Date Published: 07/25/09
ABIA: A STATE WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT IN THE REAL SENSE OF IT (WITH PICTORIALS) (CONCLUDED)
By Temple Chima Ubochi
ubochit@yahoo.com
Bonn, Germany
Our culture peculiarly honors the act of blaming, which it takes as the sign of virtue and intellect. ( Lionel Trilling)
A trial without witnesses, when it involves a criminal accusation, a criminal matter, is not a true trial. ( Bill McCollum)
Knowledge of God's Word is a bulwark against deception, temptation, accusation, even persecution. ( Edwin Louis Cole)
We are very fond of blaming the poor for destroying the environment. But often it is the powerful, including governments, that are responsible. ( Wangari Maathai)
Life and liberty can be as much endangered from illegal methods used to convict those thought to be criminals as from the actual criminals themselves. ( Earl Warren)
When one person makes an accusation, check to be sure he himself is not the guilty one. Sometimes it is those whose case is weak who make the most clamour. ( Piers Anthony)
A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government. ( Thomas Jefferson)
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| Abia State Governor, Orji |
The Abia State Governor accused some of the traditional rulers in the state of being accomplices to kidnapping. Earlier, the governor told them that any of them in whose domain somebody was kidnapped or a kidnapping dump was found, would be dethroned. Later, he made good on his threat by dethroning two of them while telling us that five more will soon go.
Governor, T.A. Orji told us how kidnapped victims were held captive by two traditional rulers, while they were fed by the monarchs’ wives. The two traditional rulers were Eze Reuben Nworgu, from Ihie Iyi Autonomous Community, in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area and Eze Emmanuel Simeon Oforji of Isi Obehie Autonomous Community in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State. Orji said that the two deposed traditional rulers were found to have been involved in the act of kidnapping and that his government would not take it kindly with anyone whose domain was used as hideout for kidnappers, how much more being involved. Orji said kidnap victims said they were kept in the deposed traditional rulers’ houses and their wives were cooking food and serving them while in captivity.
It was also reported that following reports by security agencies to Governor Theodore Orji, that five traditional rulers from the Ukwa and Ngwa areas of the state may be axed in the coming week for allegedly aiding and abetting criminal activities in their domain. That the traditional rulers were among the 200 already on the watch list of the government since the war against kidnapping and armed robbery began in the state some few months ago. A source said that the government had already deposed two traditional rulers because of “security ineptitude” and that the duo took the directive of the governor on establishing local vigilante groups to combat the raging criminal activities in their domains for granted. This writer finds here a loophole: In the preceding paragraph we were told that the two deposed traditional rulers were found to have been involved in the act of kidnapping and that government would not take it kindly with anyone whose domain was used as hideout for kidnappers, but, here, we are being told that the duo took the directive of the governor on establishing local vigilante groups to combat the raging criminal activities in their domains for granted. It did not add up, something else must be the reason for the dethronement.
The source went on to explain that the five traditional rulers, who will soon go, had allegedly soiled their hands by allowing kidnappers to operate in their kingdom recklessly, as well as not divulging information concerning the involvement of some of their subjects in these activities. And that Orji is merely waiting for additional information on the affected traditional rulers in order not to be termed as either being too hasty or pursuing a personal vendetta. This writer disagrees with this assertion and sees the whole thing as a pursuit of personal vendetta against those involved. How is the governor sure that those traditional rulers have information which they are not divulging or that the kidnappers have their blessings? This is a pure case of false accusation, it is very subjective in nature.
We were told further that the worst that can happen in a state is where traditional rulers, who are supposed to be the chief security officers in their various domains, join forces with perpetrators of evil against the establishment and still feign ignorance of the happenings in those areas. That they collect money from these evil men and turn to the government to say they were helpless in curtailing their activities. This writer wonders from where those making such a statement are coming from? Tell me how the traditional rulers are supposed to be the chief security officers in their various domains, when did they assign that role to them, how can anybody expect those traditional rulers to wrought miracles when the governor, the police and even the military have been unable to curb the menace of the kidnapers despite the instruments of coercion at their disposal? Will the traditional rulers be the chief security officers in their respective domains with bare hands? When did they turn the peaceful and sacrosanct institution into a law enforcement one? No wonder Abia is a state gone bananas!
