THERE appears to be no end to the public disgrace the immediate past governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji would receive from the people he superintended their affairs for the past eight years as he was, last Friday, for the umpteenth time, booed.
Orji’s abysmal failure in office as governor made him incur the wrath of his people, who booed and pelted him with sachet water at every turn of event in the state.
The public embarrassment, which started in the premises of an Orthodox Church in Aba climaxed during the burial of late Igbo leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odemegwu Ojukwu at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba.
But when people thought this public embarrassment was over, particularly as Orji had left office, in line with the popular saying that the “evil men do lives after them”, the former governor was again last Friday booed at Mbutuoma, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government during the burial of the late husband of Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Dr. Rowland Nwaogu.
Orji, who came with his wife, Odochi, had hardly entered the venue of the funeral service when the people, on sighting him, began to boo him, reminiscent of his days in office.
The day could not be saved for the former governor even as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, who were perhaps mobilised in anticipation of the public odium their former leader would face, began chanting songs in an attempt to neutralize the booing.
Some people who spoke with our reporter after the incident said they were restrained in their actions, by the mood of the day.
A civil servant who wouldn’t want his name in print said the mourning mood they were that day did not allow them vent their anger on the former governor.
“It was because we were mourning that made us not to express how we felt about the former governor. As you came into Abia, I know you must have passed through at least our sister state of Imo and then, you will be able to know why we feel the way we do for this man.
“I am a local government worker; we were owed four months’ salary before the former governor left office and you want me to be happy with such person? Never.”
On the contrary, the same crowd that booed former governor Orji cheered ceaselessly to the point of interrupting the sermon by the Anglican Bishop of the Aba Ngwa Diocese, Rt. Rev. Nathan Kanu when Governor Okezie Ikpeazu arrived the ceremony. (Daily Sun)
