The South East PDP Governors and the Federal Government Ministers from the Zone

By

Vincent Onyenowe Erondu

On September 20, 2002, the Daily Times Website reported on a recently concluded meeting of the South-East Governors. Governor Orji Kalu of Abia State announced the decision. The announcements gave insights into the Agenda of the meeting. From all indications the agenda of the meeting was empty, unfinished or only featured issues that have nothing to do with the interests and concerns of the zone. Governor Orji Kalu’s pronouncement certainly missed issues of vital importance to the states they govern in particular and the zone in general.

It is a wonderment that the Governors of the zone left out major issues and concerns of the zone, such as security, debt reduction, non payment of workers salaries, corruption, accountability and the political and administrative chaos that have befallen the zone since the ascendancy of these Governors. The meeting ignored discussions about the People Democratic Party (PDP) Federal Government discriminatory treatment of the zone even in allocation of non capital intensive facilities such as adequate policing, road construction and landing rights to other international carriers to patronize Port Harcourt airport pending the completion of Enugu international airport. Granting landing rights to other airlines to Port Harcourt will alleviate the air-traveling nightmare of Easterners and protect them from Air France Port Harcourt route monopoly and exploitation. Port Harcourt and Lagos are on the same costal plane. There is no justification for Air France- fare differential of more than $600.00 to Port Harcourt from the USA other than monopoly or Federal Government action to discourage air traffic to the East.

The Southeast is the only zone in the country with only one police command. President Obasanjo, on acknowledging that the country is under policed by international standards reorganized the Nigerian Police into 12 commands. It is the rationale that each of the six zones in the country gets two commands. But the Southeast was sub-charged and left with one command. The zone is far below the Nigerian policing standard, which is below acceptable international standards. The deliberate under policing of the zone gave rise to high crime rate, robbery, assassinations and other related criminal activities.

The prevailing crime rate and lawlessness, notably armed robbery and swindling made Aba Shoemakers Associations to establish the "Bakassi Boys," an untrained band of vigilante group. The group initially performed well. Later, men of the under world penetrated the organization and turned it into a source of worry, tool of oppression, summary execution and assassination of suspected robbers. The boys went beyond security issues, interfered with traffic control, debt collection and became a willing tool to settle political and old scores.

The "Bakassi Boys" abuses are blamable on the PDP led Federal government and the five PDP Governors of the zone. The former is a habitual neglector of the zone while the latter have not exhibited any initiative or resourcefulness in the management of the zone's affairs. Resourceful and innovative Governors or administrations committed to fighting crimes could have provided what it takes to transform Bakassi into law abiding and manageable security outfit. The Governors could have contracted the services of the abundant retired military and police officers to train the Bakassi Boys in basic security skill and ensure that they operate within the limits of the law. On graduation from their training the boys could be split into companies or units and placed under the supervision of the zone’s only police command. Their services could be commercialized to raise funds for their upkeep and salaries. This security and jobs creating opportunity eluded the zone because of the ineptitude of the Governors. Specifically Governors Kalu and Mbadinauju presided over the degeneration of the Bakassi Boys from security providers to insecurity perpetrators that has justified the dismantling of the organization.

It is unbelievable that not even the unresolved Umuahia debacle that claimed the lives, of innocent Ubakala youths, the elephant foot episode that stamped people to death at a prayer ground at Enugu, the assassination of Mr. Sunday Ugwu, the brutal assassination of the Onitsha lawyer and his wife and the attack on Kpaduwa, a gubernatorial aspirant in Imo state made a compelling case for security to be included in the Governors meeting agenda. The indirect allegation of the Governors involvement in the above cases should have been another compelling reason for them to table and discuss security matters. This may not only assist them to clear their names but also help them to demonstrate their sensitivity and ability to fight crimes as chief security officers of their respective states. Constituting commission of inquires, denials and the endless pendency of the cases in courts are not sufficient to assuage the feelings of the people and exonerate the Governors from allegations of complicity. The Governors forgot that the atrocities would hunt them in and out of office. The hideous crimes contravene Igbo norms, values and customs. The crimes cannot be waived away.

The Governors should have deliberated on the series of crises that rock their State Houses of Assembly. All fingers are pointing at them for instigating the crises to deprive the states the principles of check and balances, an essential ingredient in democratic rule. Some of the States House of Assembly function with a rubber stamp minority of State legislatures. How can a legislative assembly function without a quorum? Yet the rubber stamp minority state legislatures devoid of a quorum clear and confirm commissions for the Governors. The stooges also approve financial bills. Sometimes, they shamelessly expel majority of their colleagues who had been intimidated into exile. Don't the South Eastern Governors know that these anti-democratic practices make mockery of and expose the system to ridicule? Don't they realize that their brand of democracy bring shame and disrepute to the entire country and the Igbo nation in particular. One would have thought that finding ways to resolve the above problems should have featured in the said meeting agenda and its deliberations.

