Obiano Vs Obi: The Fight Gets Messier Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu That Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state is at dagger’s drawn with his predecessor, Peter Obi, is no longer news to many. What is however surprising to most people in the State civil Service is how Obiano’s wife, Ebele, who had shown so much hunger for power, determines who stays of leaves the service, or even gets a punitive posting, on account of association with Obi or his wife, Margaret. Permanent Secretary at the Lagos Liaison office of Anambra state, Mr. Benjamin Uzoka, also known as Avenger, has been recalled to Akwa, the state capital, and is yet to get another posting. His offence? He allegedly allowed a driver in the employ of the state and attached to the liaison office, to go on errand for Mrs. Obi. The Union investigation showed that Uzoka committed the “offence” on November 6th in Lagos while Mrs. Obiano was on her way to board an outbound flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA). Inquiries by The Union showed that Mrs. Obiano had landed at the domestic wing of the airport and was to connect the international wing for an outbound flight. Her destination was however not disclosed. She was said to have lost her temper when she eventually discovered that a second pilot vehicle, which out to follow behind in her convoy was missing. Upon inquiries, Mrs. Obiano was told by the driver taking her to the international airport, that the second pilot van driver had gone on an errand for Mrs. Obi. Infuriated at the mention of Mrs. Obi’s name, the Anambra first lady was said to have immediately placed a call to her husband and left serious warning. She allegedly told her husband that she wanted action on the development and also demanded to know why the pilot vehicle was made available to the erstwhile first lady. She was said to have also ordered her husband to make sure that whoever was responsible for the development was punished as she was not ready to tolerate any one sharing her office or contesting her powers as first lady. Indeed, The Union was told that security operatives attached to Mrs. Obiano as guards, had made a request for three jeeps to the permanent secretary at the Lagos Liaison office. They said the three jeeps where to convey the Anambra first lady from the domestic wing of the airport to the international wing. It was gathered however that the permanent secretary, in the bid to make the first lady feel royal, decided that two pilot vehicles should accompany the three jeeps so as to give the first lady some feeling of officialdom. Trouble however began when Mrs. Obiano discovered that her entitlement of two pilot vehicles would not be as only one led the way while the second, that ought to come behind, was not on the convoy. She went berserk. Her driver on the fateful day is named Okoh. According to The Union findings, Okoh is still facing the wrath of workers at the liaison office, who accuse him of not lying to Mrs. Obiano to cover the ‘sin’. A source at the Lagos Liaison office, speaking to The Union under strict anonymity, said that on the fateful day, “we went to the local airport to pick madam. We had four cars on the convoy –three jeeps and one pilot van. The pilot van drove in front and the others followed. On getting to the international wing, there was a police check there which caused some traffic snarl. We tried to manoeuvre the police check point and the pilot driver mistakenly hit the barricade. “This caused some altercation between the policemen and the pilot driver who was begging them. But the SSS and Policemen attached to madam came down and went and talked to the policemen. They explained some things to them which we did not hear because of the distance. The policemen agreed to let us go but insisted that we all drive back a bit and enter the lane properly. “It was when we were reserving back that madam looked back and noticed that the second pilot van was not following. She then asked the man driving her called Okoh. Okoh explained to her that the second pilot van went on errand for our former first lady, Mrs. Obi. We do not know what is between two of them but immediately she heard the name, she started quarrelling. She immediately picked her phone and called Oga. She said so many things on phone and she even said she will not take it that they have had their time and she won’t allow them interfere that it is now her turn”, the source explained to The Union. Our source quoted her as saying: I am now the First Lady, their own tenure has ended and they must allow us to function without any form of interference. Asked if the liaison office has been providing any services to Obi, or his wife, since he handed over; our source responded in the affirmative saying “since Obi handed over, we have been helping him and his wife. Even the permanent secretary knows that we have been doing that for them. So, we do not know why she took it so personal”. Our source also disclosed that “we always work with madam with one pilot”. Contacted, the driver of the second pilot van told The Union that he was not aware of what transpired that day at the international airport. He however explained that going on errands for Mrs. Obi or her husband was routine service the render to past governors of the state. He said: “There