Orji: I Support the Call for National Dialogue

   Orji

ABIA STATE GOVERNOR, CHIEF THEODORE ORJI, IN THIS INTERVIEW WITH JOURNALISTS IN UMUAHIA RECENTLY, SPEAKS ON THE RECENT CONSTITUTION OF A COMMITTEE ON THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, THE CRISIS IN THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY AMONG OTHER ISSUES. CHARLES AJUNWA,  PRESENTS THE EXCERPTS…

Just few days ago, Nigerians celebrated the country’s 53rd independence anniversary. What is your assessment of Nigeria?

So far so good, it can’t be worse. You can’t compare Nigeria of 2013 with the Nigeria of 1959, 1960 or 1961. Improvements and developments have taken place and democracy is moving on. I don’t believe that we are not making any progress; we are making progress. If we have lasted in democracy from 1999 till now without any military intervention or incursion into government, it shows that we are improving.

Before 1999, it was a question of civilians coming for two years and the military coming back and staying for several years; at least that aspect shows that we have some improvement and people are coming to appreciate the essence of democracy as one of the best forms of government. So we are moving and as far as Nigerians will be patient enough and participate in the democracy to grow it, we will be very good in the future.

There are so much grumblings in the land and many people are saying because of the state of the nation, there should be no need for any celebration this year, what is your view on this?

Countries and nations have their peculiar problems, we know that advancement brings also complex criminality. For instance, we didn’t know about kidnapping before but it was present in other nations eventually it surfaced in our nation. It came as a result of advancement in technology, yes of course poverty may be there but advancement in technology is part and parcel of what brought about kidnapping in this part of the world. Now, there is the other one you call Boko Haram, which has gone to the extent that no person should appreciate at all.

They know their reasons for doing what they do and we know why it is being done but the killings that are coming up from the Boko Haram is what should be condemned because God condemns bloodletting or taking the life which you did not create. If any person in Nigeria has any problem whether that of leadership or economic, there are many ways of venting the annoyance. There are many ways of showing it and there are many ways of tackling it, but it is not definitely by killing people. After killing the people who will stay behind to do the reform? So, we should condemn the killings that are going on in some parts of Nigeria, the bloodletting that is going on should be condemned entirely.

President Goodluck Jonathan has just announced the constitution of a committee on national dialogue, what is your take on this?

My take on it is that the President’s attitude showed that he is a democrat. You know this has been the yearning of Nigerians, for us to discuss, some Nigerians have been calling for a dialogue and such calls have persisted. The attribute of a good leader is to listen to the people who gave you the mandate. The people are saying that we should discuss to know the problems of Nigeria and how to go about it and the President has said, ‘yes, it is proper to discuss,’ I support him because it is proper to discuss.

First and foremost, is that this discuss will at least engage people. There are people who are not doing anything, everyday, they stay in their houses and bring up ideas; positive and negative ideas but when you bring them together and they start discussing, you have engaged them. They are positively busy and eventually they are going to bring out ideas that will eventually be considered. Those ones that are good for Nigerians will be incorporated. So that it is a good idea, and I support the President that there should be dialogue, let us discuss because everything ends on the discussion table whether it is war or family quarrel, everything ends on discussion table where the people agree on how to go about the situation.

One of the arguments that arose shortly after the President’s broadcast was that we have had several conferences in the past yet none of them has been implemented. Secondly, what is the Southeast going to take to the conference?

Well, people must always criticise. When they say that we have had discussions before and that such conferences have come and gone but that nothing came out of them, were those conferences under President Jonathan’s administration? They weren’t under him, this is a new leadership under President Goodluck Jonathan that is instituting this conference, and from experience, if nothing had come out of the previous conferences, I am sure that he will make sure that the outcome of this conference will be implemented. I am sure he will do that.

When the conference is on, the Southeast will also articulate its own problems. We have our problems and challenges, so we are going to bring people together, they will make inputs and such inputs will be taken to the conference. One thing that we have been agitating for all these years is that there must be parity in terms of state creation. That is one of the things that concerns us right now because others cannot be having six or seven states and the Southeast will only have five. We have been consistent on that and that is the first thing that we are going to lay on the agenda. I am sure that we will demand that more states should be given to us that is the number one before we start to talk on other things.

Will Jonathan run in 2015 or will the North take over? One Igbo leader was quoted as saying that whether it is an abomination for an Igbo man to sleep in the Aso Rock?

There is no written document at all. You and I know how the president emerges. The Igbo can go and contest, but before you go into that contest, you have to make sure that you will win. It is not just going to the contest to try your luck; you have to make sure that you will win. The argument that we have not been in Aso Rock and it is the turn of Igbo man to go to Aso Rock but the man alone cannot take himself   to Aso Rock; people will help him to go there.

