahia Township Stadium or Ngwa High School, depending on where the Special State Congress of the Party would hold, both in Abia-Central Senatorial District, on the day Peoples Democratic Party, PDP will conduct her Governorship Primary Election in this Month of May.

Going by my Antecedents, I don’t run after aspirants. I rather, on my own, weigh them on my scale. Being an unrepentant Advocate of Umunneato-Ngwa for Governor in 2023, I have already made up my preference in this order of choice;
(1) Professor Uche Ikonne—-1st
(2) Engr Enyinnaya Nwafor—2nd.
My scale of preference stops and ends at the two above. If it were constitutionally possible to have two Governors at a time, the two would have been my Governors. But since only one person shall be Governor at a time, Professor Uche Ikonne stands as my choice.

Because of my unique attitude to Politics, I seldomly attend declarations by political aspirants, even when officially invited.

Of all the declarations this time around, very many of them, by political aspirants that have taken place in my Local Government Area of Ukwa-West, I have only attended two. The first was the declaration by Professor Uche Ikonne for Governorship and the other was the day the Member representing Ukwa-West State Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Godwin Adiele, declared his interest for a second tenure. I attended the two declarations because I have already adopted them.

A young man called Chief Ncheta Elvis Omerekpe is not well known to me. I have only met him on two occasions. The first time was at the Ntigha country-home of Chief Reagan Ufomba when he buried his late elder sister. As expected, we exchanged pleasantries. The next time was at Ngwa High School on the occasion of Ukwa La Ngwa Youth Summit. He came very late to the occasion and sat by my right between Chief Chinwe Nwanganga and I.

He displayed a very absurd and untoward characteristic that day that made me conclude that he was a low character. While sitting by me, the Leader of Ukwa La Ngwa Youth Summit, Mr Okechukwu Charles respectfully came to greet him. As soon as the young approached him, he flared. He accused him that he deliberately arranged the occasion to project Engr Enyinnaya Nwafor whose posters dominated the spaces at Ngwa High School. The Youth Leader tried to make some explanations but arrogantly Ncheta asked him to ‘get out’. There and then, I hated his approach. I dismissed him as a man who is raw and needs some processes of refinement in conduct.

The third encounter I had with him was when he called me on phone one day and told me that one of his kinsmen resident in Huston in United States of America, Engr Chijioke Ujoatu, had advised him to get in touch with me. Engr Ujoatu had earlier called to appreciate my person and intrepidity as an Essayist.

Disrespectfully; Ncheta, an aspirant who should know I am a Statutory Delegate and who should also know that I am an elderly person to him, asked me to come and meet him in his house at Umuakwu-Nsulu instead of coming to meet me! Though it was avoidably quite insulting, I courteously declined.

I have taken time to narrate my very peripheral and absolutely cursory contacts with Ncheta just to establish the fact I do not know much about him. I am also not sure he knows me.

I was, therefore, taken aback last Wednesday, 4th May, 2022 when some PDP Stakeholders in Ukwa-West called to inform me that Ncheta who came on consultation to Ukwa-West descended most irresponsibly and ignorantly on RT Hon Chinedum Elechi and my humble self, even when neither of us was present during his ‘consultation’.

As the story went, he alleged that he assisted the Government of Abia State, led by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, to obtain a loan of $300m from African Development Bank. According to him, the money is nowhere to be found in the State. Again, he was alleged to have claimed that he arranged for a capital investment flow of $2b for Abia State Government but such opportunity was lost due to greed of some Officials who demanded for a bribe of $200m.

The above spurious allegations only ended up exposing the unfortunate irretrievable depth of ignorance of Ncheta Elvis Omerekpe.

After hearing all his cork-and-bull stories, the first question that came to my mind was, what level of malaria sickness and sleep could Ncheta have woken up from in order to think he could ever aspire to be Governor of a State?

My attempt to answer the above question eventually made me to ignore the absurdity inherent in his uninformed allegation that Rt Honourable Barr Chinedum Elechi and I are responsible for lack of development of Ukwa-West because of his weird unsubstantiated allegation that both of us have hand in the Billions of Dollars he idiotically referred to.

Sir Don Ubani is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State and writes from Asa.

The post Idiocy Avoidable In A Governorship Aspirant’s Consultations first appeared on National Ambassador News.

At moments like we are in now, political relationships and alliances are often reviewed. While some would be strengthened, others might break down. No one should be surprised because Politics is all about interest. Individuals stick to where their interest has chances of being protected. This is why I have always told my audience that it is our interest that determines our loyalty. Therefore, there is nothing like 100% loyalty in Politics.

Towards 2023 general election in Abia State, a lot of diverse interests are beginning to manifest. In all these, it is either individual interest or group interest that is the determinant factor. The summary is that relationships are on the scale. Some erstwhile friends or allies are beginning to let the world see them from contrasting perspectives. Some are coming out to disparage their former friends. Some individuals who have been deeply involved in initiating and implementing policies of Government now, erroneously believing that the masses suffer from amnesia, come out to condemn the Government they have been part and parcel of, describing it as a monumental failure. Yet they never left the Government by resignation. Of course, many of them are oblivious of what is known as Collective Responsibility in Government.

