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Ikpeazu to T.A: Yes, I’ll carry Abia’s cross till my last day
A quick riposte came on Saturday from Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State to the comment credited to his predecessor Theodore Orji, a day before, indicating a frosty relationship might have developed between the two former allies, almost eight years after seemingly enjoying sweet political bedfellowship.
Orji, governor of the state between 2007 and 2015, when he handed over to Ikpeazu, apparently unhappy for being linked to the bulky salary arrears controversy currently rocking Ikpeazu’s government, had wondered why he would be brought into the mess, eight years after he had left office.
The former governor, now Senator representing Abia Central, in a statement entitled: Ikpeazu Should Carry His Cross, signed by his Chief Liaison Officer, Ifeanyi Umere, reminded his successor that the arrears in question, which had hit more than 40 months, was just four months, when he handed over to him.
The statement read in part: “It’s unfortunate that I am forced to comment and refute the half-truths being dished out by those who through their own bad choices have found themselves in a quagmire. For the avoidance of any doubt, neither myself nor my administration is responsible for the staggering salary arrears owed both civil servants, parastatals and pensioners in the state.
“Before my administration came to an end on May 29, 2015, core civil servants were not owed even one-month salary arrears. Parastatals were the ones that were owed between two and four months. The records are there. At any rate, the arrears were necessitated by the dwindling federal allocation occasioned by the worsening global economy. The price of crude had crashed and the states were getting a paltry two to three billion naira monthly which was not even enough to run the state including capital and recurrent expenditures.
“Those who took over from us inherited both assets and liabilities. In this case, the government is a continuum. So, if we were owing two to three months, we expected out successors to clear them.
This expectation was based on the fact that they received bail out funds from the federal government more than three times running into billions of naira. Again the economy had picked up considerably enabling the outgoing government to chalk up considerable income as can be confirmed from the ministry of finance.
“So why was it difficult for them to offset the debts? Again if for any reason they couldn’t or were unwilling to offset, why did they allow it to skyrocket to between 35 and 40 months? Why are they also owing core civil servants? So basically, I am not the problem. They should carry their cross.”
But in what appears a measured response to his former boss, Ikpeazu, in a statement by his spokesman, Onyebuchi Ememanka, said he had opted to leave the matter for posterity to determine who was right, rather than joining issues with him, adding that he would prefer to move forward, with the burden of the state on his shoulders even to the last day.
The statement, read: “The attention of the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has been drawn to a statement credited to Senator T.A.Orji, the immediate past Governor of Abia State. Governor Ikpeazu wishes to state that he is proudly carrying the cross of the governance of Abia State and will continue to carry it till his last day in office.
“Secondly, and as a personal policy, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu will not join issues with any of his predecessors in office. For the almost 8 years he has held office as Governor, he has not engaged any of his predecessors in any kind of untoward exchange, even when it seemed politically expedient to do so. This policy is largely responsible for the sociopolitical stability we have enjoyed in Abia State since 2015.
“The Governor intends to sustain this personal policy going forward. Finally, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is of the firm view that as in all matters, history and posterity will, over time, put all things in proper perspective. May God bless Abia State.”
In an apparent move to push-back against the 10-day nationwide protest, planned by some interests groups in Nigeria to commence on August 1, to call attention of the Nigerian government to the biting hunger in the land, scores of youths poured into the streets of Lagos, on Monday, declaring that the state would not be part of the event.
The Nation reports that the said youths who came from different locations converged on the Lagos Island area of the state to express their support for the Tinubu-led administration, while calling on other youths to “shun violent protest.”
Alluding to the 2020 #EndSARS protest that led to the destruction of property and loss of lives in the state, the youths frowned on its recurrence and would stop it from happening again.
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TRAGEDY: Hoodlums release kidnapped judge, kill son, demand N150million ransom for two children
For the family of Janet Gimba, judge of the Upper Customary Court in Kaduna State, it is a bitter-sweet story on Wednesday, as it was served with half-plate by kidnappers who invaded their home on June 24, taking away four of its members.
Not only was the jurist was released without her three children, spirited away from their home in the Mahuta area of Chikun Local Government Area in the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis, police have confirmed the killing of their first son by the bandits, who are asking for N150million to secure the release of the rest.
Musa Gimba, the husband of the judge, who confirmed the release of his wife judge, attached to the Upper Customary Court, Sabon Tasha Division in Kaduna State, without her three children, disclosed that the bandits are demanding N150 million ransom within three days, threatening to kill the captives if the money was not given to them.
Mansir Hassan, spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, who confirmed the latest development, said the assailants killed the woman’s 14-year-old eldest son Victor Gimba, adding that operatives found his corpse at the Sabon Tasha Division, Ungwan Bayero of Dutse village near the toll gate, along the Kaduna- Abuja highway on Tuesday, July 2nd, adding that the anti-kidnapping squad of the command, in collaboration with other sister security agencies was working tirelessly to rescue the victims and also apprehend the bandits.
Channels Television, quotes Gloria Ballason, human rights activist and the Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice as describing the abduction as contrary to Article 7 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary and Sections 33 and 14(2)b of the 1999 Constitution that guarantees the safety of judges.
Bemoaning the murder of woman’s the 14-year-old son as “grisly and blood-curdling,” the activist, who also regretted the rising insecurity in Nigeria, especially in the state, therefore called on the security agencies to ensure the speedy rescue of the remaining hostages.
Hadi Sirika, former Minister of Aviation in the government of Muhammadu Buhari, will on Thursday begin to face his accusers – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over the allegation of fraud regarding a contract award of N2.7billion while in office.
The former Minister, who is being arraigned alongside his daughter, Fatimah, and two other suspects, one Jalal Hamma, and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, on charges of abusing their positions to launder over N2.7 billion, is expected to appear before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Minister, said to be undergoing investigations over an N8,069,176,864.00 money laundering allegation, involving Engirios Nigeria Limited, reportedly, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika was arrested by operatives of the anti-graft agency was brought into its Abuja office on Tuesday, April 23 and where he was detained.
It is not known whether the two cases are related, but The PUNCH quoted a source as saying: “The N8,069,176,864.00 aviation ministry contract fraud was carried out in connivance with his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, through the latter’s company.”
The report, which said that Sirika was particularly being investigating for conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation, as well as criminal breaches of trust and money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00 during his tenure in office.
Abubakar Sirika, was said to have been arrested and detained by the commission in connection with N3,212,258,930.18 paid to his company, Engirios Nigerian Limited’s, bank account by the former minister without a trace of work done on any of the contract items to date.
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