Therefore, you have to get the consensus of others to go there. The North,  South and West for you to make it because the whole thing is based on population; it is a game of numbers. So when an Igbo man says that he wants to be the president, he has to look at the appropriate time to pursue it and once you go you get it but not at the inappropriate time because you cannot make it, you don’t have the population. If you don’t have the population and the time is not ripe, you cannot make it, even if you don’t have the population but the time is propitious, you can make it because others will come to your aid and say, ‘you have not gone there before, this is your turn go there and taste it.’

What do you think of the activities of the New PDP, especially their conditions for peace, which is that President Goodluck Jonathan should not run in 2015?

The point is that there is nothing like New PDP, we have one PDP. If you go to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s office, you see that the party that is there is the PDP. There is no old PDP or new PDP. What you have to bear in mind is that we have only one PDP. What is happening in the party now is not peculiar to the PDP, it has happened to other parties and it will continue to happen to other parties also.

That people are not happy with what is happening in the party and they now want to cause small confusion in order to be heard, but the PDP has the capacity to solve the problem that is my confidence that all those things will come and go. But let them come out openly and say the reason they are doing this and the party will be in the position to address those problems and placate everybody but as far as we are concerned, we have one PDP.

When you have stayed so long in a system, you have the right to say your mind but it will boil down to the fact that if you continue to try and try and then you discover that you are no longer comfortable with where you are then you find a new ground. You can go somewhere and try your luck but those who are comfortable will continue to stay.

Let’s zero down to Abia State, what are the areas that give you joy as we celebrate Nigeria’s independence anniversary?

When I look back at what we have covered, I feel very happy. The first thing is that we now have peace and security in Abia State that makes me happy. Another thing is that if you talk about unity of purpose and in politics, Abia should rank either first or second in the entire federation.

The fact that this government is able to bring all Abians to the mainstream of politics and they are happy that they are there is a big achievement. Have you heard of the new PDP in Abia? You can’t hear it because who-is-who in Abia politics is in PDP and we have one common goal, which is to move Abia to the next level but it wasn’t like this before. Previously, Abia was polarised, most Abians in Lagos were not coming home, the same was applicable to those in Abuja, but today, during any function in Abia State, you see them coming because they are happy with what the government in power is doing.
That is another major achievement, which people may tend to overlook.

Before now, Abia had no voice at the federal level as a result of that we were denied a lot of things; there was no development and nothing was coming to Abia but today, no person will say that Abia is denied anything that is being given to other states because we have a voice in Abuja. Not only the single voice of the governor, but a corporate voice of the people, so it gives me joy.

Your commissioner has given us the analysis of the ongoing transformation in Aba, what are you hoping to gain by repositioning the city?

There are many things to gain. You know Aba very well, that it is a commercial hub not only of Abia or the Southeast, but Nigeria in general. However, because of certain things that have happened in the past, the city seemed to be neglected for a very long time. The kidnapping saga made entrepreneurs run away and that pulled us back. The contractors and developmental partners that would have come during that period stayed away, so it dragged us back for sometime.

We want to ensure that goods that are made in Aba are recognised. That is how Japan started. In those days, people were deriding the spoons and forks that were made in Japan, but today people are struggling to have Japanese goods in their homes. There is no home that you don’t see any Japanese item.

What is the vision behind the relocation of Umuahia Central Market?

The vision is to first and foremost expand Umuahia. At times when people come to Umuahia and end up with the market and railway lines, they go away with the bad impression of Umuahia not knowing that development is happening at the periphery of the town. You should know the history of how this market started; the first market that the colonialists established was the Garki, where the northerners offloaded their cows from where the cows are distributed to Port Harcourt and other areas. Umuahia used to be the centre for cows.

This market at the centre was for palm produce because we have the rail line, but when the colonial masters saw that having a market at the centre of the town would hinder expansion, they started thinking of how to move away the market since 1935, it is historical, since that date till now, no person has done it.

When we move this market you will appreciate the beauty of this town. The town will look more as a state capital than being a local government capital because we are going to make sure that the place is cleaned up and we will put in place a structure that will befit the town. Secondly, another town is going to be developed in Ubani, it is now developing because currently we have about 500 houses on ground in that place, so these houses will be occupied by people. We have schools, hospitals and other facilities there.

Colours of Celebration

Orji inspecting the guard of honour during the Independence Day in Umuahia

Orji, wife, Mercy, deputy governor, Sir Emeka Ananaba, wife, Nene, at the event

Charles Ajunwa writes on the sounds and sights of the independence day celebration in Abia State

With all shades of green colour on the streets of its major cities, the joy of freedom was not lost on Nigerians living in Abia State. At Umuahia Township Stadium, on Tuesday, October 1, Theodore Orji, Abia State governor stood still to acknowledge salute as students marched passed him.

