Udenwa On The March Again

FROM THE ARCHIVES: THE CASE OF IMO STATE

The Use Of Propaganda To Send Misleading Messages

ACHIKE UDENWA

BY EZIKPE UZOKA

JANUARY 16, 2003

OWERRI (THIS DAY)--Last week, Chief Achike Udenwa, the executive Governor of Imo State, formally commenced his re-election campaign. In his characteristic candour and unassuming style, he held discussions with different audiences, telling them why he thought he should be returned as the governor of the state on May 29 this year.His mood was inviting. His delivery was concise and measured.

They compelled understanding. The governor said he had seen and that he understood what the problem of Imo state was.. In the last three and half years, he has confronted the monster of under-development which has kept the state down. He has, through his efforts, driven the monster to the fringes. What is left is for him to nail it to the coffin. The next four years, he said, would help him to realise this objective to the fullest. It is a height which he wants to attain not for his own sake but for the benefit of the people of the state whom he holds in very high esteem.

To be sure, Udenwa's Imo is quite a model. It is a well known fact that Imo is a haven for learning. The people of the state cherish education and many of them have reached glorious heights in the field of education. Udenwa is quite happy and satisfied with the progress of the state in this regard and he has continued to provide a conducive atmosphere for more learning in the state. Under him, the state has continued to remain in our educational statistics as a frontline state. The number of Imo sons and daughters in universities and other tertiary institutions has continued to top the national list.

Beyond these well known credentials of the state, Udenwa's Imo now boasts of having the best secondary school in Nigeria- Government Secondary School Owerri. The Imo State University was recently adjudged the best state owned university in the country by the National Universities Commission. 

Today, as well, the state is savouring the glory of having the best teacher in Nigeria. This is in addition to the fact that the state has the highest number of primary and secondary schools in the country. In fact, Udenwa's Imo is a reference point for having continually maintained the lead in having the highest number of school enrolment at both the primary and tertiary levels. If Udenwa's Imo were to be a state where schools are closed for months owing to non- payment of salaries, all this string of firsts would not have been possible.

But if there is any area which has tasked Udenwa and which is seriously propelling him to return to Government House to finish the good job he has started, it is his interest in giving Imo an industrial base. As a private sector person, the governor says he will not rest until he gets the private sector to begin to participate in the industrial development of the state. While the government of the day has been able to rehabilitate the ailing or moribund industries in the state, it still believes that the state would be better off if its economy is private sector-driven. This is one of the main concerns of the governor.

It is not in doubt if Imo State is on the path to progress again for re-nominating the incumbent Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa for a second term bid under the platform of Peoples Democratic party (PDP) a few weeks ago. But the development has succeeded in putting to shame those opposed to the administration who have in the recent times employed all sorts of propaganda to whip up sentiments against the state government amidst the numerous achievements of the present administration in the state.

Suffice it to say that one good turn deserves another; Udenwa deserves another term in office for some obvious reasons. It is no longer news that in 1999 when this administration was ushered in, the level of rot in the polity was unquantifiable. The past military administrations were mere conduit pipes that left the state in a mess of indebtedness. But not deterred by the depth of the decay, Chief Udenwa and his table in some neighbouring states. It did not stop there; the administration went further to computerise some schools in the state. 

Frankly speaking what does this gesture portend for our future generation? Is there hope for the young generation? Basically, the response is in the affirmative. Computer literacy is fast becoming a pre-requisite for the younger generation. A lack of it could smear the chances of an individual to achieve a preferred height in career pursuit. In a world where too much emphasis is being placed on computer literacy, Udenwa, perhaps, saw the imperativeness of the phenomenal capacity utilisation emerging young Imo citizens when he took the decision to computerise a number of secondary schools with another rolling plan to extend it to other schools that were not computerised in this dispensation.

A cursory look at various schools in the state before the inception of the Udenwa's administration in May 1999, will testify that some schools were glorified termite abodes. Children were subjected to ignoble torture of learning under trees. It looked like there was no hope. Suddenly, out of sheer wise decision of handing over the mantle of leadership to Udenwa, the pendulum swung. Today, not only have some schools been renovated, a lot of new blocks were put in place to accommodate the teeming Imo sons and daughters yearning for formal education.

The point to appreciate here is the kind of person Udenwa is. As one who was brought up under the strict and disciplined atmosphere of the private sector, Udenwa combines managerial acumen with financial prudence. This is what he has brought to bear on his administration in Imo State. Presiding over a state, as Imo State is not as easy as one may probably think. It requires financial discipline and wisdom in the allocation and distribution of the meagre resources. Invariably, Udenwa has been able to keep this track record and has equally proved some that think that all about governance is to loot the public treasury. That readily gives a bird's eye view of some obvious reasons why some people who belong to the governance school of looting often quarrel with the strategy of Udenwa in channelling the lean resources of the state to where it will pay the masses most.

Similarly, the Udenwa administration has improved the health sector tremendously within the last four years. He has recruited some sound Medical Doctors, Pharmacists and Nurses; he has rehabilitated and re-equipped more than five general hospitals across the state. His administration has equally completed to the level of usage the state's Public Health Laboratory at new Owerri and the World-Class Imo State Environmental Protection Agency laboratory Complex.

