NUJ award to Abia Speaker bought with stolen money, A.B.G alleges

A group under the auspices of Abia Renaissance Group has alleged that recent award given to Abia Speaker, Rt. Hon Chinedum Orji was bought with Abia stolen. 

The group, in a statement obtained by Mouthpiece NGR on Monday said NUJ sold an award to Rt. Hon Chinedum Orji who paid millions of Abia stolen to NUJ using stolen money which the same NUJ is aware.

According to the statement, “Last week we were treated to another abrakadabra scene by a faction of the Nigeria Union of Journalist(NUJ) led by Mr Isiguzo.”

“When we thought we have seen the worst under the current leadership of NUJ, they only took our fears to the next level.”

“We are aware that last year the news of the EFCC investigation of Abia from 2007 to 2015 broke out in  mainstream media like Thisday Newspaper, Vanguard Newspapers and Nation all reported this news which suggest that the media is aware how Chinedum Orji and family raped Abia dry which is still ongoing till date.”

“If the faction led by Mr Isiguzo has forgotten because of large brown envelop, let’s remind them that EFCC established that Chinedum Orji operated over 85 different accounts in 8 banks with a turnover of over N156b. (One hundred and fifty six billion Naira).”

“We are yet to reconcile how media friendly Chinedum Orji is if all the bloggers are either bought over to keep silence in face of the rape of Abia state or you are targeted and  beaten to submission with thugs.”

The group said it has not forgotten the Sun Newspaper reporter from Akwuete in 2013 that was forced into the booth of a car at Lagos and ferried to Umuahia for a kangaroo trial over his report in fraud and corruption going on in Abia.

“We are also aware that one Don Norman Obinna who was an Editor with New Telegraph and served his father as media adviser was put at Afara prison for opening up on the rot going on in Abia State, this made him spend over four months at Afara prison.”

“A media friendly speaker’s achievement is his ability to buy or cage with his loot all the press including bloggers in Abia to keep quite while Abia rots away.”

ARG said NUJ used to be the conscience of the nation but its not surprised as the Isiuguzo faction has lost the legitimacy to lead the fourth estate of the realm.

The group listed below as representation of the curriculum Vitae of Rt. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, the one it described as “The demi god” of Abia from 2007 till date.

“The functions of any House of Assembly is well spelt out and Abia State is not different. “

“We have also witnessed the House of Assembly under the past sections. ie. 5th and 6th.”

“Today, we have a House whose only aspiration is to be in competition with the executive in all spheres.”

“The oversight function outside law making which normally should act as checks on the executive is  gone to the wind as their focus is their own share of the loot.”

“Have you wondered why Abia board of internal revenue (BIR) has not been mentioned or summoned for poor performance nor the floor even in face of poor performance. (Settlement syndrome).”

“Today, it’s a statue symbol to own a house at Abuja even when they have not erected a block in Umuahia, this accounts for the under development of that city as they run outside the State to hide their loot with their immediate family.”

“Have you bothered why Aspoadec that receives average of 500m monthly being 13% derivations as oil producing State but cannot justify even 40m job execution for oil producing areas has not even been mentioned on the floor?”

“This agency has received over 50b since creation and has nothing to show to the people since creation.”

The group further alleged that the leadership of the House of Assembly are part of the Aspoadec as they are factored in the monthly sharing of funds meant for development of Abia.

“A House whose leadership is only focused on stealing and impoverishing Abians the more. Today all revenue generating agencies are making returns to the house of Assembly instead of the consolidated account of the State.”

“Have we ever heard that the House passed resolutions on these agencies or Parastatals that are being owed 28months arrears of salary for Arochukwu collage of 26 months for Abia poly.

The workers are Abians and deserve support from the “Sharing” house of assembly.”

“They are not interested since it is ” cover me and I cover you approach to governance. “

“A House that has not sat up-to 15% of the stipulated seating sessions in each parliamentary year. It is on record that Abia state House of Assembly as presently constituted has never discussed more than one agenda in any of their sitting days. A House whose only major agenda at each executive session is WELFARE of members.”

“A House that is yet to grasp the basic rudiments of parliamentary procedure almost 7yrs after.

A House that is only interested in extorting and blackmailing the executive at any point just to get their own part of the loot.”

“A House that is alleged to be collecting 210m monthly as overhead even now when they tell us that economy is bad as reason we are being paid half salary.”

“I call on Abians to bend down in prayers as we are doomed with this crop of leadership in the house that should be on the side of the  people but decided to align with the excutive to continue in  milking us dry.”

“Abia House of Assembly members has turned to an extension of local goverment workers since they only reconvene to collect those payment that are paid cash and return again when another payment date approaches.”

“The same speaker who is been alleged early last year to have fraudulently looted 156B by EFCC which went viral cannot be seen to be friend of the media unless there are things we don’t know.”

“A man whose stock in trade is buying loyalty of young Abians with the looted money cannot be receiving award from NUJ as this does not represent the true foundation of NUJ we have known for years.”

“A man who does not even know how much an air ticket cost since 1999 as Abia State has been carrying the cost with entire family and today is regarded as the modern god of Abia state will buttress how much Abia state has lost hence they can’t pay salaries.”

“We thought we have seen it all until schools were advised against going on excursion to the House as majority of the members cannot communicate in English language effectively.”

“This is not the best Abia can offer. God will help us from this current leadership both at the legislature and the executive,” the statement read.