In accordance with the House Rule and inline with the decision of Members in the Executive Session, the following Committees of the 6th Abia
State House Of Assembly had been constituted with the Chairmen, Members and Secretaries:-

1) SELECTION COMMITTEE:

1. Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike - Chairman
2. Rt. Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe - Member
3. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji - Member
4. Hon. Emmanuel Clinton Ebere - Member
5. Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri - Member
6. Hon. Tony Mezie Nwubani - Member
7. Hon. Emeka Alozie - Member

Secretary - Clerk

2) INFORMATION & MEDIA:

1. Rt. Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe - Chairman
2. Hon. Emmanuel Clinton Ebere - Member
3. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu - Member
4. Hon. Kelechi Onuzuruike - Member
5. Hon. Uloma Chijindu Onuoha - Member

Secretary - Chris Onwuegbu
Assistant Secretary Henry Madubuike


3) BOUNDARY & SECURITY MATTERS:

1. Rt. Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe - Chairman
2. Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri - Member
3. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu - Member
4. Hon. Abraham Oba - Member
5. Hon. Kennedy Njoku - Member

Secretary - Ukpai N.A.

4) RULES & BUSINESS:

1. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji - Chairman
2. Hon. Abraham Oba - Member
3. Hon Solomon Akpulonu - Member
4. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu - Member
5. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu - Member

Secretary - C.A Koma

5) INTER GOVERNMENTAL:

1. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji - Chairman
2. Hon. Chibuzo Solomon Okogbuo - Member
3. Hon. Munachim Alozie - Member
4. Hon. Luke Ukara Apugo - Member
5. Hon. Chukwudi Apugo - Member
6. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu - Member

Secretary - C.A. Koma

6) ETHICS & PRIVILEGES:

1. Hon. Tony Mezie Nwaubani - Chairman
2. Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri - Member
3. Hon. Emeka Alozie - Member
4. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu - Member
5. Hon. Thomas A.C. Nkoror - Member

Secretary - Chibuzo O. Kalu

7) FINANCE & ECONOMIC PLANNING:

1. Hon. Paul Taribo - Chairman
2. Hon. Solomon Akpulonu - Member
3. Hon. Emeka Nnamani - Member

Secretary

HEALTH:

1. Hon. Egwuruonu O.E. Obasi - Chairman
2. Hon. Solomon Akpulonu - Member
3. Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani - Member
4. Hon. Paul Taribo - Member
5. Hon. Emeka Nnamani - Member

Secretary - Veronica Kalu
Assistant Secretary Onyeama Chukwuemeka

9) MDGS & COOPERATIVES/POVERTY ALLEVIATION:

1. Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani - Chairman
2. Hon. Thomas A.C. Nkoro - Member
3. Hon. Uloma Chijindu Onuoha - Member
4. Hon. Egwuruonu O.E. Obasi - Member

Secretary - Veronica Kalu

10) CIVIL SERVICE MATTERS:

1. Hon. Chibuzo Solomon Okogbuo - Chairman
2. Hon. Uloma Chijindu Onuoha - Member
3. Hon. Kennedy Njoku - Member
4. Hon. Paul Taribo - Member
5. Hon. Theophilus Ugboaja - Member
6. Hon. Emeka Alozie - Member

Secretary - Ukwu Rocks Amaka
Assistant Secretary Nwachukwu Bright

11) AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES:

1. Hon. Theophilus Ugboaja - Chairman
2. Hon. Munachim Alozie - Member
3. Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani - Member
4. Hon. Kennedy Njoku - Member
5. Hon. Chijioke Akpulonu - Member
6. Hon. Solomon Akpulonu - Member
7. Hon. Uloma Chijindu Onuoha - Member

Secretary - Onyemachi Alili
Assistant Secretary Okala C.J.

12) SPORTS, CULTURE AND TOURISM:

1. Hon. Egwuru O.E. Obasi - Chairman
2. Hon. Chukwudi Apugo - Member
3. Hon. Emeka Nnamani - Member
4. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu - Member
5. Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani - Member
6. Hon. Solomon Akpulonu - Member

Secretary - Ugochukwu Irobunda

13) COMMERCE & INDUSTRIES:

1. Hon. Munachim Alozie - Chairman
2. Hon. Abraham Oba - Member
3. Hon. Emeka Alozie - Member
4. Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani - Member
5. Hon. Paul Taribo - Member
6. Hon. Emeka Nnamani - Member

Secretary - Alozie Kingsley
Assistant Secretary Okezie Chijioke

14) WOMEN AFFAIRS:

1. Hon. Uloma Chijindu Onuoha - Chairman
2. Hon. Emeka Alozie - Member
3. Hon. Chijioke E. Nwachukwu - Member
4. Hon. Emmanuel Clinton Ebere - Member
5. Hon. Paul Taribo - Member

Secretary - Glory Ndubuisi

15) LOCAL GOVERNMENT & CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS:

1. Hon. Kennedy Njoku - Chairman
2. Hon. Abraham Oba - Member
3. Hon. Solomon Akpulonu - Member
4. Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri - Member
5. Hon. Chukwudi Apugo - Member
6. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu - Member

Secretary - Onyemachi Alili
Assistant Secretary Nwachukwu Bright

16) PUBLIC ACCOUNTS:
1. Hon. Chukwudi Apugo - Chairman
2. Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri - Member
3. Hon. Solomon Chijioke Akpulonu - Member
4. Hon. Emeka S. Nnamani - Member
5. Hon. Kennedy Njoku - Member
6. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu - Member
7. Hon. Munachim Alozie - Member
8. Hon. Uloma C. Onuoha - Member
9. Hon. Emeka Alozie - Member
10. Hon. Egwuruonu O.E Obasi - Member
11. Hon. Kelechi Onuzuruike - Member

Secretary - E.J. Otumchere
Assistant Secretary Onyekwere Okechukwu

17) TRANSPORT:

1. Hon Emmanuel Clinton Ebere - Chairman
2. Hon. Thomas Nkoro - Member
3. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu - Member
4. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu - Member
5. Hon. Solomon Akpulonu - Member
6. Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri - Member

Secretary - C.O Kalu
Assistant Secretary Okorie K.O

18) PUBLIC UTILITIES (HOLD ON)

1. Hon. Abraham Oba - Chairman
2. Hon. Thomas Nkoro - Member
3. Hon. Ugboaja Theophilus - Member
4. Hon. Emeka Nnamani - Member

Secretary - A.S. Okoronkwo

19) URBAN RENWEWAL:

1. Hon. Emeka Alozie - Chairman
2. Hon. Chibuzo Okogbuo - Member
3. Hon. Solomon Akpulonu - Member
4. Hon. Munachim Alozie - Member
5. Hon. Kelechi Onuzuruike - Member

Secretary - Elezua Juliana

20) NDDC, ASOPADEC/PETROLEUM MATTERS:

1. Hon. Tony Mezie Nwaubani - Chairman
2. Hon. Kelechi Onuzuruike - Member
3. Hon. Munachim Alozie - Member
4. Hon. Emmanuel Clinton Ebere - Member
5. Hon. Kennedy Njoku - Member
6. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu - Member
7. Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani - Member
8. Hon. Chijioke Nwachukwu - Member

Secretary - Goddy Oyouwa
Assistant Secretary Anna Helen

21) HOUSE SERVICES:

1. Hon. Uloma Chijindu Onuoha - Chairman
2. Hon. Egwuruonu O.E. Obasi - Member
3. Hon. Ugboaja Theophilus - Member
4. Hon. Paul Taribo - Member
5. Hon. Chijioke S. Nwachukwu - Member
6. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu - Member

Secretary - Rita N. Ehibudu

22) JUSTICE & JUDICIARY:

1. Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri - Chairman
2. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu - Member
3. Hon. Thomas Nkoro - Member
4. Hon. Chijioke E. Nwachukwu - Member
5. Hon. Munachim Alozie - Member

Secretary - Chibuzo O. Kalu

23) PUBLIC PETITIONS:

1. Hon. Thomas Nkoro - Chairman
2. Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri - Member
3. Hon. Tony Mezie Nwubani - Member
4. Hon. Kelechi C. Onuzuruike - Member
5. Hon. Egwuruonu O.E. Obasi - Member
6. Hon. Emmanuel Clintion Ebere - Member
7. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu - Member

Secretary - Florence Nwankwo
Assistant Secretary Iheke Margaret

24) LANDS & SURVEY:

1. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu - Chairman
2. Hon. Paul Taribo - Member
3. Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani - Member
4. Hon. Kennedy Njoku - Member
5. Hon. Emeka Nnamani - Member

Secretary - Ijeoma Nwokoro
Assistant Secretary Umezuruike Ndubuisi

25) HOUSING:
1. Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri - Chairman
2. Hon. Uloma Chijindu Onuoha - Member
3. Hon. Thomas Nkoro - Member
4. Hon. Abraham Oba - Member

Secretary - Odum M.U.
Assistant Secretary Nzekwe U.M.

26) ANTI-CORRUPTION:

1. Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri - Chairman
2. Hon. Thomas Nkoro - Member
3. Hon. Chibuzo Okogbuo - Member
4. Hon. Kennedy Njoku - Member
5. Hon. Chijioke Nwachukwu - Member

Secretary - Promise
Assistant Secretary

27) ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY MATTERS:

1. Hon. Kelechi Onuzuruike - Chairman
2. Hon. Solomon Akpulonu - Member
3. Hon. Theophilus Ugboaja - Member
4. Hon. Egwuruonu O.E. Obasi - Member
5. Hon. Munachim Alozie - Member
6. Hon. Chijioke Nwachukwu - Member

Secretary - Ubani C.I.
Assistant Secretary Chima Anosike

28) SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:

1. Hon. Chijioke Nwachukwu - Chairman
2. Hon. Emeka Alozie - Member
3. Hon. Abraham Oba - Member
4. Hon. Kennedy Njoku - Member
5. Hon. Emeka Nnamani - Member
6. Hon. Chijioke Nwachukwu - Member

Secretary - Igbanigbor V.A.

