Immediate past Abia State governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, and his Sun tabloid have come under attack for allegedly waging an unrelenting war on the state’s incumbent governor, Chief Theodore A. Orji.

Leading the attack is a human rights lawyer, Chief ACB Agbazuere, a former Abia labour leader and currently Special Adviser to the Governor on Conflict Management.

Addressing newsmen in Umuahia yesterday, Agbazuere condemned the incessant attacks on Governor Orji by Sun newspapers and has urged Kalu to call his workers to order Agbazuere maintained that the governor should be allowed to do his eight-year term without further distraction. He added that Kalu is exhibiting the height of selfishness by allowing his workers to ambush the governor.

News Express reports that there has been no love lost between the governor and his predecessor and erstwhile godfather since both men finally fell apart in June 2010.

The current ferocious and sustained attacks on the governor by the Sun newspapers was fuelled by a visit by a delegation from Abia led by Orji himself to the Abuja, Wadatta Plaza national headquarters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to convince the national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Turkur, on the dangers inherent in allowing Kalu to return to the party.

Columnists and editors of the Sun have not only serialised on the visit, but have used it as an avenue to disparage the governor, claiming that he is not performing.

Agbazuere said time has come for Kalu to stop fighting Orji and realise that God grants power and that God has chosen Chief T.A. Orji to pilot the affairs of Abia at this point in the history of the state. He also reminded Kalu that nobody marked him when he was on the saddle like he was currently attacking the incumbent.  

Said Agbazuere: “There is a deliberate and inordinate decision of the Sun newspapers to distort information, misinform Nigerians and disparage Governor T.A. Orji.

“I am of the opinion that God grants powers. Chief Orji Uzor Kalu was governor for eight years but for him to be allowing those in his payroll to start attacking somebody unjustly; I can’t afford to keep my quiet. It is very disturbing. The decision by the former governor to ambush Governor Theodore Orji is all because the governor decided to serve God and Abians as opposed to the desire of Kalu to pocket Abia which Governor Orji resisted and liberated himself and Abia from him.

“Since the liberation, there has been astronomical increase in infrastructural development. The infrastructure on ground is such that if those who preceded Governor Orji in office had done what he is doing now, Abia would have been different and Governor Orji would have directed his energies to other areas. This is one governor that is performing.

“We are aware that as governor, Chief T.A. Orji is the driver carrying Abia people and anyone distracting or hounding him is endangering the life of Abians.

“Chief Orji Uzor Kalu should call his workers to order and ensure that his workers stop disparaging the governor. If this is not done, I will keep them busy. Chief Orji Uzor Kalu should stop this selfishness. If Governor Theodore Orji is doing better than you did while in office, you should acknowledge it and stop fighting him. Allow Governor Orji to finish his eight years.”

Also reacting to the attacks on the governor by the Sun, the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ugochikwu Emezue, said editors and managers of the paper are fast turning it into a junk by publishing falsehood and claiming that Governor Orji is not performing.

•Photo: Orji Kalu.