Kalu: I'm Not Afraid to Be Probed

Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu

Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has said he is not afraid of being probed by the Abia State Government as being proposed.
Kalu, who ruled the state between 1999 and 2007, said he would not be distracted by the antics of blackmail by the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji.

In a statement by his special Adviser (Political), Oyekunle Oyewunmi, Kalu said since he ruled the state with the fear of God, he has nothing to be afraid of.

He said the major grouse of Orji was his fight for the emancipation of the Igbo race.

Oyewunmi said in the statement: “Dr. Kalu’s administration was responsive to the yearnings of the people, which is evident in the people-oriented projects he undertook while in office, with the provision of good road networks, free primary health care, free education, improvement of worker’s welfare, sports development, among others.”

Kalu said despite the financial challenges faced by his government, he repaid the loan he inherited from the past administration and managed the available resources judiciously while he borrowed only N2 billion to offset the balance payments for road projects.

He disclosed that the only debt he left were multi lateral debts as contained in his hand over note prepared by a committee chaired by Professor Joshua Ogbonnaya.
He lamented the undue hardship faced by Abians with the inept leadership of Orji, which he said is evident in the poor state of infrastructure, workers’ strike, termination of contract of service of non indigenous civil servants, non payment of teachers’ salaries, kidnapping and overbearing corruption.

The statement added: “Many associations have manned the streets of Aba, including the Nigeria Bar Association, to show displeasure at the terrible state of infrastructure and passed a vote of no confidence on the state governor.”

Oyewunmi described Abia State as a victim of Orji’s emergency wealth, challenging him to account for all the properties he bought in the United States, Europe, United Arab Emirate, Umahia, Abuja and Port Harcourt and the flamboyant lifestyle of his family members, whom he said were now emergency contractors and sudden money bags using their position to oppress the poor.

Oyewunmi further stated in the statement that Orji should account for the revenue from the 46 oil wells released to the state by late President Umaru Yar’Adua and the N30 billion loan he obtained from banks, coupled with the release N17 billion excess payments refunded to the state by the Federal Government, adding: “He has mortgaged the future of the state to these banks because he has no focus, plan and strategy to ensure the utilisation of the fund and repayment of the said loan.

“He is sharing the money among his sponsors, emergency friends, associates and family members at the detriment of tax payers.

“He has not executed any tangible project in the state.
“Aba is in shambles, Umahia, the state capital, is shattered and all other parts of the state are in disarray, making the state the worst in terms of good infrastructure and in essence good governance.”

Kalu challenged Orji, whom he described as a frustrated joker, to face the reality and give good governance to the people.
He cautioned him to be wary of sycophants singing his praises in government while advising him to remember his advice to him in private and public, which is “to rule Abia State with his conscience.”

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