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Tag: Theodore Ahamefule Orji

  • T. A. Orji (Ochendo) at 75

    T. A. Orji (Ochendo) at 75

    By Eddie Onuzuruike

    The Greek mythology and Igbo cosmology share common features. They believe that there is magic in the name. Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji was so named on November 9, 1950 when he was born as his father knew what he wanted from God. Theodore in Greek means gift of God. It is a classic name with rich history often associated with strength and wisdom.

    Ahamefule in Igbo proclaims: let my name not be lost! There are other dialectal variables like Obi m Echila, Amaechila and Nkemdirim. All these are pleas for success and continuity. Ironically, Ahamefule Orji was born a lone child of the mother, Daa Ifeoma of blessed memory. His lone child status seemed like a single tree which according to a popular saying cannot make a forest. This connotes great impossibility but iconic Nelson Mandela once observed that it seems impossible until it is done.

     Life experiences and some bible stories have semblance of multiple stories of impossibilities that later became possible through faith, ultimate believe in God and determination. We can remember the case of David and Goliath, wars and battles of Alexander the great, scintillating escapades of Joan of Arc, the scientific discoveries and inventions of Albert Einstein that changed the world yet his teacher in his early years wrote off as a dull child. Others are Thomas Edison and Moses of the bible who lead Israel off captivity.

    Senator T A Orji is one such personification of a tree that made a forest and a great lesson where a father’s wish prodded his son to great heights.

    Chief Tom Ikoro Orji, a notable Warrant Chief of the colonial era, the first to own a story building among his peers fancied the impeccable lifestyle of the colonial officer popularly known as D O, short for District Officer. He thought aloud and wished young Theodore to be like the D O and Senator Orji then promised himself to make the dream come true. It wasn’t easy all the way as at some point in the developmental stages, he trekked for some hours from Amokwe Ugba Ibeku to Sancta Crux College Olokoro, a snaky road crossing rivers and rivulets of Ndume, Agbama and Olokoro on daily basis during his secondary school era.

    It should be noted that it was only duly determined children who persevered as many at some point became truants and only appeared at home during mealtimes. Undeterred, young Ahamefule strode gallantly to Holy Ghost College Owerri for his higher school and capped his education with a university degree at the prestigious University of Ibadan strictly on merit.

    After his NYSC in present day Sokoto State, he joined the Imo State Civil Service as an Administrative Officer, serving a succession of military officers like Sunday Adenihun, Ike Nwachukwu, Amadi Ikwuechegh and others before the creation of Abia State when he came back to continue his dedicated service to the young state.

    His habitual excellent services threw him up for secondment to a federal agency, the NECON that metamorphosed into INEC of today. This historic secondment wasn’t on a platter of gold as it was hotly contested in an exam with his peer and soul mate of blessed memory, Chief Halley Onuoha.

    His return from secondment as a Principal Secretary and later Permanent Secretary metamorphosed into the political appointment as the Chief of Staff to the governor of Abia State in 1999, a position he occupied for eight years when Abia witnessed a quick succession of deputy governors.

    His name, Ahamefule and Chi guided him as he was sworn in as the 3rd democratically elected governor of Abia on May 29, 2007 but not without scruples as he made history when he was elected while in the hot enclosures of illegal detention.

    His governorship for eight years on a paltry monthly allocation which dangled precariously from N3 billion to N3.5 billion that scarcely paid salaries yet witnessed innovations in policy and infrastructures, economic growth, education, healthcare delivery and core leadership. A few examples will suffice.

    The health sector was revolutionized, with Abia Diagnostic Centers equipped with dialysis machines hitherto unknown in Abia, 100 bed hospitals in many LGAs, ambulances and all resulting in Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, the then Minister of Health visiting Abia to commission very important projects. The civil servants for the first time had a sweet story to tell as they were massively promoted to the next level and housing them in a specially built secretariat rather than operate from rented flats in different locations.

    Added to these were a well-structured Government House and the International Conference Centre that a visiting minister Labran Maku acknowledged can rub shoulders with the ones in Pretoria, South Africa. The reinvigoration of Abia Scholarship Board which saw pilots and aeronautic engineers trained abroad, the handing over of mission schools, 40 years after the civil war and other scientific pursuits remain highlights of The T.A. administration.

