₦airaland Forum

AN effort by governors of the South-East zone to settle the festering rift between Abia State’s Theodore Orji and his Imo counterpart, Rochas Okorocha, suffered a set-back yesterday as Okorocha shunned a planned meeting to discuss the development.For over three hours, from 1.00 p.m., the governors who included Orji, Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Peter Obi (Anambra) and Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), waited at Government House, Enugu, without Okorocha.
Much later when his Deputy, Martin Agbaso, arrived and joined the governors in the meeting, he merely was said to have announced the inability of his principal to make it.Agbaso however left almost immediately and the four governors had to discuss other matters affecting the region.The Guardian gathered that the disagreement between them might not be unconnected with the public ridicule Orji faced recently in Aba during a service in honour of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu where he was said to have been booed by the gathering and Okorocha applauded.
Orji had accused the opposition led by defeated APGA candidate in the 2011 election, Regan Ufomba and others as being responsible.
However, after about four hours of meeting, which ended at about 5.10 p.m., the chairman of the forum of South-East governors, Obi, told anxious reporters that we only discussed security issues as it affects the zone and security issues are not meant to be discussed publicly.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84663:govs-bid-to-settle-okorocha-orji-rift-fails&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

Governors of the five South-east states met for over three hours yesterday at the Enugu Government House to review the current state of insecurity in the country especially as it concerns the activities of the Boko Haram Islamist sect.At the meeting attended by Governors of Abia, Theodore Orji; Anambra, Peter Obi; Ebonyi, Martin Elechi; Enugu, Sullivan Chime and the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Jude Agbaso, no communiqué was issued as they decided to keep mute over their discussions.However, the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum and Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi simply said the meeting centered on security.“We only discussed the issue of security and as you well know, security issues are not discussed in the public.”While no reason was given for the quick exit of the Imo deputy governor, who left the meeting much earlier, close sources revealed that the governors discussed several issues including the statement credited to the National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi to the effect that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was behind the spate of bombings in the country.Other issues our source revealed included the lingering face-off between Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and his Abia State counterpart, Theodore Orji in the aftermath of the reported cold reception accorded Orji during the funeral requiem mass organized for the late Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at Aba, Abia State.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2012/apr/30/national-30-04-2012-008.html

Just few days after after James Ibori was convicted for corruption by a London Court, embattled former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu may have started his own slow walk to prison as he was on the 27th of April 2012 floored at the Court of Appeal where the learned Justices told him he had cases related to corrupt enrichment and financial crime to answer. This ruling sets the tune for the trial of the Governor seen to have grossly converted most of Abians’ collective resources to his personal property.A mild drama ensued at the court premises as his erstwhile array of supporters were spotted dancing and jubilating after the ruling. The most prominent of those making this volte face was Comrade Chris Akomas, his party’s (PPA) Gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 elections in Abia. Akomas led other aggrieved former supporters among whom were Ebere Nwachukwu, Jonas Chibuike and Donatus Nwankpa. Abia State PPA rag tag Chairman Ezeogo Emeka Onuoha almost sprained his ankle while jumping in jubilation.Apart from these Supporters believe that OUK is guilty as charged, they are particularly not happy with the kind of treatment OUK meted out to them shortly after the 2011 general elections. Majority of them drummed support for OUK’s failed bid to go the Senate on the ticket of Abia North. It was also gathered that these friends now turned foes observed that OUK was always in the habit of using and dumping people. Their latest reaction to the court ruling is a way of paying him back in his own coin.History students are however viewing this development from the perspective of the long perceived character of NDI NGWA who sustain relationships so long as they cheat you. It is therefore not surprising that the bulk of those castigating and abandoning OUK at this critical stage of his political career are NDI NGWA.So much to learn from this development.