“Our journey towards a viable nationhood in the past 53 years of Nigeria's independence remains a story of courage, tenacity, and commitment as our leaders search appropriate ways of advancing the interests of our diverse people within a united nation. Thank God that we have endured despite our often conflicting individual and collective aspirations, and we will continue to endure,” Orji said in an emotion-laden tone.

And after a few minutes into his speech, he paused as people who thronged the stadium for celebration erupted in a shout of what has stuck to him as a nickname, Ochendo.

Then he continued: “Over the years, it has become more evident that ‘you’ – the entire people of Nigeria and our state have been the only sure preservation for our unity, our democracy, our liberty, our security and our development as a state and as a nation. I commend all our citizens for keeping faith with Nigeria and for remaining tenacious with our leaders, despite all odds.

“This year’s celebration offers a unique opportunity to share and appraise our collective journey towards improving the lives of our citizens, as our nation pursues a more robust democracy capable of providing sustainable security and progress towards a more inclusive development of our people.

“I don’t believe that we are not making any progress. We are making progress. If we have lasted from 1999 till now without any military intervention, without incursion to government till now it shows that we are improving. Before 1999, it was a question of civilians coming for two years and military coming back and staying for many years. At least, that aspect shows that we have improved and people are beginning to appreciate the essence of democracy as the best form of government.”

From all over the state people gathered to listen to the moving speech as they took turn to participate in one activity or the other.

The march pass was led by the police as other uniform men like Nigeria Custom Service followed. The students then took turn to pay compliments as Governor Orji who stood with watchful eyes that suggested he’s happy with the progress that the country has made, despite its shortcomings which he was quick to acknowledge in his speech.

Indeed Orji did not hide his firm believe in one Nigeria, a nation he described as a work in progress.

He said: “There is no way our state and this nation can continue to go forward except we are united as a people; and there is no way any state and our nation can develop except by serving the urgent needs of our citizens. This is the promise the Federal Government has made to the nation, and the commitment our government has made to the good people of Abia State. We will surely keep these promises and excel.

“Today’s celebration of our independence anniversary reminds us and all Nigerians that we cannot stand still or slip further backwards in developing our people and our economies. We cannot stand still in preserving the peaceful environment of our state, and we cannot stand still in deepening our democracy to serve the interests of our citizens at all levels. But we can do all these and yet go forward standing as a united people under one nation and one federation of shared values.”

Orji appealed to Nigerians to renew their faith in the country, support government at all levels and pursue ideals and visions that can foster national cohesion and put the nation on the path of real development.

“We should approach the next independence anniversary with hope, harmony, mutual respect for each other and commitments to peaceful existence with other citizens, which are all imperative to sustainable development of our nation,” he said.

He reeled out his effort to engender development in the state saying, “we are upgrading our judicial infrastructures and institutions in all areas to improve the delivery of equitable justice. We have created access to new employments by building new markets to serve the commercial interests and needs of our people, especially in Aba, Umuahia. We are refurbishing our educational institutions, improving teaching and excellence and building a knowledge-based industry and tourism in our state.

“We are creating self employment for our citizens, especially the youths – through empowerment with working tools, equipments and vehicles to ply new trades, and creation of massive employments in our privatized palm and rubber plantations at Abam and Ukwa-East.

“We are creating young entrepreneur farmers in all Local Government Areas of our state through our Liberation Farms, and new rural wealth through our refocus on agriculture as the mainstay of our state economy; and we will continue to pursue the expansion and servicing of our urban and rural roads and other infrastructures.”

He added:  “To consolidate these efforts, I call on all Abians to come on board and support our government, so that our legacy foundations in Abia State will be made stronger, faster and intensive for the realisation of our collective dreams of a better Abia State.

“Our government remains ready to partner with individuals and groups willing to devote their knowledge, resources and expertise to develop our state.

That is why we are now partnering with some reputable organised private concerns to build a new Aba International Industrial City (ABIIC) at Osisioma near Aba. When completed within 2014-15, this Mega City will relieve other Aba markets, and will be the host of cluster industries “with modern equipments and machineries located within a conducive and business friendly environment that support healthy living and industrial activities.

“It is our hope that through this new project, we will be able to recapture the fame of ‘Aba made goods’ and the ingenuity of the Aba entrepreneurs. Our goal is to re-make Aba as the true ‘Japan of Africa’ and the commercial hub of the South-eastern region and the entire nation.”