    Read Also: Otaigbe warns against abolishing mother-tongue education in Nigeria

    Lest we forget, the mass transit initiative with free buses for secondary schools in Aba and Umuahia, tricycle and car gifts as empowerment components had impact on youths as many are still using theirs till this day. In like manner, rural electrification was massively embarked upon with transformers of immense capacities donated. We may not forget in a hurry how kidnapping bayed the state like a monster and how commercial motorcycle accidents congested the accident wards of the FMC and Aba General Hospital to which kidnapping became a capital offence now replicated in other states and the total ban of commercial motorcycles giving rise to influx of Keke tricycles. It should be noted too that for the eight years of his administration, there were no strikes or industrial actions and Abia paid higher than the official national minimum wage. His insistence on entrenching equity that brought an Ngwa to the governorship was historic and highly celebrated.

    At the Senate of the National Assembly in 2015, he didn’t relent in delivery as he won an award as one of the most productive senators in his first year in a poll by the Daily Trust newspapers. He was equally not lagging in the legislative process of sponsoring bills in high numbers, a few potent ones out of the lot are the Accident Investigation Bureau amendment Bill of 2016 which has today enhanced investigation of air accidents, saving lives and improving international cooperation. In 2018, his bill on establishing the centre for disease control popularly known as NCDC bill came alive in COVID 19, drawing accolades from far and near and equally boosted his image and that of Abia in the fight against the pandemic that locked up the world.

    Like Alexander the great who never lost any war, he didn’t lose any election or lose any court case. He clocked 75 on Sunday November 9 and we say, “To God be the Glory!”

    •Onuzuruike writes  from Umuahia, Abia State.  

  • APC senatorial candidate challenges Orji’s victory

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Abia Central Senatorial candidate in the just concluded National Assembly, Senator Nkechi J. Nwaogu has challenged the victory of former Governor of the State and incumbent Abia Central Senator, Theodore Ahamefule Orji at the February 23 poll.

    Nwaogu speaking with our reporter in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state also called for the cancellation of the entire result as announced by INEC.

    The former lawmaker who alleged that the election in the senatorial district was marred by a lot of irregularities also accused INEC of conniving with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the election and as well, disenfranchising the electorate of their rights of expressing their choice through the ballot.

    According to Nwaogu, she would be challenging the victory of Sen. Orji in court if INEC failed to do the needful

    “I wish to say that the results that we are seeing in the social media are concocted. They are not true reflection of who the people of Abia Central voted for. The results shown in the social media are fake, false and are not genuine. I want to urge the public to disregard that.

    “I totally reject it and I am calling on INEC to cancel the election and fix a new date for the Abia Central Senatorial District election. If they have announced it, which we do not know, I am also saying that I reject what was announced and I am challenging the result if it has been announced and I will challenge it up to the court.

    “The election that took place on February 23 especially the conduct of the Abia Central Senatorial District was a charade. For instance, in my local government of Osisioma LGA, no election material came in until around 2pm and in less than three hours, INEC officials folded their work. They disenfranchised the Abia Central electorates and we have come to discover that election materials especially the result sheets that they showed were all fake; they were not the real result sheet because they were not carbonized.

    Read Also: ‘Ikpeazu picked to cover Orji’s misgovernance’

    “They were brought into Abia Central with the connivance of the adhoc workers and INEC officials and all those that participated in concocting such evil activities towards the good people of Abia Central. Other than that, why would there be an uncarbonized result sheets? The procedures were not followed.

    “INEC stated that unit results will be taken to ward collation centre. And these were flagrantly violated. There were no ward collation; but instead, results were taken straight to INEC headquarters. You can imagine in the case of Abia Central all the agents of all the parties that participated in the election including INEC adhoc staff crowed in the INEC headquarters. It was a mad place.

    “That gave them the room to do what they did. They didn’t follow the procedure of result collation. That was where they manufactured an uncarbonized result sheets. Agent’s copies were totally blank. Like I said, the materials came in around 2pm which is against the INEC law and this happened in all the six local government areas. Above all, the original result sheet in Isiala Ngwa North and South were given to the People’s Democratic Party in ward two, six nine and four. They (PDP) had the original result sheets which they wrote in people’s houses.

