Concerned Abia citizens and prominent members of the Abia community have condemned the unwarranted attacks on the governor of Abia state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Chinedu Orji by the former commissioner for Information, Eze Chikamnayo, describing him as a drowning man and serial blackmailer who wants to remain a government official all his life.
News Critic reports that in the past few days, Eze Chikamnayo had launched a bitter diatribe against the government of Abia state on the social media, a development many viewed as senseless and an attempt by him to seek notice.
The former commissioner in a press release he posted on his facebook page on Saturday, claimed that his decision to join his voice in asking Dr Ikpeazu and Rt. Hon Orji (Ikuku) to listen to the voice of reason, and pay workers has been a source of serious challenge to him in the past three days’’. In the release, Chikamnayo alleged that there was a failed kidnap attempt on his son around government college Umuahia, adding that he was advised not to disclose the name of the boy online as investigation is ongoing on the matter.
However, Hon. Toby Chucks Egeonu from Umunneochi, in his open letter to Chikamnayo, said the former commissioner has lost political value and relevance, hence the resort to blackmail for money and position. ‘’You have started the macabre dance to smear the image of Governor Ikpeazu, Senator T.A Orji and the speaker of the state assembly in your characteristics manner to seek for attention and relevance but you have failed woefully this time’’, he wrote.
Hon. Egeonu reminded the former commissioner on how the then governor Orji Kalu appointed him commissioner and he ended up embezzling the funds meant for Ugwu Abia cultural festival, which led to his removal from office. He said he was later rehabilitated by senator Orji, who appointed him commissioner, adding that Chikamnayo ended up disgracing himself as he continued to embezzle money earmarked for media projects.
News Critic reports that Chikamnayo’s penchant to embezzle funds earmarked for media is legendary. For instance, during the youth empowerment summit Chief Orji’s government organised in 2013, in which the former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi 11 delivered a lecture at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia. Chikamnayo, as Commissioner for Information had the responsibility of inviting the Lagos media for the event.
As is the usual practise the Lagos journalists on arrival a day before the event were checked into an hotel at Ogurube layout by the commissioner. However, to the chagrin of the senior journalists, after the event, Chikamnayo disappeared and switched off his phone such that he could not be reached neither was his whereabouts known. 24 hours later still no sign of the commissioner or word from him, so the journalists angrily flew back to Lagos without seeing the man who invited them.
Some of the Lagos journalists later sent text messages to the governor and the Chief of Staff, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe to intimate them on the behaviour of the commissioner they appointed and how he disappeared with the money meant for them. One of the editors told News Critic recently that he was indeed surprised that T. A Orji did not fire him instantly for such fraudulent and shameful act’’.
Another concerned Abian, Eze Onyekwere, writing on his timeline said Chikamnayo is a morally bankrupt element that needs mental rehabilitation. He said the ex-commissioner should apologise to Abians for his immoral conducts and for defiling and corrupting innocent minors and secondary school girls.
Chidi Ogbonnah, Chinwe Anyara and Prince Ifeanyi lampooned Chikamnayo for always descending too low to the point of disgrace whenever he is looking for his stomach infrastructure, saying that his antics is outdated.
Chikamnayo, former commissioner in the state has been in and out of the government starting with Orji Kalu and lately Dr Ikpeazu, who at one point made him SA Political Affairs. He twice contested for the house of assembly seat in Umunneochi but failed woefully. Until recently he was associated with the SDP and later APC and it was him that led the media campaign of Hon. Nkiru Ihejiocha’s speakership run in the house of representatives which failed. Those who know him said he is looking for free money to continue to fund his escapades.
News Critic