have been no problems until this incident”. He also absolved the permanent secretary of having any hands in what happened in Lagos that day disclosing that “I went on my own. We usually accompany her on errands and it has never been a problem”. Confirming the permanent secretary’s recall on account of the incident, Secretary to the Anambra State government, Oseloka Obaze, told The Union in response to an sms inquiry that it was just a routine administrative action. “The posting and redeployment of permanent secretaries is a routine administrative procedure based on exigencies of establishment and the prerogative of His Excellency the governor”, he said. Obaze also added a caveat on discussing any issues about Gov. Obiano’s administration saying: “Beyond this, I will not offer any further comments on the internal conduct of Anambra state”. As The Union gathered the Governor had, upon receiving his wife’s call, directed his SSG, Obaze, to redeploy the Permanent Secretary to Awka pending further disciplinary actions. Unwilling to incur the governor’s wrath, the SSG was said to have called on the Anambra State Head of Service, Sir Chidi Ezeoke, to give effect to the order. It was learnt that within hours, a letter redeploying the Lagos permanent secretary to Awka had reached him in Lagos. A source at the SSGs office said, the governor called repeatedly to be sure his order had been discharged”. Ezeoke refused to return inquiries made to him by The Union via sms. Further inquiries by The Union indicate that Obaze’s position is not unconnected with the position of the state government to handle everything concerning Obiano’s battle against Obi with utmost secrecy and punitive actions against those who identify with Obi. Indeed, The Union learnt that Obiano had placed a ban on state officials and appointees identifying with Obi and his wife either secretly or in the open. According to our inquiries, any violation of the order will be greeted with immediate sack. For now, those who love their jobs show loyalty to Obiano by ex-communicating Obi and his wife. Commenting on the issue, Obi’s aide, Valentine Obienyem said he was not aware. He however requested to be given time to investigate since, according to him, it was not likely that Obi aksed for the pilot van as “he does not move around with pilot vehicles since he left office and has never requested anything from the liaison office. When The Union called again, Obienyem confirmed the development but said it was another of Obis aide that requested the vehicle to run errands for Obis wife. He however expressed shock that anybody could be penalised for that. Responding to the situation however, James Eze who is speaks for Obiano, rather than address issues, went dirty against The Union pouring invectives and abusing the reporter. He reminded The Union that he is a creative writer and has the capacity to make fables look real wondering why The Union would go to lengths to inquire into the sour relationship between his boss and Obi. “Maybe our enemies are out with another fabrication”, he said asking “how can anyone come up with such falsehood?” “I don’t want to humour you or honour your outlandish story. You are trying to give it credibility by confirming if it happened. How childish could you be to say she drove in a convoy in Lagos? People should task their imaginations on something more creative. You want to give validation to this sort of story? This is a very incredulous fabrication. She has been out of the country for a long time. She was part of the pilgrimage to Israel and she stayed back when others returned. “If you still want to preserve the integrity of your paper, you have to drop that story because that is the product of a diseased mind. That is all I can say. Thank you”, he told The Union. However, The Union Obiano, had at a state Executive council meeting held on October 13, 2014, warned his exco against identifying with Obi in any form. I will not only sack anybody that visits Mr. Peter Obi, but I will also disgrace the person, he was quoted to have told them. It was further learnt that the governor has stopped recognising his predecessor at state functions where Obi is present. For instance, The Union gathered that such was the situation on September 20th during the Anniversary of Holy Family Youths Village Amansea and again on October 7 during a requiem mass for the late Emeritus Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Simon Okafor at St. Patrick Cathedral, Awka. Interestingly, neither Obi nor his wife seem bothered by the development as they rarely discuss it or even shows signs of frustrations with the situation. “He has moved on” said one of aides. Silence of the Obis, The Union learnt, further infuriates the Obianos. But it is a game of wits which Obi’s decampment from APGA seems to have fostered. Our source in Awka said Obi’s maturity has kept them going; but his silence and joining PDP were straws that broke the camel’s back. Obienyem declined comment on what his boss is undergoing in the hands of the government he installed against all odds. He told The Union that Obiano need not to be distracted as Obi has moved on and cannot be distracted by pettiness of any kind.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 07:00:16 +0000
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