29) APPROPRIATION:

1. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu - Chairman
2. Hon. Chijioke E. Nwachukwu - Member
3. Hon. Tony Mezie Nwubani - Member
4. Hon. Emmanuel Clinton Ebere - Member
5. Hon. Thomas Nkoro A.C. - Member
6. Hon. Abraham Oba - Member
7. Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani - Member
8. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnnaya Orji - Member
9. Hon. Chibuzo Solomon Okogbuo - Member
10. Hon. Theophilus Ugboaja - Member

Secretary - Ijeoma Ezutah
Assistant Secretary Ogbajie C.N.

29) MULTI-LATERAL INSTITUTIONS AND LOCAL CONFERENCE:

1. Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani - Chairman
2. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu - Member
3. Hon. Theophilus Ugboaja - Member
4. Hon. Munachim Alozie - Member
Secretary - Glory Ndubuisi
Timeline Photos · 4 hours ago ·

Abia on the verge of socio-economic/infrastructural evolution.

By Uche Aguoru

Having keenly observed Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu's inaugural speech and his expeditious actions to deliver within 100 days in office his electoral
promises to expectant Abia residents, I have become ever convinced that Abia State is truly on the verge of socio-economic and
infrastructural evolution.

The benefactor of this unprecedented infrastructural revolution; apart from the people is Enyimba city; the commercial hub centre of Abia state and indeed Igbo land which is in dire need of such renascence to power and sustain the economy of the state.

Despite multiplicity of challenges Abia State was enmeshed in before
the enthronement of Dr. Ikpeazu, he has been able to find optimal balance within the short period of his administration between
government and the governed.

The dichotomy and the false dualism of “they and us” which existed between government and the governed have given way to patriotism as the people are beginning to view the efforts to develop Abia State as a collective one.

It is axiomatic that whoever wants to get Abia right must first and foremost get Aba right; this means the ability to enhance its potentials to the best rewarding proportion to create a convivial environment suitable enough to attract investment both locally and
internationally.

This is where Ikpeazu’s proactiveness comes handy because his action to expedite development in Abia State, especially Aba has resurrected the commercial spirit of the town which had gone comatose ever since the advent of democracy in 1999.

Upon resumption, Dr. Ikpeazu made the revamping of Aba his
administration’s top priority if the badly battered Abia economy must be revived to impact other sectors and by extension our youths who
have been ravaged by unemployment.

Lack of commitment by Abia leaders has been the bane of development in
the state and if the administration of Dr. Ikpeazu can sustain the
tempo with which the Aba renewal program was kicked off, then there is hope for the badly battered Abian.
Sooner than later, the commercial activities which the state is known for will spring back to life, industries and viable factories will return to Aba and the commercial town will beam back to life.

The state generally will experience a boost in commercial activities
and the ultimate effect will be an increase in the states IGR and employment for Abia youths.

Like Dr. Ikpeazu has promised, he will run Abia not with only the allocation that accrues to the state monthly from the federal purse but also look inward to see ways of tapping from the abundant human and material resources abound in the state.

Without sounding immodest, the sky is the limit as the governor has
identified and tackled earlier the abysmal infrastructural decadence that has hindered economic advancement of Abia state.
As patriotic citizens our obligations as a people should be to support
the present administration led by Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu to achieve this task of putting Abia on the threshold of socio-economic revolution.

Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia

The politics of opposition and the Igbo nation.

By Uche Aguoru

Going down memory lane from the 1st of October 1960 through Nigeria's independence the first republic saw Alhaji Tafawa Balewa's Northern Peoples Congress the NPC controlling the central government, the eastern region was being governed by the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroun (NCNC) with Dr M.I. Okpara as the premier before the Gen.Aguiyi Ironsi military coup ended that phase of the nations democratic history, again Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo gave us the second republic in 1979 owing to the death of Murtala Mohammed with Alhaji Shehu Shagari's national party of Nigeria heading the central government

between 1979 and 1983 when the Alhaji shagari led National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was the ruling party the two Igbo states of Imo and Anambra were being controlled by Chief Jim ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo and late Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe of the Nigerian peoples party (NPP) in all fairness to the two great Igbo governors as at that time they did marvelous well even more than some of their counterparts in some NPN controlled states as at then.

The general Buhari led military junta ended the second republic in 1983 and the nation had to suffer another 15 years of democratic setback.
the annulment of june 12 1993 election which was widely acclaimed to have been won by Chief Moshood Abiola and the death of Gen. Sani Abacha gave rise to Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar hurriedly cooking up what we now refer to as the third republic which officially took off on the 29th of may 1999 and for the first time in the history of the Igbo nation now made up of 5 states we aligned ourselves with the ruling party the peoples democratic party (PDP)

Between 1999 till date it is highly arguable if Ndi Igbo had faired better than we did in the past 16 years that we have romanced with the party at the center than when we were at the opposition, however in 2006 Anambra one of the five eastern states that made up the south east geopolitical zone housing Ndi Igbo broke away from the ruling party and fell into the hands of an opposition party the all progressive grand alliance APGA which incidentally is a 100% Igbo political movement and I may be right to say that the 4 remaining Igbo states still under the umbrella of the ruling PDP have not done any better in terms of human capital, infrastructural and political development of their states than Anambra.

Abia and Imo were two other Igbo states which tried to break away from the central government into an opposition camp through a political party known as the progressive peoples alliance (PPA) but what I will refer to as short sightedness by those who formed the political movement which was fast gaining acceptance across igbo land saw that party losing grip of the two Igbo states which eventually led it into political coma with Abia and Imo states running back into the waiting arms of the party at the center the PDP, Imo state again pulled out of PDP in 2011 through APGA and tactically crept into the APC bringing the number of Igbo states in the opposition to two.

With the PDP losing the presidential election of 28th of march 2015 to the All progressive congress (APC) which automatically gave the once strongest and largest political party in Africa the status of an apposition political party, what next is the fate of the Igbo nation still under the control of PDP, will it not be right that the Igbo nation should come together rally round the PDP and make it a regional party, given the fact that APGA which is a full bred Igbo party has refused to grow?

Since history has proved that the Igbo nation performs better politically as an opposition can't we make the PDP our own, and use it as a bargaining chip to attract development to our region?

Will it not amount to political suicide if our so called Igbo political leaders goes running into the party at the center the APC just for personal favours without thinking of the Igbo nation? I believe that the failure of PDP in the just concluded 2015 election which the PDP lost to APC will act as a wake up call for the Igbo nation and its political leaders to come together and speak with one political voice the way the west did which made their political movement become very attractive to the north and today the result is the success they have recorded from a party in control of only one state to a political movement that has swept across the federation and now in charge of the central government.

it is indeed a big political lesson for Ndi Igbo to look inwards for the Igbo political leadership.

Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia

Abia electorate and the burden of justice and equity

By Uche Aguoru

As designed by nature every thing that has a beginning must surely have an ending, since it has become sacrosanct that come Friday may 29th 2015, the legendary Ochendo will be bowing out of the stage to head for the hallowed chambers of the senate in Abuja, the expectation of every Abian is, what manner of a leader will Ochendo be leaving the seat of Abia government house for, come that day.

One will traditionally expect that he should hand over to some one who has the charisma, willpower and a good knowledge of his environment to move Abia forward economically, politically, socially, and to also develop the infrastructure of the state beyond where Governor T.A.Orji will be leaving it.

It has therefore become a duty for every Abian to come out on the 28th of February 2015 to cast our votes for that man whom the mantle of Abia governorship will be given to.

If equity, justice and competence are the catholicon that will guarantee equal development of all the three geopolitical zones that made up Abia, it will be oblique if any Abian should support or cast his vote for some one who is not from Abia south, since a support or vote for such a person will simply mean going against justice, equity and the wish of Abia founding fathers, any one who supports or vote for any candidate who is not from Abia south is intentionally creating an imbalance in the equitable growth, equitable power distribution and development of Abia state.

The 2015 election is supposed to be seen by Abians as an election that will unite us rather than divide, it will be an opportunity for every part of Abia to feel belonged in the political calculation of Abia state, it will also offer us an opportunity for economic growth and even development, since in the coming elections the only political party that has offered us the opportunity of having such a man is the peoples democratic party (PDP) in the person of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD. Dr Ikpeazu is a man at peace with his environment, a man from a humble background who understands and feels the pain of the poor, a man with a sound academic background, a man who rides on the same road with us, buys from the same market with us, drinks same water with us, his children and family are in the same school with ours, a man who gives respect and attention to men, women, the disabled, the less privileged and even children, a man who has what it takes to develop Abia economically a man with a track record of honesty and humility a jolly good fellow who accommodates all not minding your political, tribal or political affiliation, a man who deals on issues and not personalities, a man whose identity is not in doubt, a man who will not hunt you or bear any form of malice against you just because you belong to a different political school of thought, a peaceful man who loves all, a man of Justice devoid of any atom of arrogance, a man whose mission in the Abia government house is about development and not political vendetta.

That man is the man that Abians will vote for on the 28th of February 2015.

