CLO Bombs Obiano , says Anambra entered one Chance bus , Carpets Police Commissioner and officers for extra judicial killing and corruption

Another bomb has been detonated in Anambra state by the Civil Liberties Organization against the administration of Governor Willie Obiano.

CLO did not mince words in accusing Obiano’s administration of financial recklessness and being in a hurry to delete Obi’s name in history of Anambra state. CLO did not stop there , it said Obiano’s adminsitartion has taken Ndi Anambra in a one chance vehicle .

CLO went a step further to wsh the dirty linen of the Nigeria police in the public detailing step by step , action by action ,m the corruption and extra judicial killing by the Nigerian police ……………..it is exclusive by www.odogwublog.com   This is a must read but long

This is the text as presented by odogwublog.com

TEXT OF THE 66^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS(UDHR), WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS DAY REPORT 2014 OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANISATION,  (CLO), ANAMBRA STATE BRANCH 17^TH DEC. 2014

Protocols

In 1950, the UN General Assembly decided that every December 10th would be celebrated as Human Rights Day.

This is the direct fallout of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights Document which is regarded as the world’s reference point from where different nations fashioned out their constitutionally enshrined human rights laws.

This year 2014, the UN Human Rights Office proclaimed the theme of Human Rights Day as Human Rights “365”which encompasses and proclaims that each and every day of the year, all 365, should be considered Human Rights Day.

The theme celebrates the fundamental ideas in the Universal Declaration on which the holiday was originally established, reminding and reinforcing the ideal that every human on earth, despite location, sexuality, race, political, economic or social background is at all times entitled to the full range of human rights, and that human rights belong equally to each of us. Further, the 2014 theme of “Human Rights 365” seeks to remind people that these equal rights bind us together as a community, not just locally, but globally and create a place of equal values and ideas.

This year’s theme seems more topical than ever, and the UN Human Rights Office stands together on this day with millions of men and women globally, who risk their all for human rights. 2014 will unfortunately be remembered as a year of several human rights violations, and daunting challenges to overcome. According to the Commissioner for Human Rights, this year’s theme is important to remember throughout the coming year, mainly so the world does not meet the same challenges again. In 2014, countries and communities that were recently breaking ground and finding progress in terms of human rights are now retreating and fast, so that conditions for people are worse than ever. However, the UN Human Rights Office reminds us that this is a constant battle and despite the failures of 2014, there have been, significant, ongoing, global advances in achieving our human rights. More success is on the horizon, 2014 marks the 30th year anniversary for Convention against Torture and in addition this year saw the 25th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child.

It is in line with the reality that the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon said about this year’s theme and I quote “I call on States to honor their obligations to protect human rights everyday of the year. I call on people to hold their governments to account”

Unfortunately, despite all efforts by the global rights body and other human rights groups, there are still several violations going on under different guises. As we speak right now, many are being tortured in various detention centers both in Nigeria and across the globe to own up for offences they never committed.  The Rights of the Child have been thrown to the dogs, Child labour is still on the increase in Nigeria, human and child trafficking, rape of minors, women are still objects subjected to various forms of inhuman and degrading treatment owing to some archaic and barbaric cultural practices.

It is a grim and pathetic situation that according to a research by Lydia Smith of the International Business Times, UK, “an estimated 27 million people are currently enslaved in the human trafficking trade globally.

In 2012, 112 countries tortured their citizens and 101 countries repressed their people's right to freedom of expression.

There are 3.5 million children living in poverty in the UK today, which is around 27% of children, or more than one in four. According to UNICEF, 22,000 children worldwide die each day due to poverty.

More than 300,000 children under the age of 18 are being exploited as child soldiers in armed conflicts worldwide.

Women make up 80% of all refugees and displaced people and are at heightened risk of physical or sexual violence or trafficking.

Around 15 million girls are forced into child marriage around the world every year. One in three girls in the developing world is married by their 18th birthday, increasing their risk of isolation and violence, and limiting their chance to have an education.

The total number of child laborers remains high, with UNICEF and the International Labour Organization acknowledging an estimated 168 million children aged five to 17 are involved worldwide.

Every 90 seconds, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth. Most of these deaths are preventable, but due to gender-based discrimination many women are not given the proper education or care they need.

At least 20.9 million people are victims of forced labour worldwide.

More than 3.2 million Syrians are currently living as refugees, in the largest displacement crisis in a generation”

STATE  OF THE  NATION

100 years of our existence as a Nation and 54 years down the line as an independent country, no doubt we have much to celebrate but why must we remain in this cesspool of corruption, mediocrity and all motion, no movement?

A land so blessed with abundant natural resources, our problem is self inflicted and man -made.

According to the Global Coalition against Corruption, the Transparency International, Nigeria in its 2014 report ranked 136^th most Corrupt Country out of the 174 countries sampled. Some other  Countries like Cape Verde, Botswana, South Africa and our neighboring Ghana all towered positively above Nigeria in a better stead but instead of our leaders taking concrete steps to fight corruption, the government mouthpiece started celebrating that the improvement from the 144^th position ranked last year was a sign that the Jonathan administration is really committed to fighting corruption.

The continuous rampage of Boko Haram and other insurgent activities have caused untold havoc to the people and the economy. We have lost several soldiers whose families can never be the same again. Many lives and properties gone down the drain while the economy is also seriously affected.

According to the  information  contained in a report- Global Overview 2014: People Internally displaced by Conflict and violence released  by the Internal Displaced Monitoring Centre (IDMC) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Nigeria has 3.3 million persons displaced by conflict- the highest number in Africa

According to the report, there are 3.3 million IDPs in Nigeria and 470,500 individuals were displaced in 2013 alone. On a global scale, Nigeria is only ranked behind Syria with 6.5 million IDPs and Colombia with 5.7 million IDPs.

