Former Ebonyi State Lawmaker Maria Ude Nwachi Says Gov Umahi Is Owing Her Allowances And Benefits Totalling Over N90 Million

''If you have no patience to read more than a few lines successfully, please, just silently skip this. Don't prove the white man right that states; to keep anything from a black man, hide it in a book''

AGAIN: Pathetic details of my ordeals with Governor Umahi over unpaid allowances and benefits totaling over N90M - Maria Ude Nwachi, Ebonyi Ex Female Legislator.


If you have no patience to read more than a few lines successfully, please, just silently skip this. Don't prove the white man right that states; to keep anything from a black man, hide it in a book.

[This document was first published months ago, I am yet to be paid a penny by Umahi who has also become the state! 

Current Update: A prominent Nigerian who was pained by my ordeal sent a letter to Umahi in regards to paying me, the letter was received by Umahi, but before the next step could be taken coronavirus came on board, since then nothing, as my would be helper is now in his own state battling the virus scourge. I am not giving up. This money I'm being denied of is actually money that could go a long way towards the people of Afikpo who elected me. For this man to treat me like a piece of rag and deny me of my dues down to my severance pay is not just a pain for me but for my people]

This reads like a novel of 1970s Uganda; it's also a cautionary tale. Add to your knowledge, patiently read and hit the SHARE button. Continuous action will be taken until they right their wrong. No, I won't relent.

I wish to deliberately bring to the attention of the general public, the excruciatingly humiliating experiences I have been forced to go through as a Lawmaker in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly in the past five years following the crude and cruel actions of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi against my person; all due to the love, respect, solidarity and massive support accorded me by my people.

During the 2015 general elections, I was one of the privileged few (if not the very first female) to be overwhelmingly elected into the Ebonyi State House of Assembly to represent my people of Afikpo North-East State Constituency under a basically unknown political Party; that did not even have office in my state - the Progressive People’s Alliance, PPA. I was one the very few to win an election without structure in 2015. I was also the 1st woman to be elected in Afikpo, that is one for the history book. That is my favorite record. A befitting record for one called QUEEN OF WOMEN by her people.

It was, as they say in my local parlance, a communal labour (ozi oha) that “Maria Must be delivered” and hence the people stood their ground declared the actual winner of the election. We were eventually sworn-in on the 6th of June, 2015 to the joy, admiration and lofty expectations of my beloved constituents.

And the PDP Government became desperate to coerce, harass, control and humiliate me into submission…

In the popular desperation of the PDP-led government of Engr. David Umahi in Ebonyi to have every politician, Dick and Harry kowtow and worship him, the government, a few months after launched a terrible onslaught against my person when exactly on the 18th day of August, 2015, it accused me of leading a protest to demand for the restoration of electricity in my town which had bemoaned its fate in doomful and total darkness for nearly three years.

As archetypal of the Umahi administration, I was not only ‘summoned’ and threatened to apologize to the Governor but was immediately and unilaterally suspended indefinitely, the first perhaps in the history of Nigeria to be axed just a few months after taking oath of office. The House, directly under the unholy and excessive control of the Governor, led by Rt. Hon. Ogbonnaya Nwifuru as the Speaker quickly released its sledgehammer on me without first setting up any disciplinary committee to investigate and perhaps, discipline me.

My people suffered the absence of consistent legislation following the Executive-induced suspensions that were regularly slammed on me with the flimsiest of reasons by my colleagues. Indeed, Afikpo people were in pains over my maltreatment and they stood very solidly by me. I had publicly informed them of the antics of the government against me when I visited Esaa Ehugbo; the highest traditional decision-making body in Ehugbo numerous times. In no uncertain terms; the elders, mothers and youths vowed to support, protect, defend and vote for Maria in the last election; a promise they kept but for the political shenanigans that upturned their decisions.

During my NEPA protest suspension, the governor mandated Esaa Ehugbo to go on radio and apologize on my behalf before my suspension will be lifted. And what did they do? They never informed me. They simply contributed money, went to a radio station not controlled by Umahi, and told the world they stand by their daughter, Maria. To the dismay of a man allergic to the word, NO.

