Date Published: 05/12/10

Concerned Abia Patriots

No. 2, Aba Road, Umuahia, Abia State

Email: concernedabiapatriots@yahoo. com 

11 May, 2010

Press Statement

Re: RMAFC: PPA, PDP on War Path over Board Nomination

Our attention has been drawn to a story captioned ‘RMAFC: PPA, PDP on War Path over Board Nomination’ published by the ThisDay issue of May 10, 2010.

According to the story, "one of the candidates nominated by the Abia State Government has a security problem over his head. He was one of the Senators fingered in the N55 million Education scandals that rocked the National Assembly when Senator Adolphus Wabara was the Senate President.

“One of the nominees was greatly indicted by the report that indicted and reported Prof. Fabian Osuji and consequently the removal of Senator Wabara as the Senate President.

“From the look of things, if the security report sails through, then the nomination of Adihijie may suffer a setback because of his involvement in the Education scandal.”

Although the author of the story attempted to create the impression that the ruling PPA  and the opposition PDP in Abia State were on war path over a letter from the Secretary to the  Government of the Federation (SGF) to the Abia State government to nominate a member to replace Chief Emeka Wogu, who would be retiring from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC); we are not at a loss as to the underlining motive behind the publication. The story, which was the handiwork of Hon. Iheanacho Obioma (Chomen), former member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia at the House of Representatives, was aimed at portraying Senator Adihije as one unfit for the plum job, whereas the reverse is the case.

It beats our imagination that Hon. Obioma who has had a chequered past, which includes several arrests by law enforcement agencies for gun-running and drug-pushing as well as allegation of certificate racketeering regarding his purported graduation from the University of Calabar would have the temerity to sponsor such a damaging story just for economic reasons. Is this not a case of the kettle calling the pot black? The answer is an emphatic YES.

We therefore warn  Hon. Obioma to desist from vilifying the distinguished Senator Adihije. We also want to use this opportunity to implore  the Federal Government of Nigeria to disregard the said publication.

Chief Emeka Mmeregini                           Hon.  Eke Odoemenam

(Chairman)                                            (Secretary)