Just few days after after James Ibori was convicted for corruption by a London Court, embattled former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu may have started his own slow walk to prison as he was on the 27th of April 2012 floored at the Court of Appeal where the learned Justices told him he had cases related to corrupt enrichment and financial crime to answer. This ruling sets the tune for the trial of the Governor seen to have grossly converted most of Abians’ collective resources to his personal property.A mild drama ensued at the court premises as his erstwhile array of supporters were spotted dancing and jubilating after the ruling. The most prominent of those making this volte face was Comrade Chris Akomas, his party’s (PPA) Gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 elections in Abia. Akomas led other aggrieved former supporters among whom were Ebere Nwachukwu, Jonas Chibuike and Donatus Nwankpa. Abia State PPA rag tag Chairman Ezeogo Emeka Onuoha almost sprained his ankle while jumping in jubilation.Apart from these Supporters believe that OUK is guilty as charged, they are particularly not happy with the kind of treatment OUK meted out to them shortly after the 2011 general elections. Majority of them drummed support for OUK’s failed bid to go the Senate on the ticket of Abia North. It was also gathered that these friends now turned foes observed that OUK was always in the habit of using and dumping people. Their latest reaction to the court ruling is a way of paying him back in his own coin.History students are however viewing this development from the perspective of the long perceived character of NDI NGWA who sustain relationships so long as they cheat you. It is therefore not surprising that the bulk of those castigating and abandoning OUK at this critical stage of his political career are NDI NGWA.So much to learn from this development.

Former aides of ex governor of Abia State Orji Uzor Kalu have commended the appeal court for quashing attempts by the former governor to stop his trial by EFCC. They include Chris Akomas, Reagan Ufomba, Chuka Odom, Lisa Akerele, Ikechukwu Ukaegbu , Ebere Nwachukwu and Stanley Ohajuruka. It will be recalled that Reagan Ufomba the embattled Ogoni man who claims to be an Abian had earlier last week prayed EFCC and the court to commence the trail of Kalu whom he is insisting looted Abia funds.
The former aides who jointly issued a statement hailed the judgment of the appeal court which rejected Kalu's pleas that his trial be stopped based on flimsy excuses. According to them Kalu is on his way to jail. They stated that during the trail the world would see how Kalu looted Abia dry. They urged EFCC to ensure that Orji's mother Eunice Kalu and Nnanna Kalu are also tried alongside the ex governor.the former aides said that their reason for taking this hard stance is due to the way Kalu used and dumped them. Akomas it was learnt is bitter that Kalu forced him to sell his house in Abuja to him (Kalu) during the last election, a situation that has made him financially down. Ohajuruka is not happy with Kalu for denying him PPA ticket while Ufomba is annoyed that Kalu has refused to bail him out from the huge debt on his head which has forced him into hiding.
http://thejuristlaws..co.uk/2012/04/former-aides-to-ouk-commend-appeal.html

