Theodore Orji: Need For Accountability By Igbo Political Leaders

BEN AHANONU

Recently, Nigeria’s Anti-graft Agency, EFCC arrested and grilled former Governor of Abia State, who is now Senator Theodore Orji and his son over alleged N500 billion Naira fraud.

The ex-governor, who reportedly had for long been on the Commission’s watch list, was intercepted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while  his son, Chinedu, the current Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, turned himself in upon learning of the arrest of his father.
Senator Orji, allegedly received N500 million Naira monthly security vote for eight years as Governor of Abia State between 2007 and 2015.
Other allegations against him include mismanagement of N2 billion Naira Ecological Fund and Sure-P funds.
The EFCC had in February 2020 interrogated Orji and his son over allegations that they diverted N521 billion Naira, following a petition dated March 17, 2017, filed by a group,  known as Fight Corruption: Save Nigeria.
The petitioners had accused Mr Orji of diverting N383 billion Naira revenue from the Federation Account, N55 billion Naira Excess Crude revenue, N2.3 billion Naira Sure-P revenue, N1.8 billion naira ecological funds, N10.5 billion Naira loan, N12 billion Naira Paris Club refund, N2 billion Naira agricultural loan, and N55 billion Naira ASOPADEC money while in office.
According to the petition, the N500 million the former governor allegedly withdrew monthly was not part of the security funds expended on the Nigerian Police, the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, DSS, Navy anti-Kidnapping Squad, now defunct Police Anti-Robbery Squad, purchase of security equipment and vehicles for the security agencies.
Inasmuch as, former Governor Orji and his sons have not been found guilty and remain innocent, the humongous amount of money in question is disturbing.

N521 billion Naira can fix all the roads in Abia State if properly managed.
N521 billion Naira can be used to transform Aba into a world-class commercial city with all modern facilities including access roads and reliable power supply, that will attract investors and other business activities given Aba’s proximity to Port Harcourt Sea and Airports and Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport.
Such development would have the domino effect of attracting the Federal Government to make Aba an Export Processing Zone.
What is wrong with Igbo leaders? Who so far have proven to be greedy, visionless, self-seeking, self-serving, wicked, incapable, petite, compromising, mundane and of inferior class.
We must not fail as a people and we are duty-bound to set good and enviable standards as the famed “wise ones from the east “
I have been an advocate of the abrogation of the so-called ‘security vote,” which is mainly anti-people, counter-productive and fraudulent as it is unaccounted for and one of the low points of Nigeria’s democracy.
Without doubt, if all the southeast governors past and present, had judiciously utilized the money accruing from the Federation Account alone by pouring it into real and sustainable development efforts, Southeast Nigeria, should by now have become the Dubai of West Africa, where job opportunities will abound amidst reinforced prosperity and there would have been no reason for youth restiveness in any form or agitations for secession.
A pointer, is the much Governor Dave Umahi, is diligently accomplishing in Ebonyi State while Governor Uzodimma of Imo State is showing flashes of qualitative and visionary leadership with his determined and altruistic brand of governance.
On several occasions, I have argued that it is wrong for Igbos to put all blames for the avoidable woes bedeviling the southeast on President Buhari, when we as a people have failed to hold our local political leaders accountable for the wasted trillions of naira that have accrued to the region over the years.
For the sake of future generations, there is need for change of attitude. The stealing of public funds for self-aggrandizement by political office holders and other forms of malfeasance should stop summarily.
When will Igbo political leaders start to think of the next generation?  If only their children and children’s children will be rich and famous, then they are laying the foundation for anarchy that will consume all.
Money is not everything in life and one thing wonderful about earthly existence is that even the so-called  rich also cry and irrespective of all earthly acquisitions and attainments, everyone is equal six feet under.
I rest my case.