Recently, the  Minister of Finance and the Supervising Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi  Okonjo Iweala told Nigerians that considering the present economic realities on ground, Nigerians should brace up for austerity measures.

Flanked by the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr Bright Okogu; the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla; the Acting Chair, FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, and other top government officials, Okonjo-Iweala said the Federal Government had decided to adopt austerity measures as a buffer for the economy in the face of a dwindling oil price in the international market.

The minister said that part of the austerity measures is to cut down on foreign travels, payment of more taxes on luxury goods like champagne and private jet owners among others.  It is our position that every action of government in this regard is all coated in insincerity. While nothing was said about cutting down on the emoluments of political office holders and their retinue of aides as well as the profligate lifestyle of the various governments, it amounts to do as I say and not what I do for the proposed austerity measures.

Vincent Akanmode , a columnist in a National Newspaper captured the situation concisely when he wrote  that “The only misgiving about the latest call for sacrifice is that it is coming from a civilian administration that has little or no regard for prudent management of the nation’s resources. And contrary to Okonjo-Iweala’s claim that the executive arm of government had in its discussions on national budgets with the National Assembly in the last three years consistently advocated prudence and low benchmark to encourage more savings, the records show that the administration has been one of the most reckless. In 2005, the Obasanjo administration successfully negotiated a debt write-off deal of about $18 billion after a cash payment of about $12 billion to free the nation from the Paris Club debts of over $30 billion. Today, the nation’s debt stock stands at more than $44 billion because the government cannot control its propensity to borrow and spend at will.

“The nation’s budgets under the Jonathan administration have seen billions of naira dedicated to all manner of funny items from chewing stick to chewing gum. Why, for instance, would the government budget N2.2 billion for a banquet hall in Aso Rock or propose N34.5 million for the feeding of lions in the zoo at the presidential villa when millions of Nigerians do not know where their next meal would come from? In the 2014 budget, for instance, the government, which already had 10 aircraft in its fleet, proposed another sum of N1.6 billion as deposit for another aircraft to raise the number to 11. In 2011 alone, about N18 billion was said to have been spent to maintain the president’s jet. Consider this against the fact that the Queen of England and the British Prime Minister have no private jets, but depend on the British Airways for their flights, one would begin to appreciate the extent to which our leaders are insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerian”

It is also on this premise also that we call for the total scrapping of government funding of religious pilgrimages in Nigeria. Nigerians are so religious but yet we refuse to imbibe the teachings of the various religions in our conduct.  Yearly, about 110,000 pilgrims are sponsored to Mecca and Jerusalem where about N14.93 billion are wasted in such exercise. While it is not our intention to cast aspersions on the integrity of the supposed pilgrims, it is an open secret that such pilgrimages have been turned to jamboree and political patronage where those who are government cronies, apologists and other relationships are selected at the expense of the collective treasury of the people.

Though this was also an issue discussed at the National Confab, it is expedient that the federal and state governments take the bull by the horn now and hand off any form of sponsorship of both Christian and Muslim pilgrims without further delay. There are so many avenues where the huge sum expended on this can be channeled to touch the lives of Nigerians positively. Let those who are so passionate to travel several miles abroad to go and pray for Nigerians and to do their personal spiritual exercise which according to them is another precondition for making heaven, do so at their own expense and we can know the truly committed ones among them.

NDIGBO IN THE NIGERIAN PROJECT

In the Nigerian project, no race is more enterprising; doing exploits in their chosen fields of endeavor and can be fousdnd in any part of the globe where oxygen gives life than the Igbo race. But in the midst of personal achievements and accumulations, no race has continued to suffer marginalization and acute deprivation in a collective form more than the same Igbo race. In the 2013 UDHR report of Anambra CLO, we had called on Ndigbo to sharpen their collective bargaining power with the Federal Government before ever they give their support to President Goodluck Jonathan  for the 2015 general election going by the existential realities on ground. Unfortunately, the situation is worsening by day while the Jonathan for 2015 sing song is reverberating everywhere across the Igbo land with nothing to show for it.

Except for few Igbo men holding individual positions in the Federal Government of Nigeria, Ndigbo cannot boast of any single viable project that can change the fortunes of their people or give them a sense of belonging to be at par with other regions.

The Onitsha River Port commissioned on 30^TH August 2012 amidst fanfare by Oga Jonathan has remained a pipe dream.  The much touted 2^nd Niger Bridge which they say construction work has started will operate under a Public Private Partnership where even Igbo Children yet unborn will have to pay tolls unlike their fellow Nigerians from other parts of the country that enjoy various bridges free of charge. Federal roads in the South East remains the worst while the enormous capital flight from the East to the west and North remains the highest because all cargo issues whether by land or sea are nonexistent in the East. Who is fooling who? Chief Ralph Uwazurike who said he is championing Igbo cause and is seeking for the declaration of the sovereign state of Biafra has suddenly turned around to be the chief campaigner for Goodluck Jonathan and is now singing a different tune after thousands of Igbo youths he brainwashed have paid the supreme price while others are still languishing in different prisons across the nation.

On Wednesday, June 11, 2014 when the Civil Liberties Organisation, Anambra State Branch organized a peacefully rally to condemn terrorism and its associated vices in the country and called on Nigerians to join hands with President Jonathan in the collective struggle to confront whatever is confronting the unity of the nation in the midst of so many lives already lost, Chief Uwazurike allegedly ordered his brainwashed boys in Onitsha to attack us because he erroneously  thought we are being sponsored by the opposition to come and attack Jonathan.  

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a prominent Igbo man was quoted recently to have said that the Igbos should wait for 2027 before aspiring to be the President of the country while some others have also said that Jonathan has taken the turn of Ndigbo for presidency.