A Call To Service

L-R  Rt. Hon. Udeh Okochukwu, Speaker Abia State House of
Assembly, Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, his wife, Mercy,
Deputy Governor, Sir Emeka Ananaba; and his wife, Nene, observing the
national anthem during the swearing-in ceremony of commissioners and
permanent secretaries in Umuahia

Governor Orji congratulating the newly sworn-in Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo

A cross section of thecommissioners

SPEECH PRESENTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, CHIEF T. A. ORJI (OCHENDO), GOVERNOR ABIA STATE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF 24 NEW HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS OF ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HOLDING AT THE MICHAEL OKPARA AUDITORIUM, UMUAHIA, ON THE 8™ OCTOBER, 2013

DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

I have the pleasure to be here today to perform this ceremony of swearing-in our new Commissioners of Government and members of our State Executive Council. I know that many of you have waited anxiously for this day, and I am glad that we are finally concluding this exercise – so that we can move forward with members of the Executive Council in addressing the important issues and challenges that face our State.

As you are all aware, we are now in the mid-session of our second tenure in office. We have before us, many urgent challenges arising from the committed pursuit of our legacy projects, as well as the inevitable pressures of the politics of the future. But we need not be derailed in our resolve to delivering the dividends of democracy to Abians.

It is therefore necessary that we face all these challenges with the support and expertise of our best, devoted and loyal citizens, who also fully represent the aspirations and support of our citizens and major stakeholders’ throughout the three Senatorial Zones of our State. These have partly informed our choices in selecting our new Commissioners being sworn-in today.

We have also been very intensive in selecting the list of men and women that we swear-in today to ensure they meet our criteria of a gender sensitive Administration, experience and notable ability to perform under pressure. As usual, any lobbyists or godfathers beyond the general interests of our people have foisted no one who made the list of Commissioners on me.

I therefore expect that those we have selected to serve will give their best to the entire State. In your various portfolios, we expect you to serve with integrity, devotion, loyalty and accountability.

It is our expectations that you will provide fresh ideas and new drive to support our Government in consolidating our legacy projects, building a sustainable foundation of our economy, and moving the politics of Abia State to the next level of humility, justice and harmony as you serve our citizens.

The new Commissioners we are swearing-in today are as follows:

1. Chief (Sir) Don Ubani Commissioner for Petroleum donubani@abiastate.gov.ng

2. Dr. Kenneth Nwosu Commissioner for Agriculture kennethnwosu@abiastate.gov.ng

3. Engr. Emma Nwabuko Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs nwabuko.e@abiastate.gov.ng
4. Dr. Mrs. O. M. Philips Commissioner for Education m.philips@abiastate.gov.ng

5. Barr. Emelike Kalu Commissioner for Public Utilities emelikekalu@abiastate.gov.ng
6. Eboh Duke I. Okorie Commissioner for Lands ebohokorie@abiastate.gov.ng
7. Engr Ikechukwu Emesobom Commissioner for Transport emesobum@abiastate.gov.ng
8. Hon. K. O. Mgbeahuru Commissioner for Housing mgbeahuru@abiastate.gov.ng

9. Prince Emeka Nwachukwu (Longman) Commissioner for Works emeka.n@abiastate.gov.ng

10. David Chigbu Monday Commissioner for Sports davidchigbu@abiastate.gov.ng
11. Mrs. Nwogu Chidinma Florence  Commissioner for Science and Technology nwoguchidinma@abiastate.gov.ng
12. Dr. O. S. Ogah Commissioner for Health ogah.s@abiastate.gov.ng
13. Engr. Solomon Adaelu Commissioner for Rural Development and Poverty Reduction solomonadaelu@abiastate.gov.ng

14. Mrs Ngozi Orji Commissioner for Youth Development orjingozi@abiastate.gov.ng
15. Dr. Philip Nto Commissioner for Finance ntophilips@abiastate.gov.ng
16. Mrs. Nne Nwaejike Commissioner for Women Affairs nnenwaejike@abiastate.gov.ng
17. Elder Godwin Nna Commissioner for Physical/Urban Planning nnagodwin@abiastate.gov.ng
18. Chinwe Nwanganga Commissioner for Environment Chinwe.n@abiastate.gov.ng
19. Barr. James Okpara Commissioner for Legal and Due Process jamesopkara@abiastate.gov.ng
20. Barr. Umeh Kalu Commissioner for Justice umehkalu@abiastate.gov.ng
21. Chisom Nwamuo Commissioner for Commerce and Industry chisomnwamuo@abiastate.gov.ng
22. Hon. Sampson Orji Commissioner for Special Duties (Governor’s Office) sampson.o@abiastate.gov.ng
23. Mr. Eze Chikamnayo Commissioner for Information and Strategy ezechikamnayo@abiastate.gov.ng
24. Elder Onwuka  Uzoma Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Onwuka.u@abiastate.gov.ng
I want to remind the new Commissioners that your assignment will be especially challenging, as we seek to accomplish most of our projects and other commitments under a disciplined financial regime and urgency, especially as the seasons of expectations of our citizens, active politics and elections fever begin to emerge.