It will be wise on the part of Imo people to re-elect the man who knows where the shoe pinches. It should be our collective resolve to be wise at the polls to elect only those whose credentials are well known to us. The opportunity to stop at the polls those who have evil intention of smearing the treasury of the state is now. Equally, we have in our kitty their antecedents and strengths in as much as they grew up with us and live with us. But it will be a display of wisdom if tested, reliable, trusted performers like Udenwa are returned to governance in this 2003. Definitely, Udenwa fits in. He is a man who has the fear of God. He has been there and knows exactly what to do and where to continue with his laudable programmes. He knows where the problems of the state lie and how to keep solving them rather than bringing in another person to start all over.

Apparently, our votes are our future. So it is important that we make judicious use of it. It is also imperative to note that there are legions of unscrupulous elements amongst us that are bent on ruining the hard earned achievements of Udenwa's administration. Some may even offer us money or use all forms of stunts to thwart our vote in their favour. But we must try as much as we can to look beyond our nose to sieve between the chaff and the man who can deliver as usual and even more to us. More parties have been registered, like wise more aspirants are coming up. Above all sentiments lies our collective future, which we must avoid to mortgage in the hands of few cohorts, bound to nose-dive our economy and social integration in the state. Be wise. Subscribe to continuity. Udenwa remains unbeatable amongst his peers when it comes to democratic dividends.

Udenwa Left 24bn Debt--Ohakim

FROM THE ARCHIVES: THE CASE OF IMO STATE

(FILE PHOTO): Former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa. Udenwa was governor between 1999 and 2007 and Federal Minister of Commerce and Industry between 2008 and 2010 under the Goodluck Jonathan's administration.

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

JULY 31, 2007

OWERRI, IMO STATE (VANGUARD NEWSPAPERS)--The immediate past administration of Chief Achike Udenwa of Imo State left a debt portfolio of N24 billion, according to his successor, Governor Ikedi Ohakim

Governor Ikedi Ohakim at the inauguration of the state Council of Elders was particularly irked that the state is indebted to the tune of N10 billion in pension and gratuity arrears dating back to 1994.

He also told the stunned Imo Elders that debt owed to contractors amount to over N14 billion, adding that we have over 250 un-energized transformers lying waste in many communities and over 300 dysfunctional water schemes.

His words: "As I speak to you, this state is saddled with a bloated, disgruntled, demoralized and ill-motivated workforce riddled with ghost workers."

"Imo State is the only one in the federation with a ratio of 80 per cent of its revenue going to recurrent expenditure and only 20 per cent left for capital projects."

While wondering how the state can develop under this type of scenario, Ohakim however said that he has set up audit committees for the state civil service and local government councils.

"Most of our educational institutions are in dilapidated state. We have 1,200 public primary schools, 312 senior secondary schools and 315 junior secondary schools that require rehabilitation", Ohakim fumed.

According to the Governor, the state has 6,458 teachers, 128 doctors with only four consultants in the whole state, stressing that health institutions are in sorry state.

Rochas Okorocha and the New Dawn

Rochas Okorocha and Solomon Egbuho at The World Igbo Congress Convention in Los Angeles, 2005

I wish to draw everybody's attention to what has been going around as the new democratic fabric seems to be in what the pundits now call 'the progressives' and how it has helped effect change as the Fourth Republic enters its 4th Term, and by the time the 4th term will be over or should be over, we'll be talking about sixteen years of a fledgling democracy. I have always emphasized on situations like this when I say 'it's not yet uhuru' and there's no need to be bumping fists in a political environment that is still full of uncertainties.

In the past, I have predicted with near certainty in elections of this nature, with regards to the Igbo-related states, and particularly my home state of Imo, from around which a better election was held, this time around, and that the people of Imo State spoke overwhelmingly on the ground destiny was in their own hands. This may be because not that Ohakim was that evil as we all may have thought; it's because we have been learning how other states in the federation have been gradually doing well as time went by and as they kept learning from the nation's neo-democratic dispensation of the Fourth Republic; by correcting its ills as it came along.

As it has now happened, and applying other better performing states as model, we hope, we will not be seeing again Imo Diaspora endorsing a 4th Republic first 'elected' Imo governor in Achike Udenwa who nobody questioned his code of conduct through a second term without investigating a ridiculously managed regime in Imo. So, too, hopefully, we will not be seeing Imo Diaspora endorsing and applauding a fraudulently 'elected' Ikedi Ohakim's proposed visit to the shores of the United States by a confused Los Angeles area organizing committees.

And hopefully, we will not be seeing where backlog of teachers salaries are left unpaid as in Udenwa's regime. And, again, hopefully, we will not be seeing a Diaspora that will abandon its responsibilities, sit and do nothing about the affairs of state, by way of proffering thoughtful ideas based on its Diaspora grounds to help its home state grow through series of development programs typical of all organized societies. And too, for sure, we will not be seeing where Igbo-related states, especially Imo, in which that part of Ala-Igbo was deliberately turned into a state of empire and anarchy while kidnapping became the order of the day and we all sat idly watch it unfold.