    “I feel that the procedure for the conduct of the just concluded National Assembly election in Abia Central Senatorial District election was to say the least, a sham and something that is out of what has always taken place by INEC. I am using this medium to call on INEC and their staff for total investigation as to what happened in Abia Central.

    “The results were never announced and even in Umuahia North where election could not hold in some areas and they were scheduled to hold on Tuesday, they came in on Sunday morning when people were still in their churches and paraded themselves to have conducted elections with nobody and at the end of the day, they had bumper votes all for the PDP. This goes to show that there were no proper elections in the six local government areas and it calls for cancellation.

    “You cannot rob Abia Central people of the opportunity to choose who they want to represent them. I do not want them to do what I want them to do. I want them to do the right thing. I want them to be unbiased umpire that they should be. In a situation, on the day of the election, a candidate in the race will go and see the INEC Commissioner in the State in his office on the day of the election privately for quite some time; I do not think that, that is proper.”

     

  • Soldiers arrest IPOB members, rescue kidnapped lawyers

    Soldiers attached to Goodluck Jonathan Army Barracks, 14Brigade Ohafia, Abia State have reportedly arrested five members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state.

    Information gathered by our reporter has it that the IPOB members were said to be part of the pro-Biafra group that disrupted church service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Abayi, Ariaria in Osisioma Local Government Area on Sunday, January 27.

    Investigation by our reporter has it that the atmosphere in the church got charged when some of the IPOB members who were also at the church prevented a politician from the ruling PDP in the state from addressing the church.

    Sources at the venue stated that attempts by the presiding priest, Reverend Father Nathaniel Oyedike failed as members of the group and some parishioners joined in signing and chanting pro-IPOB songs which brought the service to close abruptly.

    It was gathered that the parishioners and IPOB members who insisted that they would rather have a referendum than being part of the 2019 election in the state and other Southeast states stormed outside the church and in the process, damaging all the glasses of a PDP branded Sienna bearing the picture of the incumbent senator representing Abia Central and former Governor of the State, Theodore Ahamefule Orji.

    Confirming the arrest of the IPOB members, a source from 14Brigade disclosed that the pro-Biafra members were arrested by troops of Sub sector Bravo in conjunction with the personnel of Nigerian police, Abia State Command that moved to the area and effectively salvaged the situation.

    “At the scene, it was reported that IPOB members were shouting no elections in Biafra land and also attempted to beat the pastor; Reverend Father Nathaniel Oyedike. A vehicle and some chairs were reportedly damaged in/within the church premises.”

    The source who spoke anonymously also stated that as part of the gains of the ongoing Egwueke III, personnel of Sector 2, Sub sector Charlie stationed at Ubakala junction in Umuahia South LGA based on a distressed call rescued two lawyers; Barrister Loveth Nonye Ofoegbu and Barrister Kaodi Onuoha who were reportedly kidnapped along Owerrinta in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government of the state.

    Read Also: Pray for soldiers in theatres of war — Ambode

    The soldiers were said to have started stop and search operation on the road when they got information of the kidnap and on sensing danger, abandoned their victims and made away to a nearby bush.

    The source who noted that the military have recorded successes since the inception of the Egwueke III disclosed that said that the troops of Sector 2, Sub Sector Alfa raided a hideout of suspected armed robbers in Ahaba, Imenyi community of Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State where an armed robbery suspect, one Mr. Chidiebere Orji was arrested while other members of his gang are said to be at large.

    Investigation however indicated that the gang members were alleged to be behind the robbery of Mr. and Mrs. Kelechi Orji at their residence in Ahaba Imenyi community where they carted away Four Million Naira.

    Items reportedly recovered from the residence of the suspects include a locally made pistol, two unexploded cartridges and 2 handsets. This is as the suspect and the items would be handed over to the Abia State Police Command for possible prosecution.

    “Communal conflict between Azoruike autonomous community and Amanator autonomous community of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State was averted by troops of Sector 2, Sub sector Alfa in 14 Brigade Area of Responsibility in conjunction with the Nigerian Police Abia State command. The incident happened on the 27th of January 2019, and has led to the destruction of few houses, cars and motorcycles.