I therefore urge all those sworn-in today to bring with them the desirable winning attitude, ingenuity and deep insight in the handling of your various difficult assignments. These are the only ways you can assist our Government leave a desired legacy of service in Abia State, while also endearing yourselves with our citizens.

I congratulate all the Commissioners we swear-in today and your families and wish all of you a very successful tenure.

Thank you and God bless Abia State!

Fighting Poverty

                                          Mrs. Orji
                                         

With pervasive poverty, a novel idea to help the indigent of society work together through savings groups and a support programme is helping to get lives back on track in Abia State, writes Charles Ajunwa

“What we are doing in Abia is to make sure that people prosper. That is why I keep moving around the state mobilising people to engage in income generating activities in order to promote their standards of living,” said Mrs. Mercy Orji the First Lady of Abia State. “Since I realised this innate gift from my creator, I have never stopped giving especially to the less-privileged in the society. This is what God wants me to do, and I will continue to do it for the rest of my life.”
Like elsewhere, families still struggle to buy school supplies for their children in Abia State, but the wife of the governor, Mrs. Orji is taking to heart the challenge faced by the poor.

On a recent Saturday, Hannah-May Foundation, a charity managed by Orji distributed various empowerment items to the indigents and unemployed in the state.
A total of 850 beneficiaries drawn from the 17 local government areas of the state got various items of empowerment from the organisation at a ceremony that took place in Umuahia Township Stadium.
The items include sewing machines, generating sets, barbing kits, hair dryers, grinding machines, desktop computers, weaving machines and vulcanising machines.
Mrs. Orji who personally supervised the distribution of the various empowerment items, urged the beneficiaries to utilise them to break away from poverty

An elated Mrs. Orji told the beneficiaries who were singing and dancing that the items, if properly managed would make them become self-reliant.
She had also in the recent past distributed wheel chairs, artificial limbs, foodstuffs and even built and furnished homes for some indigent men and women who have nobody to support them. The philanthropic work embarked upon by her NGO, according to Mrs. Orji is in line with the policy thrust of Governor Theodore Orji’s government.

According to her, the multiplier effects of such philanthropic gestures will help many indigent people in the society to become self-reliant in addition to creating employments for others.
The Abia First Lady who is never tired of assisting the less-privileged had earlier distributed gift items like bags of rice, salt, beans, treated mosquito nets, cartons of beverages, toiletries, cosmetics, detergent among others to 34 less-privileged homes in the state. The beneficiaries include, Uzuakoli Motherless Babies Home, Ahieke Ndume, Agape Orphanage, Nigeria Prisons, Umuahia, and School of the Blind in Afara Umuahia.

Apart from giving out free gifts to the less-privileged, Mrs. Orji facilitated the construction of a skill acquisition centre in the state capital to enable the youths and women to be trained in various trades.
And now that centre is a beehive of activities and a place of fulfillment for many who are getting their lives back on the track.
“I believe the modern skill acquisition centre located at the New Umuahia Layout, is a dream come through. During my husband’s electioneering campaigns across the state, I promised the women and youths that I will build a befitting skill acquisition centre and today, I am glad that the whole idea has been realised. That beautiful dream has turned into fruition. I give God Almighty the glory for enabling me to realise this project, which is my pet project for the state. Of course, this was made possible through the support of my darling and caring husband, Governor Theodore A. Orji,” she said.

She added: “Honestly, the whole thing was influenced by my personal experience in life. I want to use this opportunity to specially thank my husband for always being there for me. I was able to realise this today through his active support both morally and financially. We have about 10 trades offered at the skill acquisition centre namely--Information Technology, fashion designing and interior decoration, shoe making, electrical, catering and home management, electronic and radio repairs, plumbing, wielding as well as GSM repairs.”
Orji said that Abia youths would continue to enjoy the services of the centre, long after she leaves office because “we have capable hands that run the centre after I must have left office. For example, the permanent secretary in Women Affairs and Social Development, which is affiliated to my office, is a no-nonsense woman. When I leave office the next person that will come in will not allow the project to collapse because the whole programme is targeted at the youths, men and women. 

“I will like to be remembered for good when I go out from here because of the good work I have done in Abia State. I want to leave a legacy so that I will be remembered just like my husband who is leaving behind very good legacy in the state.”

ABIA AT 22: OCHENDO IS WORKING

Emezue

By Ugochukwu Emezue

Since the creation of Abia State 22 years ago, several administrations both military and civilian, have come and gone without laying a solid foundation for the God’s Own State. The state remained backwards. There was no reasonable development on the ground in a state that was blessed with both human and material resources.