We have arrived to the 'New Dawn,' and evidently Rochas Okorocha cleared the hurdle giving Nd'Imo a sigh of relief, and that, never again would people like Ohakim be given the opportunity to destroy the state in its entirety; and that, never again would such be accepted in any civil society if we really want democracy to prevail.

Okorocha, I would assume saw how Imo deteriorated by way of social programs and basic infrastructures he quickly dabbled himself to opposition to fight and have Ohakim removed. Okorocha did not all of a sudden pop up to an out of nowhere politician. During the World Igbo Congress held September 2-4, 2005 (Labor Day Weekend), at the Los Angeles Airport Hotel, while I reported for BNW News, I met and spoke with Okorocha when he told me he had intentions to run for president of Federal Republic of Nigeria. The keynote speakers included Senator Ken Nnamani, President of Ohan'Eze Nd'Igbo Prof. Joe Irukwu, Orji Uzor Kalu, Okorocha, among others. Despite the fact that, Nnamani, not impressed with the convention on a variety of reasons World Igbo Congress had not accomplished in its twelve years of gathering asking where Nd'Igbo were heading to as a result of a Los Angeles bad organizing committee that invited him to be a keynote speaker, Okorocha did not waist time in announcing his bid for the presidency noting Nd'Igbo must engage Nigeria and get what they want; and put the marginalization theory behind them.

But now, the question here is: How Would Imo Diaspora influence decisions in a changing Imo State as Okorocha declares free education in the state on the day of inauguration? Is free education what Imo State desperately need right now or is it by creating jobs which would gradually alleviate crime? Would free education do any good without equipping the schools? Would free education without equipping the schools by any standard bring about better scholars?

Free education for all, no question, is a good way to start. But let's not start celebrating. It's not yet Uhuru!

Ehirim Files Classic: BNW Face-2-Face: Dr. Julius Kpaduwa

BY AMBROSE EHIRIM, LOS ANGELES (BNW MAGAZINE)

On August 11, 2002, Dr. Julius Kpaduwa met face-to-face with BiafraNigeriaWorld and talked about his experience when he was shot during his guber-race campaign to unseat the corrupt regime of Achike Udenwa. He spoke extensively on his plans for medical care if elected governor of Imo State. He also talked about the role women would play in his administration. Dr Kpaduwa runs medical missions and other charity-based projects in Biafranigeria and the United States of America.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Before we proceed, BiafraNigeriaWorld forumites would like to know who you are.

Dr. Kpaduwa: My name is Dr. Julius Kpaduwa from Ezike, Isiala-Mbano, in Okigwe, Imo state

BiafraNigeriaWorld: We know good leadership requires vision and a sense of mission. What is your vision for Imo State for which BiafraNigeriaWorld forumites should hold you accountable if you emerged victorious in the guber race?

Dr. Kpaduwa: The problems that confront Imo State are really not unique. It is the same problem that confronts almost every state in Nigeria, and it's one of economic development. The primary thing or my clear vision for the people of Imo State will be getting all the able-bodied men and women back to work, so that we can begin to have the quality of life that has so far eluded the people of Imo State.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: What is the status of the investigations into the attack you suffered last month, and what do you know about the attackers?

Dr. Kpaduwa: Based on the information that we have, six arrests were made and three were subsequently released.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Was anything said to you during the attack that suggest who was behind it?

Dr. Kpaduwa: No.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Do you know anything about the people that have been arrested for the attack? The name of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has been mentioned, what is his connection?

Dr. Kpaduwa: I don't know anything about the attackers. Araraume is the senator who represents my ward, Okigwe Senatorial District. I have not been informed of any connection between Senator Araraume and the attackers. I have been told the investigation is still going on.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Now that you have sustained injuries on your attempt to unseat the incumbent governor of Imo State, does your wife worry about your safety?

Dr. Kpaduwa: Of course they do. As a matter of fact, my wife does not want me to continue with the guber race. Since my ambition is to effect change in Imo State I must have to finish up what I started.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: What is the connection of Governor Achike Udenwa people with the attack? Have you talked to or met with Udenwa since you started your campaign?

Dr. Kpaduwa: I don't know of any connection with Udenwa people regarding the attack. All I can say is Udenwa never called me or wrote me after the attack. He knows I was attacked, and he knows how to contact me if he had wanted to.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Tell us what happened during the attack?

Dr. Kpaduwa: On the day of the attack, I had earlier attended a political campaign rally in Eziama, Mbano. When we came back from that rally, my campaign team and entourage spent the night at my uncle's house who lives across the street from my mother's house. I went to bed with the hope that next day's agenda would be met. While asleep, I heard a loud noise which woke me up. I had the feelings it was either armed robbers or political hoodlums. They smashed the windows of my mother's house, forced the door open and held my mother at gunpoint asking for my whereabouts. They pointed their guns to my mother's throat. When they forced themselves in to where I was, they pointed their guns at me saying they will end my political ambition with a "death sentence." They asked me to bring out all the money that I have before they could carry out their "death sentence." I was beaten, brutalized to a point when I collapsed and fell on the ground, they thought I was not going to make it. If it was not for my cousin who alerted the villagers, I could have died when they shot me. I was bleeding and in pains until my campaign team drove me to Federal Medical Center in Owerri.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: You are registered with People's Democratic Party (PDP), right?