    “In order to ensure a lasting peace, security agencies led by the Nigerian police, convened a peace meeting with the traditional rulers, youth leaders and presidents general of the communities in order to forestall future occurrence. Normalcy has since been restored in the two communities.

    “Troops on the Exercise, on routine mobile patrol at Ozuabam axis were alerted of  farmers-herders clash at Ndi Okereke community in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, where some herdsmen were alleged to have allowed a flock of cows to destroy some farm crops. The incident led to the killing of five cows.

    “Consequently, the area commander of Ohafia police Division and his team, Personal Assistant to Abia State Governor on Mobilization Mr. Chukwuma Ndika conveyed a peace meeting at the community hall between the two factions with the view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis. Situation has been normalized at the moment,” the source hinted

     

     

  • Soldiers arrest five IPOB members, rescue lawyers

    Soldiers attached to Goodluck Jonathan Army Barracks, 14Brigade Ohafia, Abia State have reportedly arrested five members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state.

    Information gathered by our reporter has it the IPOB members were said to be part of the pro-Biafra group that disrupted church service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Abayi, Ariaria in Osisioma Local Government Area on Sunday, January 27.

    Investigation by our reporter revealed the atmosphere in the church got charged when some of the IPOB members who were also at the church prevented a politician from the ruling PDP in the state from addressing the church.

    Sources at the venue stated that attempts by the presiding priest, Reverend Father Nathaniel Oyedike failed as members of the group and some parishioners joined in signing and chanting pro-IPOB songs which brought the service to close abruptly.

    It was gathered the parishioners and IPOB members who insisted that they would rather have a referendum than being part of the 2019 election in the state and other Southeast states stormed outside the church.

    In the process, they damaged all the glasses of a PDP branded Sienna bearing the picture of the incumbent senator representing Abia Central and former Governor of the State, Theodore Ahamefule Orji.

    Confirming the arrest of the IPOB members, a source from 14Brigade, disclosed that the pro-Biafra members were arrested by troops of Sub sector Bravo in conjunction with the personnel of Nigerian police, Abia State Command that moved to the area and effectively salvaged the situation.

    “At the scene, it was reported that IPOB members were shouting no elections in Biafra land and also attempted to beat the pastor; Reverend Father Nathaniel Oyedike.

    Read Also: IPOB and the Biafra quest

    “A vehicle and some chairs were reportedly damaged in/within the church premises.”

    The source, who spoke anonymously, also stated as part of the gains of the ongoing Egwueke III, personnel of Sector 2, Sub sector Charlie stationed at Ubakala junction in Umuahia South LGA based on a distressed call rescued two lawyers Barrister Loveth Nonye Ofoegbu and Barrister Kaodi Onuoha reportedly kidnapped along Owerrinta in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government of the state.

    The soldiers were said to have started stop- and- search operation on the road when they got information of the kidnap and on sensing danger, abandoned their victims and made away to a nearby bush.

    The source, who noted the military has recorded successes since the inception of the Egwueke III, said the troops of Sector 2, Sub Sector Alfa raided a hideout of suspected armed robbers in Ahaba, Imenyi community of Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State where an armed robbery suspect, one Mr. Chidiebere Orji was arrested while other members of his gang are said to be at large.

    Investigation indicated the gang members were alleged to be behind the robbery of Mr. and Mrs. Kelechi Orji at their residence in Ahaba Imenyi community where they carted away N4million.

     

  • 2015: Orji and the South-East puzzle

    2015: Orji and the South-East puzzle

    As the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Abia State, Theodore Ahamefule Orji is faced with a Herculean task of unraveling the political riddles that have held the zone and his state down for years. Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, takes a look at Orji’s take-off dance steps

    Since 1999, when Nigeria returned to democratic government, the Igbo ethnic nationality in the South-East geo-political zone has made repeated allegations of socio-political and economic marginalisation. So, as President Goodluck Jonathan convokes a National Conference to resolve thorny issues within the Nigerian polity before the 2015 General Election, Igbo political elites see the opportunity as the dawn of a new beginning, believing that if properly utilized, the zone could, through the resolutions, regain its lost glories.

