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UMUAHIA-TWENTY THREE years after its creation, Governor Theodore Orji Wednesday said that Abia State “remains a major work in progress” in terms of development.

According to Governor Orji, “there are still enormous work to be done and many new hurdles to cross” in the concerted effort to develop the state.

In a 15-minutes radio and television broadcast to mark the weeklong celebration of Abia’s 23rd anniversary, the governor said, however that his administration has succeeded in laying a solid foundation for the development of the state.

“We have certainly tackled the hard task of laying the foundation for the sustainable development of Abia State, through our legacy projects that address the myriads of problems that confront our State.
We have successfully advanced the building and strengthening of the various institutions that support statehood and created a viable democracy in our State, and these are visible in our many completed legacy projects and other works in progress”, Orji said.

Reminding whoever that will succeed him that there is still a lot to do, the governor urged him not to be intimidated with the challenges he may meet on ground whenever the new administration comes into place.

“Our Administration was not deterred by the challenges we faced and what we inherited, instead we sought every opportunity to overcome our challenges and have created enduring legacies that we will be remembered for. This is the challenge of leadership which future Administrations of Abia State and our citizens need to embrace”, he noted.

“For our Government of Abia State, this celebration is very memorable in many ways. It is our last anniversary celebration at the helms of this State. It is also an opportunity for us to recount our achievements and the challenges that we faced in our struggle to leave Abia State better than we found it.

“Our Administration continues to do its part in deepening the sustainable foundation of the socio-economic and political development of our State in all ramifications. But Abia State remains a “major work in progress”, and whatever we have become in the last 23 years are the results of the committed efforts and progress made by various Governments and the indomitable spirit of Abia citizens in all works of life.

“All of these and many more have certainly deepened democracy in our State and will ensure continuity of our development efforts in the future, especially as a new Administration takes over in 2015 on a stronger platform than we found when we came to this office.

“We have made Abia State a healthier State and pursued the well-being of our citizens through the establishment of 710 health centres in our State to make health care affordable at the grass-roots. We have constructed modern diagnostic centres at Aba and Umuahia, and also a Dialysis Centre at Umuahia to reduce the cost our people incur in foreign medical trips.

“We have strongly addressed the issue of unemployment of our youths through our empowerment programmes that include certified training of young entrepreneurs of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and donation of equipment to support such private business operations. More than 5,000 Abia youths have benefited from this programme and have been equipped to run their successful businesses as new entrepreneurs. We have also distributed more than 3,250 vehicles to youth transport entrepreneurs engaged in taxi and haulage operations.
“Other youths, women and the vulnerable members of our society have been retrained and supplied with equipment, including electric generator sets, computers and other accessories to support their new businesses
“Above all, we have established equity, fairness and unhindered participation of our people in the politics of our State, and through that liberated our people and deepened democracy in Abia State. Today, Abians live in harmony with each other and aspire to give their best to the State through participation in the politics of our State.

“For all the legacies that our Administration will leave for Abia State, I am very proud that we chose to make our State one of the most healthy and secured States in the Federation – where our people enjoy the dividends of democracy in good health, in a peaceful and conducive environment, and where they can exercise their ingenuity and business drive for the common good of all Abians.

“While we celebrate our anniversary and honour our achievers , let us not lose sight of the fact that no achievement in our State will be sustained in the future unless it is first sustained in our minds, in our attitudes and in our secured and peaceful environment.

“Today Abia is stronger, healthier and more united to face the future and reach for the best in all areas of human endeavour. It is our expectation that the leadership that takes over from our Government in 2015 will sustain the great hopes and expectations which our people share today and for the future. So that Abia State remains a beacon of hope with the enabling environment for all our citizens who desire to distinguish themselves”, Governor Orji said.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/23-abia-remains-major-work-progress-gov-orji/#sthash.JaNZJhqq.dpuf

Why complaining? The PDP bragged that PDP states are better governed than APC states. So why d complain now? Abi Abia state don become APC state?