Dr. Kpaduwa: Right!

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Why PDP?

Dr. Kpaduwa: PDP is the ruling party in Nigeria. It is the party that I believe has the clout to really change the way things are being done in Nigeria. It is the most popular party, and my reason for joining the PDP is to get my voice in that formidable party, so chances for Imo State and the Igbo nation in general will be much better.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Do you belong to any Igbo cultural organization here in the United States?

Dr. Kpaduwa: Yes, I do. I am a member of the World Igbo Congress. I attend their meetings. I also belong to our own cultural association in our town and I belong to the Imo Union.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Do you hold any post in the organizations you mentioned?

Dr. Kpaduwa: I am one of the board of trustees of our town union.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Do you have an office where you operate from, back home?

Dr. Kpaduwa: Yes I do.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Was your office attacked by the hoodlums?


Dr. Kpaduwa: No.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Have you had any kind of contact or communication with the head of state, Olusegun Obasanjo?

Dr. Kpaduwa: Yes, I spoke with him.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Were you able to see him when you visited home?

Dr. Kpaduwa: No.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: On education, and since the public school system has failed, especially in Imo State with teachers' salaries withheld by Governor Udenwa's administration, would you back privatizing the schools and giving it back to the missionaries?

Dr. Kpaduwa: I am fully in support of privatizing the schools. On the teachers, we need to talk to them, we need to know what concerns them most and their concerns need to be addressed, because the school system would collapse if their needs are not met.

The government can get into running of schools, but I don't think the government should get into running so many schools. I remember in those days when we went to school, the schools were properly managed by both the state and federal government and they came out to be schools of excellence. I don't see why we can't go back to that. By and large, those schools that were formerly managed by the missionaries should go back to the missionaries

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Let's talk about healthcare. The healthcare system in Imo state today is in shambles. I remember the story of a dying patient who could not be treated because he had no deposit. That, for sure, will not happen in the United States. Here, in America, in a situation like this, all one need to do is dial 911 and the response would be available immediately. If elected, how would your administration address the issue, improving the healthcare system?

Dr. Kpaduwa: You have asked the most important question of the night, though I don't know how many more questions you have. I can tell you that for the past four years, my wife and I (my wife is also a physician), we have been organizing and going on medical missions,, a free medical care to all parts of Imo State. As a matter of fact, we just finished one last Friday and we had a whole lot of cases. I was not able to go, even though I arranged it, and my wife could not go even though she was suppose to be part of the medical team. You just have to talk to people from Mbano, and they will tell can tell you what they experienced in our medical missions last week. Not only in Mbano, there were accounts of people who came from Orlu, Owerri and Mbaise trooping to Mbano Joint Hospital for free medical treatments and needs.

In fact, it was as a result of inadequate medical care I experienced during or very first medical mission that drove me to what I am doing now, running for the governor of Imo State, because I found out I could do very little with a stethoscope. I found out that if there was sound, good public policy as far as healthcare is concerned, the people of Imo State would be better off. That's really what motivated me to seek the office of the governor.

I have a plan that is very well laid out in our Manifesto, so to speak. And that plan, basically will guarantee any division of government owned Imo State hospital, standard of community hospital in the United States, if you know what I mean. That means that the operating room has to be fully equipped and functional. There has to be a functioning emergency department. There has to be adequate amount of drugs. And you will ask me how are we going to finance this. We have been doing this without even being in office, completely free of charge. We happen to be in a country--the United States of America--and God bless America that philanthropy is one of the bedrock of society. There is no where I can go to the hospitals that I practice, and ask them for equipments which are still functional and very good, or do a drive around the United States, I will equip every single hospital, functioning without spending a penny. All I need is the transportation. I will train a personnel, an adequate personnel. We will fully compensate the physicians that work there.

The hospitals, nobody goes to them because there is little or no care. We practiced in those hospitals, they are only hospitals in name and it is a shame. If you do not provide the people with minimum wages, decent jobs that will not guarantee them some form of health insurance or any form of health coverage, I believe that the government has the sole responsibility to take care of its own citizens. I don't care where you get the fund from,you go out there and get it until such a time when you have brought out the economic level of the state to a point whereby people can begin to get health insurances from their various jobs.

Under our own government structure, no single individual will be turned away from government hospital and emergency cases because of the inability to pay. It can be done because we will be able to get resources from outside of the country. For complex cases, no individual, for any operation that is needed will be turned away because he or she did not have money. And that is what's going on now. If you don't have money even on emergency basis, in fact, when I was shot and they took me to Federal Medical Center in Owerri, they refused to let me down until I have a police report. This is a gun shot wound, I was bleeding; I was in pain; nobody took the time to access my condition, I could have died. They told us that I cannot come down. So, we went to the police station to get a police report. Under our administration, such a nonsense will not happen.

When we got the police report and went back to the hospital, they refused to attend to me until we are able to pay certain basic fees. I just was lucky my wife's friend who's a physician works at that hospital and she happened to be there when we walked in. She paid all the fees. It's not that I don't have the money, but we just didn't have it on us. You will need a card, you will need this, you will need that in order to be attended, or they won't attend to you. Under our administration, that comes to a full stop. I don't care whether it's a federal medical center or a state hospital.