It is on record that it was just a days after the protest by my people, the Governor sent a joint Police and Military teams in their large numbers to my Maria Island Resort to stop a planned “Miss Afikpo” Cultural pageant for no reason just because he is powerful and can. These Police Military team where in front of my compound for almost a week, with their military bullet proof cars. The officers even pitied me and apologized to me numerous times, and decried the action but said they are there on instructions.

The event, wherein we had not only planned to donate a brand new car (already bought) to the overall winner but also spent heavily to organize did not take place till date. I wasted millions naira on an event that never took place; thanks to my Oga at the top.

He sent his goons to go on radio to say that the reason the event is being stopped is that occasion is about youths doing hard drugs and other vices. The radio announcement was played over and over just to humiliate & dehumanize the heck out of me. Pure primitive, reckless and petty blackmail which is my governor's trademark when dealing with the people he is suppose to be a caring father to. Meanwhile, I have never done drugs or even drank alcohol in my entire life. Even at the height of wealth, decadence, youthful exuberance and rascality in America, I never ever touched drugs and alcohol. I don't know why, it's just what it is. I assume God made it that way because I am naturally high. I am the MOTHER of Afikpo. My people do not call me the Queen of Women for nothing. I can never on this earth be a destructive agent to my own children, rather I will starve for them to eat. Rather, I will teach them the right way, so they can have a much better life than me.

Since then, the Umahi-led PDP government in the State unilaterally and without any formal probe continued to humiliate me and my constituents by severally suspending me indefinitely multiple times, without paying me even my statutory entitlements and basic allowances paid my colleagues. On one of the instances which got many Nigerians talking, I was ridiculously suspended by my colleagues for according to my colleagues, “being a Photographer” which some of my colleagues claimed brought shame and dishonour to the House.

NEPA!!MARIA: Electricity is extremely important to me. It means the world to me. For some reason there is never light in Afikpo. And I'm always willing to give every penny I have if it will mean my people enjoying light. It also bothers placing on record that before I was even elected to the House of Assembly, I had frequently spent my personal money running into millions of naira to ensure that there was light in Afikpo, which also benefited virtually all parts of Ebonyi South, and some parts of Cross River state, particularly, Erei. Whenever there were technical difficulties, I had, oftentimes, engaged staff of the EEDC to ensure that it is rapidly rectified, thus, leading even children in my hometown to always shout “Up Maria” in the stead of “Up NEPA” whenever electricity supply was restored. Even when they had transformer difficulties in Erei and some parts of Edda, I paid for it to be fixed, during the period. When I was elected, the shout of MARIA when NEPA brings light became a thing of worry for the henchmen to the point my people were regularly warned not to shout Maria again. There was again, never light in Afikpo and I could not even cough about it as it would be seen as intruding. That will just be like disturbing a sleeping iyanga. I'm no glutton for punishment, so I kept my cool dey look.

I had not only spent months without any remuneration but was almost hobbled out of the State, causing deep worries and concerns among my revered constituents who massively elected me to represent them. While I scratched myself just to sustain my life, I was deeply worried about the lofty expectations of my people from me because of their peculiar love and believe in me to fix whatever are their problems. Such I had severally done as an ordinary citizen even without occupying any public office.

Yet, I delivered every projects I embanked on for my sweethearts through personal efforts…

I executed some projects with my personal funds as the Governor who’s desperation to have me under his firm control failed woefully decided to ask the House to withhold my Constituency project allowances and other entitlements all in his desperate bid to frustrate the projects I was executing for my constituents. I however prevailed, thank goodness, in carrying out all the projects I embarked on.

THE REST ROOM: Eke Market is a very important market that has served the entire state & other neighboring states and should never ever have been left without a proper restroom. A restroom was of prime importance to my constituents. My people did all they were able to do for decades so government in power could intervene but nothing. I decided that whatever it will take to give my people an ultra modern toilet facility I will do it. I spared nothing to make sure this this restroom is the tops, by any standard. I installed a water system first. This restroom has offices, showers in both the male and female section. There is a gate/security house for 24/7 security. There are workers making sure the place is well maintained, always; hence the offices in both the male and female section. No place was left untied; for easy maintenance/cleaning. Just for an added nganga (opulence), I interlocked the entire compound. Against all odds, I was able to deliver, and on record time the toilet facility which gulped me of millions of naira of my personal funds to the untold joy of my constituents.