While everybody is entitled to his individual opinions and actions, Anambra CLO for the umpteenth time hereby calls on Ndigbo race to take a stand and stop playing this second fiddle in the Nigerian project. Let there be a collective bargain on so many infrastructural, manpower and all other developmental imbalances suffered by Ndigbo . Getting sure commitment to all these and more should be the only basis of supporting any candidate for the 2015 elections.

 POLICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN ANAMBRA STATE

In the police circle, being posted to Anambra State to serve in any division especially within the urban areas is a big scramble. It is a public knowledge that some police officers who believe in the efficacy of prayers embark on several months of fasting and prayer to be posted here and also to remain here in perpetuity unless on promotion to bigger ranks among the superior officers. The story is the same among those who believe in charms and deadly concoctions as they also travel far and wide to prepare the charms or fortify themselves that nobody will remember them for posting outside the state.

The DPOs in some juicy divisions in Anambra and other intelligent officers swim in money that some of them embark on buying choice properties within some interval of working here without even touching their salaries. The situation is compounded by the Omata mentality among some big time traders who deal on contrabands, fake/pirated products and some money bag politicians who patronize the DPOs and some other superior officers to oil their wheel of business so that the police can turn blind eye while their illegitimate business and deals thrive.

This is the foundation that led to the bastardisation of police work in Anambra and the sacrificing of professionalism on the altar of primitive accumulation.  The situation is so bad that some of these men involved in all kinds of shady deals are the members and executives of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) and they donate generously to the police stations and the officers.

The rank and file who are mainly on the road on patrols and operations then deal ruthlessly with the so called illiterate traders who are eager to part with any amount provided you don’t take him to the station, tell him to write statement or even cajole him with the threat of putting him inside the cell.

Some among the senior officers who are wise enough try as much as possible to cooperate with some credible human rights groups like the CLO whenever they intervene in any matter while crooked ones among them see us as sworn enemies that should be dealt with at any opportunity for spoiling business for them.

At the inception of the Obiano administration, he declared his continued support to the law enforcement agents in line with the practice of his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi. As at the last count, the governor said that a total of 100 vehicles have been provided under him to the police. Codenamed Operation Kpochapu, the teams were mandated to check vehicle boots to track kidnappers while keeping a motorized patrol along the expressways.

Unfortunately, from the CLO findings, majority of the teams have simply abdicated from their assigned responsibility to pursue illicit monetary gains either by hook or crook. Their various tents and vehicle have been converted to emergency detention centers and mobile banks.

Their greatest casualties are Okada and keke riders, traders conveying goods on bike or vehicles while they are poised to deal with any uncooperative citizen without any form of provocation.

POLICE TEAM AT NKPOR FLYOVER AS CASE STUDY

The Civil Liberties Organization, Anambra State Branch in the course of investigations identified the police team at Nkpor Express by News parts and Mgbuke market junction as the worst police team on road operations. Led by Inspector Pius Umoh, the team operates with police vehicle tagged number 346 and vehicle registration number NPF 7282 C.

Other members of the team included Corporal Ojokpa Ochi with Force number 374552, Corporal Elue Lawrence with Force number 441889, Another Corporal Chinonyerem Ihekoromadu whose force number was not visible, another police man with force number 030631 and another officer always on plain clothes.

The team from an independent undercover report done by the Chairman of Anambra CLO represent the perfect example of a rotten egg in the police force that should be weeded out to avoid its pollutant virus from infiltrating others.

Sergeant Umoh and his team operate their own version of Onitsha main market in their duty post where everything has a price tag.  They perform the duties of the arresting officer, the prosecuting counsel, the jury and the sentencing officer all at the same time.  In their stand, any bike that passes by without a crash helmet whether private or commercial attracts non negotiable fee of N2000.  Any vehicle without a tinted glass permit whether factory fitted or not attracts N10,000. Not having vehicle particulars or expired one attracts prices ranging from N5, 000 to N20,000. Any keke driver that drops passenger within their vicinity attracts summary penalty of N5, 000.  The policeman on plain clothes is the one in charge of seizing motorcycles and padlocking it with a long chain and key which can contain about 20 motorcycles at a time. When they contravene motorcycles so much that the space allotted for it becomes filled up, they pass immediate judgment of the cash price and threaten to take them to a yet to be identified station if the owner is not ready to play ball.

In the course of undercover to get full details of their illegal operations, the CLO Chairman not only got action shots where they collect money but also encountered various victims who had sordid tales of what they have passed through in their hands. Two among their victims included Chidubem Obianuna, a Keke driver from Ogidi phone no 08163036225, an asthmatic patient who had sudden attack and fainted as the team demanded N10, 000 from him for dropping passengers within the area. In the course of the encounter, Chidubem after being revived lost his mobile phone, wallet, ID card and cash of N7, 000.  Another victim was Chukwuemeka Nonyelu, phone number, 08131961129 whom they collected N2, 000 from him after seizing his Press Cub Motorcycle, Reg. No. JJT 247 QA for not wearing a crash helmet.

Though the CLO has written a formal petition against this police team while the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Uche Eze has visited the scene and confirmed the CLO findings, we dare say that the Umoh and his team represents the sample of what the Operation Kpochapu teams have turned into . From Awka to Nkpor Junction, Onitsha Owerri road to Upper Iweka and across the length and breadth of the state, the story is the same.  This is a clarion call on the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Hosea Karma to beam his searchlight on the conduct of his men on duty and ensure that strict disciplinary actions are meted on any one or team found wanting in the discharge of their duties.

