Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba has described as worrisome, the continued insults from the aides of Governor Alex Otti towards former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
The Isiala-Ngwa-born political stalwart called on the Abia Governor to call his aides to order over the continued insult on Ikpeazu, describing it as unwarranted, unprovoked and undeserving.
The Elder Stateman said this in an open letter to the Otti titled” RE: Need to Uphold the Sanctity of Abia State Order of Precedence: Dr Okezie Ikpeazu on my mind”
He said that he is constrained to write Otti the open letter at this critical moment in Abia’s political trajectory because a few moments ago, they met in the political trenches, working for and against each other, but with the overall interest of our dear state in mind.
Ufomba who said that his letter is very important as he wants to use “one stone” (the letter) to kill so many birds (problems) said he directed the letter to Otti out of courtesy and as a foremost banker, averse to risks and knowledgeable in the negative consequences of both contingent and vicarious liabilities, and how the unfolding scenarios might impact on his administration.
Going further, Ufomba explained the many birds he intends to kill with one stone as follows: abuse of office; abuse of protocols; abuse of due process; abuse of the rule of law; abuse of persons and erosion of attributes.
He gave the name of the seventh bird which he said is the most important as social media, which he said has become a market square where Abia young men and women buy and sell, gather for information, entertainment and inspiration, consuming whatever is sold hook, line, and sinker, and believing same to be true, coming from supposedly high moral grounds.
Ufomba said that regrettably, some of the items and pieces of “(mis)information and ill-trainings and acculturations” the young Abia people assimilate from those who should know better are poisonous and retrogressive.
According to him, “It is for these reasons that I am using this medium to also purge us of those negative vices and influences at the exact scene of crime. In the words of our elders “sacrificial rituals are best performed at the scene of abomination”.
“I, therefore, most candidly seek your kind understanding and indulgences for using the social media platform to address these matters of urgent public importance.
“We had had cause in the past to discuss the fortunes of our dear God’s own state. Frankly, I was convinced that one area in which you will do well as Governor is in the area of Corporate governance and financial engineering, all things being equal.
“This is judging by your background as a foremost banker. I do not share in the rumour mill that you are autocratic and dictatorial. We are all sinners in this autocratic sin to the extent that every good leader must have his pepperish side and a mind of his own.
“Having a mind of our own is the only way we can point the torch, show the way, and remain on top of all issues. I am thankful to God that the election has come and gone, without the loss of precious lives, even as the outcome is being challenged at the Election Petition Tribunal. I wish the winner the best.”
Ufomba said that the best position can only be attained through the sustenance of existing peace in Abia through meticulous, through innovations, and through ingenious reasoning and acts that lead to the transformation of our state under the rule of law and due process.
He warned that the best position cannot be attained in breaches, or outside of an existing State Order of Precedences established under the 1999 Constitution either.
“As I often say, the government is all about protocols and protocols are about good governance. This is at the core of this letter. To demonstrate how important this issue is to me.
“I wrote and delivered a ninety-six-page policy document for the previous administration that bothers on protocols and service optimizations. How much it was put to use is a different matter.”
Ufomba lamented and said that he is distressed and confounded to observe that the very moral fabric he talked about in his book is being eroded by Otti’s Aides.
“Ordinarily, excellent corporate governance should constitute a quartet of the finest attributes and legacies your government should bequeath on our citizens.
“It’s constant erosion and desecration of the very seat and office your predecessor occupied tantamounts to the inadvertent desecration of your own office and the frittering away of some goodwill.
“The festering malignant abuse of the constituents of the state order of precedence, as encapsulated, should not be allowed to metastasize. In specific terms, the unwarranted, unprovoked, and undeserving media attacks on your predecessor, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, by your Aides of no-cabinet status are nauseating and very unbecoming.
“The holy bible enjoins us to do unto others as you would want others to do unto you. These unconscionable attacks are largely unsolicited, pedestrian, irritating, disgusting, unnecessary, despicable, and combustible, and do not represent your ideals.
“They also do not represent who we are as a people. Instead, they impact negatively on the very high moral grounds, the finest tenets of our democracy, and the very foundation upon which your government is built. These cannot remain the hallmark of your administration and legacies for our children.”
Ufomba reiterated his call and begged Otti to call his aides to order, and immediately too, adding that under no condition shall Abia be seen to be aiding and abetting insubordination and/or dialling up her negatives further.
He said that he did not write the letter to defend Ikpeazu, but that he did so as a believer in due process and the rule of law, stressing that if and where there are infractions that require Otti’s actions, he should ask his aides to follow the law.
“If the government of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu was as useless and worthless as your aides want the world to believe, please follow the law in bringing the government to account. If you want to probe him, please do so by following the law.
“If you want to crucify him, please follow the law. This ridiculing and pervasive media trials should stop. Tied to the stakes for execution, Col Buka Sukar Dimka requested only one thing: that the junior officer positioned to shoot him to death must first salute him.
“His reasons are that it is customary for junior officers to salute their superiors on all matters and in all circumstances. Politics is not a rankless business.
“I am a believer in the law of retributive justice, including the right of governments to bring offenders to justice. In a popular movie called ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly’ we were taught to shoot when we have to shoot and don’t talk. Shooting when you should is your inalienable right as a Governor and as a government.”
Ufomba said that the majority of Abia people do not feel entertained by actions he described as sensationalism, theatrical acts and media trials.
“Believe me, some of us are beginning to feel sympathetic, disillusioned, and that, indeed, nothing has really changed, May God continue to guide, protect and enable you,” Ufomba said.