THE POLICE: Afikpo is a very ancient town, almost everything was located in Afikpo at one point. The Police Division and Area Command serves the entire Ebonyi south and beyond. For decades they had no water system. Politicians after politicians have utilized their services for their own selfish reasons for decades; but ignored their most important need. I single handedly, spend millions of my personal money to give the two police units a modern and befitting water system as soon as I was elected. I did this to increase the happiness quotient of police officers serving in my town; that way they will also serve us better.

THE BRIDGE: There was a falling bridge in a road leading to a very popular hospital, Mater hospital Afikpo; it is patronized by people of the state and beyond. It was so bad that people were falling in and motor bikes riders were falling it. It was the 1st project I embanked with my money. This was a matter of life and death. It is also not the kind of construction you do manage manage style, it needs to be properly constructed. But I had no choice but do it just enough to last for a few years due to the cost implications, it still ended up costing me multiple millions of my own money, I gave the contract to a fellow house member from Ikwo, who happens to be an Engineer and paid him in full. This was a alarming need for my people and I was able to fix it. I would have completed one of my own uncompleted structures with the money used in fixing this bridge for my people.

Fast forward to the build-up to the 2019 elections…

At several public rallies as the government began its campaign for re-elections, I again became the subject of discussions and sometimes, ridicules as Governor Umahi who had asked me to seek re-election ONLY back to the State’s House of Assembly, kept reiterating that as his wish for me and I ignored his antics to answer my people’s higher calling to lift their burdens by vying for the Federal House of Representatives seat for Afikpo North and South Constituency.

Without any form of hesitation, I had to answer this call because I know their overwhelming and undying love of my people for me and trusted the very fact that they would not only campaign for and vote for me but would do their best to defend any mandate given to their Maria. Even the electorates in Afikpo South, many of who had not only heard of my selfless works in Afikpo North but even voted for me in 2015 (not knowing I was not under their own State Constituencies) were excited and eagerly waiting to vote for me in the February 28th, National Assembly elections.

Following a vigorous campaign and counting on my pedigree, the electorates massively cast their votes for me. But the Governor in keeping to his vow that he would NEVER want to see a Maria go farther than his chosen slot in the House wherein I had been horribly humiliated and pummeled just for standing up for my people’s interests and welfare used the instrumentalities of the State to manipulate the entire process and declared my opponent the ‘anointed’ candidate of the PDP, Hon. Iduma Igariwey who lost woefully in the entire Afikpo North as the surprised ‘winner’ of the election.

In what has never been done in the political history of my town Ehugbo, in such brazen style, Hon. Igariwey in connivance with his political acolyte and ally in vote manipulations since the return of democracy in 1999, a Delta-born Barr. Mudi Erhenede patently rigged my election to their favour, all at the watchful eyes of election observers, security agencies, the helpless populace and INEC officials who were dutifully working for the PDP-led government of Engr. Umahi. The records of their threats and serial vows even in the public to stop me from going to the Green Chambers are manifestly evident; audible to the deaf and visible to the blind. At last, they had their way but the generality of the masses and the electorates know the sincere truth about how my electoral victory was upturned at the Afikpo North Council Secretariat INEC office where the figures were cooked and announced.

My opponent who had already lost hope of winning the elections must have been himself surprised about how the outcome favoured him even when most of the stakeholders he had fervently relied on failed woefully in their Polling Units across both LGAs. The Governor, stunned by the original outcome of my election before the serial manipulations that awarded ‘victory’ to my opponent made overtures to have me work for his re-election but I declined.

The rest they say is history as I had decided to move on with my life. I believe that there's no such thing as loss in the universe. Anything I "lose" will be returned to me in another form or replaced with something better. I relish daily on the fact that I had totally extricated and liberated myself from the clutches of Governor Umahi who is very desperate to control everything and everyone including almost the air which people breathe in Ebonyi State.