As the yuletide season is here, all nooks and crannies of the state have been dotted with gun totting , plain clothed and even fake policemen all with the sole intent of grabbing money from defenseless citizens. The Okpoko police division, Onitsha CPS , Area command and Ogidi divisions  top the chart in these violations. It is the duty of the Command Monitoring Unit to police the police and ensure that they abide by the ethical conduct expected of them. This Christmas period is therefore a test case for CP Karma for us to know his commitment to crime fighting or whether he came to line up his pockets.

EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS, TORTURE AND ILLEGAL DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL

Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended stated that every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and also listed situations where such liberty can be denied a citizen.  Section 34 Subsection 1 of the 1999 constitution also stated that every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and accordingly (a) no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment.

Sadly enough, the above constitutional provisions are observed in flagrant breach daily in Anambra state from the various police divisions to the Special Anti Robbery Squads (SARS) scattered across Awkuzu, Nnewi, Ogidi, CPS, Okpoko etc.

The Awkuzu SARS specifically designed to handle cases of armed robbery, kidnapping, felony and other capital offences still handle cases of master servant issues, business deals gone awry between friends, okada riders caught riding past 7pm among other petty issues. When such detainees find it hard to part with the demanded astronomical bail fees, they are dumped in the cell to rot forever while some of them are paraded alongside hardened criminals while others are summarily executed during their routine decongestion of cells.

A bus driver, Ogbonna Adonu who recently regained freedom from Awkuzu SARS captivity after nearly three months for associating with a wanted kidnapper regaled the CLO  with chilling tales of the horrendous activities that go on behind the walls of SARS. Detainees are suspended half way in the air with head down while the legs are hanging in the ceiling hook. With thorough beatings with electric wires and all manner of shocking torture methods and mock shootings, suspects most times own up for crimes they never committed. Though later declared innocent after months in detention, Ogbonna still parted with nearly N270, 000 before he could be left off the hook by CSP James Nwafor and his boys.

The CLO Chairman during a recent parade of suspects at the police headquarters Awka also encountered a detainee in Awkuzu SARS who gave his name as Chukwudi Chimezie from Nkwere, Imo State.  Chimezie already looking like bonga fish owing to many months of incarceration with no food was too weak to voice out that he was never a thief or a robber. He said he is a driver but it was his master that was implicated in a criminal matter but the man later settled the police and bolted away while he has been left to die in custody.

Evidences abound  and we are not disputing the fact also that SARS and the police command have made tremendous breakthroughs in the fight against armed robbers and criminals but we use this medium to call on the Anambra State Commissioner of Police to order for a full review of all criminal suspects in the various SARS units in Anambra State. The Amnesty International , Human Rights Watch and other credible organizations should come for rescue in Anambra State and let us all put a stop to this human bazaar going on as part of fighting criminals.

ANAMBRA STATE AND ISSUES SORROUNDING GOVERNANCE

Anambra is a state blessed in quantum with pace setters, trailblazers and the finest in all. No wonder when the elites and best minds of the state became spectators and watched arms akimbo in 2003 as people of questionable characters and educational qualifications took the center stage and became godfathers rapaciously installing both the executive and legislative arms of the government singlehandedly with Aso Rock backing, it was like a moment that a collective spell was cast on everybody, the days of the locust.  But because no condition is permanent, the journey to Anambra’s redemption began after the reclamation of the stolen mandate of Mr. Peter Obi on March 17, 2006.

Obi  while in the saddle of leadership had his own strengths and weaknesses but as he was about to hand over power to Obiano on March 17, 2014, what was incontestable was the fact that even the blind and the deaf could testify that the state has made significant progress and has been taken to a higher pedestal under him.

Obi presented to us Gov. Obiano and Dr. Nkem Okeke and with their academic qualifications and backgrounds, expectations were high that if the tempo of Obi’s development style was sustained, Anambra will surpass even the oil producing states as there will be a solid and enduring turn around in all sectors.

Obiano also offered hope when he came with the slogan  “Forward Ever” and the 4 C’ s of Continuity, Complete , Commission and Commence new projects.

The Continuity aspect was maintained partly in some projects like the construction and beautification of the Upper Iweka axis and some other road projects started by Obi. This is a commendable step but going by the happenings in recent times and certain actions of the Obiano administration, the CLO can say that Anambra people have boarded “One Chance bus” and unless the driver is redirected, the passengers will be bruised badly by the time the bus applies its brakes, that is if by luck, it didn’t end in a ditch after a crash but we say God forbid.

Former Governor, Mr. Peter Obi in his handover note on March 17, 2014 summarized the state’s financial statement as at March 3^rd 2014 as “Local investment N27,000, 000,000, Foreign Currency Investment of 156 million US Dollars and certified  State/MDA balances of N28,165,985,574.06  as well as FGN approved refund of N10 Billion totaling N91,665,985,574.06.  Obi said that the financial statements will supplement any gaps related to financial matters that are not included in the handover report.  The former Governor concluded that the state as at the time he was handing over was strong financially, economically and indeed psychologically. He added that there was sanity, political civility and overall decorum which was far from where he took over in 2003 saying that Anambra under his administration has shown that with clear vision, proper planning and frugal management of her resources, a lot can be achieved.

Obi also while also speaking during the thanksgiving service preceding the handover ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka made it clear that he did not sign any pact for godfather/godson arrangement with Obiano and for that reason, Anambraraians should hold Obiano responsible if he fails to perform as the machinery has been prepared for him to do well.

As Obiano took over the reins of power, he never punctured the financial statements presented by Obi and also never denied the documental evidence backing Obi’s financial records which was later made public by some online media platforms.

But settling down to work, Obiano by his actions and inactions has shown that he is not only in a hurry to discard all the vestiges of his predecessor in office  but he is a direct opposite of Obi in prudence and management of human and material resources.