In the recent past, three videos have gone viral in Abia State, courtesy of a former Chairman of Umuahia-North, former Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Governor of Abia State, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and former Commissioner for Trade and Investment in Abia State, Chief Charles Ogbonna.

The first video captured him pouring libation and making hateful incantations against Ngwa People.

Probably not expecting that the video would leak, he made a second one which was a futile effort at damage control via a Press Conference. In that one, he tried, albeit in vain, to recant what he had earlier consciously uttered by trying to give the impression that he does not hate Ngwa People.

In the third and most recent video at Flo FM Radio, Umuahia, he had the temerity of categorizing Abia State as a failure. He saw nothing good in Abia State. Yet he had severally served in almost all the Administrations that had governed the State since 1999. At no time did he complain while serving that the Government was not getting things right. He also did not, at any time, resign in protest.

Charles Ogbonna said his grievance stems from Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s refusal to allow Governorship Seat rotate to Abia-North where it started in 1999.

In order to buttress his point, he said that Abia Charter of Equity should be discarded because it has become an ‘old document’. Yet he acknowledges that there is Old Bende. The question he avoided to address is, if there is Old Bende in Abia State, is there no Aba Division in Abia State? Why did he think he was clever, though by half, by not telling his audience how many years Umuahia Senatorial Zone, as contained in Abia Charter of Equity, has governed Abia State? Why on Earth should Charles Ogbonna think his Old Bende should govern Abia State for eighteen years and go for, at least, another eight years that would bring it to, at least, 26 years while Old Aba Division should be stagnated at 8 years?

Charles Ogbonna, it would appear, has not taken time to read The Abia Charter of Equity he wants to be discarded. If he had read it, he would have appreciated the intendment of The Charter.

The issue here is that some people allow greed and selfishness to drive their vision and passion. Abia State is made up of two major groups, Aba Senatorial Zone and Umuahia Senatorial Zone, with Isuikwuato District as an appendage. The above three components are the Peoples whose leaders applied for the creation of Abia State in 1981, using Abia Charter of Equity as basis. But for selfish calculation, former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu should have handed power over to someone from Aba Senatorial Zone, instead of Chief T A Orji who is his fellow indigene of Umuahia Senatorial Zone. If he had handed over power to someone from Aba Senatorial Zone in 2007, that person would have handed power over to someone from Ikwuano/Umuahia area of Umuahia Senatorial Zone in 2015. In 2023, the Governor from Ikwuano/Umuahia would be handing over to someone from another section of Aba Senatorial Zone. By now, the issue of power rotation would have been settled and stabilized.

Once you eat your cake, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, having it. Leaders of Umuahia Senatorial Zone selfishly murdered sleep, they, therefore, can not sleep. If Old Bende Mafia had been humane enough to appreciate that no condition is permanent, they would have advised Governor Orji Uzor Kalu to allow Equity prevail between the People of Umuahia Senatorial Zone and the Peoples of Aba Senatorial Zone. Today, they are crying wolf just because they had supported evil and the enthronement of inequity against the the Peoples of Aba Senatorial Zone. Again, no condition is permanent!

Charles Ogbonna and his cohorts might be hinging their calculation on the widely-held belief that the Ngwa Man is the worst enemy of the Ngwa Man. Yes, going by the alleged antecedent of the Ngwa Man, none of the four Ngwa Governorship Aspirants would like to step down for only one of them to emerge. Going by their characteristic pedigree, they have allegedly vowed to destroy each other and would only be satisfied when the four of them would have failed and a foreigner seriocomically reaps from their internal fight-to-a-finish. What a shame to these Ngwa Aspirants!

One of the things that is worthy of drawing attention to Charles Ogbonna’s refrain is his claim that he ‘introduced Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to those who made him Governor’. In as much as it is clear and beyond any iota of doubt that Dr Okezie Ikpeazu had been prominently actively involved in the political dynamics of Abia State thirteen years before becoming Governor and, so, makes a total mess of Charles Ogbonna’s claim, it is important that Charles takes cognizance of the fact each one aids another in life. Charles was, sometime in his life, a Butcher. He was hired and paid to slaughter cows and goats and retail to consumers. For him to have migrated from cruelty to harmless animals to the plum positions he had held in Abia State, someone or some persons must have provided a platform that served his purpose for social mobility. No body is an island to himself.

On development in Abia State, since Charles Ogbonna scores the State he has served severally in different official capacities very low, Charles should muster enough morality to tell Abians how he allegedly raised more than Fifty Million Naira he used in decorating International Conference Centre for his daughter’s wedding. He should be able to tell Abians what his business was when he built two magnificent Duplexes in his Ibeku compound. As Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, why did he allegedly have running problems with Local Government Council Chairmen, for which he was removed from that Ministry? Allegedly, Charles Ogbonna was always wanting to head viable Ministries as a Commissioner. Subsequently, he also headed the Ministry of Trade and Investment. Could Charles Ogbonna point at any legacy, positive legacy, he left at Ministry of Trade and Investment?