Let each and every well meaning Abian who loves peace,equity, justice and fairness shout in one voice....... OKEZUE ABIAAAAA

Aguoru
writes from Umuahia

The introduction of juvenile suicide bombers a danger signal that must be checked.

By Uche Aguoru

The recent use of infants as young as ten years and below by Boko haram as suicide bombers in the northern eastern part of Nigeria is a very dangerous and wicked tactics that deserves condemnation from the international community.

The recent attack on a GSM market in Potiskum Yobe state that left hundreds dead and so many more with different degrees of burns and injuries using a ten year old girl child with an explosive device strapped around her is the recent in a spate of suicide bombing attacks on innocent Nigerians using infants and women in their illogical campaign against the Nigerian state, many have argued that it is politically motivated while others say it is as a result of long time negligence by the northern rulers and the Nigerian government in general.

in as much as we may attribute this madness to a lot of factors the fact still remains that their is no logical excuse that will warrant a human being to engage in such a mass murder of fellow human beings in the name of either politics or religion.

The United Nations has randomly condemned the use of child soldiers in the prosecution of any form of war thereby making it a war crime for any body who engages children and women in the battle fields, no matter the excuse that the Nigerian government and the international community may want to adduce, this is the time for the International community,the united nations and the Nigerian state should stand up in unison against the boko haram sect, the kidnapping of the 200 chibok girls by the boko haram sect is still a mystery yet to be uncovered by either the Nigerian government and the International community. the international community has done little or nothing in defence of the chibok girls.
The Nigerian military I believe has done so much to curtail the insurgency but the excuse of sabotage within the military will no longer be tolerated by the Nigerian populace who watch their loved ones being killed on daily basis in the hands of these mindless criminals.

the killing of Charlie Hebdo and other people in France last week by some Islamic militants attracted the attention of the international community leading to world leaders gathering in France in condemnation of the barbaric act and to show solidarity with the French government and people, but in Nigeria these brutal killings has been going on for years now and the world has paid little or no attention to it, to me all the international community has done is to pay lip service to the insurgency going on in Nigeria at the moment.

I don't want to blame the Nigerian government any more for the activities of the boko haram sect because terrorism has become a world wide phenomenon and no country as at today can be said to be safe from terrorist attacks given the rate at which some of this Islamic extremists launch attacks in towns and cities across the globe.

The role of religion in this madness cannot be pushed under the carpet, in as much as I cant put the blame on any particular religion but I may be tempted to say that Islam cannot be completely distanced from the current terrorism going on across the world, as most of the perpetrators of this evil act has been chanting Islamic slogans or attribute the success of their barbaric act on Allah, in Nigeria it has been reported that some of the attacks were planned inside mosques before being carried out.

Can Nigeria solve this problem of insurgency alone? my honest answer is NO.

If the international community can come in to assist Nigeria in this fight against boko haram I am confident that the war will be won as I believe in the honest resolve of the Nigerian government to put an end to this menace. the international community and some world powers who in the past has indicated interest to assist the Nigerian community has declined their assistance simply because Nigeria did not agree to some of their requests and they even went ahead to block some of the sources where Nigeria usually procure arms from thereby forcing the federal government to look for alternative sources like the black market to secure ammunition for our soldiers.

The northern elites will also do the country and them selves a lot of good by exposing those behind these wickedness as against the claim that the perpetrators of this evil act usually come from outside of the country, the Nigerian immigration service should also live up to their duty by ensuring that our borders are atleast 80% secured and the customs on their own will also do their best to stop illegal arms and ammunition from coming into the country, while central bank will on their part monitor all international and local fund transfers because such sophisticated war that has been waged by the boko haram sect against the Nigerian state cannot be successful without funding either internationally or locally, on the part of our politicians we all should join hands in the fight against terrorism rather than use it as a political point against opponents while parents should watch and report their wards to security agencies once we discover that he or she is doing what we are not comfortable with or are keeping company that we suspect to be criminal as no body can be said to be safe from the insurgency going on in Nigeria today

I believe if we all do our part the war against terrorism will be won

Aguoru

writes from Umuahia

Ikpeazu's candidacy a wake up call for the Ukwa/Ngwa.

By Uche Aguoru

The choice of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD. by the peoples Democratic party as its standard flag bearer for the 2015 general election should serve as a wake up call for every Ukwa/Ngwa man and woman both at home and in diaspora.

Without mincing words the Ukwa la Ngwa tribe have all along been known with the reputation as a people who can never be united in pursuit of a common goal in politics despite its rich
material and human resources which abound in that part of the state, its a known fact that all along the Ukwa/Ngwa people have tried severally to have a shot at the leadership of the state dating back to when we are still in the old Imo state before the creation of Abia, but all along they have not been successful because of lack of unity in their quest for the leadership of the state, despite their numerical strength and rich cultural back ground, their character of standing against their own when ever any Ukwa/Ngwa son comes out to vie for the number one position in the state has been their greatest challenge in the governorship of Abia state.

Just recently the Abia chapter of the Peoples democratic party zoned the governorship of the state to Abia south which comprises of the Ukwa la Ngwa tribe and chose an Ngwa son Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu PhD. amongst others as its candidate for the 2015 governorship election, in every electoral contest a winner must emerge and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu an Ngwa son who has been living amongst his people and knows the history and problems of his people and is determined to solve the problems of the Ukwa/Ngwa and indeed the entire Abia state emerged as the winner of that contest, but some Ukwa and Ngwa sons has been kicking against that decision by the party and would rather prefer some one who is not a core Ngwa or Ukwa son, whose claim to be an Ngwa man is still sketchy and unfounded against their own son. this custom of "its either me or no one else" type of politics that has been in practice by the Ukwa/Ngwa tribe has been the reason why the Ngwas or the Ukwas have not had the opportunity of governing Abia.

The Ukwa/Ngwa should wake up now, rally round their son and speak with one voice and also cast their vote for their own son Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu PhD. the Ukwa la Ngwa should also bear in mind that if they make the mistake of selling their right to those who have come to claim Ngwa because of the opportunity given to the Ukwa/Ngwa by the peoples Democratic party by casting their vote for the wrong person as against their own son it will take them the next 24 years to try their hands on the leadership of Abia state, the Ukwa/Ngwa vote should be given to Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu in block so as to secure the political future of the Ukwa la Ngwa tribe.

Politics should not be a winner takes all affair and at such the Ukwas should understand that if they give the Ngwa man their support he will bring even development to both the Ukwa and Ngwa and indeed Abia in general and when the opportunity calls again for the leadership of the state to go back to Abia south the Ngwa man will as well support the Ukwa man to get the leadership slot of the state.

A vote for PDP is a vote for justice, equity and even distribution of development across Abia, and let all Abians bear in mind that it is only by casting your vote for PDP at all levels and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu PhD that we can truly say Oke ezue la Abia.

Aguoru

Writes from Umuahia

Ikpeazu's candidacy a wake up call for the Ukwa/Ngwa.

By Uche Aguoru

The choice of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD. by the peoples Democratic party as its standard flag bearer for the 2015 general election should serve as a wake up call for every Ukwa/Ngwa man and woman both at home and in diaspora.

Without mincing words the Ukwa la Ngwa tribe have all along been known with the reputation as a people who can never be united in pursuit of a common goal in politics despite its rich
material and human resources which abound in that part of the state, its a known fact that all along the Ukwa/Ngwa people have tried severally to have a shot at the leadership of the state dating back to when we are still in the old Imo state before the creation of Abia, but all along they have not been successful because of lack of unity in their quest for the leadership of the state, despite their numerical strength and rich cultural back ground, their character of standing against their own when ever any Ukwa/Ngwa son comes out to vie for the number one position in the state has been their greatest challenge in the governorship of Abia state.

Just recently the Abia chapter of the Peoples democratic party zoned the governorship of the state to Abia south which comprises of the Ukwa la Ngwa tribe and chose an Ngwa son Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu PhD. amongst others as its candidate for the 2015 governorship election, in every electoral contest a winner must emerge and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu an Ngwa son who has been living amongst his people and knows the history and problems of his people and is determined to solve the problems of the Ukwa/Ngwa and indeed the entire Abia state emerged as the winner of that contest, but some Ukwa and Ngwa sons has been kicking against that decision by the party and would rather prefer some one who is not a core Ngwa or Ukwa son, whose claim to be an Ngwa man is still sketchy and unfounded against their own son. this custom of "its either me or no one else" type of politics that has been in practice by the Ukwa/Ngwa tribe has been the reason why the Ngwas or the Ukwas have not had the opportunity of governing Abia.

The Ukwa/Ngwa should wake up now, rally round their son and speak with one voice and also cast their vote for their own son Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu PhD. the Ukwa la Ngwa should also bear in mind that if they make the mistake of selling their right to those who have come to claim Ngwa because of the opportunity given to the Ukwa/Ngwa by the peoples Democratic party by casting their vote for the wrong person as against their own son it will take them the next 24 years to try their hands on the leadership of Abia state, the Ukwa/Ngwa vote should be given to Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu in block so as to secure the political future of the Ukwa la Ngwa tribe.

Politics should not be a winner takes all affair and at such the Ukwas should understand that if they give the Ngwa man their support he will bring even development to both the Ukwa and Ngwa and indeed Abia in general and when the opportunity calls again for the leadership of the state to go back to Abia south the Ngwa man will as well support the Ukwa man to get the leadership slot of the state.

A vote for PDP is a vote for justice, equity and even distribution of development across Abia, and let all Abians bear in mind that it is only by casting your vote for PDP at all levels and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu PhD that we can truly say Oke ezue la Abia.

