TODAY September 29, some Nigerians will be conferred with the National Honour Award by President Goodluck Jonathan at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Among the awardees are President Jonathan’s steward, a taxi driver, a traffic warden and the Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji.
In the recent past many have criticised the criteria for the selection of the awardees, while others believe that it is in order considering that it is a standard practice globally.
Beside, it is a known fact that Nigeria is a fertile ground for undue armchair criticisms, especially when it involves the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. One remarkable thing about this year’s list of awardees is that it is all encompassing and qualitative given the men and women of integrity on parade.
For some of the awardees, the award is long overdue, considering their track records in public service and the private sector over the years. But many believe that the award is better late than never as it is obvious that these awardees waited patiently to be fished out, instead of pushing for the recognition.
For instance, Chief Theodore Orji, before becoming the governor of Abia State in 2007 had paid his dues in the public service as a seasoned administrator. He is reputed to have distinguished himself while serving with the National Electoral Commission, NECON(now the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC), with the positive impact he made said to have remained a reference point in the Commission till date.
After his graduation from the prestigious University of Ibadan in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language, Gov. Orji opted for civil service job, instead of the white collar job that was in vogue then. His over two decades career in the service is remarkable or its unblemished record.
On assuming office as governor in 2007, his government was faced with enormous infrastructural, political and social challenges. But he was undeterred by the enormity of the challenges. Despite initial political interferences and stumbling blocks orchestrated by his predecessor, Gov. Orji trudged on till the state was liberated from a godfather who was holding sway then. Since then, Orji’s government has been in a hurry to regain lost ground.
Every sector of the state economy is receiving steadily government’s attention. Several road projects have been completed, while others are ongoing. The New Umuahia known as Ogurube Layout is now a huge construction site. At the site is a completed workers Secretariat, a five-star international conference centre nearing completion.
Also adjacent to it is a new modern Government House and several other edifices. Also at Ubani Ibeku is a modern market of international standard with all the needed facilities. The State that was at a time under the siege of kidnappers is today one of the most secured and peaceful state in the country.
The commercial city of Aba for the first time since 1999 has witnessed government’s intervention in road rehabilitation, security and waste disposal. The education sector has also been doing well with the State emerging as the second overall best in the country in WAEC results in the last two years.
In recognition of his loyalty, humility and commitment to good governance, Governor Orji was appointed the South East Caucus Leader of the PDP. He is also today the Chairman, South East Governors Forum. Since assuming these positions, Gov. Orji has repositioned the party in the zone ahead of the 2015 polls. He has taken the zone to the mainstream politics that is favourable for the zone. In the just concluded National Conference, Gov. Orji rallied his colleagues to support and spur delegates from the zone to canvass for issues of national interest that will address the zone’s political problems. That is how it was agreed at the Conference that one additional state should be created out of the zone.
Particularly remarkable is the fact that his government has not borrowed money from any financial institution to finance the numerous projects he has executed.
So the National Honour Award on him can only be regarded as befitting and well-deserved. The award also rubbishes the current campaign of falsehood being propagated against him by his ahead the 2015 polls. The award is an indication that falsehood, no matter how contrived, cannot triumph over fact. With the award, Gov. Orji’s government and people of the State have been vindicated.
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