The truth of the matter is that Charles Ogbonna is only aggrieved just out of frustration. The cheap money he was getting left, centre and right does not flow any longer. Having realized that all his early morning libations have proved illusive and abortive, he now beats about the bush. He has already almost joined APGA. The earlier he leaves PDP, the better for PDP. PDP does not win in his Polling Unit because of the way and manner he treats his kinsmen.

Charles Ogbonna should not live in falsehood of transparency. His antecedents are known in this State. By the way, if he accuses Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of having done nothing in Ohafia, why did he not advise his brother to do, at least, half a thing in Asa land (Ukwa-West) which is the only Oil-Producing Area of the State, when he was Governor?

Charles Should know that the Office of the Governor deserves decorum and respect. He should avoid being vulgar and disrespectful while talking about his State Governor in a public forum.

One piece of advice that must be offered here is that taking into consideration the alleged egoistic and recalcitrant nature of some of the Ngwa Governorship Aspirants on the platform of PDP, an Ngwa Man from Umunneato-Ngwa in Abia-Central should be on yellow on any other Party, so that if the Ngwa destroy themselves in PDP, the Ngwa Man in XYZ Party could bridge the gap.

Sir Don Ubani is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State and writes from Asa.

The post Politics Marred By Hypocrisy first appeared on National Ambassador News.

The Charter was basically intended to allay the fears of domination of one Senatorial Zone/District over the other.

It is important to state that as at the time the Charter was written and signed in 1981, that was ten years before the creation of Abia State, Aba Senatorial zone was made up of four Local Government Areas; (1) Aba, (2) Isialangwa, (3) Obioma-Ngwa and (4) Ukwa.
Umuahia senatorial zone was made up of five Local Government Areas, (1) Afikpo, (2) Arochukwu/Ohafia, (3) Bende, (4) Ikwuano/Umuahia and (5) Ohaozara.
Isuikwuato District was just a Local Government that ordinarily belonged to Okigwe Senatorial Zone of Imo State.

Section 3 of the Charter states Aims and Objectives (Goals) and specifically, section 3(ii) emphasizes equal opportunity to all and equitable distribution of amenities, e.g Roads, Public Utilities, Hospitals and Higher Institutions.

Section 5(a) of The Charter states that the capital of the new state (Abia State) shall be known as and called “Abia City”. The city shall be developed on a virgin parcel of land situate and lying at the boundary between the Aba Senatorial Zone and the Umuahia Senatorial Zone along what is known as New Umuahia Road, otherwise popularly called Ururuka Road and more particularly lying between the Isialangwa Local Government Area in Aba Senatorial Zone and the Ikwuano/Umuahia Local Government Area in Umuahia Senatorial Zone.
Section 5(b) (Second Paragraph) states that if the Governor of Abia State is an indigene of Aba Senatorial Zone, he shall be resident in Umuahia Senatorial Zone; if he is an indigene of Umuahia Senatorial Zone or Isuikwuato District, the Governor shall be resident in Aba Senatorial Zone.

Section 6 of the Charter establishes Basis of Administration. Accordingly, the Administration of Abia State shall be on strict equality as between the two Senatorial Zones of Aba and Umuahia and the recognition of Isuikwuato as a District and on the basis of equity, equality and good conscience as between all the component communities of the state.

Bearing this in mind, the basis and formula for distribution of major or key political posts shall be equality between the senatorial zones and in recognition of Isuikwuato as a District.

Section 6(a) clearly articulates Rotation Principle. It states that the Principle of Rotation shall apply in addition to the Principle of Strict Equality in the distribution of key political posts.

Consequently, the following combination of Public Offices shall not be held at one and the same time by persons of the same senatorial zone/district;
(1) Governor and Deputy Governor,
(2) Governor and Speaker of House of Assembly
(3) Governor and Secretary to the Government
(4) Chairman Civil Service Commission and Head of Service
(5) Chief Judge and Attorney-General
(6) Chairman Local Government Service Commission and Chairman Electoral Commission and
(7) Head of Service and Secretary to the Government.

It would be pertinent to emphasize that Abia State, going by Abia Charter of Equity, is made up of two major groups of people, Aba Senatorial Zone and Umuahia Senatorial Zone and a minor group, Isuikwuato District.

Clearly, whoever must have taken time to read The Charter, would have noticed that the Charter places maximum emphasis on equity, equality and good conscience.

Going by the geographical composition of Aba Senatorial Zone and Umuahia Senatorial Zone, it is clear the people of Umuahia Senatorial Zone of the Charter have done eighteen years of governance of Abia State. Dr Ogbonnanya Onu from Ohaozara governed for two years, 1992-93. Chief Orji Uzor Kalu from Bende did eight years, 1999-2007. Chief T A Orji from Ikwuano/Umuahia also did eight years, 2007-2015.

In the Governorship Election of 2015 that threw up Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Aba Senatorial Zone, two prominent sons of Umuahia Senatorial Zone and Isuikwuato District, Dr Alexander Otti and Dr Uche Ogah of Umuahia Senatorial Zone and Isuikwuato District, respectively, did not only vigorously contest the election but fiercely and awfully initiated and pursued litigations against the victorious Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.