Aguoru

Writes from Umuahia

Abia PDP primaries, a pass mark to Ochendo's leadership qualities.

By Uche Aguoru

The peaceful, free, fair and credible conduct of PDP primaries in Abia state is an attestation to the fact that Ochendo has indeed stabilized the political horizon of Abia state, before the coming of Governor T.A.Orji (C.O.N) in 2007, elections in Abia has always been marred with violence as we have witnessed in some states of the federation whereby the conduct of primary elections in those states has been a war situation where politicians even go as far as attempting to eliminate and in some cases kill other aspirants vying for the same political positions with them, he has also held the party together by ensuring that all political stake holders in PDP is treated with deserved respect, times were in this state when the Abia PDP was in tumult with each clique having its own factional leader, as we are witnessing today in Enugu, Anambra, Akwaibom, Bayelsa, Delta and so many other states being controlled by PDP.

Ochendo as a peace loving leader came and brought every body together under one umbrella and the result is the political peace and stability we are enjoying today in Abia state. its an open fact that today, some states though under the leadership of peoples democratic party have as many as four different factions within the same state.

In an effort to achieve a sustainable stability within the political circle, political thuggery has been eliminated in Abia state by ensuring that youths who prior to this time are being used as thugs to cause trouble and create confusion during elections are today empowered, gainfully employed and kept busy through the youth empowerment and Skill Acquisition programmes of the state government under the able leadership of Ochendo global.

Politicians who before now are known for leaving the party in droves after primary elections no longer do so because the conduct of the primary elections in Abia state has been widely adjudged to be one of the best in the federation as it was seen to be free, fair, credible and devoid of violence even by the losers, some of them have also gone ahead to congratulate the winners and have also pledged their unalloyed support and loyalty for the party irrespective of the fact that they lost the elections.

To some aspirants their loss at the primaries though may come as a surprise to them but are consoled by the fact that the process was free and credible because the party gave every aspirant a free playing ground to test their popularity in the contest. the Abia PDP has exhibited a high sense of responsibility and fairness in this rudimentary stage of the contest since it is also natural that in every contest there has to be a winner.

Its also an open fact that no election the world over can be said to have been hundred percent free of any electoral malpractice, it is therefore worthy of note that the Abia chapter of the Peoples Democratic party and its leadership has indeed shown that the leader of the party in the state Governor T.A.Orji is a man of justice and fairness going by the united nations definition of a free and fair election, any electoral contest devoid of violence should be seen and accepted to be free, fair, and credible.

Given the background that one cannot completely rule out maneuvering by politicians in any electoral contest the world over, it is therefore fair enough to give Abia PDP and its leadership a pass mark in the just concluded primaries held in Abia state.

Its advisable for politicians who lost out in the contest to embrace those who won in the spirit of sportsmanship and also work towards ensuring that the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) wins all the elective political positions in Abia state in the general elections, it is also appropriate for those who won not to see their victory as a winner takes all affair but rather should bring those who lost out closely and work with them to ensure that come 2015 Abia PDP will come out stronger than it is at the moment even after the exit of the present government

Aguoru

Writes from Umuahia

Lady Adanma has been described by many who knew her as the pillar behind the successes recorded by Dr.M.I.Okpara both in governance and administration, the octogenarian who will clock 90 by December 21st 2014 has lived a fulfilled life at the age of ninety she is very strong and walks about on her legs, a good Christian who attends to her religious and social activities with little or no assistance given her age, lady Adanma Okpara who despite her age is still mentally and physically strong attributes her strength to Gods grace.

On Wednesday the 17th of December 2014 an anniversary lecture will be held in honour of this sagacious lady at the michael Okpara auditorium while her 90th birthday will be celebrated on the 21st of December 2014 at st Michaels church Umuegwu Afugiri Ohuhu umuahia.
She deserves to be celebrated she deserves our prayers she deserves our support.

Let's wish lady Adanma Okpara happy birthday.

Former Governor Orji Kalu and his senatorial ambition mirage.

By Uche Aguoru

When I heard the news that the former Abia Governor Chief Orji Uzor Kalu has dropped his senatorial ambition, I received it with mixed feelings, a mixture of happiness and disappointment.

I was happy because those who had followed him all along can now see how slippery the man they have been following is, they can now begin to understand how unreliable he is, right from when he bought the form I knew all along that he wasn't contesting he only wanted to show case himself and tell the world that he has managed to rejoin PDP after much attempt and not that he has come to contest elections in Abia knowing fully well that the people are not happy with him and therefore cannot even win a councillorship election in his electoral ward talk more of winning a senatorial seat in the whole of Abia north which comprises of five local government areas based on his performance as a governor who could not boast of any meaningful achievement for eight years.

Lies are easily told but not to ones self, OUK,s supporters may have been living on the false illusion that he is still popular but he OUK knows that his popularity rating is next to zero in Abia and Nigeria in general having been dwarfed by Ochendo,s performance in areas of security, Infrastructural development, human capital development,politics etc.

At the same time I was disappointed because I had expected him to go into the contest knowing fully well that he is going to be floored officially by his opponents in the race and that will give him an opportunity of x-raying himself and his performance when he had the chance to make a positive impression in the minds of Abians, but as unrepentant as OUK is, he is blaming his failure to go through the full contest on Governor T.A.Orji and I wonder what that means, the following questions began to run through my mind as to the possible reasons he chose to blame Ochendo for his personal decision to back out of the race.

1) Did Ochendo stop him from contesting or picking the PDP nomination form?

2) Is he contesting on the same senatorial zone with Ochendo?

3) Is Ochendo by any chance a member of the screening panel set up by PDP national body.

Why is OUK blaming every of his failure on governor Theodore Orji knowing fully well that he caused his problems by him self for failing the state and its citizens.

Is it not an act of self deceit and mischief for one to keep blaming others for a self inflicted wound Chief Orji Kalu had always boasted of his political prowess and popularity and I wonder why he decided to chicken out now that the political game is at its peak, those who had the guts is still in the race trying to woo the people into supporting and voting for them, those who felt that they won't get the party tickets in PDP moved to other parties because they are sure they will make impacts and possibly win the elections, if Orji Kalu is popular as he claims why can't he contest and win the elections from either PPA or any other platform since he is convinced he can't make it through PDP, also for him to be asking for a reimbursement of the money he paid to PDP for the purchase of the PDP nomination form is the funniest part of the whole drama, may be if he had bought the form from Abia PDP he would have said that Ochendo is the one that ate the money he paid for his nomination form and that was the reason he failed to show up for the screening, just as the saying goes a bad work man always quarrels with his tools.

The Peoples Democratic Party is a very big party with a very large umbrella that can accommodate every tom dick and Harry and therefore any one who feels he has the capacity to vie for an elective office is free to do so without let or hindrance and the Abia PDP is one that is peaceful and does not stop or hinder any one from pursuing his legitimate ambition.

Governor T.A. Orji in as much as he is the leader of the party (PDP) in Abia is not the party chairman and does not hold any office within the party and the implication is that he cannot dictate to the party how to carry out its party functions I also do not see how he had stopped Chief Orji Kalu from running as he had alleged in his complaint, the screening was not conducted by Abia PDP executives but members sent by the national exco of the party, and any aspirant who scales through the screening will go to the field for primary elections, how then did Ochendo stop Orji Kalu? what Orji Kalu did is simply a smart cowardly move aimed managing further disgrace that he would have encountered if he had gone through the full stretch of the contest.

Orji Kalu should blame himself and his inability to develop Abia when he had the chance rather than blaming Ochendo or Abia PDP for his personal decision to back out of the electoral contest where he would have eventually faced a bigger disgrace.

Aguoru

writes from Umuahia

The voice of the opposition in Abia politics and 2015 elections.

By Uche Aguoru

The opposition in politics and democracy is a very important aspect of every government and is therefore a catholicon for development and accountability in governance.

In Abia state why opposition appears to be silent or inexistent in Abia politics is because of the enormous progress that Ochendo has recorded in governance and his political sagacity since he assumed office as the governor of Abia state.

In the words of Jarod Kintz an author and philosopher he said and I quote
Instead of breaking people down, try building them up. Every person is a brick, and if you are a successful builder, you’ll have a formidable wall, and few people willing to oppose you.

This quote from this famous author of many books is to my mind the driving force behind Ochendo,s success in governance and politics, Gov. T.A Orji has contained the voice of the opposition with his performance and accommodation for opposing voices which in the previous administration any one who dares raise a voice against the vices of that government is either killed or chased away from the state but Ochendo in his peaceful manner rather than turning violent to opposition has embraced it and used most of the issues raised by the opposition to the advantage of the state and its citizens
his developmental strides going by the history of the state from creation has made it difficult for the opposition to constructively challenge his leadership qualities, Ochendo has successfully brought together all the Abia political leaders into one umbrella and this has brought peace and meaningful development into Abia state today.
There is no political organisation that does not have challenges during electioneering periods but the ability of its leaders to stand firm and take an unbiased stand on issues that will affect the welfare of the people they are leading is what makes them strong and distinguishes them from their counterparts and that's exactly the path Ochendo has towed in the handling of political issues as it concerns Abia.

The zoning of the leadership of the state to Abia south is one decision that every Abian who believes in fairness and justice should give kudos to PDP and Ochendo for standing firm in their decision to do the right thing all those criticizing that decision are doing so based on selfish reasons either because they are schemed out through political maneuvering which is what the game of politics is all about in the first instance or they found themselves not favoured by the zoning structure which Ochendo and the PDP had upheld, turning them into emergency opposition and circumstantial social critics.

