Orji Challenges Aguocha to Account for Alleged Palliative Rice Sale

Former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, has challenged the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, to account for two trailer loads of Federal Government palliative rice allegedly meant for vulnerable residents of the constituency.

Orji, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the constituency, made the challenge in a public statement following Aguocha’s reported threat of legal action against Chief Charles Ogbonna Evulogu of Ibeku over allegations that the lawmaker sold rice provided to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal.

Presenting the controversy as a matter affecting vulnerable residents, including widows, market women and other low-income households, Orji alleged that the two trailer loads of rice were sold to businessmen from Anambra State rather than distributed to intended beneficiaries.

He challenged Aguocha to publish details of the alleged distribution, including the number of bags allocated to each ward in Ikwuano, Umuahia North and Umuahia South, the names of village heads who received the rice, distribution dates and photographs of the exercise.

Orji argued that such records would help establish whether the palliative materials reached the intended beneficiaries.

The former Speaker also accused Aguocha and his associates of previously spreading claims that he and his father, former Abia State Governor and Senator Theodore Orji, were criminals despite the absence of a conviction in the criminal case he referenced.

He further described as cyberbullying an alleged claim circulated about him being assaulted by military personnel and flown abroad.

Orji said he was prepared to be joined in any lawsuit Aguocha might institute over the allegations, insisting that the controversy should be resolved through verifiable evidence and judicial scrutiny.

“I am not hiding. Include me in that legal action you threatened. Sue me together with Evulogu Ibeku,” he challenged.

He said he would be willing to appear in court alongside market women, youths and community elders to press for answers concerning the alleged rice distribution.

The dispute has raised questions about transparency and accountability in the management of public relief materials intended for economically vulnerable citizens.

However, the allegation that Aguocha sold the two trailer loads of rice remains unverified. No independent evidence establishing the alleged sale or confirming the identities of the purported buyers was provided in Orji’s statement.

Aguocha’s response to the latest allegations, as well as any available official distribution records, would be necessary to establish the facts surrounding the palliative rice.

The controversy comes amid heightened political tensions in Abia State, with both sides trading accusations over public conduct and accountability.