Umuahia, the capital city, remained a glorified village while Aba the supposed commercial nerve of the state which used to be the hub for commerce diminished greatly during these locust years characterized by high level of non-performance. All infrastructures in the state were not only comatose, what existed as roads had no good drainage system.  This was the state of things in Abia when Chief T.A. Orji came on board in 2007. Governor Orji ascended this exalted office with a clear mission and vision on how to turn things around for good. Governor Orji who is popularly called Ochendo (one who provides shelter or one who protects life) by his admirers quickly steered the ship of Abia on the right direction of prosperity and development.

During his first tenure, Governor Orji is came out with a blue print to transform the state, but his vision, plans and aspirations were badly affected due to over 20 court cases instituted by his opponents against his administration which lingered for about four years.

The overbearing nature of his predecessor even worsened matters as the entire state was completely in bondage.

As a man who has a divine mandate and the support of Abians, Governor Orji having won all the court cases against him confronted the challenges head on. As a man who has direct link with God, Governor Orji later liberated the state from the stranglehold of one man. With this fresh air of liberation, a new dawn was ushered in the Abia polity. The darkness vanished as the light sets in. As a fearless leader, Governor Orji boldly confronted all the challenges working against the wheel of progress in the state.
Having restored confidence, dignity and peace in the state with the stamping out of kidnapping which held the state down for many months, Governor Orji quickly went into action.

Unlike in the past when Abia cannot boast of a functional health care delivery system, what is on ground today remains a beauty to behold. Apart from the building of over 250 well equipped health care centres across the state, Governor Orji’s government went a step further by building a world class diagnostic centre in Aba and Umuahia. This diagnostic centre which was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan is equipped with state of the art equipment. All the health facilities provided by Governor Orji are accessible to all Abians without any discrimination. Governor Orji always said that he wanted everybody in the state to be healthy to enable them contribute their quota to the development of Abia.

Just few weeks ago, Ochendo recorded another mileage with the commissioning of a state of the art dialysis centre by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

Beyond this, Amachara General Hospital Umuahia, now Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic centre, is being transformed as new structures comprising children hospital, emergency hall, doctors residence, 100-bed hospital are all there for everyone to see.

Just recently, Agbami Group, a big player in the oil industry in partnership with Abia State Government built an ultra-modern chest clinic which was commissioned by Governor Orji.
In no distant time, the state government will commence the building of a world class eye centre in Umuahia.

The transformation going on at Okeikpe and Arochukwu General Hospitals is a confirmation of Governor Orji’s desire to bring health to the door step of every Abian. 

Abians in Diaspora through the office of the First Lady, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji, has continued to support the present administration as foreign medical missions continue to visit the state to give free medical treatments to the people of the state.

Most states of the federation have no befitting secretariat for their workers.  But the story in Abia is quite different as Governor Orji building a modern secretariat for the worker at Ogurube Layout in Umuahia while the old federal secretariat had been renovated.

Within the same vicinity, a new complex for the Ministry of Local Government and chieftaincy Affairs is springing up and will soon be completed.

The foundation stone of this edifice was laid by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku who visited most of these legacy projects during the National Media Tour by the Ministry of Information.
As a seasoned technocrat who spent a better part of his life in the Civil Service and rising to the position of a Permanent Secretary, Governor Orji shortly after assuming office promoted all civil servants to the next grade level.

As a product of the Judiciary, the amiable governor of Abia State, Governor Orji has embarked on a total renovation and building of new courts in the state.  Passing through Ikot Ekpene road in Umuahia, one cannot but notice the sudden turn-around of what used to be the old Magistrate and High Courts in the state capital which are now wearing a new look.

Beside the renovated High Court, is the new imposing Umuahia High Court which has six court halls and offices for judicial workers.  The old Appeal Court in Umuahia is also wearing a new look.

Also, in Aba the state government has renovated the old Magistrate Court and a new High Court is also being constructed.  Just recently the newly constructed and well equipped Ministry of Justice Complex was commissioned by the state Governor amidst pomp and celebration.

Presently, the state government is erecting a state of the art International Conference Centre sited at the New Umuahia which when completed will be hosting local and international business Summits and entertainment shows.

Today, Abia Government House to say the least is an eye sore as the old edifices are inherited from the colonial masters.  It is against this background that Governor Orji’s administration is on the verge of giving Abians a befitting Government House.

Still on the legacy projects, the New ASEPA building has been commissioned, with workers of the environment agency, discharging their duties in a dignifying and serene environment. The building was commissioned by the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

The Speaker was on hand also to commission the New Industrial Market, which is a landmark achievement of Chief T.A. Orji’s administration.  During the media tour embarked upon by the Minister of Information, Maku, he commended Governor Orji on this project which he said is affecting the common people positively.

