More facts have emerged on how Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji was disgraced and booed in the commercial city of Aba during the burial of the pioneer Catholic Bishop of the Aba Diocese, Most Rev Vincent Valentine Ezeonyia last Friday.
■Orji Kalu’s phone number cloned for fake apology
Incensed by the utter neglect of the city by the governor since he took over the reins of power in the state in 2007, the citizens who numbered in their thousands literally poured their pent up frustrations and venom on him. But for the security cordon thrown around him, Abia State and indeed Nigeria would have witnessed an unprecedented ugly spectacle. Part of the grouses of the mob that surged towards him immediately he entered the cathedral of the Christ the King Church, where the holy high mass for the burial of the Bishop was being held, was his effrontery in coming to the city after neglecting it since he assumed power in 2007, and for his legendary woeful performance in office.
Not even pleas and entreaties from the clergymen could pacify the enraged crowd.
Amidst the confusion and cacophony of noises there, were clear chants of disenchantments and derision.
Some of the chants, which soared above all others were: ‘Betrayer’, ‘Judas Iscariot.’ ‘Despite all that Orji Kalu did for you, you betrayed him and ended with very poor performance in office for eight years’, ‘Go back home’, ‘We don’t need you here’.
Efforts by officials of the church to manage the situation by appealing for restraint, and deploying religious sentiments for effect largely failed, as such entreaties angered the people the more and temporarily held up the event for tempers to calm down.
Government officials who tried to put up a bold face to ride the storm by attempting to set up the state box for the governor to make his speech met a stiff resistance from the hostile crowd as they hurriedly retreated with the box.
Taking a cue from the prevailing situation, and afraid that the ceremony could be disrupted on account of the disdain for Governor Orji, the officials refrained from mentioning his name again. But this antic did not sufficiently assuage the people.
Deafening murmurs and noises could be heard in the congregation, suggesting a seething trouble. And it did not take long for it to explode. The stout opposition to stop Orji from speaking at the event was just a rehearsal.
His real ordeal began shortly after as the late Bishop was interred, and he made his way to his car to leave. The huge crowd of worshippers surged towards the governor, booing him uncontrollably and calling him derisive names, including: ‘bad man’, ‘betrayer’, ‘non-performer’, ‘wicked man’.
The Abia governor was shielded by security men who shoved him into the car. He was sandwiched by two security men in the car, as the convoy tried to make its way out. As the convoy, which was complete with an Armoured Personnel Carrier, entered the main road towards Asa Road, the restive crowd followed, chanting in the proverbial manner of a lawbreaker who had been caught and was being taken to the king or shrine for judgment and punishment.
The huge crowd was joined by more people who trooped out from adjoining streets and bedlam took over. Orji was to be subjected to the biggest humiliation of his stay in office when they began pelting him with water sachets.
Aba erupted in silted joy after the drama as many residents thronged the streets to hail and congratulate one another for what they called their “patriotic and heroic acts”. Some of the people who spoke to Sunday Sun said they were happy and somehow relieved that the people told the governor in clear and unmistaken terms that they were tired of his lethargic and uninspiring performance in office.
They said, “After neglecting the city completely, he had the audacity to come here, thinking that his security and the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) would save him. Orji Uzor Kalu’s legacies especially on road construction in the city have been rubbished. He abandoned the city totally. We are waiting for April 11 to pay him back.”
Another angry resident berated him thus: “Some people have no shame. You betrayed your predecessor who did his best for you and for the state, and you also betrayed the people.”
The drama of sorts has been the subject of discussion in homes, markets, churches and relaxation centers.
Meanwhile, unscrupulous persons have cloned the telephone number of former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, using it to send fake apology to the state governor over the humiliation he suffered in the hands of the people of Aba during the burial of Most Rev Ezeanya.
Kalu, who has been in London in the last one week, spoke yesterday, denying the fake apology. The former governor said he had not spoken to T. A. Orji in the last five years. Sources said the cloning was possibly done by the governor and one of his infamous sons.
“I have not spoken with T A Orji in five years. He should face his troubles and carry his cross alone without involving me,” Kalu said.
The former governor wondered why he had to be linked with the humiliation of the governor in Aba, and why he had to offer an apology over what he knew nothing about. He further repudiated the fake text message now circulating in the state.
The purported text message of apology, which was sent from Orji Kalu’s cloned phone number reads thus: “I want to urge my numerous supporters and PDP members across Abia and Nigeria to discountenance any report in SUN insulting the Governor of Abia State. I have investigated and can confirm that the management of SUN was misled by somebody who felt I was still aggrieved with TA Orji. While I will make sure that the culprits are penalized, I want to apologise to His Excellency, Chief T.A. Orji.
Orji Uzor Kalu (MON).”
A text message from a group called OUK Youths on the incident, to the people of Abia reads: “OCHENDO should face his woes & leave OUK alone. Pls disregard the malicious SMS circulating that OUK apologized to T.A. over his boo in Aba. Nke onye metere ya buru! (Whatever sin a man commits, he should face the consequences).
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