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.”