For any first time visitor to Abia State especially Umuahia the state capital, the sight of a ramshackle market at the heart of the city is quite disheartening. This situation will soon be a thing of the past as this market will be relocated to its new site at Ubani Ibeku which is also becoming a sprawling town with the springing up of a housing estate near the market. The Ubani Ibeku Market is expected to be commissioned in no distant time.

One area Abia State Government has also excelled is in the construction of housing estates, one of which is the recently commissioned Amaokwe Housing Estate Adelabu Street, Umuahia.
The relocation of mechanics, spare part dealers and artisans to Ohiya Mechanic Village has no doubt helped in giving Umuahia a face lift.

The Legislature is not left out in the transformation agenda of Chief T.A. Orji’s administration, as the House of Assembly has been renovated, even as a new office complex is being built for the legislators. Already the Deputy Speaker’s Lodge has been commissioned.

In the area of education, Chief T.A. Orji is constructing an E-Library which Abia students are expected to use to enhance their studies. Apart from the remodeling of most schools in the state, this administration has built and equipped over 450 schools in the past two years.

The Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State which is the clearest voice East of the Niger can now boast of a world class edifice that will be commissioned in a matter of weeks.

Presently, work is in progress with regards to the construction of Shoprite Mall, few months after the Governor laid the foundation stone in Umuahia. Other Legacy Projects that have been built and commissioned by the Governor include the Planning Commission Complex and the Skill Acquisition Centre which is the brainchild of Abia State’s First Lady.

To ensure that there is constant power supply in Umuahia and its environs, Abia State Government evacuated power from the Ohiya Power Station owned by the Federal Government to many parts of the Abia State and other neighbouring states.

With the legacy projects being commissioned periodically, Chief T.A. Orji has laid a solid foundation for this generation and indeed future generations of Abians.

There is no doubt that Abians wherever they are today will stand tall and definitely be proud of Chief T.A. Orji as Gods Own State celebrates its 22 years of existence.

Indeed, Ochendo is not relenting as months ahead will be witnessing unprecedented achievements. Already, the governor’s arm chair critics have nothing again to say or write against the administration of Ochendo Global. His good works have permanently shut the mouths of his veracious critics.
God bless Abia State at 22!


Emezue, is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor T.A. Orji of Abia State.

Chikamnayo: Governor Orji Has an Excellent Mid-term Record

                                            Chikamnayo

The immediate past Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, in this interview with journalists in Lagos, gives interesting insights into the achievements of Governor Theodore Orji in the second year of his second term in office. Charles Ajunwa captures the discussion. Excerpts:

Governor Theodore Orji recently marked the second year of his second term in office. What is your assessment of the governor’s midterm performance?

Governor Orji is a man that is blessed with Midas touch, everything he touches turns to gold and all his life, by the grace of God, he has been able to achieve what many people hitherto thought was impossible. Before he became governor in 2007, Abia State had wallowed in what I will call an era of stagnation. Abia State is over 20 years old but you find out that it is under the era of Chief T.A Orji that the foundation of the state is being laid afresh. And you ask yourself why it is so. May be the people who were there before will answer that question, but suffice it to say that Governor Orji is the one that is currently laying fresh foundations for Abia State. He has taken Abia so far that if one is asked to chronicle his achievements, it is a bit difficult to do that in just one interview.
For us to understand the great quantum leap that Orji has made in terms of Abia’s development, we have to look at the four major flanks of his administration: the first is security, the second is empowerment, the third is infrastructural revolution, and the fourth is value re- orientation. One may say there are other sectors in the government but in the way and creative manner that the governor has handled Abia, you will see that all the different sectors are covered by these four major flanks.

Can you give some explanation on what the governor has done in these four areas?
You cannot make adequate critical analysis without making some form of comparative analysis. That is to say that if you look at what the security situation in Abia was before and what it is after the advent of Orji’s government. All of us in Nigeria knew when Abia was always in the news for the wrong reasons of kidnapping and other criminalities. It was an era where investment and infrastructural development were impossible because no contractor will like to go to any site when even his own life is not guaranteed. Today, the situation has changed contractors now fall over each other trying to work for Abia State.

There is security in Aba, Umuahia and other parts of Abia State. As you all know, Abia has become a destination of choice for major national events. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), and other national organisations are all coming to Abia to hold their conferences and retreats. This is a testimonial to the success of Orji’s commitment and policy in the area of security. From being a pariah state, Abia is now a destination of choice.

The governor did not resort to self-help or creation of one group or the other but he showed faith in the legally constituted security agencies by equipping them adequately with the materials that they need to work. Just some few months ago, Orji was voted the Best Governor in Security in Nigeria by independent analysts all the way from Ghana. Now, remember that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria emphasised that it is the responsibility of every government to provide security and welfare for the citizens. Security comes first.