Because Governor Umahi denied me of rightful entitlements for years prior to the election, I had no funds to run for my election. It was some of those who admire my body of work in the assembly that contributed some of the funds used. I also borrowed heavily, to finance my election; running into 10s of millions of Naira, but luckily I have been able to pay back almost a 100% of what was lent to me by people of goodwill, who saw my passion of putting my people 1st before myself. My image-making clients that owed me money for previous services did come to my rescue on paying off the dept.

My financial entitlements and benefits, including those of my aides withheld my Gov. Umahi till date…

It is now on record and I want the world to know it so no Lawmaker or even politician may have to go through the type of excruciating pains and difficulties that Governor Umahi has had to make me go through. I want the world to know it that:

- Since I was elected into the State House of Assembly in 2015, and throughout my embattled Four-year tenure which ended this year, I NEVER received the monthly stipend of N500, 000.00 each, regularly paid my colleagues by the Executive arm of government under the leadership of Engr. David Nweze Umahi. This sums up to a total of N24 Million for the duration of my troubled Four year-tenure as a Lawmaker.

- Every member of the house has traveled to China and/or other countries and were given their allowance except me; of over 2 million Naira. He gave an order not to add my name among those that will travel.

- In April 2018, I was denied my N15 Million Constituency Projects Allowance made to every member of the House. This is in spite of the fact that I had delivered an ultra-modern public toilet project among others with my personal funds. I have never borrowed money from a bank in my life but I borrowed from Fidelity bank to complete some of the projects for my people. Thank goodness I have completely paid off that loan; which was a thorn on my flesh.

Through out my tenure, I did not do a single thing for myself. I built nothing for myself. I started major projects with my personal funds a week after we were sworn in in 2015; before I received any pay as a legislator. Every penny I made through my photography, image-making, media works and whatever I was paid as a legislator went directly to projects I started for my people. It is my pleasure to let you know I painstakingly concluded all the projects; leaving me constantly insolvent, but it was worth it. And mind you, I have 2 uncompleted buildings in my compound, which ignored to put the needs of people 1st. I came into politics with a moderately healthy bank account and left with ZERO in my bank account. Because I just had to do what I had to do for my people. THEIR BURDEN IS MY BURDEN.

- There is also a sum of 200,000 Naira that was also given house members every month. The cashier mistakenly gave me the 200k one certain month. When they discovered the error, he was reprimanded and I never ever received it afterwards. That comes to 200k x 48 months. = 9.6 million naira.

- Also in December 2018, I was not paid the sum of N3.5 Million which all my colleagues received from the Governor as Christmas gifts. I was also further denied the bags of rice shared to members for the celebration of the last Christmas.

- I was again, denied another N30 Million Constituency Projects Allowance paid all my colleagues in February 2019 on the orders of Governor Umahi.

- Sometime in October this year, all members of the immediate-past Assembly in Ebonyi were paid a parting gift to the tune of N3 Million each. Again, I was denied this entitlement by the Governor.

- At about November ending this year, all members of the immediate-past House of Assembly in Ebonyi have been paid their Severance allowances of N4.3 Million (1st tranch) by the Speaker on the direct instructions of the Governor. I was again, denied this right.

- Neither my Special Assistant nor my Personal Assistant was paid the N1.1 Million and N1 Million Severance Allowance respectively that was paid to other House Member’s Special Assistants and Personal Assistants in or around November 2019.

It is therefore alarmingly worthy to note that I am owed to the tune of over N90M in statutory and privileged entitlements, including my severance allowance by the Umahi administration!
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Totaling about 93.6 Million Naira.

Governor Umahi is not father Christmas, whatever is given to my fellow legislators must also be given to me. The money given to legislators does not belong to him; it belongs to the state. He can use the state money how ever her wants because he currently the has to power to do that, but he cannot decide to deny me of my own share and wages just because he does not like me.

