By NewsCritic Reporters
Chairman of Daman Group of companies and Abia born Indigenous Contractor, Sir Ako Obioma has advanced reasons why the former speaker of Abia State house of assembly, Engr Chinedum Orji, is bent on tarnishing his image and that of his companies using a section of the media.
According to Sir Ako Obioma in a briefing with a select group of journalists in Umuahia, the son of the former governor of Abia State, Chinedum Orji has authorised several libellous and defamatory articles against his person in a bid to intimidate him (Ako Obioma), and deprive him the opportunity of contributing his quota to the upliftment of Abia, the God’s Own State.
He explained that his respect for senator T.A Orji has prevented him all these while from engaging Chinedum Orji in a bitter war over the attempt to assassinate his character, adding that he has demanded that all the libellous reports against Sir Ako Obioma should be taken down with apologies tendered to avoid litigation, which he said has not been complied with as demanded.
Sir Ako Obioma said it’s now pertinent to bring to the fore some of his perceived offences against the Orji’s family for the public to scrutinise, and to also consider legal action for the libellous and defamatory articles targeted against his person and business interests. The reasons for the attacks unleashed on him by the Orji’s family are-
1. That sir Ako Obioma was a major stakeholder of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State who stood completely against the influence of Chinedum Orji during his father’s tenure as Governor.
2. That Ako Obioma also stood strongly on the side of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu against handing over power to Chinedum Orji as Governor of Abia State. Let’s set aside all the Hullabaloo that happened in Abia, this was the major reason why the family stood against Dr Okezie’s anointed candidate, Prof Uche Ikonne before his death and other aftermath.
3. I opposed Dr Okezie Ikpeazu compensating Chinedum Orji with the PDP house of representative ticket because in our federal constituency, we maintained a sharing formula and it is the turn of OHUHU Clan to produce the candidate.
Hon Obi Aguocha resigned as President General Ohuhu Welfare Union to contest the House of Representatives ticket of the PDP, but Dr Okezie Ikpeazu thinking it will make the Orji’s not to support his anointed candidate, conceded the primary to Chinedum Orji. At this point, the spirit of PDP died in Sir Ako Obioma and other lovers of equity.
4.The Orji’s are very bitter over my role in exposing the Abia State Government House scam, which I advised Gov Alex Otti to investigate and tell Abians those who have been receiving the said rent on our Government House property (the public still awaits this).
5. The Orji’s are very uncomfortable with Dr Ako Obioma’s doggedness to be paid the over four billion (N4b) naira owed his companies during Sen T. A Orji’s tenure.
He said “The records are there that our companies built all the infrastructure in the Army barracks, Ohafia; the Helipad at Army Linguistic School, Isikwuato and Amaoba Road in Ikwuano etc through Abia State awarded Contracts by Sen T. A Orji and the world witnessed President Goodluck Jonathan Commission these army Projects in January 2011, Certificates were raised and even the then Commissioner for works Hon C.O Enweremadu defended these certificates before Federal Ministry of Works for federal government refund.
“Chinedum Orji should tell the public where those certificates are, if federal government under President Jonathan refunded the money or not and why that main certificate and money were not given nor paid to our companies for jobs well executed.
Sir Ako Obioma said “he is thankful to the judges and arbitrators who superintended over these matters from 2016 to October 2022, when the judgement and award was given in favor of our Companies which mandated Abia State government to pay us these debt (see attached court/arbitration award).
Meanwhile, “we are still awaiting Dr Alex Otti and his government to respect the sanctity of the judiciary and do justice to the arbitration award by paying our companies as stipulated by the Panel.
On the allegation of executing crooked and bloated contracts, Sir Ako Obioma has this to say:
“Our companies tendered and won many contracts under his father as Governor of Abia State, does Chinedum mean his father superintended over crooked and bloated contracts? However, we are glad the courts and arbitration has proved our innocence and mandated Abia State Government to pay our companies over three billion (N3b) Naira debts (see attached award).
For the Umuopara ring road project which his father Sen T. A Orji awarded without flagging it off, nor paying a dime, it was Dr Okezie Ikpeazu that flagged it off. Despite the state owing us N279m on certified works till now (see attached unpaid interim certificate), we constructed over three kilometres of the road for the benefit of Umuopara people and this is one of the reasons the 13 traditional autonomous rulers (Ndi Eze,) conferred on Sir Ako Obioma AKUBARAOHA 1 of Umuopara ( Wealth that benefits everyone in Umuopara).
“To our families, business partners, the general public and friends, we have made this little explanation to quench your curiosity over our silence on these wicked allegations. We appreciate your love, concern and defence in those trying years, especially 2023 which we refer to as our year of Liberation and Recovery from Envious, Jealous, Greedy and Ungodly demonic agents.