Abia stinks, says billionaire, Arthur Eze • Shocks guests at 23rd anniversary of creation of state

Abia stinks, says billionaire, Arthur Eze

• Shocks guests at 23rd anniversary of creation of state

It was a bad day for Gov­ernor Theodore Amaefule Orji, as he assembled a battery of illustrious per­sonalities to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the cre­ation of Abia State in Umua­hia last Wednesday.

Rather than effusive prais­es, what came the way of the governor were a censure from no less a person than multi-billionaire, Chief Arthur Eze, who told the gathering dead pan that, “Abia State stinks.” Venue was the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia, the state capital, where the gov­ernor had gathered illustrious citizens of the state, some of whom were to be given awards to mark the 23rd anniversary. In the session of comments that preceded the awards ceremony, Chief Eze was recognised to speak, and what he said, sent cold chill running down the spines of majority of the peo­ple, particularly the governor. “Abia is stinking,” Eze, be­lieved to have the largest oil bloc in Africa, bellowed. The audience was stupefied in shock, but more was to come. “Right from the Abia Tower in Umuahia, the rot hits you.

Abia State is now the dirtiest in the country. Garbage every­where, along with bad roads. The people are really suffering, and you see it in their faces. Are there no elders in Abia again? If so, what are they do­ing? cant you see what is happening in Akwa Ibom State ?does the governor have two heads? What are the senators, the members of House of Repre­sentatives and other elected people doing? Nothing.” Then, pointedly, Chief Eze told the governor: “If you do not know what to do again, please write to Presi­dent Goodluck Jonathan, and let him come to your aid. Abia State needs help.” Having given the gather­ing a piece of his mind, Eze dropped the microphone on the floor, and walked out. It was a dazed Governor Orji who jerked himself out of stupor, and tried to rationalise what Arthur Eze had said. He told the crowd that the man was referring to the collapsed Port Harcourt / Aba Express­way, which is a federal road. But the explanation sounded hollow to the governor him­self, and after some time, he left the venue of the ceremo­ny, without taking questions from journalists, as such oc­casion would have demanded. Speaking on the incident, an associate of Chief Eze, told firstclassnewsline that the state of Abia State was really dispirit­ing, with decay and despon­dency everywhere. “I am sure most of the dignitaries qui­etly agreed with Chief Eze, only that they could not do so openly. One must commend Chief Eze’s courage for being bold enough to speak out. Not many people can do so today. In Abia State today, there is the son of one of the elected of­ficials, called The Wind, who is like a terror. He silences all opposition and deals ruthlessly with anyone in opposition to the government. So, not many people can speak out. But we must commend Chief Eze for his boldness and conviction.”