T.A Orji’s govt is a disaster

Barrister Ukpai Ukairo, governorship candidate of National Conscience Party (NCP) in Abia State in 2003, is one man who thinks differently from majority of Abia people about the achievements of Governor Theodore Orji. In this interview with KlinReports, Orji x-rays some of the policies and projects of Orji’s administration. Excerpts:

Recently, you published a pamphlet entitled, “100 days of Governor T.A. Orji so far, so rudderless”. The pamphlet is opposed to what a majority of Abia People think about Orji’s government. How did you arrive at this conclusion?

Well, let me quickly respond by saying that the bane of governance in Nigeria, especially, in Abia state is sycophancy. I wouldn’t know the majority of Abia people you are talking about. But if are you referring to the majority of the gullible and sycophantic Abians, then you have missed the link. But if you are referring to the few critical Abians who have stood the test of time, and who also have critically observed that Orji’s style is not different from that of his predecessor, you are right on target. As regards how I arrived at this conclusion, if you critically observe and analyze Orji’s style with that of his predecessor (Orji Kalu), it won’t take you long to arrive at the same conclusion.

But majority of Abia people are of the view that it is too early to judge Governor Orji?

When in 1999 Ii stated that the administration of ex-Governor Orji Kalu had, even in its infancy of about 100 days or above, demonstrated negative tendencies that were incompatible with good governance, people thought I was joking. But later I was vindicated because it was observed that what we had was an unmitigated disaster in our hands.

I regret, very deeply, that my prediction on Orji Kalu came true. Today, Enyimba city is still like we were in 1999. Indeed, it is now worse because for the first time since 1978 the East End Road, Aba is still blocked as a result of disrepairs.

I decided to recall the place of Orji Kalu in order to act as a guide for T.A. Orji. The air waves have made us deaf with unceasing praises and accolades for Orji. The din generated is even higher than it was at similar time for Orji Uzor Kalu. But I am forced again to issue an interventionist statement “so far, so rudderless.”

One of the policies of Governor T.A. Orji you criticized as disrespect for due process, rule of law and constitutionalism is the mass promotion of civil servants. On the contrary, people believe that it is a people-oriented policy?

The policy was a populist policy designed to divert attention from his flawed mandate. But any policy that has no legal foundation is antithetical to democratic practice. The destruction of the civil service culture started with the militaristic interjections of the Murtala – Obasanjo regime. But that era might be pardonable being a military government. Nothing in the Civil Service Rules permits a mass promotion of civil servants. If T.A. Orji was and is interested in the welfare of civil servants, as he claimed, his duty should be to pay off the huge arrears of benefits, which Orji Uzor Kalu did not pay, but falsely continued to claim he had paid.

Of course, from my investigations, it is established that the mass-promotion policy has not been implemented. It is now said that the promotion will only reflect in salaries and not in grades. The reversal of this policy is an indication of government of deceit that performs before planning.

Again, another flagrant demonstration of disrespect for rule of law by his government is the pulling down of structures, such as the hotel, which is subject of a court action. The wickedness of that demolition will forever remain a sour point in the annals of history.

There was an announcement in the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA) that no child would be admitted in school (whether private or public) unless such child produces evidence of payment of tax (as and when due) of his parents. I think that such announcement was to promote payment of tax among the people of the state, but you said it is not. What are your grounds?

If not for the prime position of education in development of society I wouldn’t have commented on this. I want to state that such policy, apart from being a breach of law, is archaic and immoral. In short, it is a throw-back to a dark era. The Child Rights Act, Laws of the Federation, 2003, section 7 (1) provides that every child has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. By virtue of section 18 of the 1999 constitution, the government has a duty to eradicate illiteracy, but Governor T.A. Orji through his obnoxious policies wants to promote illiteracy.