Christiana Onachukwu Nweze said on this matter: It is not even a gift, it's the right of every elected government official to get what is due to him/her. It's not something that the governor has the power to give to whomever he likes whenever it pleases him, by his behaviour he didn't just shortchange you ma, but your whole constituency. Imagine if you aren't the kind of person that you are, your people wouldn't have smelt any constituency project. The money doesn't belong to the governor, he was elected just like everyone else was elected, he doesn't have the power to decide whom to give their entitlements and whom to withhold theirs, to the extent of withholding something that would benefit a whole constituency. That's taking wickedness to a new level! The man took the witch hunting too far, whatever happened to the House autonomy? Why is the governor that powerful? No one human being should be allowed to possess such powers, every person of goodwill need to join this fight, especially the people from Mama Maria's constituency, this fight shouldn't be left for her alone.

MASS PUNISHMENT: Afikpo North East Constituency is the real victim of the witch hunt on my person. Had I combined my money personal money with the entitlements that I was denied, I would done a lot more for my people; who already know that there is nothing on earth I won't do for them. So my Governor is willing to punish everyone in Afikpo for the simple but grim pleasure of seeing me beg for food? Oh yes, he is.

CALL HIM. NO: Terribly irked by these denials of my rights and entitlements, I was compelled to put a Phone-call across to the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly who coincidentally presided over the last House that I served. For fulfilling all righteousness sake, as I queried why I hadn’t been paid like my colleagues, the Speaker simply said that I should call and text the Governor! Knowing the obvious that he operates strictly on instructions from the Governor.

ENOUGH: I have been embarrassed/humiliated enough and vowed NEVER to call Governor Umahi who takes joy and pride in humiliating people for no just cause. My governor lacks human sympathy. He derives an immense gory pleasure at seeing others suffer, specially when he is the one inflicting the pain. What crime did I commit that I decided to exercise my constitutionally-enshrined right to freedom of association and also to answer the yearnings of my people to seek any public office under the ANN platform as I did in the last general election? What is my crime again in choosing to be guided by my own principles and wanting to follow my own heart, so as to be able to do more for my electorate?

TRAUMA: I am not begging him to dash me money. No, sir, don't dash me, pack every money to yourself. I am asking him to pay me my entitlements. I do not want to meet this man to get paid, he is my trigger, and trauma is real. I want to simply be paid my dues by the state.

FREEDOM: During my election period, I made one thing clear, I said that my freedom from my Governor is more important to me than anything else. That if I am given billions to work under Governor Umahi again that I will reject it with joy. So going back to house of Assembly would have been mission impossible, reason being that working with someone who is obsessed with controlling everyone under him with military precision is akin to living in bondage to me. And no amount of money can buy my consent to living under bondage. To be fair too, months before the 2015 election and even before I ever knew who Governor Umahi were, I told all and myself that I will only do one term if elected to the state house. I was only going to also do one term national, but the Governor awarded my victory to another person. Because he is the state.

COME, DON'T COME: This is an anuma n'atochi (Funny tragedy): There was a day the Speaker and Deputy speaker, Chief Obasi Odefa, invited me to Port Harcourt along with other members for some enjoyment occasion, I was shocked because they hardly invite me to anything goodies will come out of I asked over 10 times if they are sure I am invited, they said yes, I asked again and again; they said YES. On getting to the airport, I got a call that Chief Odefa said I should not come again, I lamented that I have bought my ticket and about to board the flight. In anger, embarrassment, confusion and humiliation, I lost my handbag containing so many valuables, including 2 storage units that had photo sessions with my top image-making clients, I lost one of my most lucrative image making clients from that ordeal, as he refused to do another photo session. It was a horrific experience, I was down for days. Later, Speaker blamed Odefa, and Odefa blamed the Governor. That was all the murder she wrote.

honestly, when i look back at this particular incident, i laugh so hard about it. Because that day i felt like the world is coming to an end. Hahahaha. But time is a healer and the world will not come to an end over any one incident. It is now funny to me lol

EPILEPTIC SALARY: There was a period I was not paid salaries for some months, I did not notice it because I had given up on them and was just busy working hard at my photography and image making jobs, which was reasonably sustaining me. When I called their attention to it, they paid me a month later, then a few days after they paid me, the clerk of the house informed me that they overpaid me and would be paying me half salary until they recoup the over payment. My people who am I to ask questions? Obuwo n'egbu kpoo n'ese waa (Ehugbo adage, rough translation; they are the ones hitting kpoo and screaming waa). Agbaghi elu igwe karate. I just accepted my fate, and never raised an issue about it.