So the Imo people are in for a treat, as far as healthcare is concerned. That's where they will have the immediate benefits of our administration, because this is not depending on anybody else effort. It is going to be solely our effort. I belong to the Association of Nigeria Physicians in America; they help me run the medical mission in Mbano. The Imo people really are out for a treat; they want decent healthcare and we are going to put a whole lot of money for it.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: In your own view, do you think World Igbo Congress and Ohaneze NdiIgbo should be representing the interest of the Igbos?

Dr. Kpaduwa: Those are Igbo organizations that are formed by Igbos, and from all accounts, Ohaneze NdiIgbo is very well respected in Igboland. So too is World Igbo Congress, that is WIC. I think they do have a right because of their compositions, not necessarily to talk on behalf of Igbos, but at least, to advocate.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Ohaneze, for instance, what is it one would say they have accomplished since Obasanjo's administration?

Dr. Kpaduwa: I don't think if you talk to those individuals who run the organizations, they will agree with you. I am sure they will point out one or two things that they have done.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Again, Ohaneze have done practically nothing to seek resolve in the mess going on now in Igbo States. We are in a state of total anarchy and Ohaneze is watching playing no leadership role. Why are they quiet?

Dr. Kpaduwa: This is where they really need to come out and play a key role, quite frankly. I think Ohaneze and WIC really have the responsibility of ensuring that the Igbo nation has adequate kind of leadership. They need to speak out when things are going wrong. They shouldn't be afraid. It's for the betterment of the Igbo nation, and it is worth fighting for. We cannot achieve this without the right kind of leadership. So they should be at the forefront of identifying the leadership that would move the Igbos forward. Now, if they have not been doing this, which is an area they need to concentrate upon on, because, the bottom-line is that if we don't have good leadership, I don't care how many WICs and how many Ohanezes, there will be no progress.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: There's this talk now about Igbo Charter in every Igbo-related fora or discussion groups. In fact, a group named PICAD has begun conferencing writing the said charter. The gist is that the Yoruba nation and other ethnic minorities have written their own charter and ready to go in the event a national conference emerges. What's your take on that?


Dr. Kpaduwa: Quite frankly, I really cannot comment on that particular issue because I would like to see what they have in the charter; whether it's something that respects the territorial integrity of our country, Nigeria, or if it's something that poses against the betterment of the Igbos, for me to really comment on it.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Now there is talk again about the "Sovereign National Conference." Why a sovereign national conference when we have had series of conferences in the past which reminds me of the Aburi Accord, a more spectacular document?

Dr. Kpaduwa: If you look at the Nigerian polity from the first coup, you will find out that before the first coup we had a true federation, fewer states, and those states had autonomy in many respects, and there was a lot of developments within those particular states. There was competition among the states. The revenue sharing was very different from what it is today.

But right after the first coup in 1966, during Aguiyi-Ironsi's regime, he instituted a unitary system of government which was the worst thing for Nigeria polity. The counter coup in July and the army still clunged on the unitary system of government whereby the federal government dictates everything that happens in the nation, was not the best thing for Nigeria. Now we are back to supposedly the federal system of government, but there are still some unitary elements in terms of revenue allocation and some other things. How do you change those things? There was a constitution that was written, the 1999 constitution supervised by the military. I don't know whether a vast majority of Nigerians participated in it. You will find out that, there are many deficiencies within that constitutional framework.

Now, how do you address this? I think the Nigerian polity coming together and really be able to decide, is a step worthy. First of all, do we stay together or not? And I know the answer to that question is going to be yes. If we are going to stay together, under what system and under what formula do we stay together, something that is equitable to all. Not unless we address those issues, we will continue to have problems in Nigeria for a long time to come. So the issue of having that conference to give Nigerians the opportunity to decide what kind of constitution they want and what they think is the best association for them to move Nigeria, henceforth. If that is not done, we will continue to suffer in the Nigerian polity. I will definitely give my points toward such an enterprise, because I know it's only then I will begin to address some basic issues of revenue allocation and some other things. The federal government cannot develop Nigeria. Nigeria is too big for that. The federal government has to be local. If you hold the states by the throat whereby there is not enough revenue for them, then we will never have development. Every government that encourages development starting from the local government to the state government, which is autonomy, is the only way we can achieve development. If I become the governor of Imo State, I will definitely add my voice to effect the project.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: What role would women play in your administration?

Dr. Kpaduwa: There will be absolutely no difference between men and women. Women will play as much prominent role as the men. One of the things I learned living in America was that the society is very open to any capable individual, and women are no less capable than the men. In fact, they have a special contribution to make. We will encourage to make sure that the female gender is fully represented in our administration.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Have you made up your mind, your choice for a running mate and have you considered choosing a woman?

Dr. Kpaduwa: That is an area I have not even given thought to, because, we are still grapping with the issues of being amicable. We have not have the luxury of considering who the the running mate may be. Now, would I consider having a woman as my running mate? Absolutely. But I want my running mate to be somebody who will be almost a mirror image of my aspirations. Let that person be a woman or man, so that if I am of the scene for any reason, the agenda, the very good agenda we are going to work out for Imo State will continue.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: How would you like to be remembered?

