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Perspective – Emeruwa: When a Speaker is Living in Bondage

Published

2 years ago

June 14, 2024

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No doubt, the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, is under executive bondage that he cannot extricate himself from, hence, his recourse to ridiculing himself and office with puerile excuses for not inaugurating his brother and friend, Hon Aaron Uzodike, to represent the good people of Aba North State Constituency having been declared the winner of the last House of Assembly election in the constituency.

I have spoken to many of our mutual friends on this issue and they all say the same thing: “his hands are tied by the Governor.”Unfortunately, Emeruwa cannot expect sympathy from me because he knows that if I was in the same position as him, I would rise to do the right thing even if it would cost me the Speakership. I wept for Emeruwa when i first saw this video.Listen carefully and hear the speaker of Abia State House of Assembly and, by the grace of God, the chief lawmaker of our dear state, making excuses that a Year One Law student or even a legal illiterate like me will never make because it sounds wild and atrociously ridiculous.

He said the judgement of the Appeal Court that declared Uzodike as the rightful winner of the Aba North State constituency election did not ask him to inaugurate Aaron Uzodike, hence, he won’t perform that duty that the law expects him to perform by virtue of the public office he occupies.Mr Speaker, I feel very bad educating you on this issue because your statement ridicules our state as a place where square pegs are forced into round holes.

But my hands are tied by my conscience to still help you understand even though deep down I believe you already know these facts.1. The major document required to inaugurate a member of the house of assembly is the Certificate of Return from INEC. Not even CTC of a court order.2. Once the court directed INEC to issue the certificate of return to Aaron Uzodike, the job of the court was done. The reason is that INEC is the chief electoral body in the country and they were joined in the suit. The Office of the Speaker was not joined and, hence, the court had no business issuing direct order to that office.

The day you were accepted as member of Abia Stste House of Assembly, it was the same certificate of return from INEC that made the clerk of the house to accept you.3. As a public officer, there are certain duties you are ordinarily expected to perform hence you do not require any express court order to perform those duties. One of those duties is to inaugurate whoever INEC issues a certificate of return to as member of the house and your failure to execute that duty amounts to gross misconduct and you should have been impeached long ago if the PDP members of that house understood their role and have the expected courage to do it. What you said in this video amounts to police saying that they are waiting for a court order to specifically investigate or prevent crimes, which is part of their ordinary duties assigned by law.4.

The “Federal High Court of Appeal Abuja” judgement you mentioned in this video does not exist anywhere in the world and you lied, sir. You merely exposed your shallow understanding of the law even while “making laws” for the rest of us in Abia State.5.

For the information of those who may not know, Aaron Uzodike approached the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court on the 27th of February 2024 (more than 2 months after he was supposed to have been inaugurated as member representing Aba North) to sanction Speaker Emeruwa for contempt of court arising from his refusal to honor the judgement of the Appeal Court. The Presiding Judge advised that a contempt proceeding cannot be successfully sustained against the Speaker because the original court ruling did not specifically direct him on that since he was not a party to the election petition. Aaron was therefore advised to withdraw the contempt charge and his lawyer did that.

The “Federal High Court of Appeal” NEVER SAID SPEAKER EMERUWA CANNOT OR SHOULD NOT INAUGURATE AARON UZODIKE.

There is currently no legal impediment to the inauguration of Aaron Uzodike, hence, no need for any political settlement, as further stated by Speaker Emeruwa in that interview. 7. Mr Speaker previously cited an ex-parte order from Ukwa Division of Abia State High Court as reason for delaying the inauguration of Aaron Uzodike until we reminded him that such orders, if at all in existence, have a legal lifespan of maximum 7-14 days and, hence, must have expired.

Ultimately, we published the ruling by that same court on the 19th day of March 2024 dismissing the suit filed by Destiny Nwagwu. Yet, Mr Speaker refused, neglected and failed to perform his duty under the law.Mr Speaker, I hope you won’t feel bad with the next action I will personally take within the scope of the law to ensure that the rule of law is respected in Abia State for your sake, my sake, that of our children and children’s children? It will not be because I dislike or hate you, I surely don’t, but simply because I have to help untie your hands from the puppet master that is holding you hostage and in bondage. We have just celebrated Democracy Day because some people stood up to dictators and Emperors to demand that rule of law be respected. It is now our turn to do same in our state and I won’t shy away from doing it since you have repeatedly failed to untie your own hands or escape from the bondage of your bond masters.