If either of the two had succeeded, either by election or litigation, no body or law would have prevented them from occupying the position of Governor of the State.

It is also of importance that the voting pattern of the people of Umuahia Senatorial Zone and Isuikwuato District in 2015 Governorship Election should not be forgotten. The pattern did not, in any way, reflect the intendments of Abia Charter of Equity.

Going by the said voting pattern of 2015 and, even, 2019, one would say that majority of the people of Umuahia Senatorial Zone and Isuikwuato District have never believed in The Charter.

Strictly going by The Charter, Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, being from Umuahia Senatorial Zone, should have handed over power to someone from Aba Senatorial Zone. But he bluntly refused to do that and, rather, handed power over to Chief T A Orji, from his Umuahia Senatorial Zone. That was against the spirit of Abia Charter of Equity.

In rounding off this piece, I want to thank all commentators from Umuahia Senatorial Zone and Isuikwuato District who have been using The Abia Charter of Equity as their reference document for determination of power rotation in 2023. I honestly support the use of The Charter for this purpose.

In supporting it, I state unequivocally that since Umuahia Senatorial Zone has governed for Eighteen Years; Dr Ogbonnaya Onu 2 years, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu 8 years and Chief T.A Orji 8 years, nothing on Earth, by the grace of God of Equity, will debar Aba Senatorial Zone from governing for, at least, Eighteen years. When this is done, every Abian can then say that Equity, as Stipulated in The Charter, has been implemented.

Needless to state that there are few selfish politicians from Aba Senatorial Zone that are, as usual, willing to be used against their people. They should, nonetheless, remember the fate that befell Judas Iscariot.

No doubt, Aba Senatorial Zone could be said to be currently in a cross road. This is moreso with four Governorship Aspirants from the Zone aspiring at the same time on the platform of People’s Democratic Party.

The likely general calculation by their fellow aspirants from Umuahia Senatorial Zone and Isuikwuato District is that, with a plurality of Aspirants from Aba Senatorial Zone and also believing that the Ngwa Man would hardly reach a truce with his fellow Ngwa Man, the PDP Primary Election places Aspirants from Ngwa in a disadvantageous situation.

This moment in the life of the Ngwa Man calls for altruism and sacrifice. There should be deep understanding and compromise amongst them.

If, per adventure and owing to selfishness and ego, the Governorship is not retained in Aba Senatorial Zone, it would not only mean that Umuahia Senatorial Zone/Isuikwuato District would govern the State for twenty-six years while Aba Senatorial Zone would be shamefully stagnated at only eight years but more humiliatingly, they may never have the chance of governing the State again in their generation and many more generations to come.

For goodness sake, let the intendment of Abia Charter of Equity prevail.

Sir Don Ubani is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State and writes from Asa.

The post Abia 2023 Governorship From The Lens Of Abia Charter Of Equity first appeared on National Ambassador News.

As the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Chapter, joins other counterpart across the globe to celebrate the 2021 World Press Freedom Day, journalists have been urged to use their profession to promote public good.

The World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, to be celebrated on the 3rd day of May, every year.

This year’s celebration was held at the NUJ Press Centre with the theme, “Information As A Public Good”, with veterans in the profession,the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka,past commissioners for Information,Chief Don Ubani who is also the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Governor, Comr Bonnie Iwuoha, Professors of Mass Communication,seasoned journalists, all in attendance.

In his welcome address,the Abia NUJ chairman, Comr Victor Ndukwe gave credence to this year’s theme, saying it is apt, especially at the face of the present security challenges confronting the nation.

Ndukwe said the event should serve as an opportunity to remind relevant stakeholders including government at all levels,of the need to respect their commitment to Press Freedom, which entails free access to news source and promoting the welfare of media practitioners,with a view to enhancing objectivity of the media.

The Abia NUJ chairman who further used the event to drum support for the profession and the media in entirety,called on governments to take the lead by properly equipping government owned media houses and ensure regular training and retraining of their staff.

He said with a good working environment, better incentive, working tools and training, Nigeria journalists would spring surprises in their job.

Ndukwe stated that there is a dire need for all institutions in our nation, especially the media, to be strengthened,so as to serve the public and not the good of powerful individuals.

He added that journalists should ensure that the media at all times, communicates the truth, promote peace, justice and fairness to all,as this also constitute the public good.

While wishing media practitioners an eventful celebration, the NUJ chairman, said it is imperative for public officers to make information available to all segments of the society so that all would be on the same page and eliminate mutual suspicion, stressing that this would go a long way in ensuring an inclusive society devoid of the current peddling of fake news, security challenges and discordant tunes in the country.

However, Ndukwe, reminded journalists of the fundamental principle of press freedom, independence and the need to protect professionals and the media from attacks, giving special reference to those who have died in the cause of their duty, those who suffer in one way or the other to bring timely, truthful and unbiased information to the society.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information,chief John Okiyi Kalu, disclosed that the government of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, allows for press freedom and would continue to partner with the press in Abia state.

