Before we die: An SOS to the governor of Abia State

….BEFORE WE DIE….

AN S.O.S TO THE GOVERNOR of ABIA STATE, OKEZIE IKPEAZU, PhD

It is with the greatest consideration and commitment to the Peace and Security of Aba and the concomitant advantages of the peaceful coexistence of ALL the residents there-in, that we make this urgent appeal to the Abia State Government under the leadership of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD.

1. i) That this appeal is a counter position to the discriminating and provocative actions of some Ukwa/Ngwa indigenes against those termed as “Ndi Ohuhu” which is literarily translated to define “Non-Ngwa residents of Aba. Therefore, Ndi-Ohuhu Resistance Vanguard is a coalition of all non-Ngwa Youths resident in Aba and is representative of all the non-Ngwa Communities/Towns Unions in Aba.
2. ii) That our conclusion of ethnic/community bias is premised on the verifiable pronouncements of the alleged perpetrators of the actions.

iii)        That the alleged major perpetrators of this victimization of “Ndi-Ohuhu” residents in Aba are the Chairman and Members of the Aba Urban Renewal Committee and other Revenue Collection Agents operating in Aba.

1. iv) That we shall support every altruistic effort of the Abia State government to halt the decay and upgrade the infrastructural development of Aba in particular and Abia State generally.
2. v) That the so called “Ndi-Ohuhu” residents in Aba, through the industry and entrepreneurship of their forebears who, living harmoniously with their “landlords”, were instrumental to the development and industrialization of this once great City of Aba.
3. vi) That this present day generation of “Ndi-Ohuhu” residents in Aba still regard the degradation that was brought upon the City by the immediate past State government as offensive to the priceless sweat and blood of their forebears used as the building blocks of this great City.

vii)       That “Ndi-Ohuhu” residents in Aba pay their taxes and other economic levies in Aba and that makes them a major contributor to the revenue base of Abia state and therefore commendable partners in the efforts of the State Government at restoring the lost glory of Aba

viii)      That, “Ndi-Ohuhu” residents in Aba are not averse to any planned relocation of street traders to designated markets but insist that the relocation exercise need to be planned and should follow laid down civil procedures and the proposed markets need to be made ready for occupation before any forced movement is attempted.

I           That, peoples’ Properties and Goods should not be callously destroyed in the guise of forced relocation enforcement as was the case with the wanton and serial destruction of properties and goods allegedly carried out by the members of the Aba Urban Renewal committee in the presence and supervision of their Chairman, in the Highlife by Georges axis of Clifford and Ehi Roads, Aba on Wednesday 9th March 2016.

The Committee broke its own records on Monday 20th March by a repeat operation on the same area; but this time, extending the inhuman behavior and acts to the Ube Street axis and the Old Court axis of the same streets, leaving an odious trail of wickedness, tears and sorrows behind.

1. ii) That in the combined destruction exercises as narrated above, no fewer than 500 traders and artisans had their goods (primary source of livelihood) allegedly destroyed and carted away by their “assailants/attackers” while unquantifiable damages were inflicted on properties in the area.

iii)        That we are now convinced to believe that this destruction exercises are a calculated onslaught on the economy and economic survival of the “Ohuhu” people.

1. iv) That this destruction exercise by the Aba Urban Renewal Committee is usually carried out by a great army of demolishers numbering over 200 men and women wielding machetes, cutlasses, rods, iron bars, hammers, big stones and guns in the full glare of the Police and other Security agents.
2. v) That to make matters worse, while on their destruction spree, they usually taunt their victims to leave Ngwa land and relocate to their native communities since, in their own words, their victims did not vote for an Ngwa Governor at the last elections.
3. vi) That it is an undeniable fact that it was the so called “Ndi Ohuhu” residents of Aba that defined through their economic activities, the status of Aba as the hub of the economic and commercial activities East of the Nigerian State.

vii)       That the erroneous but pervading sentiment of the self christened Ngwa Youths and some of their Elders that Non-Ngwa residents of Aba tried to frustrate the emergence of an Ngwa Governor is preposterous and at the same time ridiculous.

viii)      That all things considered and in spite of all the things considered, we believe that a Governor has finally emerged in Abia and regardless of his nativity is and should remain and act as the Governor of ABIA State.