While you and your colleagues are enjoying the ongoing multi-million naira retreat in Uyo and we wait to read how many billions of Abia money will be retired as “capacity building and training” in Quarter 2 of the 2024 financial report, my friends in Uyo have been mocking me regarding what is going on in that hotel but that’s not my business. Just like the allegation you made that Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, IVM (Innoson motors) collected hundreds of millions of naira from Abia State Government for official cars for House members and are yet to supply.

Though I wish you had asked those who paid Innoson exactly what the deal was before you erroneously expose someone higher than you. But ya diwa, not my business!!Accept my greetings from the wilderness of Abia State but you must inaugurate Aaron Uzodike or resign as Speaker to enable someone who understands the job and has the courage to do it emerge and do the needful.

By Chief John Okiyi Kalu

News

OMPAN presents Patron award plaque to Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu

Published

5 days ago

January 24, 2026

csunews

By Editor, Umuahia

Members of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN), Abia State Chapter, on Friday handed over an award plaque to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu as a patron of the association.

The award according to the state chairman, Chief Promise Uzoma Okoro is in recognition of his unmatched support for the association over the years.

Presenting the plaque to him at his country home in Bende, the Abia State Chairman of OMPAN, said the Deputy Speaker was selected alongside ten other eminent Abia indigenes for their assistance to unveiled as patrons of the association due to their consistent contributions to the growth and progress of the union.

Chief Okoro recalled that the Deputy Speaker was formally unveiled as a Patron during the association’s 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on December 12, 2025, but was unavoidably absent at the event.

“You will recall that during our 3rd Annual General Meeting on December 12, 2025, we unveiled our Patrons, and the Deputy Speaker was among them, unfortunately, he was not available to attend the event, and that is why we are here today to formally present the plaque,” he said.

He further appreciated the Deputy Speaker for his instrumental role in ensuring that OMPAN Abia State now has a physical office, describing the gesture as a landmark achievement for the association.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of OMPAN, Mazi Ugochukwu Nwankwo, said that if there was a higher honour than the Patron award, the association would have gladly bestowed it on the Deputy Speaker, whom he described as the strongest supporter of OMPAN.

Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu expressed gratitude to the association for finding him worthy of the honour.

He advised members to expand their blogging focus beyond politics to include economic development, humanity, and other sectors that positively impact society.

The Deputy Speaker commended OMPAN for recognizing the future of media by coming together under a unified online platform and assured the association of his continued support.

He also urged members to remain professional and non-partisan, cautioning them against allowing themselves to be used as tools to attack or undermine individuals or institutions.

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My Successor in 2031 will be better than me”— Governor Otti

Published

2 weeks ago

January 18, 2026

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Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

eAbia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has said that, his successor in 2031 will be better than himself, adding he was laying a solid foundation for the development of the state.

Governor Otti stated this during the grande reception service organised in his honour by the Assemblies of God Church, Okaiuga – Nkwoegwu, Umuahia North LGA.

The governor said that he was just starting, and the time for the aggressive development of Abia State was then, adding that the curse that had held the State down has been broken.

“We have just started. We are not three years yet. So, you can imagine what will happen by the time we are done in 2031.

“So, you know there is a time and a season for everything. So, what we have started is the time for the aggressive development of Abia State.

“The news I have for Abia people is that we have broken that curse that held us down and whoever is going to succeed me will be better than me.

” So, when people think we are going to go back to them, they must be dreaming, we’ve moved,” Gov. Otti said.

Governor Otti said that, he believed in Psalms chapter 62 verse 11, which declared that, “God has spoken once, twice, have I heard this? That power belongs to God.

“So, you can do everything you want to do but, if it wasn’t God’s time, it will not work and when it’s God’s time, even if you are sleeping, God will wake you up,” he said.

.On their request for provision of a bus for evangelism and land for prayer camp, governor Otti confirmed to them that they would receive a hummer bus this week, courtesy of Prince, Dr. Arthur Eze, one of their guests.

He also directed the Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D, to meet with the Church leadership and work out modalities for securing a land for them as requested.

The State Chief Executive, who appreciated Churches in the State for the support given to his administration, thanked Assemblies of God Church for the reception organised for him.