They are now seeing the wrongs in the same process that has favoured them all along, some of those contesting the governorship of Abia state who tried to get the favour of the party and the anointing of the governor without success have suddenly found their voices against the practice of politically adopting one person out of the lot because it didn't go in their favour they are now accusing the governor of favouring Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and to the best of my knowledge I haven't heard or seen the governor raise Okezie Ikpeazu,s hand in any forum to say this is my anointed candidate just as we have it in Enugu and Ebonyi today, the other candidates in their political naivety are simply afraid of Dr Ikpeazu,s rocketing profile and qualification and are trying to blackmail the governor into stopping him but the governor has said it repeatedly that he has not anointed any candidate that all candidates as long as you are from the Abia south senatorial zone and you are interested in becoming the governor should go to the field and sort it out, my advice for those criticizing the governor is to channel their energy on how to come out tops in the oncoming PDP primaries and general elections rather than sit down to blame Ochendo for their woes they should work hard enough to strategize on how to sell them selves and their program to the people who will eventually give them victory at the polls, because in politics no matter how smart you are you can never rig where you are not popular.
The 2015 general elections will come and go and Abia will still remain it is what we make of this ongoing electioneering process that will determine our future in the next four years the money bags are back in the state those who have been in Abuja and other places outside Abia have suddenly found their way home with bags of money ready to buy your vote and your future for any amount, these set of people cannot understand the problems you are having because they don't live or even visit Abia you complain of bad roads they fly on choppers they dole out billions of Naira just to buy your vote remember no businessman invests without knowing how to recoup his/her investment, and there is no free lunch any where even in Freetown.
Let's be guided and give our votes to that man whom we know has been in our midst who will sustain and improve on the developments on ground and can grow the economy of the state, that's the only way we can guarantee the political security of our future and that of our children.

Aguoru

Writes from Umuahia

Ochendo: The leader with a vision.

By Uche Aguoru

Going through the programs and projects of Governor T.A. Orji (Ochendo) one can best describe him as a leader with a vision, one who is on a mission to develop Abia.
Ochendo,s works are works geared towards changing the face and fortunes of the state.
As a leader, Ochendo will go down in history as one who came, saw and conquered, who has shown love and care for his people, a leader with a kind heart who accommodates criticism and listens to peoples opinion when it matters, a leader whose program are those eschewed of any atom of selfishness but fashioned towards the improvement of the state and its citizens, a leader who listens to the cry of his people and does every thing a leader should do to put smiles in the faces of those he is leading, a leader who understands that he is holding the mandate of the people and meant to serve them first before self, a God fearing man whose love for God cannot be compromised, a hard working leader who knows that power belongs to the people who elected him as their caretaker.
Ochendo,s programs and policies are those laced with the milk of human kindness.

In education the Ochendo led government has built and renovated so many primary and secondary secondary schools across the seventeen local government areas of the state, built and equipped an E-library where students and others go for research using modern educational equipment as its obtainable in other parts of the world, Ochendo has provided free school buses for students so as to ensure that parents do not suffer the cost of transporting their wards to and from school, he also distributes free educational materials like exercise books chairs etcetera to students to enable them do their school works without complaining of lack of educational equipment. little wonder Abia has come out tops in the last two west African examination council results.

In the health sector Ochendo has built and equipped well over 250 Primary healthcare centers, two Diagnostic centres in Umuahia & Aba, nine (100) bed General Hospitals across the 3 Senatorial Districts, a new Dialysis Centre in Umuahia, he has also expanded and re-equipped the Abia State Teaching Hospital Aba, Chest Clinic at Amachara, Pediatric Clinic & Emergency Centre at Amachara etc.
The Hannamay foundation which is the pet project of his wife Her excellency Chief Mrs Mercy Odochi Orji is also into the business of taking care of Abia women antenatal care free of any charges the foundation also takes care of their delivery bills and other hospital charges.
In infrastructure: the Ochendo administration built a twin workers secretariat for civil servants in the state, before the coming of Ochendo ministries are scattered in different places within the state capital and in some cases are situated in apartments unbefitting of the corporate image of such an organisation and all this ministries are housed in rented buildings, accruing heavy burden of debt for the government and the state, its also a herculean task doing business from one ministry to another in Abia state and in most cases the ministries are very difficult to access because of where they are located which makes it very discouraging for those who has one thing or the other to do with those ministries. but today the reverse is the case as ministries have parked into a tastefully equipped workers secretariat courtesy of Ochendo,s government, The Ochendo administration have also relocated the Umuahia main market, the Timber market and the motor spare parts market to a new location easing traffic and decongesting the state capital, it has also beautified the state capital by erecting statues in major roundabouts within the state capital, it also mounted traffic lights in major junctions in umuahia the state capital, the Ochendo government is building an ultra modern state of the art international conference center, which is ninety percent completed, a new government house where construction is ongoing at the moment, a modern shopping mall which is a PPP initiative that was attracted by the present regime which is 80% completed the Ochendo administration have also constructed new access roads across different communities within the state a new high court building for easy and quick dispensation of justice it have also brought back to life the Ambassador news papers which was abandoned by the previous administration, and constructed a new ASEPA complex, new BCA complex etc.
the importance of these projects cannot be over emphasised as these are some of the major land marks that aught to be put in place to drive the development of the state to where it should be.
In housing the Abia state government have gone on an aggressive housing development program bearing in mind that housing is a major human need, some of these housing estates have been completed and taken over by its beneficiaries it includes Amaokwe Housing Estate Umuahia north,
Ochendo Liberation Housing estate old Umuahia,Umuahia South,
Isieke Housing estate umuahia north,
New Ohobo Housing Estate, Old timber market Umuahia North, Amauba housing estate, Traders Estate Ubani
Umuahia North etc, which gave him an award of excellence in housing development


In the area of youth empowerment and job creation the Ochendo administration has created jobs and empowered the youths in several ways which includes the opening of skill acquisition centers where graduates and non graduates are trained in different skills thereby arming them for the future since the government cannot employ every body into the states civil service it has also given out taxis free of any charges to Abia youths that will help them fend for them selves and their families.

In security which is the most important aspect of governance and first line contract which the people enter into with their leaders the Abia state government has done marvelously well in this area, according to security watch initiative a non governmental organisation, it has rated Abia the 3rd most secured state in the federation and every Nigerian knows the history of Abia state as it relates to security before the coming of Ochendo but today the story is different as Abians and non Abians who visit the state can sleep with both of eyes closed.

In politics Ochendo has stabilised the polity bringing every political stake holder in Abia state to one umbrella and ensuring that all aggrieved parties are pacified and brought together for the interest and development of the state he has also improved the relationship between the state and the federal which before now was not very cordial, as a man of peace he has been able to mend fences with those who feel aggrieved with the maltreatment they received by the previous administration and today we no longer hear of political fightings and killings in our dear state Abia.

In Agriculture the administration of governor T.A.Orji through its agricultural revolution program have developed a program called liberation farms project whereby farms are opened in different parts of the state for the purposes of developing the agric sector which has been abandoned and left to die, it has also gone ahead to send Abia youths who studied agriculture locally abroad to go and learn modern agricultural technics so as to effectively manage the farms.

In every other sector of governance governor T.A Orji Ochendo global has excelled more than other governors who has lead the state at different times through his vision and experience in administration and governance.

Aguoru

Writes from Umuahia

Leadership lectures from Chief Peter Obi (Okwute ndi Igbo) to Chief Orji Uzor Kalu

By Uche Aguoru

There is usually a time in a mans life when he takes the ultimate decision in life and such decision is usually

associated with great achievers, men who puts others first before self, men who places the state first before material gain, as I stood their in Chief Peter Obi,s residence in Onitsha G.R A Anambra state, waiting for the moment he will say I have now joined PDP and I have left APGA and all what I stand to gain materially from the state in the hands of Obiano the incumbent governor who Peter single handedly made the governor of Anambra state. We all know that it is a very hard decision to make, leaving a comfort zone and moving to an unknown terrain, that was exactly what Peter Obi the former governor of Anambra state did on the 7th of October 2014 he chose to play politics on the basis of national interest and to shun greed and high handedness, I looked round his residence and all I saw was a modest residence, modestly furnished and at that point I asked my self can such a man who manned the affairs of the richest south east state for eight years live such a modest life style? my mind quickly ran back to the era of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu who used the period he was the governor of Abia state to run the state down while developing his business empire and was busy building camp Neya when the state he is governing does not even have a government house.

What differentiates peter from other greedy politicians like OUK is that once peter had successfully insured that he has secured the state by ensuring that he handed over the mantle of leadership of the state to a man he is sure that wont mismanage the resources of the state but will rather try to improve on the achievements he had on ground already, he totally hands off from the governance of the state and had to move on with his life in other spheres even to the extent of joining another political party, Peter Obi left 75 billion naira for Obiano to work with that was why it took Obiano little or no time to put his government in order and to also start some key project implementation which has already been budgeted for by his predecessor.

This is a very big lesson in stewardship and honesty

as against a situation where by your predecessor will wipe every little fund left in the states purse and even go ahead to borrow money and also tactically and falsely obtain funds from donor agencies into his private account leaving the debt and bad image for the incoming administration such as we saw in the case of Orji Uzor Kalu and T.A Orji where Orji Kalu had to accrue so much debt for the state and left nothing for Chief T.A. Orji to work with.