His convoy is one of the noisiest in the South East; the office of the first lady has been created with its own distractions and meddlesomeness in governance. Not only that, political appointees soon spiraled and became over bloated that as at the last count, there are nearly 200 aides if not more and still counting. Among the aides are cases of duplicity where there will be about 4 Special Assistants on a particular sector including the most ridiculous style of appointing an SA on Fish and SA 11 on Entertainment known as Ogbu Oja (the flute blower).   Millions of tax payers money are frittered away weekly in maintaining front page appearance in some national dailies and other public relations with sometimes funny  stories lacking substance planted therein. The governor and his media  aides abhor anything negative publicity like plague while authors of stories they felt was not written  in their favor are regarded as enemies of the government.

Now before one could say –Akpokuedike, the 2014 budget which was prepared under Obi’s regime was jerked to N145.3 billion in April 2014. As if that was not enough, on 2^nd September, 2014, the state House of Assembly passed another supplementary budget of N13,769,000,000 (Thirteen Billion, seven hundred and sixty nine million naira) into law.  Investigations by Anambra CLO revealed that the initial supplementary budget was N13.5 billion but the extra N300, 000 million was allegedly added as pocket money for the legislators who allegedly collected the cash upfront of N10 million each before they could pass the bill.

THE 2015 BUDGET

The budget is described as the most important macro-economic policy tool of any government but when the government begins to play Kalo, kalo with such instruments, the citizens are in for bigger trouble.

On Monday, 24th November, 2014, Chief Obiano, the state Governor presented the 2015 Appropriation bill to the House of Assembly. Tagged “Budget for Wealth Creation and Social Cohesion”, the state intends to spend N164.496 billion. Out of this, N110.979billion is mapped out for capital expenditure while N53.517 billion is for recurrent expenditure.  Breakdown from the budget shows that the state is expecting  total earnings of N102.039billion in the 2015 fiscal year- N48.040 billion in statutory allocations and the most annoying,  N54billion from Internally Generated Revenue.  

The Governor noted that there have been a decline in the federal statutory allocations due to falling oil prices but he intends to make up  the shortfall in the budget through capital receipts of N112.459billion but yet failed to explain what he meant by capital receipts during the presentation.  

From verifiable records, the highest Anambra state has realized in the fiscal year for IGR is N8.831 billion at N880million per month but now, they are jerking the expected revenue to N54 billion, N6 billion naira higher than the Federal statutory allocation and at N4.6billion per month in 2015.

The grim situation is that government wants to inflict untold hardship on the citizenry by jerking up all revenue windows with harsh price tags beyond the reach of the people.

While many concerned citizens raised eyebrows over the budget and called for a proper scrutiny of the entire document, the Obiano government spent millions of tax payer’s money again taking center spread adverts in various newspapers analyzing the budget with several graphic details whose accuracy remains in doubt.

In continuation of the ongoing rub my back, I rub yours relationship between the executive and the legislature, the House against public outcry that trailed the appropriation bill speedily passed into law the bogus budget thereby confirming the insinuation in several quarters that the governor allegedly hosted them before presenting the budget and allegedly promised them another N10million each if the budget is passed within 2 days.

We maintain that the 2015 Budget  of Anambra State as passed into law is frivolous, bogus, unrealistic, untenable and drips of several signals that Anambra is now back on the path of hedonism, years of the locust and no one should be surprised if the state begins to raise bonds and external borrowings very soon.  The capital receipts mentioned by the Governor in the budget presentation are simply pseudonyms for borrowing.

As if the budget drama was not enough, the people were treated to another circus show recently during the decoration of promoted senior police officers in Anambra state where the governor presented 20 horses to the police command for crowd control.

Shortly after the presentation, news from insider sources revealed that the horses were actually 100 in number and were procured from Niger Republic. According to the story, the horses were penciled for sharing among the 21 local governments, governor’s lodge, the police in Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi while a Special Assistant (SA) will be appointed to take charge of the horses apart from 21 people sent to Niger Republic for special training on handling the animals all at a whooping sum of N85million.

The Christmas decoration around Bridge Head, Upper Iweka, DMGS Roundabout and Awka was also reportedly executed at the cost of N67million naira. Surprisingly, since this report came out, the government through any of its media aides has never denied, refuted nor clarified its position on the issues while the public deserves to know the true picture thereby lending credibility to the news report.

All these and more are pointers to the fact that Anambra is fast becoming a classical example of how not to govern a state but the dangerous thing in this is the fact that sycophants are praising the governor to high heavens that he is not only on track but that he is the best thing that has happened to Anambra State.

BASTARDISATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN ANAMBRA

One sore point in the Peter Obi led administration in Anambra State that led to altercation and collision with some civil society organizations in the state chiefly the JDPC, Onitsha Archdiocese and the CLO Anambra State Branch is the non democratization of the 3^rd tier structure of government in the state. Though the past administration gave so many reasons why the local government election could not hold, we kept pressurizing the government on the issue until finally on January 11, 2014, the elections into the local councils were conducted.

Whether the election was done in a free, fair and credible manner is an issue for another day but we are worried on the manner the local councils are being run presently in Anambra.

Against the dictates and spirits of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Anambra local government system is in shambles that to describe it as an appendage of the state government will amount to promotion, rather, the right word will be slaves or toys of the state government.

The council chairmen are servants of the ministry of local government and the executive while the councilors live like paupers.  The 21 local government chairmen receive handouts from the ministry and they are taunted to even remain ever thankful to their paymasters, after all, they were privileged to be selected in the first place. Any of the council chairmen who want to be assertive or claim to know too much has incurred the wrath of the gods and must pay dearly for such.

Then against any known democratic norms and practice, some council chairmen are appointed or given legal backing to stay in office as it suits the powers that be.