It poured, it rained, it thundered. It was mirthful, not of rainstorm, nor of cyclone, neither was it any in the nature and image of stormy-gale; but of encomiums, eulogies, thanksgiving and drumbeats of joy. It was boisterous but not tumultuous; it was simply spectacular. The spontaneity of the joy expressed by the people as they danced and cheered was electrifying and totally disarming of even the stony heart of the sadist.
Date was Friday March 30. Venue was Aba, Enyimba City, the commercial nerve centre of the South-east Nigeria and the commercial capital of Abia State, God’s own State. Event was the commissioning of three important access routes within the Abia centre of commerce and a pedestrian bridge at the Abia Polytechnic, also in the city.
For a people whose environment had suffered criminal neglect in the hands of previous administrations, it was a new dawn with fresh breath; undoubtedly, they saw it as a visitation worth celebrating.Roads and other infrastructure in Aba had dilapidated over the years because of lack of political will to fix them exhibited by past leaders of the state. As a result, the people resorted to vengeful ventilation whenever they set their eyes on those in governance, although in most cases such bitter outbursts were misplaced and misdirected at the innocent, who in no way contributed to their plight. A case in point was the ill-arranged and misguided outbursts of a hired crowd on Tuesday, February 28. It was clearly misplaced and wrongly directed at an innocent Governor, Chief T. A. Orji, who has been labouring to alleviate the sufferings of Aba residents who voted massively for him and President Goodluck Jonathan in the April 2011 general elections. The fact that the said projects were commissioned barely 30 days after the unfortunate incident was a vindication of the Abia State governor, as he has been working hard to improve the environmental condition of Aba. Conversely, it exposed the lies which detractors of the government had sold to the unsuspecting public.The Aba wild wind was not restricted to those living within the locality. For instance in 1979, the late sage, Pa Obafemi Awolowo, left Aba in a hurry during his visit to the city on campaigns for his presidential ambition in the Second Republic, as the inhabitants of Aba hurled stones at the helicopter that brought him on that mission. So also was the late Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe booed in Aba during his tenure as governor of old Imo State which had present Abia State as part of it. Aba residents, in apparent response to the abandonment their environment had suffered, engage in wanton aggression against those in governance once they show up in the city. So, those familiar with the trend hardly get overwhelmed by such hostilities whenever they manifest.
However, the situation in Aba is fast changing as Governor Theodore Orji’s transformation train has anchored in the Enyimba City to rehabilitate dilapidated roads and other infrastructure within the town.
The commissioning of the Ukwu mango road which residents of the town had almost forgotten it ever existed, is a reassuring step at letting the inhabitants of Aba know that Chief T. A. Orji is determined to depart from the deceptive steps of his predecessors who turned away from the city after making mouth-watering promises to the people. Equally commissioned on the said outing was Old Samek/Expressway road, as well as Danfodio/East road which brought forth expressions of great joy from the people. The tremendous overflow of ecstasy that erupted from the students of Abia Polytechnic, on sighting Governor Orji’s convoy arrive in the school premises for the commissioning of the pedestrian bridge which his administration built across the road in front of their school, dwarfed those of the adults among whom were traditional rulers and members of the business community who had thronged the venue to receive their governor. The students praised him for saving their lives. They stated in their address of welcome that they lost four of their colleagues last year to fatal motor accidents while they tried to cross the ever busy Aba-Owerri road, across which the bridge now stands.With the eloquent testimonies that poured out of honest hearts who are beneficiaries of those projects, one wonders why some of those who claim to love Abians would not turn away from their distractive antics and join hands with the sitting government to develop the state. Granted that opposition is needed is the presidential type of democracy Nigeria copied from the Americans, but it must be constructive opposition. When opposition drifts into defamation and blatant falsehood in order to deceive gullible minds, and score very cheap political points, it loses its essence. For any politician to say that no developmental projects are on-going in Aba, even after the pomp that greeted the recent project-commissioning exercise, to say the least, amounts to delusion. I do not think that people should be so blinded by inordinate quests that they no longer recognize beauty when they see one. It is disheartening. However, I wish to advise such ill-motivated minds to consult students of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, for proper education and guidance. The students drawn from various parts of the country, live in Aba, they know who has done them good. They are better placed to say it as it is. A man of honour, one that has integrity, would always keep his promises irrespective of how daunting the challenges might be. Alexander Pope, said this of a “statesman, yet friend to truth, of soul sincere in action faithful and in honour clear. Who broke no promise, served no private end, who gained no title, and who lost no friend”. This clearly depicts the vision, degree of commitment and passion with which Governor T. A. Orji is approaching issues in the state. He is unrepentant in his resolve to rid Aba and other cities in the state of filth and ramshackle infrastructure especially bad roads.
It is pertinent to point out that rehabilitation works on some federal roads in Abia State, are being handled by the government of Abia State. The Aba-Owerri road; the turn-around and beautification of ever busy Osisioma; Port Harcourt road and the Aba-Port Harcourt Express way around Alaoji, all in Aba; they were in deplorable conditions with attendant traffic jams; today, they are pleasant access routes courtesy of the Abia State government.
In Umuahia, the Aba road which extends to Ubakala-Express Way junction is also a federal road. Work on it is nearing completion, courtesy of T. A. Orji’s administration. Work on the building complex at the teaching hospital, as well as the edifice being erected at the Aba High Court, are among on-going numerous projects within the city of Aba that would be completed soon, barring interruptions by adverse weather. When completed, the 45km Obikabia- Umuoba-Aba road which cuts across four local government council areas, is another road project that would elicit tremendous joy from its users, following many years of its abandonment by past governments in the state, until Governor T.A. Orji, decided to embark on the on-going rehabilitation work.Unfortunately, the coming of the rains has slowed down the speed of work at project sites within the Enyimba City and other parts of the state. It is hardly sensible engaging in construction works during the rains, as a result, contractors handling major projects have had to decelerate to prevent avoidable damages. Residents of Aba and other cities in the state are advised to help desilt drainage channels within their places of abode to ensure smooth flow of water when it rains. It will compliment efforts of the state government at
providing conducive environment for the good health of all.
http://thejuristlaws..co.uk/2012/04/abas-triumphant-return.html