For Peter to have moved over to another party means that he is not ready to play God fatherism of any sort on the incumbent in as much as he has been his boss all along even before politics, for Okwute ndi Igbo to have left the party means he shunned greed and materialism for the interest of his state Anambra, for Peter to have left APGA for PDP means he loved his state and has the interest of his people at heart and has placed them first before self.
Since peter handed over to Obiano I have not heard or read him any where criticizing and telling lies against Obiano on the pages of every newspaper.
Okwute ndi Igbo did not appoint those he wants Obiano to work with, he has brother's he has relations he could have placed in strategic positions in Obiano,s government even as Chief of staff to Obiano but he did not do that because he wanted Obiano to succeed and for Anambra to grow beyond the level he (peter) left her.

That is selflessness

Peter left APGA for PDP so as to attract more federal presence to his state and today he is received into the party (PDP) like a hero he is and the whole world witnessed his entry into the party.

Who received OUK back into PDP and who witnessed his return to the party?

if peter had chosen to be high handed like Orji Kalu he would have divided APGA or try to destroy it before leaving he did not even tamper with the APGA structure that he built down to the wards in Anambra, he simply moved to a party where he felt has a wider reach, a party at the center where his voice can be heard the more for the interest of his people.
And to prove to the world that he is not having any face off with the incumbent he stood by him all through the electoral process down to the supreme court victory before decamping to the party with the widest Umbrella on planet earth (PDP) and today whether we like peter,s action or not he has taught some of our leaders what selfless leadership should be and
these are some of the lessons that those who help Orji Kalu to write his leadership series in his sun news papers should help teach him, they should tell him that

(1)greed had cost him more than he had gained,

(2) that it was greed and high handedness that made his party PPA loose two states that is already in their control namely IMO and Abia.

(3) that it was greed and high handedness that made him not to belong to any political party today not even his PPA

(4) that it was greed and high handedness that killed his party the progressive peoples Alliance.

these are some of the lessons in leadership that Orji Kalu should learn from Okwute Ndi Igbo Chief Peter Obi


Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia

Re-Kwankwaso bemoans the rot in Abia,urges electorates to sack PDP

By Uche Aguoru

I was forced into a hysterical laughter when i opened page 14 of sun newspaper of Wednesday 17th of September 2014 to see the caption: Kwankwaso bemoans the rot in Abia, urges electorate to sack PDP, ordinarily I don't read sun newspaper because of their penchant for writing false hood, but a friend called me to go get a copy of the paper and check if the advert he placed on the paper was published since he travelled outside the country on an official engagement, only to read a man who ran down kano state and institutionalized almajiri and thuggery as a way of life in almost all parts of the ancient city of kano, A man who took armed thugs to block the gates of kano government house when he was removed from office the first time, coming to Abia to talk about rot and how he is going to build sky scrapers in umuahia and fly overs in Aba from kano state, initially I thought it was a script from Julius Agwu the popular comedian who wants to contest the governorship of rivers state, but reading further down I discovered that Kwankwaso didn't even come to Abia him self, he sent a local government chairman Alhaji Muktar Gora who came to canvass for the vote of Abia APC members to make him (Kwankwaso) president in 2015 it was now becoming more interesting and I can now see how foolish these northerners are in their attempt to be smart a presidential aspirant sending a local government chairman to come and canvass for Abia vote on his behalf what an insult.
A man who could not make any impact in an old town like kano, a town that is as old as Nigeria with almost all the infrastructures required of a state in place before he even took over the running of the state coming to tell us how he will do miracles in our 23 year old Abia if he becomes president. ordinarily any one seeking political position makes promises but for Christ sake while making such promises people should try to look at the people they are talking to before opening their buccal cavity to vomit balderdash, how can an Hausa man come to develop Abia or any state in the south east for that matter he said he visited Abia in 2002 that's over a decade and that what he is seeing now was exactly what he saw then. I want to believe he must be suffering from glaucoma for him not to have seen that the umuahia main market has moved and that ministries have now moved to their new Secretariat as against the rented buildings they were occupying before now his eyes didn't itch as a result of the glaucoma while in umuahia he would have gone to the new eye care clinic built at Amachara and may have also seen the new Diagnostic centres in Umuahia & Aba, a new Dialysis Centre, the Chest Clinic , the Pediatric Clinic & Emergency Centre at Amachara etc.

He also didn't notice that there is a new government house under construction, in his bias he failed to notice that the base of the state capital has been moved to the new umuahia, may be he came in from Ikot ekpene and not from the Abia Tower area and was blind folded to his final destination that was why he didn't notice all the street beautification that has adorned the the length and breadth of umuahia, let's just say he was flown into umuahia with an Alpha jet not to notice that the road leading to umuahia ten years ago was a single lane which has now been dualized, just may be he didn't have the opportunity of coming out of where his hosts took him to appreciate the town and the people he is planning to become their president he would have noticed that ten years ago there are no yellow taxis in umuahia and Aba, of course his car or that of his hosts didn't break down he would have noticed where the mechanic village is now located and that it has moved from the heart of the town to a place specially designed and built for such purposes may be he was engrossed in a very deep conversation with the people in the same car with him that he didn't notice that the usual hold up that used to be the order of the day around Okpara round about and isi gate has now disappeared and come to think of it since when did an Hausa man start thinking of the development of Igbo states and ndi Igbo in general.
what legacy did he leave in kano where he had been two time governor? since he loved the Igbo this much why didn't he pressure for Almajiri peoples congress. APC (a.k.a supporter of APC party) to give the igbos a strategic position in the party, why did he choose a south south man from the Yoruba extraction as his running mate as against an Igbo man? He came to Abia and enjoyed the peace and security that Abia is now known for all over Nigeria if it had been in kano he would have been attacked by either the Almajiris or the Fulani herds men and if he escapes the two of course he won't escape shekau,s suicide bombers.
Abia is known for hospitality, love and respect for visitors I suspect he must have forgotten him self after a sumptuous meal of Ukazi soup laced with achara and nkpurusu (caked melon) as against the Tuwo shinkafi he has known all his life and that made him to start speaking in tongues.

Aguoru
wrote in from Umuahia

Ochendo Abia (CON), an honour well deserved

By Uche Aguoru

An award is a form of honor, a kind of recognition aimed to felicitate one’s excellent contribution in a chosen field. An award is not only a great prestige or a mark of excellence, but is also a tremendous boost for someone to strive and excel higher and aim for even bigger accomplishments in life. It is the ultimate token of recognition of purest of talents and highest of achievements.
In the words of Adams Sandler who won an Oscar, once said and I quote
I don't think about that. I wasn't a kid growing up saying one day I'll get an Oscar and make a speech. That wasn't on my mind. So what I do is the best work I can do.

Adam Sandler

in line with this sayings the conferment of the award of the commander of the order of the Niger (CON) is a well deserved one for Governor T.A.Orji and the entire people of Abia state.

It is not out of place that the federal executive council out of the 36 state governors in Nigeria, singled out governor T.A.Orji for such a prestigious award, what is more interesting is the background with which governor Orji and indeed the good people of Abia state was selected in the midst of others for such a prestigious recognition.
Security of lives and property of a people is the first and most important contract which the people must enter into with their leaders before even going to the polls to elect them, every politician seeking the peoples vote must first of all promise them of the security of their lives and property before any other thing as it is only a man who is alive that can live to enjoy other infrastructures that the government can provide.
the background upon which the state is coming from before the coming of governor T.A.Orji Ochendo global is one that any rational mind will have to appreciate the efforts and hard work of governor Orji at ensuring the security of Abians, if the truth must be told there was a time when those who criticize the government of chief T.A. Orji today, cannot even come back to the state for fear of being kidnapped, robbed or even killed. there was a time in this state when people go to bed as early as 6pm for fear of being killed or kidnapped, when people abandoned their flashy cars for keke and buses so as not to be recognised as being rich, when people leave their comfortable well air conditioned homes to go and sleep in church premises and other places not befitting enough to be called a home. there was a time when people had to go the extent of hiring their own personal security before visiting their villages many people went as far as relocating their businesses and families from Abia to other States of the federation it was so bad that I know of a family whose aged parents were kidnapped in three different occasions for a ransome before they decided to relocate them abroad, children and women were not spared of this chilly horror it is still fresh in our minds the hijack of a school bus that was conveying school children to school with all occupants on it including children and their teachers, that attracted the attention of the united nations, the kidnap of three journalist who were coming back from a conference in umuahia is still fresh in our memories, there was a time when expatriates and construction workers had to abandon their bits and ran for their dear lives, a time when robbers will write to banks that they are coming to rob and will also have the effrontery to keep to the appointment and afterwards go home unchallenged a time when all the news that emanates from Abia is either that of kidnap or killings it was so bad that even the security agents were afraid of the hoodlums because the criminals were better equipped than the security agents.
a time when Abia was in record as the most insecure state in Nigeria.
but today the story is different, Abia as of today is adjudged one of the most secured states in the federation courtesy of the hard work and ingenuity of Ochendo global a peace loving man, a man who would rather lose his own life and secure that of all Abians. a man who has invested so much into the security of lives and property of Abians
that was why I tagged this award of the commander of the order of the Niger (CON) being bestowed on Governor T.A.Orji by the federal government in recognition of his role in securing the state and its citizens on this day the 29th of September 2014 as an honour well deserved.