Such was the scenario that led to the appointment of Chief Emeka Ojukwu  Jnr as the Sole Administrator of Nnewi North Local Government . When it became so glaring to the APGA government that it will likely lose the local government to the opposition for peculiar reasons, Gov. Obiano announced the appointment of Ojukwu jnr as the sole administrator while his 20 other counterparts were elected thereby acting as if the state was in a military era.

Another serious aberration was the continued stay in office of the ousted Chairman of Ihiala Local Government Area, Chigozie Awugosi even when the election tribunal and the appeal  had sacked him and ordered for a fresh election. The Aguata Zone of the Election Appeal Tribunal  sitting at Ekwulobia presided over by Justice Obiora had on June 19, 2014 upheld the judgment of the Obi Anizoba led Election Petitions Tribunal which nullified the election of Awugosi on April 9, 2014 and ordered him to vacate office and allow ANSIEC conduct a fresh election.  Surprisingly, Mr. Awugosi remained in office on the strength of a memo signed by the Commissioner for Local Government simply because he made an application to the Court of Appeal for a stay of execution of the ruling of the High Court and the election tribunal which was not granted until November 10, 2014 when the same court ordered him to be thrown to jail for 3 months without option of fine for contempt of court.

Anambra State Government by these episodes was not only brought to public ridicule but it has shown the extent to which the local government system has been bastardised in the State.  As at the time of compiling this report, Mr. Awugosi is still taking Ben Johnson style and voomkamma like Chioma Ajunwa as he reportedly vanished from the court premises immediately the pronouncement against him was made and has not been seen since then. Till now, Ihiala doesn’t have a council chairman while our source in the council confided to the CLO that salaries have not been paid to the workers and councilors till now.

All these are happening in Anambra at a time that there is a national concern over the agitation for the granting of full autonomy to the local government system.  It is on this premise that we join in the full support for local government autonomy in Nigeria and call on the Anambra State Government to loosen its tight grip on the local government system in the state. We did say in our UDHR Report of 2013 that we want to see whom to hold responsible if our streets (Trunk C Roads) are not graded among other functions of the local government councils listed in the Schedule 4 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.  We also call for the immediate conduct of democratic local government elections in Nnewi North and Ihiala Local Government councils without further delay.

THE RETURN OF GARRISON COMMAND POLITICS IN ANAMBRA

In 2003 as earlier stated in a part of this report, a self styled political godfather arose in Anambra state. With the active collaboration of his brother who was then a powerful force to reckon with in Aso Rock, they drew an organogram of rulership and partitioned Anambra as it suited their avaricious desires. They got a willing tool from Alor who wanted to be Senator then but was quickly drafted to be governor, a puppet and ceremonial one at that. To cement their agreement to avoid any form of reneging, they visited the dreaded Okija shrine at the dead of the night and administered an oath on the soon to be crowned puppet governor amidst recorded videos before finally drafting a resignation letter already signed without date which will be tendered with date any day the puppet governor tried to be mischievous.

Everything went on according to plan and they rigged election in a most brazen form and eventually installed the governor whom they thought will be their robot.

But the Igbos says that it is not giving the monkey water that matters but collecting the cup after. The supposed robot governor on assumption of office began to hold tight and before one could say Eselu, he began to consolidate and refused to play ball as agreed damning both the shrine and the physical consequences. The resultant effect was that on July 10, 2004, the god father with his lieutenants used a certain AIG now late, Raphael Ige to mastermind the abduction of the illegal governor and also tendered the governor’s resignation letter to the whole world. When their supposed robot resurfaced later, he exposed so many secrets binding them together and began to whip sentiments which eventually drew public sympathy for him and his godfathers realized that they have lost out. In frustration for losing out and to create an atmosphere of chaos which will lead to the declaration of a State of Emergency in Anambra and give room for them to stage a comeback and be fully in charge, on November 10, 2004, they unleashed the worst mayhem in the state burning various government establishments while the police watched helplessly as the orgy lasted.

Ten years down the line, no single person has been apprehended nor questioned over the incident while the master-minders are still today major players in the political arena with some holding political party structures while some now wants to be Senators of the Federal Republic. Oh what a climate of impunity. That was the era of Garrison Politics in Anambra.

Unfortunately, recently, another form of Garrison politics played out in the state though with different colorations and intent.  This time, the action was meted out on a woman, the only female council chairman in the state whom  the present power owners doesn’t like her face but worst of all, her greatest offence was that it is assumed that her loyalty lies with the former governor , Obi who is from the same town with her.

Lady Ann Chukwuneke, the Chairman, Onitsha South Local Government Area, was humiliated out of office in a most brazen and wicked manner that still reverberates across the land unless redressed.

Chukwuneke was sworn in like her colleagues after the Jan. 11 2014 election.  Accusations of highhandedness leveled against her by some of the councilors and her visit to traders near the Onitsha Main market on October 16, 2014 which later turned bloody as she was attacked by the traders who alleged that she ordered them to be paying N50, 000 per shop as revenue to the council   were two issues that those who wanted her out capitalized on to deal with her.

Acting out a script handed down to them allegedly by the state government, 7 out of the 17 Councilors amidst tight security led by SP Tope Fasugba of the operations Department, Police headquarters, Awka first sat in the legislative chambers and announced that they have removed the House Leader, Fred Ezenwa and the Council Chairman, Lady Chukwuneke who was not in town then and was never served any impeachment notice.

Lady Chukwuneke told reporters that she made frantic efforts to see Gov. Obiano but she was rebuffed including her being snubbed by the Governor on Nov 1 feast of All Saints at All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha where she went to see the governor after all efforts in the past.

