Nnaya Eziyi, Umuahia
Meeting face to face for the first time since they fell apart eight years ago, former Abia State governor Orji Uzor Kalu and his successor, Senator Theodore Orji have taken their battle to a public arena.
Kalu and Orji took swipe at each other at the funeral ceremony of former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Elekwachi Nwogbo at Ntalakwu Oboro in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state.
In his speech at the occasion, Kalu said during his tenure, when Nwogbo served in that capacity, the government was regular in payment of salaries and other emoluments, contrary to what happened latter.
He also said that despite its meager allocations both from the Federation Account and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the government embarked on laudable and meaningful projects across the stated.
Describing the subsequent administration as full of vengeance and deceit, he alleged that it committed much of its resources and efforts to attacking his person and dismantling his legacies.
Kalu, who is now a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) added that during the period of hid successor, there was unprecedented upsurge in crime and criminal activities especially armed robbery and kidnapping.
According to him, it was during the period that the economy of the state suffered its worst downturn due to exodus of some of the stakeholders and major companies due to the security challenges.
In his address, Orji, who is representing Abia Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, accused the former governor of alleged attempt to interfere with his running of the government.
Giving him credit for ensuring his emergence in the office, he alleged the previous administration left with him a huge financial burden and credibility problem that took him time to surmount.
He gave himself a pass mark for delivering on his campaign promise, which includes infrastructure development and quality service delivery, adding that projects are they for all to see.
According to the former governor, who served Kalu as his chief of staff, it was on the bases of his service to the state that it was easy for him to move to the Senate from the Government House.
In a direct attack, he maintaining that whosoever thinks the feat of moving to the Senate after serving as governor is an easy one should join him there, adding that it was during his era that the state was liberated from idolatry.