RESIGN: The grass is always greener. As a legislator under Governor Umahi, I was always jealous of his appointees. I wanted to be them, even if it's a TA for sweeping the floor, it will be more palatable because they can resign anytime they want to but I can't just resign just like that. I called my Manager one day and asked him what will happen if I resign as a legislator so I can move on and rebuild my life quicker as being under this man is hell and honestly taking a pound on my person. Under him; even my anxiety had anxiety. I also told him I will be doing work with my money as I have been doing, so my people won't miss any work action. He said I should NEVER think it, that it is out of the question, and that I should endure. And that I did.

RESPECT: Despite all I have been through under my governor, I regret nothing about venturing into politics. My worst experiences are my best teachers, sharpeners and lessons. In politics I became more responsible, more self-conscious, more motherly, more careful, and more willing to serve myself last for the benefit of the whole. Respect also happened. I have seen money in my day, lots of it, I am talking millions and millions of dollars, gave away so much money to strangers, family, acquaintances and beyond, built all buildables, bought everything any human can possibly want, dashed all dashables and undashables away, but I have tasted something sweeter than money, and that is RESPECT. Once you taste respect, you can't freaking go back to anything less. My style of politics gave me a taste of respect from my people, my state and beyond. I love the taste, it taste better than attention and money. I'm sticking with respect. Money, and lots of it, can be made at anytime, but respect must be earned, through grit, sacrifice, personal integrity, and severe discipline. And once you taste respect, you can't go back; as nothing taste as good.

IDI AMIN: It is no shocker to Nigerians that many state governors are very callous, stiff necked, and treat their fellow humans beings like a piece of garbage due to the enormous power they weld; but governor Umahi has taken this to a whole new level; to a cold & calculated primordial level, a level discovered, invented and practiced by only him in this country. I will have him know that as loves and takes care of his family, that is how I love my own family and would also love to take care my own family. His cruelness towards me has effectively hampered that. But odiadighide.

UNUSUAL CRUELTY: In all honesty, I was going to let all the financial atrocities Governor Umahi committed against my person go. What set off my finally saying ENOUGH and standing up for myself, and wanting to be paid all my entitlements, was when he went as far as directing that my severance be withheld; while all my fellow house members had all gotten their 1st tranche of the money. That was just beyond the pale. I never expected he would go that far. That was just cruel and unusual punishment. That is what prompted me to act. And I am glad I acted. Silence in the face of cold totalitarianism is consent.

MY VOICE: Since I have no stakeholder or anyone to speak for me, I am forced to open up to the world on my ordeals as I urge all lovers of fairness, equity and justice to ask Governor Umahi to pay me my entitlements. These are my rights and not privileges. I sincerely urge Non-Governmental Organizations, NGOs within and beyond Nigeria, (particularly Women Rights Groups), human rights defenders and all fighters of oppression stand up for me and fight this gross acts of injustice meted to me and my aides by the Governor and government of Ebonyi State. This is an absurd affront on womanhood and if nothing is done to checkmate and remedy these damages, the collective bargains and clamour for equal rights among women seeking and occupying political offices would become history!

SAVE OUR SOUL (SOS): For Governor Umahi, I and the rest of Ebonyians had thought that enough should have been enough but for him, his crude primitive pettiness never rains but pours. I further urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, to intervene and call the Governor to order hence he appears not to listen to anyone in the State. I would be compelled to seek LEGAL REDRESS IN A COURT OF LAW if these issues are not immediately resolved and my entitlements and benefits paid as soon as possible.

NOTE: Before the end of this week, Nigerian representatives of all the foreign nations my Governor visits and enjoys their style of democracy, respect for human right, respect for women's right and dignity and humane governance will be alerted of his atrocities and his flagrant abuse of my human rights. There are other actions we are taking that I cannot disclose to the public, yet.

Signed:
Maria Ude Nwachi (Afikpo Chic)

(Former Member, Representing Afikpo North-East Constituency in Ebonyi State House of Assembly).