The source went on to say that most recent information showed that the five traditional rulers billed to be dethroned had failed to assist security agencies in combating the menace of the kidnappers and that they have helped the perpetrators to operate and escape without molestation, adding that at present the axe is also dangling on the heads of other traditional rulers that have had their files forwarded to the government on the matter. This writer is asking how can the traditional rulers assist the security agencies, when the security agencies are not fit enough to combat the menace of the kidnappers themselves? What does this government want from the traditional rulers?
We learnt from Daily Independent Newspapers that when the governor appointed a retired military personnel as his new security adviser, he wanted to make sure that no traditional ruler will be unnecessarily punished for acts he did not commit, but to ensure that only those who had soiled their hands were sent to the “gallows”. That that was why more discreet investigations were carried out into their activities before any action was taken against them. This writer finds the whole saga laughable: the security adviser, who happens to be a retired military personnel, is still unable to help bring the kidnappers to justice despite his military background, what he has succeeded in doing was to accuse the traditional rulers, who has no military background like himself, of not helping in combating the menace of kidnappers. The security adviser cannot unravel where the kidnappers are using as hide outs or how they operate, but he is able to pinpoint the traditional rulers aiding and abetting the kidnappers. How did he come about the information? It does not make sense at all.
The source went further to say that what has happened is that the governor is now willing to be accused of pursuing personal vendetta or to score any political point. That despite all entreaties to the traditional rulers not to allow themselves to be used by kidnap kingpins, some of them have failed to turn a new leaf, as such the government has no choice than to wield the big stick. This writer is telling them that anybody accusing the governor of pursuing personal vendetta or of being all out to score cheap political point, is not accusing him falsely, because, that’s what the governor is actually engaging in.
According to the source, the present state of affairs in Abia is so precarious especially with the approaching election year; hence efforts have been increased, aimed at either curbing or apprehending the brains behind the saga. That the measures so far taken by the present administration, especially with the banning of motorcycles in some areas of the state, are aimed at reducing this crime! That more actions would be unfolded in the coming months and no one should think he or she is untouchable. That in this battle to stamp out the menace, there will be no sacred cow, in that anyone remotely connected to the kidnapping issue would be investigated and questioned. We were told that the governor himself has also asked the police and the security agencies to investigate those connected to him. That he has given his word to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and has assured the President of the country that he would not interfere with investigations relating to kidnapping and that no matter whose ox is gored, actions would be taken. This writer sees these as empty talks; very hollow indeed, we are tired of hearing talks without actions, the government should be ashamed that it cannot protect lives and properties in the state rather, it submerges everything in semantics, let it show us all it got.
The government then changed gear by taking the accusation to the next level. Here the same source said that the matter does not only relate to axing traditional rulers, because government is also aware that it is not only the traditional rulers that are aiding and abetting kidnapping in the state. That the Government is aware that there are some highly placed individuals who are partaking in this shame against the state and the nation! And that the assurances of the police hierarchy and the presidency have been received to the effect that once investigation uncovers any individual, if the Abia State Police Command is not able to move in and arrest him, the assistance of Abuja would be sought and the person would be apprehended. We still learnt that some of the investigations may finally be done from Abuja once the files move up. We were told that Abuja already has some names of some rich individuals that have been fingered in the saga and discreet investigation is already on. The source believes that soon the police will move in on those involved because some of them are not even residing in the state. So, the battle is still on, the government is not resting, we were told. We learnt that government is working on the long list of accomplices of kidnap groups and that in no time those names would be made public so that their communities would know them and understand. This writer is then asking why singling out the poor okada operators and the hapless traditional rulers when the government knows that there are highly placed individuals fanning the embers of kidnapping, why is it that the government has been reluctant to go after them, if it really has the facts it claims are at its disposal? We cannot afford to wait any longer to know those the government claims are fuelling this menace and to see them arrested and charged to court of competent jurisdiction. They should be unmasked with immediate effect.
This writer’s take on all these is thatalthough some of the traditional rulers are crooks, they would not be so stupid or narrow minded to allow kidnappers to harbour their victims in their palace and there is no way they can take an overt role in such crime knowing very well that once a kidnapped victim is released, he/she will “spill the beans”.
This writer suspects that those the governor has dethroned and those on his watch list are the ones who are no longer “emitting heat (ndi n’anaghi eweta okü)” They are those no longer living up to the fraudulent expectations of the governor and his godfather/mother. It is a campaign of calumny.
