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PRESS RELEASE BY NGWA COMMUNITY OF WASHINGTON, DC METROPOLIS Our attention has been drawn to a clandestine meeting held in Washington D.C. by Governor Kalu of Abia State and some Ngwa elements residing outside Washington D.C. The self appointed representatives were led by one Mr. Vincent Uwa and the following claims and decisions are said to have been reached at the meeting. 1. We have been informed that those Ngwa elements in the USA claimed to have been delegated to initiate peace moves with the Governor. 2. That the 2003 elections in Nigeria are over with Governor Kalu, duly elected and that Kalu should forgive Ngwa people for opposing him. 3. They pleaded with the Governor not to be retributive rather to assist and rehabilitate the Okpuala Ngwa General Hospital and some roads in Ngwa land.
The Governor on his part, gesticulated and indicated as follows: 1. That he has no problem with Ngwa people. He narrated how his grand father lived at Umuoba and his parents at Aba. 2. That, he only has a problem with Mr. Enyinnaya Abaribe, his former deputy and President Obasanjo who he claimed incited the Ngwa to oppose him assuring them that he will not be nominated left alone being re-elected. 3. He added that it was in response to Obasanjo’s statement that he mobilized all military personnel stationed in the state with which he could have annihilated the Ngwa but choose not to do so. 4. That, he brought his
younger brother three days before the National Assembly election from
North Carolina, USA where he supervised his used clothes bailing warehouse
to represent Aba just to prove to the Ngwa that the votes at Aba do not
belong to the Ngwa. He claimed that he has contacted the World
Bank for renovation of the Okpuala Ngwa Hospital. He urged his visitors to carry their message of peace to those at home to reduce tension at Aba.
We the Ngwa Citizens resident in Washington Metropolis wish to dissociate ourselves from the said meeting. We do not have any problem with any one or group of people meeting with any official, elected or non-elected, but we resent in strongest terms their claim of representation. We have at no time delegated any person or persons to meet with Governor Kalu on behalf of Ngwa people. We have also taken the following step to ascertain the authenticity of the said representation.
We have contacted various Ngwa organizations and groups in the USA including Ngwa National Association of United States of America ( NNAUSA) and found that the individuals in question were not delegated by any Ngwa group or organization in the USA or in Nigeria. They are favor seeking individual’s clandestinely using Ngwa to lend credence to their selfish motives. T Ngwa delegation or representatives cannot visit Washington, DC without contacting the two Ngwa organizations (All Ngwa and Izu Cultural Organizations) in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. The only member of the Ngwa Community of the area in attendance claimed that he stumbled into the meeting.
We wish to remind the Governor that no elections were held in 2003 in Nigeria and the southeast in particular. Both national and international observers including 29 parties out of 30 parties have unequocably announced that the whole exercise was a charade and insult on democracy.
It was also to his advantage that he did not include annihilation of Ngwa in his secret deal with the Nigerian armed forces stationed in Abia State to intimidate citizens during the so-called elections for the consequences could have been unimaginable.
It is not disputable that Chief Enyinaya Abariba and his selfish and deceitful "Otu onu" campaign slogan worn the gubernatorial race in Abia State. The All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) of Abia State stole Ukwa-Ngwa slogan for the governorship race and sold it to highest bidders in the party particularly to non Ukwa-Ngwa indigenes there by selling out every political office in Ngwaland just for Abaribe to be governor. Ukwa-Ngwa awareness rallies were turned into ANPP rallies.
Orji kalu should realize that the gubernatorial race was a contest between All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and ANPP in Abia State. Senatorial contests were between National Democratic Party (NDP) and ANPP in Abia Central, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and (ANPP) Abia South and NDP-PDP Abia North. The contest for the Federal House of Representatives followed the same pattern.
It is a shame that the Governor should brag about announcing his brother Nnana Kalu the winner of an election he did not contest. Can the Governor mention anyone who has ever joined a race in three days and won the election. He could not tell his August visitors his brother’s special attributes, political experience or academic qualification that stood him out to be elected within three days of entering the race. Where was Advance for Democracy (AD) in Abia State? In what locations did his brother campaign for the election in Aba. What was his manifesto? Who in Nigerian Security Services screened and cleared his brother for the contest. The Governor did not mention the disturbances and demonstrations at Aba following the announcement of Nnana kalu as the winner of an election he did not contest. The demonstrators were not Ngwa indigenes alone. As far as this body is concerned, the commercial city of Aba-Ngwa is not represented in the Nigerian House of Representatives.
7. We also want to remind the governor that Nigeria practices multi party democracy. Races, nationalities or clan do not file candidates for elections in multiparty democracy. Political parties do. Ngwa is not a political party and could not have filed candidates. There were other Ngwa contestants for various offices from other parties apart from ANPP. President Obasanjo did not incite any Ngwa to oppose you. In 1999 some Ngwa indigenes competed with you for the PDP primaries and you employed thurgry, your stock in trade to snatch the nomination, the President was not in the scene then. This time around he did not visit Abia State left alone campaigning for any Ngwa candidate. You probably feel elevated by dragging his name into your mess or you are simply trying to impress your audience. He has his own national responsibilities and the problems associated with it.
8. It is regrettable that PDP chose to extend its 1999 mandate forcefully instead of conducting elections. What we have to day is civilian dictatorship enthroned by corrupt armed forces, the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The latter was already an agency of the PDP before the elections.
9. Those self-seeking messengers of peace have no one to talk to about peace with Kalu or convert to their mission. The Ngwa has no personal or collective problem with Governor Orji Kalu. If there is any tensions between Ngwa indigenes and non Ngwa indigenes resident in the City of Aba, it is precipitated by Governor Kalu’s divisive tendencies and unguarded utterances. It appears that Kalu rip’s political dividend from division and thrives in controversy. Whenever the Governor pleases he throws a monkey wrench into the relationship of the Ngwa and their guests in Aba. Last few years it was Ukwa-Ngwa verses old Bende. This time around, it is Ngwa indigenes verses Aba residents. The Governor, his apologists and Ngwa sycophants should realize that the Ngwa people and non-Ngwa residents of the City of Aba have always enjoyed cordial relationship. They do not need their intervention to continue or further their harmonious relationship.
10. Kalu and his visitors should know that the World Bank does no deal with internal administrative division of a country, but with counties and non-governmental organizations (NGO). The Governor’s claim of promises from the World Bank to Abia State Government for the rehabilitation of Okpuala Ngwa Hospital needs utmost verification for this man is fond of telling people what they want to hear. This was the case for his campaign for Nigerian President of Igbo extraction. A project he sabotaged twice. Vincent O. Erondu & Emmanuel Chigbu For and on behalf of Ngwa Community, Washington, DC Metropolis.
October 2003
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