Kalu said that the Governor may not have done everything there is to do, but he has achieved what no other administration in Abia state has achieved.

He said Abia has remained one of the safest state and most peaceful in Nigeria, making journalism to thrive.

According to him, no journalist has been victimized or brutalized in the state, urging journalists to write positive reports of the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka, while addressing the Press, described the media as critical to the survival of democracy, saying no democracy thrives without free press.

The CPS further applauded Abia NUJ for their support to the state government.

In his lecture, the guest lecturer, Dr Sunny Mbazie, said the World Press Freedom Day is to create awareness to the world that freedom of the press and expression is a fundamental right that should be respected by member nations.

Dr Mbazie defined Press Freedom as the liberty to publish and for journalists to determine the content of their media without interference, adding that if the system restrains the right to publish, prior or post, then there is no press freedom.

While advising journalists to seize the occasion to remember their colleagues who have died or were jailed in the line of their duty, called on the Nigeria government to see journalists as custodian of information which is a public good, adding that government should help check the abuse on journalists, particularly from law enforcement agents.

The guest lecturer, however, called for a journalism rights commission to be set up, to protect practitioners from the gross violation of their human and press rights.

The event further featured an interactive session where journalists called for the protection of their welfare and rights.

The post World Press Day: Journalists Urged To Promote Public Good first appeared on National Ambassador News.

After a critical survey of the plight of my people of Umuiku-Isi-Asa, even Asa in general, I decided to join full time politics to see if I could help alleviate their sufferings. I, therefore, resigned my engagement as a Teacher in Abia State Secondary Schools’ System in 1996.

The period coincided with the reign of late General Sani Abacha. He had, by a Military fiat, floated five Political Parties; (1) Committee for National Consensus (CNC), (2) Democratic Party of Nigeria(DPN), (3) Grassroots Democratic Movement(GDM), (4) National Centre Party of Nigeria(NCPN) and (5) United Nigeria Congress Party(UNCP).

I joined UNCP. Both UNCP and DPN were popular in Abia State. In line with General Abacha’s Transition Programme, local government council elections were scheduled to take place in 1997.

I was State Vice Chairman of UNCP, Abia-South. I was assigned to conduct the Party’s Primary Election in Ikwuano Local Government Area.

It would be necessary to point out that the position I occupied in UNCP was courtesy of a very Influential Female Power Broker who lived at Nweke Street, at Aba.

Take or leave it, we operated according to her dictates at that time. The first person’s plural here refers to those of us who were her loyalists. It may be seen as laughable but the truth was that we took directives from her on major issues. I will, however, not fail to state that as influential as she was then, she would stubbornly succumb to superior argument.

A day before I would leave for the assignment in Ikwuano, it was, by operational circumstances of that time, expedient that I should go for briefing at Nweke. There, the instruction was that I should return one Chief Rowland Osondu as Chairmanship Candidate of the Party. He was the anointed aspirant. I concurred, especially as Osondu was a familiar political actor in Ikwuano.

The following day, call it The D Day, as I left my native home of Umuiku-Isi-Asa, I reported at Nweke to know if the instruction was still as given. Lo and behold, it had changed! I was then directed to return Mr Ibe C Ibelachi. Though I did not know Ibelachi, I was duty-bound to respect the Voice of Authority, even if it would be to my peril.

As I was going to Ikwuano, the Party, then headed by Surveyor Rowland Onyeizu, did not provide me with any logistic support; vehicle, money or security. It did not have any to give.

Coincidentally and equally interestingly, the senior brother of Mr Ibe C Ibelachi; Mr Onyebuchi Ibelachi, who is now late, provided a vehicle for me, as I had to visit majority of the electoral wards in Ikwuano.

There was, however, a serious problem! The aspirant I was asked to return was not popular, as at then. The Man on ground was Barr K C Ugbaja. But I was under instructive obligation to deliver.

I left Ikwuano very late that day. I had no money for hotel accommodation that night so I slept in the house of one Hajia Elizabeth Uzuegbu in Umuahia. She was a modest Igbo moslem and an active politician from Ikwuano. She had a storey building in Umuahia. May her soul rest in peace!

As early as 7 am the following day, I had submitted my result at State Headquarters of UNCP, at Uzuakoli Road, Umuahia. Would you guess who won in that result? Mr Ibe C Ibelachi had been returned winner.

I left Umuahia as quickly as possible. You may not need to ask why. I did not want K C Ugbaja to catch me.

Unknown to me, nemesis was waiting for me. I got back to Ukwa-West that morning only to realize that my own chairmanship aspirant; Elder Emma Nwobia, had also been short-changed. Late Chief Uche Nworu who was the returning officer in the UNCP chairmanship primary election for Ukwa-West, had done like I did in Ikwuano. Elder Nwobia had lost.

In order to see if I could remedy the situation, I had to go back to Umuahia, in the company of Elder Nwobia.

Poor me! I was caught by K C and his boys. It was only God that saved me, I would have badly been brutalized. I was, however, forced into his car and quickly whisked away to headquarters of Ikwuano, where I was compelled to rewrite the result in favour of K C.