When Lady Chukwuneke returned to her duty post and following solidarity by hundreds of widows who organized a protest march for her, Chukwuneke said that she was summoned again by Gov. Obiano and told to pack her bags and leave that she has been impeached.

After the meeting with the governor, the government then realized the need to use a semblance of legality in achieving its desired target and then set up a seven man judicial panel headed by Mr. Linus Nweke to investigate the allegations leveled against the woman (After the woman has been told by the governor that she has been  impeached)

On 20 November, 2014, Lady Chukwuneke in suit N0 FHC/AWK/CS243/I4 between her and 25 other respondents had obtained a court injunction at the Federal High Court, Awka   restraining the impeachment process and as well restraining any other person from parading him or herself as the new Chairman of the council.

But in a manner reminiscent of the garrison politics era, the councilors acting out the handed script on Friday 21^st November 2014 went ahead to perfect their illegality and voted for the immediate swearing in of the Madam Chukwuneke’s erstwhile deputy, Alex Egbuna Achebe as the substantive Chairman of the council.

After accomplishing their inordinate mission, the councilors according to report, all left in an official white Mitsubishi bus belonging to the legislative council with a team of stern looking policemen to an unknown destination- Mission accomplished.

This is highly condemned by the CLO and with actions like this, Anambra is on the path to retrogression and allowing this kind of illegality to stand is another invitation to rule by brute force and gangsterism.   We urge Lady Chukwuneke to be resilient and pursue her case to a logical conclusion. We know it may seem practically impossible to succeed in this because even the legal system draws its strength from the executive today leading to cases of doing the bidding of the one who pays the piper but despite her own personal shortcomings as a council chair, Lady Chukwuneke is a winner in the court of public opinion.  It is also regrettable that the woman, a 60 year old widow could be treated like this without even considering that her continued stay as a council chairman would have given the state a semblance of gender sensitivity among the local council chairmen. We also commend the now former Secretary of the Local Government, Hon.  Sylvanus Mgbechukwu who did not hesitate to resign his position when the forces of illegality descended on their office unlike some others who may decide to change loyalty and seek the favor of those about to take over power.

THE SHAM CALLED PARTY PRIMARIES IN ANAMBRA

Article 2.5 of the Political Parties Code of Conduct 2013 states that “All political parties shall ensure and practice internal party democracy by adhering strictly to the provisions of their party’s constitution.  Article 2.1 of the same Political Parties Code of Conduct also stated that “All political parties , their leaders, members, supporters and candidates shall adhere to all existing laws, and regulations pertaining to elections, and the conduct of political parties , especially the election guidelines established by INEC through the authority of Electoral Act 2010 as amended, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and shall  do nothing whatsoever , individually or collectively to undermine , flout ,disrespect or circumvent them”.

The law is also clear on the need to uphold democratic principles in the whole process of party primaries. The Electoral Act stipulates that “The aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting shall be declared the winner of the primaries of the party and the aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the candidate of the party”

The Electoral Act in Section 86, empowers INEC to monitor political parties and keep records of their activities. Section 87 of the Act also provides a choice between two procedures for the nomination of candidates by parties- direct or indirect primaries. In direct elections, all members of the party can vote for their candidate of choice while indirect elections involve the election of delegates to primaries where the delegates will elect candidates from a set of registered aspirants.

Section 7 of the Act states that “A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall clearly outline in its constitution and rules, the procedure for the democratic election of delegates to vote at the convention, congress or meeting”

The above constitutional provisions were carefully outlined here in this report to give us a clearer picture of what is supposed to be and juxtaposed with what happened during the party primaries in Anambra State, we can then appreciate the fact that democracy is endangered and we are heading to perdition going by the sham called party primaries conducted in the state. Constitutional provisions were thrown away and democratic tenets discarded while petty reasons took over the motive of selecting candidates.

That of PDP in the state can be pardonable because there’s wasn’t happenstance rather they just walked an old path and a familiar terrain in their tradition of all gladiators being kings in their own right and can never agree. Their own has always been judicially coronated from time immemorial but we are worried over what happened in APGA, the ruling party in the state.

Infact, the god of APGA is crying because her children have been raped mercilessly while its pride and ethics have been trampled on the ground.

Ominous signs of what to expect from the APGA primaries emanated from the election of delegates for the election when a different list allegedly manufactured by the State Chief Executive to achieve a target was brandished on the Election Day to the surprise of the contestants.

Sources confirmed that the grand plot was (a) Give automatic tickets to the APGA House of Assembly members as compensation for their loyalty and to also ensure that nothing like impeachment notice to the governor comes on board in 2015. (B) Give a higher compensation to the Speaker of the House, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili so that she will displace the performing House of Rep. member, Afam Ogene. (C) Make sure that all supporters and loyalists of ex governor Peter Obi are flushed out and (D) Don’t give sitting House of Reps members return tickets so that they will not gain enough financial muscle to come back and challenge the governor in 2019 election.

With this dangerous mindset, ridiculous things began to happen that during the conduct of primaries for the 30 House of Assemblies and 14 Federal legislative seats including 3 senatorial seats, it was drama all through.

In the 11 House of Reps primaries conducted first, six produced winners amidst complaints of manipulation, selection and outright imposition of candidates and delegates while the remaining was postponed. In Ogbaru Federal constituency election held in a hotel, the DPO Okpoko division, Mr. Emeka Ugwu in acting out the script handed to him barred all journalists from entering the venue. At the end of the exercise, the changed delegate list produced Nwebili as instructed. In Ihiala, it was reported that a prominent business mogul and PDP member allegedly paid his way and was given the concession to produce his choice candidates as APGA flag bearers.  It was the same story in Anaocha, Orumba, Anambra East/ West and other constituencies.