    Coinciding with the emergence of Governor Theodore Orji as the Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum, the lot has fallen on his shoulders to set the pace and provide the needed leadership for the people.

    So, as soon as he was named the new helmsman, succeeding Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, early March this year, keen observers, aware of the political realities of the time, began to reel out their expectations. As one respondent, Dr. Ukonu Uduma, puts it in a telephone chat during the week, “Orji’s emergence as the leader of the zone’s governors at this critical time puts him at the threshold of history. There are things we must get now, through the ongoing confab and the 2015 elections. Ndigbo have suffered enough. It is either now or never.”

    From his reactions so far, it seems Orji clearly understands the concerns of the people of the geo-political zone at this point in time and is striving to leave a mark.

    Giving deep insight into his game plan so far, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, said: “In his characteristic humility, Governor T.A. Orji has accepted the additional responsibility placed on his shoulders. He has also acknowledged that the task before him “is enormous.” But he remains unfazed by the new responsibility. As a man of courage and wisdom he has assured that he would not be overwhelmed by the task of leading his people. He has continued to prove it since 2007 when he mounted the saddle of leadership in Abia State. As a team player, he knows that he would not succeed alone and has therefore called for the cooperation of not only his colleagues but every segment of the South-East zone. Yes, Governor T.A. Orji is a leader who understands and applies the popular aphorism that when a man dreams alone he becomes a dreamer but when he dreams with others, he becomes an achiever. His predecessor, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State enjoyed full cooperation of the governors since 2007 when the leadership of the SEGF fell on him. It is noteworthy that the SEGF operated without rancour and bickering and ego contest that was the case before Obi took over. It is therefore expected that such brotherly atmosphere would continue to prevail under the new leadership of Governor T.A Orji.”

    Regional Economic Cooperation

    Insiders say that although his tenure as governor would end early next year, Orji has the tall dream of building a sustainable foundation for South-East regional economic cooperation.

    Confirming this, Ajunwa said: “The chairman of SEGF has hit the ground running. He has set out his priorities right. He said he would work hard to bring to reality the elusive economic cooperation of the states of the South-East zone. The clamour for the economic integration of the component states of the South-East zone has been on since the formation of the South East Governors Forum. Proponents of the South-East economic integration are of the view that it would enable the component states to tackle common development challenges by pooling resources together and investing in such areas as power, waste management, education, infrastructure, among others through a jointly owned investment company. This could be made possible through a jointly owned investment company like the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation (ENDC) that used to be the investment arm of the defunct Eastern Region. In making economic cooperation of South-East states a priority issue Governor Orji believes that it is possible for the zone to have a common investment portfolio. As a man synonymous with legacy projects, the Abia governor said that the five states of the South-East could pull their resources together and execute projects that would be of mutual economic benefit to the zone and serve as a lasting legacy for the people.”

    The Nation investigation shows that although such a project may require time to be done properly, Orji has never left it out each time the governors met in Enugu and during their more regular meetings to review the ongoing participation of the zone’s delegates at the conference.

    South-East unity

    Another issue, which observers say Orji may have to tackle headlong, is the issue of Igbo unity ahead 2015. Shortly before his emergence, some critics of Peter Obi accused him of making desperate efforts to railroad Ndigbo to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election. This, according some reports, created some division amongst Igbo leaders.

    But as Ajunwa explained, Orji, as the new SEGF Chairman, has set as his area of focus the task of ensuring “that the South-East will remain united, cohesive and to speak with one voice as has been the case since 2007 when Obi took over as chairman. Governor T.A. Orji is a man of peace and he always craves for peaceful environment and strives hard to create it. It could be recalled that he inherited a highly polarized Abia State where the political elites were fighting. But on assumption of office Governor Orji set himself to the task of reconciling all the Abia political elites and today they speak with one voice. All the centripetal and centrifugal forces tearing Abia apart and stagnating its growth have disappeared.

    “No doubt, Ochendo would apply his healing balm in making the South-East to be united and speak with one voice. This has become more urgent as the Nigerian nation commences the process of holding a national conference where each zone of the country would table its demands and expectations for the emergence of a truly united, strong nation where peace and justice would reign.

