Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has said with the rate of work going on in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the party to beat.
Orji said the PDP has come to stay in the state because of the things he has put on ground.
Orji cautioned party members to steer clear of those who are trying to sneak into the party to destroy it.
He said he has laid a solid foundation for the state.
“So that another PDP governor coming after me will have less work to do . “
Two years after the liberation of Abia State, after the revolution that conquered the ancien regime, it is time to put Governor Theodore Orji on the scale. It is time to march the light-bearer of the people’s mandate to the dock for cross examination. It is time to assess the grand march to freedom, to review the journey so far. How has Abia fared? What is the experiential feel of the people in the new life of freedom?
Indeed, the month of May is a month of reckoning when our nascent democracy is put on trial for self-defence. The May 29 Democracy Day anniversary is now crucial for our political history. It is not only a day of celebration but more importantly a day of stock-taking. Just as every individual’s story is different and particular so also is the story of states and nations. For Abia State, it is a long walk to freedom, a struggle of emancipation. Like Plato’s allegory of the cave-dweller where the cave inhabitant marches through darkness in search of light, the story of Abia democracy under Orji is a complex trajectory through bondage and then liberation.
Monuments are great legacies and great footprints in the sands of time. They are marks of noble leadership. Governor Orji has concentrated energy in building a galaxy of legacies in Abia. But, in my personal evaluation, his greatest legacy for which posterity must sing eulogies is his deed of gift of freedom to the people of God’s Own State. For, as Voltaire, the French Philosophy of the Enlightenment noted, freedom is the parent of all the needs of the human spirit.
Today and 24 months in the second saddle, Orji is confidently stepping out to the market square to show himself approved a workman who does not need to be ashamed. For a people who have seen the two sides of tyranny and then freedom, they are better witnesses in this open trail of the Ibeku man. They are better judges and jurists in this open court of public conscience. Under Orji, there are no more tin-gods and tin-mother-gods in Abia. Nobody goes to Igbere or Nweke Street or anywhere to prostrate before human deities of power. The word “Okija” is totally obliterated out of the Abia social and political lexicon.
Throughout the campaigns in 2011 and at the inauguration, Orji spoke about his covenant with the people. He expressed determination to break off from the past, to lead Abia out of the doldrums. True to his words, he has led a successful revolution of the mind. The mental orientation towards politics and power in Abia has changed. Power is no more a matter of a cult of brotherhood headed by one family. Nobody carries a cow to any godfather to pay obeisance. Unlike in the past where people make pilgrimages to Igbere, Orji enthroned true representative democracy where all Abians of every hue and colour could have a chance to serve.
In Abia today, it is the communities and the constituencies that make nominations for commissioners and other political offices. The advisers and assistants are appointed based on merit, track record and competence. Today, meritocracy has been restored as against mediocrity. In the past, it was a case of class distortion and class destruction wherein the elite became endangered species while goons and lay-about became the ruling class.
Another great legacy of value is the stability and harmony that Orji has brought into the Abia polity. Starting from his administration, he has served with only one team in the last two years. In the days of bondage, there would have been more than ten dissolutions or reshuffling of cabinet by now. Destiny thrust into his hands a society that was visibly at war, a state that was highly polarized where the parties were at daggers drawn. Precisely, he inherited war. But, he did not go the way of the Mosaic – an eye for an eye. He did not amass arsenals for a return fire. He chose the path of Mahatma Gandhi – truth, peace and reconciliation.
He embarked on a mission of reconciling the state. He threw out an olive branch and threw the door of government house open. In the new air of freedom, the exiles returned home, the old fugitives returned home to embrace their erstwhile foes. The political warriors laid down their arms and all, in one collective spirit, enlisted into the new vision of Abia. This was how the governor came to be the first National Peace Ambassador.
Indeed, as Orji stands at the market square this month to give account of his stewardship, one issue will be very pertinent. And that is that the first primary duty of government is the maintenance of law and order. This should be the mother of all assessments, the most paramount indices for measuring successful leadership. How has Abia fared under Orji in terms of law and order? Abia, undeniably, has been an oasis of sanity. Orji’s Abia is standing tall in the federation as a model state in terms of law and order and social harmony. And this was not legislated into existence but a product of committed and pragmatic action.
In the midst of a country gripped by violence, where bloodshed either by accident or by deliberate organized crime make the headlines everyday in the papers, Abia State has remained an isolated case of a sort of heaven on earth where peace reigns and where residents sleep with their doors wide open. And, I emphasize again, this did not come by fiat neither by providence but a product of judicious and strategic governance. Governor Orji toiled day and night, tasked his brain and mind to attain this state for his people. Thus, Orji is the builder of a new Abia of law and order.