Earlier in his speech, the District Superintendent, Assemblies of God Church, Jerusalem District, Rev. Dr Kenneth Ogbudu described the reception ceremony as a significant moment of history, and appreciation.

He said that Dr Alex Otti is a transformational leader, whose emergence has redefined governance in Abia State. He noted that, many administrations have come and gone but Governor Otti’s tenure represents a clear and commendable departure from the past.

“For the first time in our State’s history, governance is driven by competence, transparency, accountability, visible impact, and more promises and verifiable results.

“Under your (Gov. Otti’s) leadership, Abia State has witnessed a bold and deliberate restoration of public infrastructure – roads abandoned for decades have been reconstructed and reopened, “Connecting communities, easing transportation, stimulating commerce, and restoring the dignity of both urban and rural environments” Rev. Ogbudu said.

Rev. Ogbudu went further to note that the renewal of critical road networks across Aba and beyond by Governor Otti has revived economic activities and repositioned Abia State as a credible destination for investment.

He also said that beyond infrastructure, the administration has introduced “a new culture of fiscal discipline and prudent resource management.

“”Salaries and pensions are now paid with regularity and respect, restoring hope and dignity to the workers and retirees who were once forgotten. “For the first time since the creation of Abia State, public funds are being managed with transparency, accountability and confidence.

“Your excellency has also demonstrated uncommon courage in institutional reforms, cleaning up public systems, strengthening governance structures, and insisting that public office must serve the people rather than personal interests,” Rev. Ogbudu maintained.

The servant of God used the opportunity to request the Governor to provide them with a Hummer bus to support evangelism and the allocation of land for a prayer village for the Church.

The wife of the Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, the member representing Ikwuano/ Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly and other members, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba Ph.D, Commissioner for Transport Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants to the Governor, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Sir Chris Onwuegbu among others were present at the reception service.

News

Obsequies: Tributes pour in as Don Lulu lays late mother to rest

Published

3 weeks ago

January 10, 2026

csunews

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Tributes poured in on Saturday 10th January, 2026 as the family of Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, popularly known as Don Lulu, laid his beloved mother, Late Dame Peace Igbokwe, to rest.

The burial of the matriarch who kicked the bucket on October 24, 2025, at the age of 60 attracted the high and mighty of Abia politics, captains of industry, entertainers and friends and well wishers.

The funeral service was held at Wesley Cathedral Church, Umuwaya Road, Umuahia, where the Conference Secretary of the Methodist Church, Umuahia Archdiocese, His Grace, Dr. Babatunde Taiwo, delivered an uplifting homily.

In his sermon titled “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled,” bishop Taiwo extolled the exceptional virtues of the late Dame Peace Igbokwe, describing her as a woman of substance, courage, and valor.

He consoled the bereaved family, urging them not to be overwhelmed by grief but to find peace in the assurance that their mother was in a better place.

The cleric emphasized the fragility of the human heart, warning against excessive worries and stress, which he said could lead to heart-related illnesses.

He encouraged individuals to make their health a priority, saying that proper care of the body could lead to long life.

“This body can take us to 95 years and beyond if we do not burden it with unnecessary cares, worries, and problems,” Bishop Taiwo cautioned.

He also encouraged Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, the first son of the deceased, to remain strong and ready to assume leadership responsibilities following the vacuum created by his mother’s passing.

In his remarks, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, sympathized with Mayor Igbokwe over the sudden loss of his mother at a time when she should have been enjoying the fruits of her labour.

The Governor noted that despite her relatively short stay on earth, Dame Peace lived a fulfilled life and raised children who have become outstanding men and women.“It is not the years in our life but the life in our years.

If you read her biography carefully, you will understand that she lived ahead of her time and left behind enduring legacies,” the Governor stated.

Governor Otti commended the Methodist Church for the orderly conduct of the funeral service and appreciated the people of Ohuhu for their massive turnout to bid the deceased farewell.

He concluded by praying that such a tragedy would not befall the Igbokwe family again.

In his tribute, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe described his late mother as a strong-willed and resilient woman who, despite losing her husband early in life, worked tirelessly to raise her children and instill strong moral values in them. He prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul.

The funeral ceremony attracted a distinguished gathering, including top government officials like the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, the Member Representing Ikwuano Umuahia Federal Constituency Hon. Obi Aguocha, Former Minister Dr Uche Ogah, Senator Darlington Nwokocha among others.