Aguoru
writes from Umuahia

In this period when the world is facing a major security and economic problem occasioned by a great level of youth unemployment the Abia state government through its skill acquisition program again devised a means of getting its youths meaningfully and independently engaged through its skill acquisition program.
for the first time Abia as a state just witnessed the passing out of the first batch of graduates of government trained and sponsored graduates from its skill acquisition centers located in different centers in Abia state.
Since the only panacea for crime and criminality is to get the youths gainfully engaged, and Abia as a state having had its fair share of kidnapping and other forms of criminality that held the state down and chased away investors and would be investors whom through their investments in the state would have added live to the economy of the state and by so doing increase Abia,s internally generated revenue, that was why Ochendo had to device other means of getting Abia youths engaged by training them in different skills and giving them all the needed assistance that will make them employers of labour in time to come.
It is a popular saying that an idle mind is the devils workshop, Ochendo global having realized that to sustain the peace and secured environment that he has created in Abia state, that he has to keep the youths gainfully busy so as to keep their minds away from crime and also having realized that the state cannot employ every other Abian that seeks to have a secure means of lively hood decided to open up those skills acquisition centers whereby those whom before now do not have any form of training in any skill or trade and therefore unemployable can get trained in different trades and skills free of any charges by the state government and while in training will be receiving monthly stipends ten thousand naira that will sustain them till they graduate and upon graduation the government will assist them 100% to set up their own businesses.
this program which has been described by many as a noble one and the best form of youth empowerment is hundred percent powered by the Ochendo government and the beneficiaries are chosen without consideration to your local government , political party affiliation, gender or class, the only thing that qualifies one to take part in this program is that you are an Abian.
and since the live of this administration is winding down I pray the next administration will sustain this very important project that has been started by the Ochendo administration and my advise to Abia youths is to tap into this program now that they have the opportunity.

Governor is God sent to Abia he has been able to transform Abia from a state of neglect to a state serious development as he is building so many infrastructural edifice across the state

Between the Ukwa/Ngwa people and Ochendo,s promise.

by Uche Aguoru

It is no longer news that the governorship of Abia state has been ceded to Abia south zone as Ochendo has on several occasions made it clear that in the spirit of equity, fair play and justice that it has become very necessary for an Abia south man to govern the state, Ochendo being a man of his word, he has also gone ahead to set machineries in motion that will aid the Abia south people to be able to produce the next governor, in as much as many people do not buy the idea of zoning with the argument that it does not represent the best democratic practice and that power should be fought for and won by the best, not minding where he or she is coming from, but in some other school of thought which I believed that its what the governor bought into, is the argument that it gives room for even development of all the geopolitical zones that made up the state and looking at it critically if governance and politicking is about development it then means that this argument takes the superior position given the need and yearning of an average Abian for the development of the state both in infrastructure and human capacity development.
the argument that Eze Bernard Enweremadu is bringing forward in the sunnews paper of 7th of august 2014 and written by Okey Sampson Entitled: Royal father's oppose guber slot to Abia south, to me is selfish and does not represent the wish of the average Ukwa/Ngwa man who has been yearning for a day such a dream will come to reality, to me Eze Enweremadu is expressing a personal opinion and not the collective opinion of all Ukwa/Ngwa Ezes as he claimed, but be that as it may I believe that an Abia south man is an Ukwa/Ngwa man whether he is from Abia south or central should be immaterial in this context as their worry now should be how to ensure that they collectively win the race to govern the state and not create unnecessary bad blood amongst the Ukwa/Ngwa,s by making such statements that will give the Ukwa/Ngwa away as a people who is not united in this pursuit for the highest office in the state and by so doing make a mess of Ochendo,s efforts in giving equal development to the three geo-political zones even after his exit as the executive governor of Abia state come may 29th, 2015
Aguoru wrote in from Umuahia

It is said that any society that neglects its youths neglects its future, that was the reason the Abia state government having realised the importance to empower its youths chose to improve on the youth empowerment scheme and give Abia youths genuine empowerment with a human face.

The last youth empowerment scheme embarked upon by the state government and held in Bende zone by the Abia state government left every Abian assured of Ochendo,s preparedness to develop, reposition and empower the future of Abia youths.
Out side giving out vehicles to over 200 youths from the bende zone which comprises Ohafia,Arochukwu, and Bende LGA.s the governor also gave out grants to the tune of two million naira each to some graduates who are trained in different professions but do not have the finance to go into their professional training fully and independently, also other youths who had some vocational training in so many other trades also received the grants that will enable them set up their own businesses and become employers of labour rather than looking for jobs in an already saturated labour market
This right move made in the right direction by the Ochendo administration is commendable and should be sustained and taken round other zones within the state, this program which is meant to reduce graduate/youth unemployment, if sustained will gradually extirpate unemployment and also create jobs in the state, the program if properly monitored will cause a turn around in the states economy by improving the internally generated revenue of the state and also reduce crime and criminality amongst the youths.

The recipients of this empowerment items should help the state government by putting either the vehicles that was given to them into good use so as to generate income rather than turning it into private vehicles and remain unemployed, those who received the grants should endeavour to invest properly in their areas of specialization so as to expand and create jobs.
The government on its own should endeavour to put check mechanisms in place that will ensure that those who received the grants used it for the purpose it was meant for by so doing the aim of empowering Abia youths will be achieved.

Uche Aguoru

Writes from Umuahia

The race for the soul of Ohuhu.

By Uche Aguoru

The recent happenings in the race for the representative of the Ohuhu people in the Abia house of assembly brings my memory back to a story that I was told as a child by my grand mother about a certain legislator in the then Odida Anyanwu county council representing Ohuhu constituency who is always sent out to go and buy tobacco for other house members when ever its time to have a serious debate in the house that will affect the lives of the people he is representing and by the time he comes back a decision has been reached in his absence without him making an input, funny as this may sound its a reality and such scenarios are repeating itself today, though in some other shapes in the various legislative chambers across the federation.
Come 2015 the good people of Ohuhu constituency will be electing some body to represent them in the Abia house of assembly.
But is it not time that we as a people should sit back and ponder over the quality of people that we usually send to the house as our representatives and how effectively or other wise that we have been represented by our so called honourable members representing Ohuhu constituency from 1999 till date? What can we as a people say that all the people that we have sent out to represent us and speak on our behalf has been able to attract in form of infrastructural and human capacity development of Ohuhu land.
Just recently, precisely on the 20th of June 2014 there was a live interactive program on the broadcasting corporation of Abia state (BCA) radio and television where the house members representing Umunneochi and that of Ohuhu were featured to tell the people what they have been able to attract to their constituencies while the man representing Umunneochi were busy recounting the motions, resolutions and bills that he has sponsored in the house within the three years that he has been in the house he even went ahead to recount projects that he is personally doing within his constituency and the constituency projects that he has attracted to his people which includes the construction of a bridge in his constituency.
The house member representing Ohuhu constituency said in the last seven years that he has been in the house that he has not sponsored any bill,resolution or a motion. that answer which baffled the moderator made him to ask if the people he is representing haven't got things they need from the state government? In his answer he said he usually buy wrappers for the women during their August meetings and sponsors constituency meetings solely hmmm is this what we elected him to go and do for us in the house?
he is not alone in this in The days of honourable Nkem Ike who even rose to the point of becoming the speaker of ABHA he never made any positive impact in the house that affected the life of any body in Ohuhu even within his immediate community Ofeme there was no sign that a speaker once came from there, same goes to honourable Onyeoziri who went to the house and left unnoticed, are these people the best Ohuhu can produce as our representatives? Are we not supposed to look inwards so as to select a representative who will go to the house and represent us effectively? the decision to change our collective destinies is now that 2015 is by the corner.

Uche Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia

The race for the soul of Ohuhu.

By Uche Aguoru

The recent happenings in the race for the representative of the Ohuhu people in the Abia house of assembly brings my memory back to a story that I was told as a child by my grand mother about a certain legislator in the then Odida Anyanwu county council representing Ohuhu constituency who is always sent out to go and buy tobacco for other house members when ever its time to have a serious debate in the house that will affect the lives of the people he is representing and by the time he comes back a decision has been reached in his absence without him making an input, funny as this may sound its a reality and such scenarios are repeating itself today, though in some other shapes in the various legislative chambers across the federation.
Come 2015 the good people of Ohuhu constituency will be electing some body to represent them in the Abia house of assembly.
But is it not time that we as a people should sit back and ponder over the quality of people that we usually send to the house as our representatives and how effectively or other wise that we have been represented by our so called honourable members representing Ohuhu constituency from 1999 till date? What can we as a people say that all the people that we have sent out to represent us and speak on our behalf has been able to attract in form of infrastructural and human capacity development of Ohuhu land.
Just recently, precisely on the 20th of June 2014 there was a live interactive program on the broadcasting corporation of Abia state (BCA) radio and television where the house members representing Umunneochi and that of Ohuhu were featured to tell the people what they have been able to attract to their constituencies while the man representing Umunneochi were busy recounting the motions, resolutions and bills that he has sponsored in the house within the three years that he has been in the house he even went ahead to recount projects that he is personally doing within his constituency and the constituency projects that he has attracted to his people which includes the construction of a bridge in his constituency.
The house member representing Ohuhu constituency said in the last seven years that he has been in the house that he has not sponsored any bill,resolution or a motion. that answer which baffled the moderator made him to ask if the people he is representing haven't got things they need from the state government? In his answer he said he usually buy wrappers for the women during their August meetings and sponsors constituency meetings solely hmmm is this what we elected him to go and do for us in the house?
he is not alone in this in The days of honourable Nkem Ike who even rose to the point of becoming the speaker of ABHA he never made any positive impact in the house that affected the life of any body in Ohuhu even within his immediate community Ofeme there was no sign that a speaker once came from there, same goes to honourable Onyeoziri who went to the house and left unnoticed, are these people the best Ohuhu can produce as our representatives? Are we not supposed to look inwards so as to select a representative who will go to the house and represent us effectively? the decision to change our collective destinies is now that 2015 is by the corner.