Orji Uzor Kalu and his stooge, T.A. Orji, are fond of “imposing” those who will do their dirty biddings into positions and “deposing” those who proved “uncooperative” to their evil schemes. Abia State under Kalu broke the record as the only state that had three deputy governors in quick succession in eight years; one of them also died mysteriously “for wanting to know more than he was allowed to”.
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HRH Eze Chijioke Okwara |
The governor telling the traditional rulers to “rein in” the kidnappers in their domain, is giving responsibility to those who have no wherewithal to carry it out. If he as the governor is helpless in the face of the kidnappings and other crimes going on unabated in his state, how does he think that the traditional rulers will perform the job he did not perform despite all the powers at his disposal? The governor forgot that the traditional rulers have been targets of these kidnappers. Some of them are victims themselves. Even Eze Isaac Ikonne, called on the kidnappers to leave Ndieze alone, saying that his people (Ndieze) are not as rich as they think. He decried the kidnapping of over five traditional rulers within one month and called on the government to do something about the ugly development. An Eze and his wife were killed when their palace in Abala community in Obingwa local government area of the state was attacked and set on fire. The slain Eze was said to be against crime in his domain. Another traditional ruler in Osisioma local government area was recently reportedly kidnapped and killed. It therefore becomes a riddle why traditional rulers should be reluctant to fight kidnapping, as the governor claims, when any of them could be a victim. While some of them are “object of desire” of the kidnappers, the government is accusing them of being facilitators to the kidnappings. It is a real precarious situation for many of them.
We also learnt how the traditional ruler of Nkwerre in Imo State, HRH Eze Chijioke Okwara, the Eshii of Nkwerre, was abducted by kidnappers recently, but was released upon the payment of ransom by his family members. When he was released, he said that he went through a lot of trauma as the kidnappers showed him the dead body of another traditional ruler who was killed by them for being stubborn and who happened to be his in-law. I hope the governor was listening when he made that assertion. The monarch who narrated his agonizing ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers who held him captive for four days, called on the federal authorities to declare the whole of the South East zone a security emergency area.
On the other hand, if the allegation that the monarchs are engaging in kidnapping is true, then the seeds planted by kalu have started to germinate. He reorganised the traditional kingdoms in the state, making virtually every village a traditional kingdom and installed people with freakish behaviour as traditional rulers. Infact to put it mildly, he installed criminals as traditional rulers (his ilk), people who can dance to his tune and serve out his purpose.
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Kidnappers are trying to make this, an empty cross of Jesus. God forbid! |
The kidnappers have added another dimension to this heinous crime: They have allowed the material gain from the crime to becloud their little sense of reasoning left in them. The kidnappers are no longer human beings and equating them with the beasts will not be out of place. Kidnapping of men of God for whatever reason or pretence is double sin ( a sin with a double consequence). The kidnappers, by abducting men of God in churches, are trying to make the cross of Jesus an empty one, this writer hopes that the Holy Ghost will arrest them one after the other.
The Catholic bishop of Okigwe, ( Imo State) Diocese, Bishop Samuel Amatu, was kidnapped on July 11, 2009. The cleric was said to have been abducted in his diocese by unknown men, who had been demanding millions of naira ransom from the church authorities. Recently, an expatriate Catholic priest, an Indian national, was also kidnapped.
There is no justification in heaven or earth for such criminal activity against the “anointed ones”; real men of God should be untouchables to all criminals of all shades. Anybody tampering with a man of God is putting fire and brimstone on his or her head and fire will burn the person.
To end this piece, this writer is advising the governor to “rein in” the excesses of his mad dogs, the Bakassi Boys and other vigilance groups which he unleashed out on the people, so that Abia State may know, at least, a little peace. These groups are wreck havocs of equal proportion to those of the kidnappers. If the menace of the Bakassi Boys is abridged, then all resources will be diverted to the war against kidnapping and armed robbery, but, in a situation where people do not know who to fight first, the Bakassi boys or the kidnappers or who is wrecking more havocs than the other, makes the whole thing very dicey. In such a situation, Ndi Igbo will say that “one cannot differentiate between the mechanics and the mad people (ndi mechanic ekweghi mara ndi araa).”
In Aba, people are living in fear of Bakassi Boys, vigilance groups and kidnappers which are now the terrorising the city; Aba residents are on edge, as dead bodies litter the streets. We learnt that people arrested for no just reason by operatives of the vigilance groups, are tortured and even killed. People going home for the night are at risk of being killed. And dead bodies now litter the streets. Criminals as well as innocent people are being killing by Bakassi Boys.
