By Ikenna Ugwuagha

IT is a fact that since former governor of Abia State and now senator representing Abia Central district, Theodore Orji (Ochendo), parted ways with his predecessor, Chief Orji Uzo Kalu, there has been no love lost between them. Prior to that, Kalu the godfather, had lorded it over Orji, the godson, in the running of the affairs of the state for almost four years of Orji’s first term in office. Orji was then tagged a Bishop without a cathedral by Abia people.

But immediately Senator Orji liberated himself and the state from the shadow of Kalu and his family, a well-planned and sustained media attack was launched on him, his government and family by Kalu and his supporters. Readily available to carry out the media attack was Kalu’s two Lagos-based newspapers.

Followers of his column and the newspapers can easily attest to the fact that from 2010 till date, all forms of lies and libel have been written against Orji, his government and family. Attack on Orji formed part of the editorial policy of Kalu’s newspapers. In the face of all these malicious media attacks and provocation by Kalu, Orji has remained focused and silent, knowing too well that two people cannot be mad at the same time. Besides, silence, they say, is golden.

Having completed his second term as governor, Orji was voted into office as a senator in the last election. Many had expected that Kalu should have learnt his lesson and stopped his pettiness, jealously and unfounded media attacks against Orji. But as a leopard can hardly change his colour, he has continued to throw tantrums at Senator Orji in his weekly column.

In his column of July 4, Kalu asked why Abia State should be seeking financial assistance, whereas Orji wasted eight years as governor chasing shadow. But has Kalu forgotten that he was the man behind the mask during Orji’s first four years in office, despite the huge debt profile he handed over to Orji? If other viable and rich states like Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Lagos with huge monthly allocations and IGRs seek financial assistance, why shouldn’t Abia? Have we forgotten that on assumption office in 2007, Orji promoted all civil servants in the state that had their promotions delayed during Kalu’s administration. Orji was the first state governor to pay the minimum wage of N21,000. It is of note and credit to Orji that during his administration, workers never embarked on strike in the state. Orji was the first governor of the state to give workers a standard and functional Secretariat.

There is no doubt that Abia State is today among the few least indebted states in the country courtesy of Orji’s prudent and accountable management of the state’s resources for eight years. There are so many capital projects executed across the state by Orji’s administration. They are verifiable and visible contrary to Kalu’s claim that Orji’s was chasing shadow for eight years. Posterity will ever remember Orji as the man who laid for the first time a solid foundation for modern Abia in all ramifications. Abia people and visitors to the state can attest to it.

On his claim that he has written severally how Orji looted Abia State for eight years, the question is, when has Kalu become the chairman of any anti-graft agency in the country? When has trying somebody on the pages of newspaper become law in Nigeria? If truly Kalu has a dossier on Orji, he should submit it to the appropriate authorities. Is he afraid of going to the anti-graft agency because of his case pending there? Orji was one of the most accountable governors in the last eight years. While in office, Orji has consistently disclosed the state’s income and expenditure. So neither Orji nor any member of his family was under investigation or prosecution for any fraud then and now.

Every Nigerian knows that since 2007, Kalu had contested two senatorial elections in Abia North and had been rejected by the people twice. Questioning Orji’s election to the Senate in the last election is the height of hypocrisy and jealousy. Kalu should be more concerned about his petition at the Tribunal challenging the victory of Senator Mao Ohabunwa of Abia North who defeated him at the poll. When has Kalu become INEC or a Judge to conclude that Orji’s senatorial victory was fraudulently procured? It would be recalled that Kalu had boasted in 2011 that Orji would not win his re-election in office. Orji won with a landslide, and Kalu lost his senatorial election. In 2010, Kalu claimed to have returned to the PDP parading a membership card, only to make a U-turn to contest the senatorial election on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, in 2011 and 2015.

Nigerians should not be surprised if they soon hear Kalu saying that President Muhammadu Buhari or Atiku Abubakar has begged him to join the All Progressives Congress, APC. In fact, it is said his mother and brothers have already gone to the APC national headquarters to pledge their loyalty to the party leadership. Truth be told, Nigerians are not suffering from amnesia. I think it is time Kalu left his successor and his family members alone and face his political predicament? Nigerians, especially the people of Abia, know better the track record and antecedents of both Kalu and Orji. Before them lies an open book that can never be closed for generations to come.

*Dr. Ugwuagha, a university don, wrote from Faulks Road Aba, Abia State.