K C and his friend, Henry, were kind to me that night. After issuing them with the result, they took the pains of taking me home through Ikot-Ekpene via Aba.

K C did all he could for the situation to change in his favour but the Powers that be had made up their mind on Ibelachi.

In the reality of the situation that confronted him, what K C did was what a grassroots’ politician was expected to do. Both Chief Rowland Osondu and him mobilized their followers in support of the chairmanship candidate of NCPN, Chief Uche Mpama. That was a major reason why Uche Mpama became Chairman of Ikwuano Local Government Council in 1997.

The psychological trauma that I passed through, as a result of my experience in Ikwuano, made me resolve not to be involved again in any party primary election.

By the time Abacha died and we formed Peoples Democratic Party in 1998, I was confronted with a big moral challenge that would unsettle my Ikwuano resolve.

Under the Transition Programme of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, another round of local government council elections were to be held in 1998.

I was still a core loyalist to the woman of power at Nweke. I was not just a peripheral member of her cabal. I was an insider. Infact, I was Chairman of her Canopy. Many good decisions were taken in that Canopy.

In the run-up to PDP primary election for the year’s local council elections, Mama, as we called the Woman of Influence, had decided that my friend, Eme Abali of Okagwe- Ohafia would be the Chairmanship Candidate of PDP in Aba-North local government area. She also had penciled the name of a charismatic School Proprietor in Aba; popularly known as Prizemate Academy, who hails from her native Igbere in Bende local government area, as the Party’s Chairmanship Candidate for Aba-South.

In my mind, I thought she was being unfair to Ngwa people. I told myself that since Aba had two local government councils, if a non-indigene is assisted to be Chairman in one, an indigene should be allowed to be Chairman in the other.

Emboldened by the frankness of my conviction, I took up the matter with Mama. I made her realize that her son, being a governorship hopeful, needed the confidence of Ngwa people to be victorious. She succumbed to my superior argument. But she gave a condition, that I should be at the head of those to conduct the primary election in Aba-South. I agreed!

On the day of the Primary Election in Aba-South, it was clear Prizemate was the choice of majority of members of PDP in Aba-South. But that trend was contrary to the Spirit of Equity that was driving me.

My Team to Aba-South was made up of myself as Leader, Sir Ik Daniel of blessed memory from Ntigha in Isialangwa-North and Mr Ezinwa Abiri from Mgboko in Obingwa. Two of them were Ngwa. I was the only non-Ngwa.

We got to Aba-South and went straight to the LGA Party office at Eziukwu Road, opposite Over Rail. We were there waiting for ward electoral officers to return their results.

When it became clear that the environment had become unsuitable for the accomplishment of my mission, I told my team mates that we should relocate. I whispered to them that they should meet me at Terminus Hotel, by East Road, Aba. I left first and, one by one, the two joined me at Terminus. It was there that I perfected the deal.

One interesting thing happened before we left Terminus Hotel. Prizemate, only God knew how he learnt we were at Terminus, visited us there.

He said he was convinced he had won the Primary Election and wished nothing contrary to it would be declared. I assured him that the needful would be done. He gave us One Hundred Thousand Naira and promised me N50,000 for my personal upkeep every month if he won the Council Election. I expressed my gratitude to him.

Meanwhile, the Man I had in mind; The Ngwa Man, Dr C C Nwogu, later visited us and gave us Two Thousand Naira. Even though members of my Team felt it was too small, it was the one I accepted wholeheartedly.

For the purpose of that election, Binez Hotel, Aba was our Operational Base. Late Chief Lambert Nmecha; Agbawo, was inchage of the Primary Elections in Abia-South. He was in the Hotel waiting for results from the six local government areas of the District.

By virtue of being the Leader of the Team for Aba-South, I was unquestionably free to take Forty Thousand Naira out of Prizemate’s N100,000. Neither Ik Daniel nor Ezinwa Abiri would have raised an objection, while each of them would take N30,000.

However, I told them that Prizemate’s N100,000 was not for sharing. They were surprised. I told them we would return his money, which I had only accepted to collect in order to distract him. I knew he came to Terminus with many Thugs who could easily have unleached mayhem on us if we had given him a different impression. So collecting that money was tactical.

It was already about 7 p m when we got to Azikiwe by East and there we picked three commercial motor-cycles and went straight to Chief Izuka’s flat by Aba-Owerri Road. Chief Izuka was an illustrious personality from Igbere and a strong supporter of Prizemate. He had a lot of likeness for me.

Briefly, I told him that we brought the N100,000 his kinsman; Prizemate, had given us that night. I explained to him that it was not acceptable to me that out of the two Councils in Aba, no Ngwa Man would be Chairman of either. He received the money and thanked us.

We went straight to submit our Results to Chief Lambert Nmecha at Binez Hotel. As at that time, the Mobile Phone Revolution that we witness today had not come into being. I, therefore, could not have imagined that as late as it was when we handed over that money to Chief Izuka that Prizemate would know of it.