    “Having placed his hands on the ploughshare of leading the South-East Governors Forum, there is no looking back for Chief T.A. Orji. It therefore behoves on his brother governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the political elites across the South-East zone, irrespective of political leanings, and indeed every Igbo man and woman to give maximum support to the new chairman of the SEGF to work for the peace and progress of the zone.”

    The zoning game in Abia

    In Abia State, where he is billed to hand over to another governor in 2015, Orji also has some thorny issues to resolve. Perhaps, the major political puzzle in the God’s Own State is the zoning question. While there seems to be no argument again over the existence of what is today known as the Abia Charter of Equity, there are still some areas in the state, like the Isuikwuato area, whose leaders are alleging that the so-called charter was not the original document of power rotation.

    While the argument may not be completely resolved before the 2015 elections, some informed observers said one of the most outstanding political masterstrokes Orji has made recently in the politics of Abia State is his outspokenness and firm decision to play the zoning game. Relying on the charter, the governor has stated clearly that he would support Abia South to produce the next governor of the state.

    He made that decision as far back as September 2011 in faraway United States of America, at the Abia Ukwa/Ngwa Twentieth Annual Convention, when he said, ‘the implication of Abia Charter of Equity is that come 2015, after the expiration of my tenure in office, the mantle of leadership and governorship will go to an individual of Ukwa/Ngwa extraction.’

    Providing basis for the governor’s stand, Mr. Eddie Onuzuruike, a poet, novelist and media aide to the governor said Orji was poised to justify equity.” According to him, Abia founding fathers had good reasons to embark on the movement for the creation of Abia from the old Imo State. It was not just for the fun of it. Certainly there were needs to exorcise the debilitating fear of domination, injustice, deprivation and displacement, most of the time based on ethnicity.

    “As it was stated in page 131 of the book, ‘this agreement of good faith or declaration of principles shall be known as The charter of Equity and shall be binding on all persons of Abia State who may hold public offices, especially elective and appointive offices….’

    ”They were equally specific on the rotation principle. Properly stated on Page 135 as such: ‘the principle of rotation shall apply in addition to the principle of strict equality in the distribution of key political posts. Consequently, the following combination of public offices shall not be held at one and the same time by persons of the same senatorial zones/district: Governor and Deputy/ Governor and Speaker of the House of Assembly/ Governor and Secretary to the Government/ Chairman Civil Service Commission and Head of Service Etc.”

    Onuzuruike added, “These and other established factors were encapsulated in the book called the Abia Charter of Equity. It is a big lesson here that conscious efforts were made to put these established facts down some years after the deed, because, if Prof Nwagbara, of Amachara Umuahia South did not make conscious efforts to capture history, the people of the Ukwa/Ngwa may not have had any supportive document to crave for this topmost position.

    “In answer to their yearnings, Abia State was created in 1991, but before long, Ebonyi State came on board and excised Afikpo, Ohaozara and Edda areas, now Ebonyi South, toppling the hitherto senatorial balance. Three local governments were annexed from Old Bende and another from Ukwa/Nkwa aptly called the Abia Central Senatorial Zone. To this end, Abia is constituted with three Senatorial Zones, and presently, two out of these three have tasted the governance of the state.”

    Although Orji has shown no signs of changing his mind on the resolve, we gathered that the governor has been under tremendous pressure to stick to his decision. In 2011 when the governor was campaigning for the second tenure, when he was received at Aba Township Stadium, Elder Emma Adelu, acting as the spokesman for Ngwa people,  warned all Ngwa aspirants to desist from the race. Athough some Ngwa indigenes contested for the plum job, some Ngwa political leaders today still make references to that pledge.

    Insiders said they have made many more representations to the Abia helmsman, including the most recent by the Ukwa/Ngwa Professionals and Ngwa Patriots. In each of these visits, we gathered, the governor has reiterated his support for the zone.

    As 2015 governorship elections approaches, it has become clear to all strategists that zoning will be one of the major campaign issues. Perhaps to checkmate the opposition, which is certain to study his handling of this and other thorny political issues in the state, Orji has repeatedly pleaded with the Abia South PDP to speak with one voice, emphasizing that they would be better off if they are united. Ajunwa pointed out that the governor has also told the aspirants that they would all go through free and fair primaries and that he will support the winner.