Orji has also run a legacy regime. This regime is about catering for the welfare of the people in terms of infrastructural renewal and provision of social amenities. Today, with a paltry N3.5 billion monthly federal allocation, from where he pays a monthly salary bill of N2.5billion, he has been able to build legacy projects, like the world-class Conference Centre in Umuahia, the new four-storey Secretariat Complex, the new Government House, the Abia Diagnostic Centre in Umahia and Aba, the new High Court building, new modern offices for the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia and a host of other monumental projects. The roads in Aba and Umuahia have been transformed.
In the power sector, there has been a revolution in Umuahia and its environs where Orji deployed about N1.5 billion to execute a power evacuation work from the Federal Government installed 132/133 kVA power facility at Ohiya. The power is evacuated to other distribution points at Oboro, Afara, Ikwuegwu, Obowo and the Umuahia environs. Today, in Umuahia, electricity supply has been improved by nearly 100 percent and this has engendered a new life in Abia.
It is farming season in the east and Orji has launched an agricultural revolution. There are Liberation Farms spread across the 17 local councils of the state. They are expected to employ about 10,000 workers when fully operational. Already, 50 Abians are working at the Okeikpe farms, the plot project of the liberation farms where plantain is being bred. For the first time in Abia, a leader emerged that made youth empowerment a top priority in the government policy schedule. This came to a climax recently in an open ceremony where the Governor distributed over 200 vehicles to youths to enable them embark on small-scale businesses.
In the area of the minimum wage regime. Abia State under Governor Orji is one of the first five states that started paying the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure early in 2011, ditto for the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health assistants, health officers, vet officers, agric health officers nurses and doctors. In the same vein, Abia is also one of the few states that immediately paid the ASUU agreed salary structure for universities. He also went beyond the Federal Government prescribed N18,000 minimum wage for civil servants and followed the NLC standardized salary regime and has been paying N21,100 since December 2011.
This is but a brief testimonial for the Abia liberation, the vindication of the liberator. At the market square, Like Paul of Tarsus, Orji would stand on the podium, his hands spread out to the heavens, and say: I have fought the good fight. “I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”
• Adindu is the President-general of the Abia Renaissance Movement (ARM)
The Anglican Archbishop of Aba Province, Rt. Rev Ikechukwu Nwosu, yesterday berated security agents for blocking Governors Peter Obi (Anambra) and Theodore Orji (Abia) from entering the St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Ogidi, where a funeral service was held for the late Prof. Chinua Achebe.
Rev Nwosu said it was wrong of President Goodluck Jonathan’s security aides to block the governors and clerics from entering the church for any reason.
Rev Nwosu said politicians should caution their aides at functions.
He said: “If these priests are not here, Achebe will not be buried. The security men broke the rule of order of service by locking the bishops outside. Without the men of God, everybody will be seated here doing nothing.
“Not only that the priests were locked out, the host governor, Mr. Peter Obi and the Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji were equally prevented from coming inside the church. That is not the way to do things.”
Many of the dignitaries who attended the church service, including reporters, were frisked by the security operatives.
Rev Nwosu, who represented the Anglican Primate Rt. Rev Nicholas Okoh, said the late Achebe was known for his “ parable to the Nigerian nation, his foundational upbringing and his social actions’’ quoting from Matthew 3: 34.
He said the late Achebe’s achievements were informed by his determination and trust in God, adding that there was no hopeless situation on earth.
•Tambuwal woos electorate
Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has said his presence at the civic reception for the member representing Aba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Uzo Azubuike, was not a governorship endorsement.
Orji said he made the clarification because people are good at peddling rumours.
Also at the reception were the Speaker of the House Of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha.
Tambuwal solicited for the support of Abia electorate in re-electing House members from the state in 2015.
“I appreciate you, the good people of Abia State and thank you sincerely for the gift of the members of the House of Reps that you have given us.
“They have represented their constituencies well.
“I know you have the tradition of returning whoever that does well.
“Abia is one of the states that has the highest record of returning its lawmakers who have served well.
“I know you will still use your good sense of judgment to reconfirm the confidence you have in your members of the National Assembly in 2015.” Tambuwal posited.
Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) chieftain Chief Nnamdi Orji has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State. He defected in his native Ameke ward, Abiriba, Ohafia Local Government Area.