1. ix) That we frown at every attempt to further intimidate, persecute and victimize “Ndi Ohuhu” residents in Aba as individuals or as a group for reasons of preferences made during elections.
2. x) That it is an incontrovertible fact that we are still reeling from the consequences of the resurgence in kidnapping in Aba in the aftermath of the last elections, which has allegedly left “Ndi-Ohuhu” residents in Aba as the major targets and victims. By this turn of events we are constrained to believe as alleged, that the spate of kidnapping in Aba is a contrived and calculated action to strangulate the economy of “Ndi-Ohuhu” residents in Aba and achieve the ulterior motive of creating a non-conducive and dreadful environment that would leave them with no choice than to flee from Aba and abandon their properties in Aba, thereby confirming our fears of a grand desire/attempt to recreate the Abandoned Property saga in Aba.
3. xi) That we know and believe that there shall NEVER be allowed a rehash of the ABANDONED PROPERTY saga in Aba or any part of Abia State whatsoever.

xii)       That we hold strongly to our convictions that the attitude to work of members of the Aba Urban Renewal Committee and other Revenue collection agents in Aba are suggestive of ethnic bias and victimization of “Ndi Ohuhu” residents and their properties, more so, with the workers alleged open declarations and taunts to their victims to brace up for the worse or relocate to their native communities.

xiii)      That save for the peace and security of ALL Aba residents, that “Ndi Ohuhu” has the capacity to resist any and every form of intimidation and victimization against any and every individual or group/groups of its sub units and could be forced to resort to self help if push finally comes to shove and our Governor/Government fails to PROTECT us.

xiv)      That, procedures that meet National if not Global best practices threshold should be followed where the demolition of an economic structure is inevitable and compensatory damages made where necessary; not this reckless and provocative destructive exercise being perpetrated by the Aba Urban Renewal Committee.

From the foregoing, we humbly and respectfully request Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD, as a matter of the urgent consideration of the Peace and Security in Aba, to;

1. a) Carefully look into and if need be, reconsider the activities of the Aba Urban Renewal Committee, Revenue Collection Agents and other State Government Agents working in Aba to ascertain if their modus operandi is in consonance with your visions and set goals and if your foot soldiers in Aba are actually working that vision to achieve the set goals.
2. b) To take measures towards checking the excesses of the committees to prevent the attendant bad press that their operations are harvesting for the Governor and Government of Abia State.
3. c) To call the Aba Urban Renewal Committee and other agents to order, by stopping this their alleged choreographed attacks on “Ndi-Ohuhu” and more so, to bridle their tongues and tame their hate speeches/utterances which have the capability to precipitate ethnic/community attacks and reprisal attacks that may consume the peace in Aba and other parts of the State.
4. d) We pledge our unalloyed loyalty to the Governor and Government of Abia State and SEEK and INSIST on the safety and protection of the lives and properties of “Ndi-Ohuhu” residents in Aba.

Finally Our Governor, for record purposes and to solicit for their understanding and partnership with you in finding solutions to our present plight in Aba, may we crave your indulgence to copy the other Representatives of the Aba people at the State and National Assemblies, to wit;

1)   His Excellency, Senator H.E. Abaribe – Abia South Senatorial Zone

2)   Hon. Prestige Ossy – Aba North/South Federal Constituency

3)   The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly

4)   Hon. Sir Abraham U. Oba – Aba Central State Constituency

5)   Hon. Clinton E. Ebere – Aba South State Constituency

6)   Hon. Dr. Blessing Nwagba PhD – Aba North State Constituency

As we conclude with the famous quote of a former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher (1925 – 2013) that “We are not in politics to ignore people’s worries; we are in politics to deal with their worries”, we sincerely hope that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD will DEAL with our worries and not IGNORE them.

Signed:

National President                                       –           Comrade George Ogbonnaya

Vice Presidents;

1)         Abia State Indigenes                                   –           Okafor Sampson

2)         Imo State indigenes                        –           Daniel  Oparaocha

3)         Anambara State indigenes                        –           Azubuike Obienyem

4)         Ebonyi State indigenes                              –           Mathew Odii

5)         Enugu State Indigenes                              –           Donatus Ekweremadu

Dated: This …23rd ………Day of …March……………../2016

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