Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji has said that his administration is determined to sustain security in the state even if it requires suspending all other projects, emphasizing the strategic role security has played in stimulating economic activities and peace in Abia.

The Governor declared this in Umuahia on Saturday 19th January, 2013 while responding to questions at the Citizens’ Forum of the National Good Governance Tour.

Governor Orji recalled that Abia was a ‘kidnap state’ but when he sought the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan, the President did not hesitate to deploy more military personnel to the state. “Soldiers from Ohafia barrack have been placed at different parts of Abia State to ensure security”, the Governor stated.

“We will be remembered as a government that gave security to the people” Chief Orji added.

In the area of education, he said the performance of Abia students at national competitions tells the story on its own of what the state government is doing for its youths in the sector. “We are doing very well in the area of education we have free primary to secondary education, free transportation for students, free textbooks as well as returned the schools to the missionaries”.

He also said the youths in the state are also being empowered in the area of paying school fees, scholarships, provision of brand new vehicles and motorcycles adding that over 4,500 youths have been empowered by the state. He noted that ASOPADEC is working and has even provided brand new SUVs for traditional rulers.

“We are paying school fees, WAEC fees and University fees as well as granting scholarships to Abia State students. By the performance of our students everywhere, you’ll know we are doing well in education. Abia students must be found in the top 10 of Nigerian Law School and in medicine”, he declared.

On construction of the road leading to the Geometrics Power Plant in Aba, he said he has promised Prof. Barth Nnaji that it would be done free of charge to encourage economic development of the state. He said he was not expecting any refund from the Federal Government because he did not take permission from it before embarking on the road project.

He equally stated that his government has invested more money in Aba than any other city. Governor Orji said contracts have been awarded for the Abia-Owerri road at the sum of N1.8billion and the Aba-Port Harcourt road at N1.7billion. He said 16 contracts were awarded within 1 month for internal roads and 4 have been completed.

Speaking also on appointments, the Governor said appointments in the state are based on qualifications and competence and not influenced by sentiments and god-fatherism in the spirit of upholding dignity.

Explaining the rationale for placing embargo on employment in the state civil service the Governor said the state could not bite more than it could chew considering the lean funds it has to spend. He however stated that employment is streamlined in a way that those who would add value to the state’s economy would be recruited.

He said people would appreciate the President more when he leaves office as the various transformational programmes and reforms of the Federal Government are bound to succeed.

The Governor said he has directed Local Governments to submit payroll of workers to the State Auditor General to process payments, stressing that Abia State Government was not owing any civil servant in the state.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku said for progress to be achieved, Security, Law and Order are needed.

He said from June 2013, Aba, Umuahia and surroundings will have uninterruptable power supply. The Minister said between March and June, all 3 turbines will be fired at Geometric Power Plant. “Abia State is headed in the right direction under the present administration”, Mr. Maku said.

“We will follow up on all the contractors awarded contracts for all the roads in the South East. We are not here for sightseeing. We are here to assess the level of development in all states of the country.

“We have filed a report against the contractor of the PHCN (TCN) Aba sub-transmission station on the transformer that is not working”, the Information Minister stated.