Uche Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia

Gov. T.A Orji building a fresh foundation upon which Abia will stand.

By Uche Aguoru
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It appears that even before the creation of Abia state in the year 1991, precisely on the 27th of August. God has Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji in mind to reposition the state and create a solid foundation upon which Abia  state will be built.
Many Abians will ask why do i say so, does it mean that a state that is almost 23 years old never had a foundation? And my ready answer is, in the case of Abia NO.
The uncommon transformation going on in Abia today tagged "LEGACY PROJECTS" are supposed to have been embarked upon 23 years ago by the former Governors of the state which include military administrators and civilian rulers but for reasons best known to them they all chose to over look those projects that is supposed to be the foundational projects of any young state and that's why you can't stand any where in Abia to point at one project embarked upon by any of its former leaders both the military and the civilian governors not even the ones abandoned midway in form of Abandoned projects, but rather what we have is a long list of dying or already dead  industries and institutions  which Abia inherited from the then eastern regional government under chief M.I. Okpara namely the Golden Guinea breweries, the Modern Ceramics industry, the Aba textile mill, the farm settlements eg.Ulonna north and south etc. Abia also inherited from the then Imo state under the leadership of Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe, industries like the Ogwe Golden chicken, the international glass industry and the Imo hotel Ogborhill Aba, also the the world bank and low cost housing estates were part of what Abia inherited from the Mbakwe administration.
The broadcasting corporation of Abia state and the Ambassador newspapers were built by the then milad Frank Ajobena, while Chief Ogbonnaya Onu left us with only the Abia tower in 1992.
Its quite unfortunate that while other states created the same date with Abia state are busy expanding the frontiers of what they inherited from their parent states, in the case of Abia the former rulers left them to rot.
That's why I have always described Gov. T.A Orji as a governor laying a fresh foundation for the state after 23years, in natural law its always easy to dig up the ground while its still very soft and wet but when the land has gone through years of dryness without being wetted you and I can understand the difficulty in digging up such a ground and and the very first process of laying a foundation is to dig up the ground at such it takes courage, determination and extra strength to lay a foundation on a ground that has been dry for two decades plus.
Ochendo has gone the extra length by building the structures necessary for the take off a state like Abia, while I don't totally Blame those who criticize the efforts of the present administration in repositioning the state and placing it on the right foundation its because we have had governors who did nothing to better the lot of the state and its citizens but rather concentrated on enriching themselves, their cronies and establishing personal businesses in other States and countries with the money meant for the development of the state and its citizenry.
In as much as criticism is a part of governance, every rational mind would appreciate the efforts of Chief T.A.Orji and the challenges in building pilot institutions for the state at the age of 23, the projects he is undertaking now are projects he should have inherited being 8th person to man the affairs of the state, Abia before Ochendo should be described as an institution without an administrative base and I wonder how such an organisation will succeed.
Some people who do not see the efforts of the present administration are those who either do not know the history and background of the state or intentionally do not want to appreciate the developmental strides of the present administration under Chief T.A Orji a lot has been done and many more are still being done to make Abia go back to its glory as Gods own state.
Security is the foremost contract the people have with their leaders and its evident that Abia is a secured and safe state unlike what is obtainable in Abia state between 1999/2008 where by state was held hostage at different times by the Aba Mafia, armed robbers or kidnappers which forced the people of Abia to form their own security outfit known as Bakassi boys since the government as at that time has failed them, the lives and property of Abians were no longer guaranteed safe, the underworld gangs are now in charge of the state while the government who has the sole responsibility of securing the people no longer care about the people they are supposed to protect until Ochendo came out with the present security arrangement in Abia which saw all the criminals leaving the state or pay the supreme price for criminality and today Abia has been described as the safest state in the federation in the Area of health, Gov. T.A. Orji "Ochendo" has built and equipped over 250 Primary healthcare centers, two Diagnostic centres in Umuahia & Aba, 9 (100) bed General Hospitals across the 3 Senatorial Districts, a new Dialysis Centre, he is also expanding and re-equipping the Abia State Teaching Hospital Aba, Chest Clinic at Amachara, Pediatric Clinic & Emergency Centre at Amachara etc.
As you can see Ochendo is not only securing the lives and property of Abians he is also safeguarding the health and lives of Abians, He has also paid off the debt the state inherited from the OUK administration and has been able to lift the state from its pariah status which the state was plunged into by the immediate past governor of Abia state Chief Orji Uzor  Kalu when he entered into an ineffectual war of words with the federal government under chief Olusegun Obasanjo and today Abia is not only seen as a friend of the government at the center it also maintains a healthy relationship with other sister States and regarded as one of the most economically healthy state going by CBN index.
The state government under Ochendo went into aggressive agricultural revolution so as to make sure that Abians are not only healthy and safe but to ensure that they are well fed, that informed his decision to establish liberation farms across different LGA,s in Abia state which is intended to bring our youths back to  agriculture and make the state self sufficient in food production.
Before the Ochendo administration Abia youths were usually empowered with guns and machetes and the only employment known to them was thuggery but today the youths are now trained in different skills and trades and upon completion are given grants to enable them get established, instead of giving the youths guns and machetes they are now given vehicles without asking for pay backs just to get them gainfully employed and out of the street.
Aba that used to be very dirty which was formerly known as the dirtiest town in Africa is today described as one of the cleanest towns in Nigeria and Umuahia the state capital is now described as the cleanest capital in Nigeria courtesy of Ochendo,s ingenuity and leadership craftiness.
Because of his love for education he is building and renovating schools across the 17LGA,s in Abia state and has given school children free school buses that takes them to school in the morning and bring them back after school, his hard work in education is evident with the last WAEC result where our children performed creditably well.
Its on record that Abia civil servants have not gone on strike for once since the inception of the Ochendo administration because of the understanding and care the governor has shown them today Abia state government pays higher than the federal government stipulated minimum wage for civil servants across the federation he also built a state of the art Secretariat for Abia civil servants so as to enable them work in a serene and cosy environment.
The relocation of the umuahia main market is a feat that seemed impossible in the eye of many, other governors toyed with the idea but do not have the will power to carry it out until Ochendo came and today Ubani ultra modern market is a sight to behold, while the new timber market and Ohiya mechanic village has taken off full blast. The removal of these markets from the center of the state capital is meant to decongest the state capital and give room for meaningful development.
The beautification of the state capital is going on from one corner of Umuahia to another, traffic lights are being mounted at major traffic spots and flowers are being planted along the major roads of Umuahia with monuments being erected at every round about to add beauty to the town.
Governor T.A Orji also established Abia roads maintenance agency (ABROMA) to take care of road maintenance in the state and the Abia state oil producing area development commission (ASOPADEC) whose aim is to ensure that development gets to every nook and cranny of Abia state more especially the oil producing communities in Abia state whose youths became very restive due to long years of neglect by previous administrations but today calm has returned to such communities as they are seeing the gains of coming from such communities .
In the area of housing the governor TA Orji administration has built quite a number of housing estates to ease the housing problem which is always one of the major challenges of a growing town like Umuahia. Some of the housing estates include: Amaokwe Housing Estate,
Ochendo Liberation Housing estate,
Isieke Housing estate,
New Ohobo Housing Estate, Traders Estate Ubani,ochendo liberation estate at Amauba.  etc the building of a new high court building, Asepa building and most importantly the new government house. It should be noted that some of these projects and many others which space cannot allow me to enumerate are foundational projects which a state needs to function but in Abia its been lacking until Ochendo came, some of our former governors rather than building the state chose to build their personal businesses in all the cases outside Abia state leading to capital flight whereby Abia gets underdeveloped but their personal businesses are growing in other States and countries where they pay huge taxes to their host states and countries.
Even as his tenure is rounding off governor Orji has promised to make sure that projects he initiated gets completed before he leaves office.
He may not have solved the entire problem facing the state but the truth is that he has built a solid foundation upon which Abia will stand.

Aguoru writes from Umuahia

This is the new secretariat complex under construction by the Abia state government, this secretariat will house Abia civil servants who had been staying in rented apartment and make shift buildings where they carry out their daily activities at a huge rental cost to the government and it is on record that since the creation of Abia state on the 27 of August 1991 the state has never had a secretariat of its own, offices are scattered all over the state capital Umuahia and thereby making it difficult for any visitor who has any official transaction with any ministry in the state to locate where he or she is going to and subsequent regimes in the state have not seen the building of a secretariat as a priority may be because of the cost implication or for reasons best known to them but some school of thought have argued that a good work environment enhances productivity while others see the project as a total waste of scarce resources. This twin building which is a five storey office complex completely equipped with lifts and built with fire preventive materials is a beauty to behold.
I am not making this post in praise of the governor or the argument of legacy project lest I be misunderstood I am making this post for us as Abians to weigh the merits and also the demerits of spending the huge amount of money spent in erecting this secretariat as against other pressing problems that is facing the state. Is it a misplaced priority, is the state not supposed to own a secretariat of its own? what benefits do we as a state stand to gain in the construction of this project which is at its completion stage. in the argument of value chain where is it supposed to be ranked, and if the state is supposed to own a secretariat of its own, if we all agree that the construction is right but ill- timed given the fact that the state has so many pressing problems that if weighed in a scale of preference the secretariat should not come first when is it supposed to be built?.