The defector was presented to the party by Chief Sunday Ifeigbo, who explained that Orji has returned to the party to join the leaders in rebuilding the edifice.
The ward chaiman, Prosper Okoro said: “History is today being made in Abiriba politics and every member of the party is happy to welcome Chief Nnamdi Orji back into the fold.”
Orji recalled the cisrcum-stances th at forced him out of the party. He said that, although he won the ticket for the House of Representatives seat in Arochukwu/ Ohafia Constituency, he was denied the ticket. He said that deprivation was injurious to his supporters in the constituency.
Orji enjoined the party members to make sacrifice for the party, adding that the party can only survive in an atmosphere of unity and harmony.
He said the PDP has a brighter future in Abia State, if its leaders can manage their achievements.
Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has said that the basic problem plaguing the nation’s health sector is disharmony among the various categories of workers in the health institutions.
Orji made the assertion in a keynote address at the 2013 health week organised by the state branch of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria in Umuahia.
The governor, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Okechukwu Ogah, urged the workers to recoup the huge investment made in the sector by the government.
He said the state government had invested much in equipping the hospitals.
“Everybody must not depend on the federal allocation as the only source of revenue to pay the workers.
“We have installed dialysis machines at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba.
“We also have dialysis machines at Abia State Specialist Hospital, Umuahia and these can help to generate revenue,’’ he said.
The governor added that his administration had constructed and equipped 250 primary health centres in addition to the existing ones in the 17 council areas.
Orji said the state ministry of health would soon begin free screening for diabetes, hypertension and high blood pressure.
He said the programmes were in line with the administration’s goals of promoting healthy living among the people.
Chief Uchenna Obigwe, the union chairman in the state, said the week was to showcase the importance of peace, co-operation and team work in the nation’s health institutions.
Obigwe said that for effective healthcare service, all aspects of the healthcare system should be well taken care of.
He called for adequate and uniform remuneration of health workers in the state.
Also, Dr Ikechukwu Nwabekee, a lawmaker who chaired the occasion, said two bills for the management of the health sector were pending in the state House of Assembly.
Nwabekee, representing Osisioma Ngwa Constituency, said the assembly was aware of the problem of disparity in the salaries of health workers and that it would be addressed.
Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has condoled with the family of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo on the death of Mr. Oluwole Awolowo, publisher of the Nigerian Tribune.
He described it as a loss to the nation.
In a statement by his media aide, Ugochukwu Emezue, Orji said he received the news with “shock and sadness”.
He said the late Oluwole would be remembered for his contribution to the growth of the media.
Orji said although the late Oluwole was the son of a great man, he was humble and gentle.
He sent his condolences to Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; the deceased’s mother, Mama H.I.D. Awolowo; and the people of Ogun State.
Orji prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.
A group of Ngwa politicians, led by Rt. Hon. Christopher Enweremadu, has thrown their weight behind an Ukwa-Ngwa gubernatorial candidate nominated by Governor Theodore Orji as his successor come 2015 general election.
The group made their position known in Aba after a courtesy visit to the Oha Ngwa Traditional Rulers Council (an umbrella body of traditional rulers in Ngwaland).
According to Enweremadu, “Today, we took advantage of the periodic meeting of traditional rulers in Ngwaland under the auspices of Oha Ngwa Traditional Rulers Council, to update them on the current political developments in our area as it affects some of us.
“One being that we see the need for the Ngwa man to continue to support the present administration in the state, led by Theodore Orji. We see that as a way to pay back for so many good things he has done in this state. It is only a man that is alive that can begin to enjoy the pleasures of life. The numerous achievements of this state under Orji cannot be overemphasised. And we are also grateful that we are not the only ones that have acknowledged the importance of security in the state.”
Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has called for concerted efforts to improve technical and vocational skill acquisition in Nigeria.
Orji made this call in Aba during the graduation of 1,000 youths, who were trained by the Industrial Training Fund Institute (ITF) and National Industrial Skill Development Programme (NISP) on garment manufacturing and Information Communications Technology (ICT).
Orji, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Akujuobi Nkoro, said: “As a largely agrarian economy, which depends on crude oil production , it will be perilous indeed, if we continue to pay lip-service to technical and vocational skill acquisition.”
The governor called on stakeholders to work to ensure that the graduates were employed or assisted to set up their own businesses through provision of loan facilities.
It is expected that a drowning man will not like to go down alone; rather he will be desperate to pull others down along with himself, if it is possible. And where it appears impossible, he comes out confused, frustrated and helpless.