Dr. Kpaduwa: I would like to be remembered as somebody who cared very much for his own people, somebody who did everything he can, who strived to leave a legacy, somebody who did everything possible to make sure that most of the least common denominator in our society is as good as anywhere else in the world. So, quite frankly, my epitaph will read, "he tried to make a difference." That's how I want to be remembered.

BiafraNigeriaWorld: Dr. Kpaduwa, we, members of BiafraNigeriaWorld appreciate the time you took to speak with us. We wish you luck in your quest to unseat Udenwa, the incumbent governor of Imo State.

This interview was held in Dr. Julius Kpaduwa's The Country home in Diamond Bar, California, and published exclusively at Biafra-Nigeria-World Magazine on August 16, 2002.

The Hype of Arrests and Corrupt Politicians in Nigeria

I am just laughing my black ass off taking a look at what the jokers have turned Nigeria into. Reading today's news, I'm still cracking up and I think it's now affecting my ribs. Today you will hear that one "vagabond in power" is arrested for stealing public funds and on the next breath the story dramatically changes, and the so-called vagabond in power is released on bail never to be charged again. Then, the media hype trails the story and when one vulnereable journalist or arranger gets paid, the whole brouhaha dies, just like that. The arrest of former governor of Delta State, James Onanefe "Odigborigbo" Ibori shouldn't be any different from the arrests of Orji Kalu, Joshua Dariye, Jolly Tevoru and the rest former rogue politicians who were bent on stealing public funds. As Ibori would be probably charged today in a Kaduna Court and probably remanded in custody or granted bail, it is most likely that a deal would be struck in his favor, as long as he's got the cash that would enable him get back on the streets. No big deal! Kalu is out there still talking with no sign of his case popping up in the courts anytime soon.

But one begins to wonder, of all the arrests and threats to arrest, no one including Mallam Ribadu's EFCC has mentioned or given the public a clue why the former governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, shouldn't by now be arrested for the damages and pains he caused to the people of Imo. Udenwa stole from all angles and yet he is scot-free and nobody is mentioning his name for looting the treasury of Imo State. If one should take a closer look, Ibori is a saint compared to Udenwa which makes the whole arrest thing a big joke and a mockery of Nigeria's fledgling democratic fabric. I'm not sure if the nations top cop, Ribadu, is taking a closer look judging from public opinion when he is making all these arrests and leaving out the culprits who destroyed every aspect of civil liberty.

Let's just take a look at charges levelled against public officials since the beginning of the Fourth Republic. It's too numerous to mention, but the fact of the matter is none of the subjects spent time in jail with the exception of the former police chief, Tafa Balogun.

And while Ibori's arrest is all over the news, a sitting governor in one of the North Western states is said to be under the microscope of EFCC for inflated contracts in the said state. Idowu Samuel of the Nigerian Tribune reports:

A governor from one of the North West states is said to have attracted the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by awarding contracts running into several billions of naira without recourse to due process. The state governor, who himself had probed his predecessor for alleged corrupt enrichment, according to Nigerian Tribune investigations, is now being probed by the EFCC following tips from aggrieved members of his cabinet. A petition by some members of his government now before the anti-graft agency was said to have alleged that the governor had been using his relatives and fronts in the award of contracts. The petitioners had prayed the EFCC to investigate the governor for money laundering. They claimed that all the contracts being handled by the fronts and relations were not listed in the budget. They also claimed that the contracts did not pass through the tenders’ board, thereby violating Due Process in the award process. A top source at the EFCC confirmed that the governor was one of those being investigated.


Ending up this note, it has been confirmed that Ibori bribed EFCC officials with $15m. Imagine, and Desmond Utomwen and Adi Femi of The News reports from the High Court sitting in Kaduna:

Details of how former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, attempted to subvert justice by bribing EFCC officials with $15 million (about N1.8 billion) emerged this morning at the Federal High Court, Kaduna, where he is being tried for alleged money laundering.

Ibori and four others were this morning arraigned on a 103-count charge of money laundering and abuse of office.

The EFCC, in one of the charges, alleged that Ibori on 26 April, 2007 made a cash payment of N1.8 billion ($15m) to EFCC investigators in order to influence their investigation.

According to the EFCC, the offence is contrary to and punishable under section 15(2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

The EFCC also alleged that Ibori on 31 December, 2004, collaborated with Lipopo Nigeria Limited to conceal the genuine origin of the sum of N280 million to buy Afribank shares in the names of fictitious persons.

Another charge accused him of collaborating with Kent to conceal the genuine origin of N220 million by using same to buy Afribank shares in the name of fictitious persons.

Ibori was also alleged to have transferred the sum of N5 billion from the account of the Delta State government to buy shares from Afribank with a fictitious company.

He was alleged to have also transferred N5 million to his personal account at Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) illegally from the account of the Delta State government, “and which you knew represent the proceeds of crime with the aim of concealing the nature of crime”.

Another charge against him reads: “That you, James Onanefe Ibori on 10 November 2004, transferred N1 million to your personal account at GTB which forms part of the fund from the account of the Delta State government.”

The presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Lawal Shuaibu, refused to grant him bail based on the submission of the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, that he might jump bail.