Surprisingly to my shock, thugs invaded Binez Hotel. Chief Mrs Nikky who contested against Eme Abali in Aba-North came with her thugs while many others belonged to Prizemate.

There were too many knocks on the door of the hotel suit where we were with Chief Lambert Nmecha. Initially, he refused to open the door. He later changed his mind when Nikky consistently called him to open the door.

No sooner had the door been opened than hell was let loose on me. I was not only beaten black and blue but had my dresses completely torn. It was the worst Terror and Humiliation I had gone through in my life. When we got to Umuahia that morning, the Chairman of PDP; Chief Tony Ukasoanya, personally took me to a hospital. He also paid the hospital bill.

I have continued to thank God who provided me with a saviour that night, even as Chief Nmecha cried ceaselessly. A young man called Escapee was the man God used to rescue me. He fought gallantly to make sure I was not killed that night. I had nearly died that night because of my unsolicited resolve to protect Ngwa interest, not minding that I am not Ngwa.

Lest I forget, when we left Chief Izuka’s flat that night, Sir Ik Daniel said that an average Ngwa man does not reward good with good. He was not happy with my action but he could not alter the situation.

True to what Sir Ik Daniel said about the Ngwa, Dr C C Nwogu never appreciated me. It took confrontation from me in a public gathering at Umuahia for him to reluctantly bring a bag of rice and N50,000 to me one Christmas. But Eme Abali who only heard what happened to me at Binez, invited me to his office and gave me N100,000. Periodically, Eme gave me money.

Even though Aba is cosmopolitan, it basically belongs to the Ngwa. As an indigene of Asa, I will not pour libation on the land of Aba. But I have exhibited deep concern for the welfare of Aba, which many Ngwa indigenes could not attempt. As a Commissioner in the Executive Council of Governor T A Orji, after driving from Opinion Junction to Asa by Cemetery by Ngwa Roads in Aba, I sent a text message to the Governor that I had counted about twenty putrid heaps of refuse in various stages of infectious decomposition. I told him that the environmental situation of Aba had become an embarrassment to the State.

No matter Ochendo’s natural imperfection, as Governor, he was a good communicator. There was hardly any text sent to him that he would not either acknowledge with his famous Tks or implement.

In less than seven days after that my text on the state of environment in Aba, Ochendo appointed Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as Deputy General Manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, Aba.

When Dr Ikpeazu assumed his position as D-G ASEPA, I was relentless in drawing his attention to areas that were in dire need of his attention.

Still as a Commissioner under Ochendo, I was the only person that formally drew the attention of the Governor-in-Council to the deplorable state of roads in Aba. I spoke so clearly and vehemently on Infrastructural Decay in Aba, that Ochendo was visibly worried. Abruptly, the Executive Council Meeting came to an end, as he spontaneously set up an Executive Council Task Force on Infrastructure in Aba. Chief Chinwe Nwanganga was a Member of that Task Force.

That day, when we came out from the Executive Council Meeting, Engr Solomon Adaelu called me and said, ‘Dee, I know you to a bold man but I did not know you were as bold as this’.

In 2014 when PDP conducted its Governorship Primary Election, before Chief Sam Nwogu, Engr Chinedu Orji and Chief Tony Mezie Nwaubani at the Old Presidential Lodge, Umuahia, I turned down the Four Hundred Thousand Naira that was being given to each Delegate. I told them that I would not collect any dime to for Dr Okezie Ikpeazu from my own Senatorial Zone. As at that day, I would not remember if I had up to N20,000 in my account.

I am convinced that I have done a lot in furtherance of Ngwa interest. Regrettably, I have never received any appreciation from the Ngwa.

So far, in my Political Career, it is Political Leaders from Old Bende that have given me a Sense of Belonging. I worked for Dr Orji Uzor Kalu and I did not go with caps in hand begging for reward. He did it out of his own volution. The same with Chief T A Orji. After working for him, in reward for my services, he appointed me a Commissioner in his Cabinet.

I have told myself that for no reason would I accept being a Commissioner in this State again.

All the same, it appears there is a Convulsing Feeling in me that I should not have taken the risks I had taken protecting the Ngwa, that only sees me as A Minority.

There is no cause for alarm! There Could Still Be Alignment & Realignment.

Sir Don Ubani is a former Commissioner for Information, Abia State.

The post My Yet-To-Be- Appreciated Self-Induced Costly Sacrifice In Protection Of Ngwa Interest first appeared on National Ambassador News.

The fundamental responsibility of government, the world over, is the protection of life and property of her citizens.

The welfare and economic advancement of the citizens are also important but life naturally comes first.

The relationship between government and the governed is anchored on the Theory of Social Contract, as propounded by a Dutch Jurist; Hugo Grotius, in 1625 BC.

Though the theory was later interpreted differently by the trio of Thomas Hobbes in 1651, John Locke in 1689 and Jean-Jacques Rousseau in 1762, the underlying idea remained similar.

The theory is based on the idea of a contract agreement between the individual and the State, under which the power of the Sovereign is justified by a hypothetical social contract in which the people agree to obey in all matters in return for a guarantee of peace and security which they lacked in the war-like ‘state of nature’, posited to exist before the contract was made.