Very close to security is the issue of peaceful coexistence of different individuals and groups in the state. Remember that before Orji came on board, Abia was polarised up till 2007. Because of the bad politics of his predecessor, prominent Abians went on exile and constituted themselves into different groups to fight the injustice of that time.
When the Abba Gana committee came to Umuahia, it voted Orji as the Ambassador of Peace in Nigeria. Few weeks ago, the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, was in Abia to commission some projects.

But in the area of infrastructure, some allege that the governor has abandoned Aba?
Governor Orji has not abandoned Aba. In Aba, in the last two years Orji has commissioned 22 roads, 18 of them given out at the same time, including Milverton Avenue, where these transporters normally take off to Lagos. Azikiwe Avenue which is the major tributary in the road networks in Aba, the Geometric Road is a brand new road delivered by Governor Orji for the purpose of catalysing industrial growth.

You know the Geometric Power Plant embarked upon by the former Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, is unique and the first of its kind in the whole of Nigeria. In fact, a few weeks from now the first independent power plant will start in Nigeria at Aba, and with that Abia will witness a complete turn-around in power because what the Geometric Power Plant promises is uninterruptible power supply. Even with the type of technology that they are applying, there will be two phases of light simultaneously on stream such that if one is going out, the other one in a thermostatic manner will come on stream.

In Aba also, our governor has facilitated the kind of development we call the Clean and Green. Formerly between Osisioma Park and Alaoji, if you have any reason to go to Port Harcourt from Aba, you will be confronted with the sight of waste dumps, that ugly scenario persisted for eight years before Governor Orji came on board. Today, those garbage have been cleared, in its place we have a beautiful arcade surrounding the landscape, to the glory of God and to the joy of Abia residents.

Governor Orji has been able to reopen the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation depot in Osisioma. For the past 15 years or so that depot was completely closed down as a result of vandalism of pipelines connecting the depot to Port Harcourt. The presence of the NNPC depot has facilitated all kinds of opportunities and trickledown effect that has positively affected the economy of that area.
Similarly, Ukwu Mango at Ariaria which nobody had ever imagined that would one day become accessible because of the challenge posed by flood and refuse dumping, the governor has been able to bring sanity to the place. He has also opened up other interior roads in Ariaria. Governor Orji constructed the overhead bridge around the Abia Polytechnic which is the first of its kind in the whole of Abia State.
If you talk about the second year of the second term of Governor Orji, he has given Aba a new lease of life.

What would you say of the governor’s attention to Umuahia?
Umuahia is not just a location in Abia, it is a common heritage among Abia people, just like most state capitals in Nigeria which are symbolic locations that showcase the common heritage of the people of those states. It may interest you to know that for the past 20 years of its creation, Abia had no single outstanding building that was constructed in Umuahia by all the previous administrations. I had challenged some journalists to prove me wrong on this, I have said it before that if any journalist should provide a photograph of a structure built by the previous government after eight years in the saddle I would resign my position as a commissioner. Between 1999 and 2007, the basic administrative structures needed for the running of government were absent in Umuahia.

Today, Umuahia is completely renewed. There is a wonderful edifice, first of its kind, standing to the glory of God. There is now a fresh foundation in Abia. The former governor ran Abia in a rented apartment, it is Governor Orji that is now building a secretariat and other symbolic architectures in the state capital.

When you go to the old Ikot Ekpene Road, you see the type of change that has taken place in the judiciary quarters that is in addition to the new buildings at the Ministry of Justice, the police quarters and the new Industrial Market. Before Governor Orji came on board, what we had was a timber shed somewhere around the World Bank and the presence of that timber shed in that narrow location made it impossible for the residents to enjoy a fresh lease of life. It was also impossible for any expansion because the place was already congested. But today we now have a new industrial market, the biggest of its kind around, well planned with fire service station, good toilet facilities, halls, security offices and hospitals.

Governor Orji did that market in 12 months and it was commissioned by Tambuwal when he came to Umuahia. We also have the New Urban Market as well as the Mechanic Village. Similarly, when you talk of housing estates, you are talking about a government that has within two years done a total of seven housing estates, namely, the Amoba Housing Estate, the Amokwe Housing Estate, among others.

In every sector, you see a lot of developments. Of course, the central thing in these developments is the construction of a brand new International Conference Centre. What the present government inherited was the Michael Okpara Auditorium which is just like a community hall. But the International Conference Centre in Abia today can only be compared to the International Conference Centre Abuja, even though that of Abia has more meeting halls and facilities. In Umuahia, we have commissioned more than 36 roads at the last count.

Governor Orji has done exceedingly well, he has become known as the legacy governor that is building legacy projects and running a legacy government. He is brazing the trail on how to strike a balance between scarce resources and prudent management for the general good of the people.