Jacobs buttressed his argument with the fact that Ibori had been convicted twice in England for fraud related charges and that he might abscond if granted bail.

Even though Ibori’s counsel, Daudu, pleaded with the court to grant him bail, Justice Shuaibu declined to do so and ordered that he be remanded in EFCC custody until Monday, 17 December, when the court is expected to further consider his application for bail.

Security was tight at the premises of the court as armed anti-riot policemen frisked lawyers and judicial staff moving into the premises.

Despite the tight security, some protesting youths were seen with placards commending the EFCC for a job well done.

The inscriptions on some of the placards read: “ICPC, EFCC, CCB, Well Done’; ‘No Hiding place for corrupt leaders’; ‘With leaders like Ibori, Niger Delta Doesn’t need an enemy’; ‘No To Black Market Rule of Law’, etc.

Ibori was arrested yesterday by officials of EFCC at about 11 a.m. at his Asokoro residence in Abuja and taken to the EFCC office where he is currently being interrogated.

He was said to have escaped to the Kwara State government lodge in Abuja when he discovered the presence of EFCC officials around his house.

His arrest brought to an end the cat and mouse game between him and EFCC officials who have been trying to bring him to book to answer charges bordering on alleged financial impropriety while he was governor of Delta State between May 1999 and May 2007.

The London Metropolitan Police had earlier arrested his wife, Theresa Nkoyo, while she was about to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to Lagos.

The police said her arrest was “in connection with an ongoing money laundering enquiry.”

Ibori has been the subject of money laundering investigation in the UK, where his assets, worth N5 billion, have been frozen.

The investigating team of the Metropolitan Police has made several visits to Nigeria on the matter.

Also under arrest were some of Ibori’s associates, including Adebimpe Pogoson, described as Ibori’s special assistant, who is said to control a number of companies and bank accounts in Nigeria and several other countries; Christine Ibori-Ebie, James Ibori’s sister and Udoamaka Okoronkwo Onuigbo, said to be James Ibori’s banker.

Under probe are companies and properties said to belong to Ibori, such as Haleway Properties Ltd., Gibraltar; the property at 7, Westover Hill in the UK, valued at over 4 million pounds; the property at 42, Great Ground Street, Shaftsbury also in the UK and the company called Telston Quaye Ltd., (British Virgin Island).

Among allegations levelled against him were that he paid $20 million to Bombardier Inc. of Canada, an aircraft manufacturer, for the purpose of buying a plane.

Also being investigated is a London Barclays Bank account in the name of MER Engineering.

About 2.3 million pounds in deposits were traced to the account as payments by Chevron and NNPC.

The saga continues!

8 Spooky Years of Olusegun Obasanjo's Fourth Republic (1)

BY AMBROSE EHIRIM

Curious viewers and readers who have been concerned on what I have been up to lately since I stopped my political commentary particularly on Igbo matters, wondering what may have happened to the ardent Igboist should hold their breath. Of course, I was almost nailed for cricizing a politically suicidal Ichie Chibuzor Onwchekwa for taking Igbos to hell. Some assumed I may have thrown in the towel on a series of grounds that the heat was becoming unbearable and it's time to quit. The point is, there is nothing else to write about on a subject matter that no longer makes sense especially on Igbo issues now that it's patently clear Igbos are a conquered people. Even the lame duck Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, who should be handing over any moment now admits Igbos are a finished people. Udenwa in his own words:

"Today the Igbos have no place in the leadership of this country. The Igbos have never been as low as we are today in the society called Nigeria. We are so incapacitated; we have no say. We blame others but at the same time we have not done anything to help ourselves; instead we have aided such situation where we are completely relegated to the background."

I'm kind of shocked reading Udenwa made the above statement, when he, Udenwa, for eight doggone years as governor has little or nothing to show for his stewardship to the people of Imo State. Udenwa should be blaming himself and the Igbo-related governors and commissioners for such failures not the unemployed graduates who have nothing to do with it.

Was it not the same Udenwa who at a time held teachers and civil servants salaries for months while he and his cronies including the coattails who trooped on the death traps, the so-called roads while unemployed youths roamed around like hobos? Was it not Udenwa who had been tight-lipped while bad things happened all around Igbo land, for instance, the invasion of Okigwe to "smoke" out Ralph Uwazuruike? Was it not Udenwa whose political loyalty and salesmanship denied Nd'Igbo infrastructures required to propel industries in Igboland to the forefront? No question, we've seen eight years go away just like that and Nd'Igbo have been reduced to nothing; and Udenwa has the guts to blame a crop of new Igbo leaders. Imagine!

Enter Olusegun Obasanjo, a man whose regime as military junta discharged armored tanks on students who complained of school fees hike. A man whose regime levelled Fela's Shrine and locked up every inhabitant during that fateful raid. A man who banned Chris Okolie's New Breed Magazine from circulation on the basis the magazine's journalists interviewed Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in Ivory Coast. A man whose regime destroyed all aspect of civil liberties. A man who snatched cameras from journalists and smashed it. And, a man who by a stroke of luck survived Sani Abacha's reign of terror. Ironically, this same man would take over the affairs of state in a purported democratic fabric only to make things worse.