Quite a number of people in government in Africa are either not conversant or, at best, conscious of this all important theory of social contract.

In the United States of America, Britain, France, Russia or any part of Europe, the death of a citizen means a lot to the government.

We have not forgotten the heat generated not long ago by the death of an American soldier in Niger Republic.

A black American soldier; Sgt LA David Johnson, had died in Niger Republic but Americans raised a lot of criticism against President Donald Trump over the manner in which he extended his condolences to the bereaved family of Johnson.

But here in Nigeria, even if a hundred soldiers die, it would be taken for granted that they enlisted in the Army only for them to die.

Countries that honour the theory of social contract, go extra miles to protect the lives and property of their citizens. They place high premium on the security, welfare, justice and peace of their citizens.

Such countries, I mean their governments, spend huge resources on intelligence and counter-intelligence, just to make sure the safety of their citizens are not compromised.

According to reports trending in the public domain, both the United States of America and the United Kingdom have published on their respective Websites intelligence warning their nationals in Nigeria of high risk of attacks by Boko Haram insurgents on crowded targets in Abuja from now and all through the Christmas period.

The USA made her warning public on Wednesday 29th November, 2017 while the UK published hers on Friday 1st December, 2017.

As put separately by the two governments, their citizens are strongly advised to lay low and avoid public places in Abuja during the period in question.

Such places include; markets, shopping malls, hotels restaurants, bars and worship centres.

The report further stated that states like Bauchi, Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe might suffer some degree of vulnerability this season.

Nigeria, ordinarily-speaking, should be grateful to both USA and UK for coming up with this quality of intelligence.

It, therefore, behoves the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to act fast to make sure the evil machination of the Boko Haram is nipped in the bud.

Very importantly, the main opposition Party in the country; the Peoples’ Democratic Party, will have her elective National Convention at Abuja on the 9th and 10th of this month.

Should any thing untoward happen to them, it would be logically and morally concluded that it is either the APC government that plotted it or the government deliberately failed to protect the people.

A stitch in time, saves nine.

Okwubunka of Asa.

The post Urgency Of Proactivity on President Buhari against threats to bomb Abuja by Boko Haram this Xmas first appeared on National Ambassador News.

BY SIR DON UBANI; KSC, JP

Saturday, 18th November, 2017 is a date every ear in Nigeria will strenuously stretch to hear news from Anambra State.

On that special day, the electorate in Anambra will troop out in their number to cast their votes in order to determine who governs the State for the next four years.

It must be stated, frankly-speaking, that Anambra has been one of the very few lucky states in Nigeria that have had good governors since 1999.

Apart from 1999-2003 when the State was governed by Mr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, the State has had articulate, visionary, prudent and result-oriented governors.

The governors, in their chronological sequence, are Dr Chris Ngige, Mr Peter Obi and the incumbent Chief Willie Obiano.

Away from sentiments, these governors have proved that with determination, patriotism and strict adherence to prudent financial management, a very poor state could become an economic eldorado.

Special note must have to be taken of the unique transparent administration of Mr Peter Obi.

All through his tenure, it was strikingly evident that Obi never chattered any flight, for whatever reason. Obi was discipline personified. He had no room for flamboyance and extravagance.

No wonder, Anambra State is what it is today!

This evening, five governorship candidates stood for more than one hour, expressing their ideas on how they intend to govern Anambra State, if elected next Saturday.

Dr Tony Nwoye is the candidate of All Progressives Congress, Governor Obiano is that of All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Obaze Oseloka is the candidate of Peoples’ Democratic Party, Industrialist Godwin Ezeemo is for Progressive People’s Alliance while Chief Osita Chidoka flies the flag of United Progressive Party.

Anambra State has, interestingly, attained a height any democratic polity should look up to as a standard.

They know they have very credible personalities that can hold their own any where, any day.

But they want nothing short of the best for their State. This accounts for the reason why almost every rural road in the State is asphalted. Unlike what happens in many other States where people find it almost impossible accessing their communities.

This is why I consider it an absurdity each time I hear of governors who are said to be desperate clamouring for defection to another Party where they erroneously believe Federal might would be used to coerce victory for them in 2019 general election.

Such a calculation is not only preposterous but hallucination of extreme self deceit.

Success or failure in 2019 general election will be strictly determined by performance, confidence and credibility.

The Military had been used in rigging election for the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, in 1983.

The aftermath of that undemocratic invasion and subjugation is best narrated by President Muhammadu Buhari himself who overthrew the government of President Shehu Shagari on the eve of 1984.

On tonight’s Chanel Television debate moderated by Barr Seoun Okebaloye, it was obvious the debate was principally between Osita Chidoka of UPP and Obaze Oseloka of PDP.

It was obvious Tony Nwoye was completely an odd man and, so, had no business being there.

The candidates have spoken. But what will play out next Saturday remains a myth that only time and factors we may not be able to fathom now would determine.

May the people’s will and choice manifest next Saturday.

Okwubunka of Asa.

The post My View on Anambra 2017 guber debate first appeared on National Ambassador News.