From the announced decisions it became clear that the Governors’ meeting had no people oriented matters. The meeting was solely convinced to discuss and strategize on their re-election and to discuss personalities, particularly their party's ministers from the southeast and the National Secretary of the yet to deliver PDP. It is unfortunate that the empty meeting or get together was held at the taxpayer’s time and expense. When shall accountability prevail in Nigeria and in the southeastern states in particular? When shall PDP call its elected and party officials to order? Not too long ago we read in a memo made public that the National Chairman of PDP requested all budget controlling elected officials of the party for N120m for a party retreat. PDP President Obasanjo in responding to his series of constitutional breaches indicated that he would appoint several liaison officials including one for the PDP. Is there no longer a difference between a political party and a Government? Why should PDP President and PDP Governors from the Southeast expect the taxpayer to defray their party and personal expenses? This explains the reasons for the extra budgetary spending at all levels of government. The Governors should for heavens sake reimburse the states for the cost of this meeting. Governor Kalu of Abia State should also reimburse Abia state for the time he took off for classes and for the security details that accompanied him to classes. Nigerians are fed up footing personal bills of elected officials and parties. Abia State has a part time Governor and should not pay for full time services. Abia State Governor is never at the State House. He is either in the classroom, Abuja, Lagos or northern Nigeria and sometimes snicks in and out of the United States of America. He cannot convince anyone that all these trips are associated with his official duties.

The Governors support for President Obasenjo in the impeachment threat is merely a bargaining chip for re-nomination should Obasanjo prevail. If real elections are held in Nigeria, the Governors will soon realize that gone are the days when a party or president dare impose candidates on the electorate. Second term for a political office holder is premised on verifiable performance. Their vote of no confidence on Chief Vincent Ogbulafor holds no water and does not interest any one. Ogbulafor is a party functionary. He is not in government. The neglect, marginalization and lack of Federal government presence in the southeast rest with the PDP Governors of the southeast and the federal ministers from the zone. President Obasanjo carefully appointed individuals, in fact political lightweights without guts to ask for any developments to represent the zone in his cabinet. The ministers see their duties as defending the President, waving statistics and making excuses for the President for neglect and hatred of the Southeast at every Igbo gathering. The appointments were simply in fulfillment of Federal character provisions of the constitution.

The Ministers and the Governors can grumble or blame each other all they want. The south-easterners have realized that they voted for a moribund and insensitive party in 1999. The party and its elected officials will be flushed out of power come 2003, as a repeat of 1999 mistake will be very costly for the zone to bear.

As for the southeast Obasanjo appointed ministers, you have no moral authority to ask anyone from the southeast to vote your party. No amount of statistics waving, and lengthy speeches or finger pointing at the Governors and local government chairmen for none performance will help the situation. People know what is expected of any level of government. The Federal government you represent has discriminated against us, giving us half of what they gave other zones and made us fight for what others got free.

The way out for the PDP Governors in the southeast would be to reconvene the meeting and discuss matters that affect the people of the zone, find solution to the indebtedness of their states, ensure the stoppage of senseless assassinations, ensure apprehension and prosecution of assassins and other criminals, resolve the southeastern State Houses of Assembly crises, fire commissioner cleared and confirmed by minority of legislatures who stayed put as other went into exile for safety.

The ministers on their part should convince the President to arm them with something tangible to show to the people. The completion, commissioning and functioning of Enugu international airport, restoration of the power generating plant to Alaoji in Aba, and a second police command for the zone are practical and attainable before the year runs out. As an interim measure to break the monopoly and the exploitation of Nigerians who travel to Port Harcourt international airport landing rights should be extended to KLM, the Royal Dutch Airline for Port Harcourt airport. The carrier and other airlines have indicated willingness to patronize the facility if landing rights are granted to them. The dualization of Asaba-Onitsha Owerri road should be in top gear to convince us that the award of the contract is not a vote catching gimmick. Election time contract awards and commencements are obsolete political strategy particularly in Nigeria where such projects are abandoned as soon as the voting polls are closed. Never shall we be fooled again.

Vincent Onyenowe Erondu is a Senatorial Aspirant.

Nov 2002