Now, after eight years of President Obasanjo initially thought by every observer (precisely the international community) hopefully to be the most viable and intact representative government since independence, where does our democracy stand today? No one would deny the fact that the quest for sound democracy was long overdue after years of misrule by the military juntas. A miltary junta will always be a military junta. Obasanjo flogged a peace officer in public and got away with it even when the peace officer could have punched his big belly in retaliation. He said Igbos can go to hell when questioned about his hatred of Nd'Igbo. He promised to fish out Ibrahim Babangida's hidden assets if made known that the wizard dribbling evil genius stashed away money in foreign accounts swearing "no be my papa born me" if there is evidence. He made the world know that "I dey kampe" upon all the civil disturbances and mayhem during the satanic Sharia riots from around which Igbos were the victims losing lives and properties.

On May 29, 1999, a little bit after a year Obasanjo came close to death under Abacha's iron rule, a new beginning in the nation's political dispensation began. In his vow of "no sacred cows" upon being sworn-in, Obasanjo convinced the world he was a changed man, that he had found God and a born again christian. That Nigeria would change within a short period of time, and that he would fight corruption to the last man. And that he would uphold democracy and respect the rule of law. We have seen the worst and let's take a look at some of the spooky events all these years of maladministration:

On September 01, 1999, Obasanjo and the 36 states governors scrapped the monthly envoronmental exercise as unconstitutional negating the constitutional rights of the local government councils that was not part of the said decision.

On October 6, 1999, Gbenga Olarinoye of the Vanguard Newspapers Group reported thousands of residents of Pateji and Edu Local Government areas of Kwara State were drowned, and about 300,000 displaced by River Niger, following the release of excess water from the Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba Dams by National Electric Power Authority (NEPA).

On November 1999, Obasanjo and his Defense Minister, Theophilus Danjuma summoned one Colonel Agbabiaka to invade Odi for the shooting death of some police officers in the oil rich region. Odi was totally demolished and plundered and will never be the same again.

On December 14, 2000, a petition signed and copied to the President of the Senate, Senator Pius Anyim; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na'Abba; Governors of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; major Nigerian Newspapers and media houses by then radicals at Nigeriaworld including my humble self in a complaint titled "The Invasion of Okigwe Township by a Combined team of the Military and Police Forces" extracted from This Day December 04, 2000 news and UNIRIN report in an operation carried out to arrests Ralph Uwazuruike for his non violent approach agitating for Biafra nationhood. Regardless, Uwazuruike was remanded in custody for a while.

On June 2001, Jilian Okenwa of This Day and Nnamdi Onyenua, editor of Glamour Trends Magazine were arrested and tortured on a publication about obasanjo over an alleged defamation of the president.

August 21, 2001: Vanguard reports a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Monday Ndor was fatally shot by suspected assassins at his No. 4 Elelenwo Street, Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt.

December 23, 2001: Federal Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige was shot dead in his bedroom at his Bodija, Ibadan residence in an apparent assassination. A single bullet to the heart killed the Cicero of Esa Oke.

January 28, 2002: BBC reports "at least 100 people are now known to have drowned in a canal in the Nigerian city of Lagos while fleeing a series of huge explosions at an army mutinous dump" A number of others died when the fire ripped through the dump, setting off many bombs at the barracks. Many people, mostly children, were missing and thousands were homeless as a result of the inferno, which started the previous day.

August 03, 2002: Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun deploys about 500 policemen who stormed the premises of Enugu State House of Assembly to shoot at sight and to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

September 17, 2002: Victor Akiuwa of Vanguard reports about "120 factory workers feared dead after a massive fire swept through a rubber slippers/aluminium spoon/bottled water factory in the early hours of yesterday, at Odogunyan, in Ikorodu, Lagos State."

October 10, 2002: BBC reports "The international Court of Justice has awarded the disputed oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon, rejecting Nigeria's claims." The court based its decision on a 1917 document between colonial powers Britain and Germany. The colonies have clashed several times over the peninsula and Cameroon referred the dispute to the Hague in 1994.

October 16, 2002: No fewer than seven people were gunned down in separate clashes in Ikorodu and Mile 2 areas of Lagos between the police and on one hand commercial bus drivers, and on the other motor park touts. A police post was burnt down in one of the incidents.

In Mile 2, five people lost their lives in fresh outbreak of crisis between the police and members of two rival transport unions - NURTW and RTEAN.

October 17, 2002: Daily Champion -- "Litigations Stall Oputa Report." "Government yesterday deferred consideration and implementation of the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa-led Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission (HRVIC). This was due to series of legal actions instituted against adoption of the report by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and other interested parties"

November 5, 2002: Vanguard Anayo Okoli reports "the police have taken over the Onitsha provisional headquarters of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) located on the busy Onitsha-Owerri Road. The police action followed a raid on the camp weekend by the police. At least one person claimed to be a member of the group was killed. The police said it was part of a clampdown on militia groups in the country."

November 13, 2002: En environmental rights group, Environmental Rights Action Friends of the Earth (ERA) has alleged that the military invasion of Odi in Bayelsa State claimed 2,483 casualties comprising of 1,023 females and 1,460 males. In extract from report entitled "Blamket of Silence, Images of the Odi Genocide."

Part 2 next as the saga continues.