The Saturday Sun Newspapers told us how one commercial driver painted the picture of what is going on in Aba. He narrated how they saw the bodies of two young men whose throats were slashed like goats and their bodies dumped near the road at York Street. The boys were caught and killed by Bakassi Boys for smoking Indian hemp! They were killed in the most cruel and barbaric way.
Some residents say they can no longer differentiate between the real and fake Bakassi Boys as well as other killers. These days, people are abducted in broad day light by men who claim to be Bakassi Boys only to be found the following day stone dead in a street corner.
We were told that recently, in the Ogbor Hill area of Aba, a child was abducted from a church, during service, by unknown persons and the little boy’s body was found two days later with all his vital organs gone.
People are now using Bakassi Boys to settle scores. It was gathered that when people have squabbles, they invite operatives of the group. Also, people now use the vigilance group operatives to collect debts, wherein the debtor is arrested, tortured and stands the risk of being killed.
From experience, this writer will say that this is not what it used to be in Aba. In the time past, Aba and its residents were known for courage. Then residents of Aba would rise up in unison to end anything they consider bad. It was the days of men of valour. Now, times have changed. Fear now rules the commercial city and its residents. Gone are the days when men walk the streets of Aba, with safety in mind. Gone are the days when men leave their homes and tell their families to expect them. We learnt that insecurity has taken over the town, to the extent that anyone who goes out and comes back safely offers special prayers to God. In Aba, gun shots boom day and night. It’s either that dare-devils are striking or that security agents and vigilance groups are responding. Whichever one it is, there are always casualties. Dead bodies litter the streets and nobody explains what happens. To put it mildly, Aba residents are now mortified from different angles and sources at the same time.
To paraphrase the Saturday Sun Newspapers: This life of fear was not there in Aba until 2000. Decades ago, Aba was a place of fun. It was a city where people enjoyed themselves. Then Aba residents followed fashion, they wore clothes that were in vogue and attended disco parties. Such hotels as Ambassador, Crystal Park and Unicoco, among many others, hosted live bands, which played till dawn and fun seekers paraded the streets in the night without fear. In these hotels, The Apostle, Sweet Breeze, Cloud 7, The Wings, entertained people. At that time, Aba never tolerated crimes and evil. Criminals got instant justice. And the mob did not forgive.
Today, things have changed. Aba is now the centre of crimes. Residents have been cowed by criminals that nobody dares say anything about an obvious wrong. Indeed, the fear that has enveloped Aba residents is like a thick darkness and it makes men and women jittery. It is the type of fear that made shoe makers of Aba to form a vigilance group called Bakassi Boys, to flush out those who were molesting their customers. But the Bakassi boys have crossed the Rubicon and are now perpetrators of crimes, they are now laws unto themselves.
If the government of Abia State is banning motorcycles for the fact that armed robbers use them to operate and escape easily, it would sound more sensible to this writer, but, accusing the motorcyclists of aiding and abetting kidnapping is a ploy to cover its ineptitude. Tell me how kidnappers can transport their victims with motorcycle without those kidnapped struggling until both the kidnapped and kidnappers would all fall to the ground. It just didn’t add up. Afterall all the accounts from the released kidnapped victims are contrary to the government’s stance. The governor of Abia State is using this excuse to cloak his inability to make life meaningful for his people. There would be no kidnappers or the spate of kidnappings would reduce, if, the government provides job for the teeming unemployed, because many of the armed robbers and kidnappers were forced into those crimes due to no job for them. More to that, those okada operators would cease to see that way as the only means of livelihood, as many of them who are university graduates or diploma holders would then be gainfully employed. If the government fixes the roads, people would cease to patronise the commercial motorcyclists, as there would be taxis and private car owners would start using their vehicles parked due to bad roads. If the governor provides the enabling environment (infrastructure) for businesses to thrive and flourish, many people whose business packed up due to lack of infrastructure and hostile business environment, would go back to doing what they are good at.
In summary: if the governor can provide job, infrastructure and fix the roads (which he has been unable to do), crimes would dissipate in a jiffy from the state. The governor should get his act together, and should stop cloaking the lootocracy, demonocracy, mamacracy, lack of leadership and governance which he, his godfather and mother foisted on Abia State, in lies, deceits and falsehood. The governor should own up to his failure and ineptitude.
Continued from Part 2
THE THANXS IS ALL YOURS