In Anaku, Ayamelum Local Government Area, Onyimonyi John Egbunike who was declared winner after polling 51 votes against the closest aspirant, Okafor  Uche Victor who polled 22 was issued a certificate of return but surprisingly denied the party ticket later.

The drama at Godwin Achebe Stadium, Fegge, venue of the primaries for Anambra North APGA Senate was the most interesting.  The game plan was to return Obianwu Patrick (Nwachi)  as the governor’s anointed candidate against the popular choice of  the people, Dubem Obaze and the body language of the Returning Officer, Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta said it all during the exercise.

Unfortunately for them, the delegates decided to use their conscience and voted massively for Obaze that at the end, he polled 219 votes against the anointed that got 145 votes. Nnacheta was in a terrible state of confusion to announce the results that he wanted to act funny but thanks to the resilience of the people and the atmosphere provided by the newly promoted Deputy Commissioner of Police, Benjamine Wordu and the DPO Fegge police Division, Rabiu Garba, it became practically impossible to actualize the directed script. Nnacheta was overwhelmingly prevailed upon to declare the results and the people also trooped into Top Rank Hotel opposite the stadium at the dead of the night to photocopy the signed results.  Feelers got by CLO revealed that there are desperate attempts to deny Dubem Obaze the hard won ticket of the party because of some vested interests and chief among the reasons why they want to snatch the ticket from his is that he is seen as Peter Obi’s man.

In Onitsha federal constituency, the rescheduled primaries in line with the grand plot, denied ticket to the sitting member, Cyril Egwuatu and handed it over to Anthonia Tabansi Okoye.

For crying out loud, APGA under Obiano with this arrangee style of party primaries is heading for destruction. Also, we wonder the hoopla over Obi’s exit to PDP and why his so called loyalists must be punished. The greatest beneficiary of Obi’s stay and exit in APGA from whichever angle one looks at it is the incumbent governor, Chief Obiano therefore, being in such a hurry to remove the vestiges of Obi in APGA and the government smacks of ingratitude. Obi in his unusual and rare lifestyle left to PDP alone but Obiano is making the whole thing sickening and double ridiculous.  Renting crowd to visit Ojukwu’s grave in the name of reporting Obi to Ojukwu or hiring people to show them video clips of where Obi vowed not to leave APGA is double ingratitude and sickening.

Whoever sold to Obiano this idea of denying tickets to serving federal rep. members who have done well before on the reason that they may garner much financial muscle has done much harm to the polity than good. Sending first timers to Abuja will only slow down the development of our legislature, weaken our democratic process and bring bench warmers who may grope in the dark to get acquainted in the process and before you know it, the four years is gone.  Punishing or removing Obi’s loyalists is also an idea from the pit of hell and trying to rubbish Obi’s legacies is not the best way to pay back a man who gave much to ensure the continuity that is supposed to be. Even God abhors ingratitude said Chief Jim Nwobodo.

Our candid advice to Gov. Obiano is to remember that whatever action or inaction of him will count at the time of reckoning. It is early enough for him to strengthen his strong points, make amends in his weak points and chart a course for the development of Anambra state anchored on prudence, accountability and purpose driven leadership. He should distance himself and government actions from haughtiness, extravagance, opulence, ostentations, vindictiveness or dealing with any opposing or dissenting voices.

AWARDS

It is not and has never been the tradition of CLO to dish out awards both in plaque form or otherwise to deserving individuals, but since last year, Anambra CLO conceptualized giving out awards of fame and infamy in a mental form to deserving and undeserving individuals.

This year’s award of infamy number one goes to Princess Chinwe Nwebili, Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly for leading a House that is more vibrant in self seeking monetary gratification and gagging the governor than the commitment for purposeful legislation that will impact positively on the lives of their constituents.

The second infamous award goes to Mrs. Njideka Oraedu, the sacked Managing Director, Anambra State Waste Management Authority for allowing her emotions to think first before her brain and arrogating herself the power of a demi god when she ordered the detention of Okechukwu Obeta of The Source Magazine and seizure of his working tools because the man was carrying out his legitimate duties as a journalist.

Emeka Ugwu, DPO , Okpoko Police Division gets another knocks for becoming a willing tool in the hands of some Ogas at the top who uses him to achieve some selfish ends. His Division also still tops the chart in the number of policemen who runs riot in their proclivity for extortion, illegal detention for money and marketing in the name of policing.

The Award into the Hall of Fame for exemplary conduct expected of a public servant goes to Rabiu Garba, the DPO Fegge Police Station, Onitsha. Garba is an epitome of professionalism and a perfect example that there is still hope in the Nigeria police force. Grounded in law and intellectually sound, he is a contented man who is out to restore sanity, ensure equity and justice in his assigned duties. He is worthy to be emulated among the DPOs in Anambra State Police Command.

LAST LINE

As we get closer to the 2015 election in the midst of terrorism in Nigeria and predictions that Nigeria will disintegrate, we should still remain optimistic and patriotic. God is a Nigerian and with His love for us and our own individual efforts, we can overcome. We should support and pray for our leaders. President Jonathan has good intentions for the country and we should join hands in Nation building. Gov. Obiano’s efforts in tackling security challenges and preventing the proliferation of gun culture in the state is also commended. His strides in Agriculture sector is also a step in the right direction.  The theme of this year’s Human Rights Day celebration still reminds us that we should be conscious of our rights daily, live it out, fight for it and uphold it as a lifestyle.  We should desist from making inflammatory comments and seek for common good at all times. God bless Anambra State, God bless Nigeria. ALUTA CONTINUA!

Thanks you.

Comrade Aloysius Attah

Chair, Anambra State Branch

  

 This text above was presented to www.odogwublog.com exclusively by the leadership of CLO