I refer here to an interview by the former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu – a man who has been in political limbo, since his successor T. A. Orji liberated the state from his grip. The former governor in the interview with his newspaper, The Sun made a lot of claims – cleverly woven lies to attract undue public sympathy. They range from the reasons for the political differences with his successor, the incumbent Governor Orji; how he met the former and how former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo asked his mother to install his brother as his successor in office and other issues.
The former governor conveniently failed to tell the world why T.A Orji, his successor went to prison and why he did not quarrel with him until the latter liberated the state following his defection from PPA to PDP. May be the former governor forgot that Nigerians are neither fools nor do they suffer from amnesia.
Since 1999, it is an axiomatic that governors do not choose their successors and members of their kitchen cabinet from people they did not know very well or who have not made any impact in their lives before they became governors. It is public knowledge that the governor of Abia State Chief Theodore Ahamefula Orji is a 1978 English graduate of University of Ibadan. After completing his youth service in Sokoto, he was employed as a civil servant by old Imo State Civil Service Commission. From then he was in public service rising to the position of Administrative Secretary in the then National Electoral Commission (NECON) now INEC.
His predecessor, with limited education, on the other hand rode on the back of his mother to fame, having served as an errand boy for the military hawks that ruled the country for years. That is why he had to enrol for a degree programme at Abia State University Uturu in 2002 as sitting governor of the state.
The story of the relationship between the due went back to the time of Kalu’s bid to emerge as the governorship candidate of PDP in the 1999 elections. Faced with stiff opposition, he ran to Orji, then with NECON, for help. The latter, in his good nature obliged.
After the elections, Kalu in the attempt to reciprocate the gesture approached him to join his government as Chief of Staff, a very strategic, sensitive and powerful position in government.
For the eight years he served as Chief of Staff, he displayed high level of professionalism and diligence, borne of the immeasurable experience garnered in the civil service over several decades.
That position prepared him for the Herculean task of governance and challenges of holding public office. After Kalu’s second term, the search for his successor began. The factors that determined the choice of the successor included the personality, the senatorial zone and the choice of majority of the party stakeholders in the state. The then Chief of Staff came in handy as he fitted the bill.
Before then, President Olusegun Obasanjo who had been at loggerhead with then Governor Kalu had already thrown his weight behind one of his aides, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu from Abia Central zone to emerge as PDP governorship candidate and possibly as the next governor of the state. This made the stakeholders in PPA to zero the search for Kalu’s successor to Abia Central zone.
That was how the choice of Orji was made by the party. Kalu being from Abia North senatorial zone couldn’t have chosen his successor from the zone again in the interest of fairness and equity. Besides his numerous deputies which he changed at will during his tenure were all from Abia South senatorial zone, the likely zone that might produce Orji’s successor in 2015.
At the time Orji emerged as the PPA governorship candidate in the state, his predecessor had been on the wanted list of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for corruption. But because of the constitutional immunity that he enjoyed then, the anti-graft agency could not arrest or prosecute him. That was how Orji was arrested and incarcerated for offence allegedly committed by his boss.
While Orji was in EFCC custody, his wife, Mercy Odochi Orji whom he married while both of them were in secondary school being an only child of his parents traversed the nooks and crannies of the state with other party members campaigning for her husband. The people who knew that Orji was being politically persecuted over a criminal offence he knew nothing about voted for him en masse and he won the election against his kinsman and major rival in the election, Chief Ugochukwu of PDP.
His release from prison before his swearing-in was made possible following the inability of the EFCC to arraign him to prefer any charges.
On Orji’s assumption of office as governor, Kalu hijacked the government and installed his younger brother as Chief of Staff. He made other sensitive appointments which included the commissioner of Finance, Works, and Accountant-General of the State and others. Council chairmen in the state were accountable and answerable to Mother Excellency –mother of the former governor.
The situation remained like that for almost four years. Throughout this period of manna, Kalu never complained or criticised Orji for anything, not even on non-performance as being bandied now by the same man that was responsible for Orji’s non-performance during his first term.
But immediately Orji liberated the state from his control and started promoting good governance driven by people-oriented and legacy projects that are rapidly on-going across the state, his predecessor started crying foul by calling Orji and his government names. But how can somebody who failed in the provision of good governance teach or preach such to somebody that has done far better than him? Is it not the issue of teacher teaching nonsense to his students? Enough of the deceit by the former governor; the state government is no longer his family estate.
• Elder Umah (KSJ), a community leader wrote from Aba, Abia State.