Tanx for your contribution,OLUABIA Gov. T.A Orji is a GENERATIONAL LEADER raised by God to do a unique work of LIBERATION, REBIRTH AND ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT OF OUR DEAR STATE OF ABIA. When all efforts to extricate Abia from the stranglehold of Orji Uzor Kalu failed, God positioned OCHENDO to be our Champion and with Courage and Compassion he delivered Political, Social, Economic and Spiritual LIBERTY to the once enslaved state. Today, T.A Orji is the Father and Founder of the NEW ABIA. He is taking NECESSARY BUT SOMETIMES PAINFUL DECISIONS IN THE GREATER INTEREST OF ABIANS AND THE REAL ABIANS ARE VERY HAPPY AND SATISFIED WITH HIS EFFORTS.Before the advent of T.A Orji's government, LGAs in Abia were owing workers up to thirteen months salary arrears. Aba North closed shop at a time and Council Chairmen were borrowing billions from banks, making returns to Orji Kalu's mother and siblings while the state groaned in debt. When T.A Orji came, he promptly paid ALL the outstanding salaries, promoted ALL civil servants to the next grade level, restored normalcy and motivation and accountability. AS YOU KNOW, T.A Orji is the first Governor in the South East that paid not just the minimum wage but a lot more. Abia workers have NEVER COMPLAINED nor gone on strike because of the very UNDERSTANDING NATURE AND TOTAL ENCOURAGEMENT they receive from T.A Orji. So, YOU CANNOT CRY MORE THAN THE BEREAVED !!! What we are talking about here is that GOVERNMENT HAS RELEASED SALARIES AS AT WHEN DUE BUT BUREAUCRATS AT THE LGAs delayed the processes AND THE GOVERNOR INTERVENED ON BEHALF OF THE WORKERS. Is that a crime? You must distinguish between your primitive hatred of the person of the governor and informed analysis of policy matters.WHERE WERE YOU AT THE TIME ORJI UZOR KALU HELD ABIA HOSTAGE-BUILDING BANKS IN GAMBIA, SUN NEWSPAPER IN LAGOS, SLOK AIRLINES, SHIPS, PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST, VILLA MANSION, NEYA COURT, POTOMARC MANSION AND SIPHONED ABIA MONEY THROUGH COUNTLESS NUMBER OF CONDUITS? WHAT DID YOU DO ? WHAT IS YOUR REAL NAME AND FROM WHICH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE YOU ? Have you not asked yourself why despite all the hate campaign against T.A Orji in the media, the man still WON OVERWHELMINGLY IN THE LAST ELECTION? TODAY, PEOPLE LIKE ONYEMA UGOCHUKWU, ENYINNAYA ABARIBE, VIN OGBULAFOR, IKE NWACHUKWU, OJO MADUEKWE, ADOLPHUS NWAGBARA, TONY UKASANYA, DAN NWANKWO, CHUKWU NWACHUKWU, MAO OHUABUNWA, UCHE CHUKWUMERIJE, NKECHI NWOGU,ACHO NWAKANMA, EMMA NWAKA,SUNNY AKU, CHRIS ENWEREMADU, CHRIS NKWONTA, VICTORIA AKANWA, LADY AGUIYI IRONSI, EMEKA WOGU, ACHO OBIOMA, AUSTIN AKOBUNDU, HENRY IKOH AND INDEED ANYBODY THAT IS ANYBODY IN ABIA STATE IS STANDING SOLIDLY BEHIND T.A ORJI!! YOU CANNOT BE MORE CATHOLIC THAN THE POPE. You can only fiddle your frustrated phone in anguish while T.A Orji dutifully carries out his onerous task of laying a solid foundation for Abia posterity. ALREADY, HE HAS RESTORED OUR POLITICAL LIBERTY, HARMONY AND SECURITY. HE IS NOW PAINSTAKINGLY TACKLING THE CHALLENGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE. HE IS FOCUSED AND WILL CONTINUE TO RISE DESPITE THE SHENANIGANS OF IMPLACABLE CRITICS. ABIANS DO NOT OWE YOU OR ANY OF THE FEW DISGRUNTLED IMO AND ANAMBRA PEOPLE LIVING IN ABA ANY APOLOGY FOR RECLAIMING OUR DESTINY.WE TOOK A RECIPROCAL DECISION TO SEND HOME THEIR WORKERS MORE THAN TEN YEARS AFTER THEY SENT OUR CITIZENS PACKING. THAT'S WHAT NIGERIA RECENTLY DID TO SOUTH AFRICANS WHEN THEY GOT FUNNY. IT IS STANDARD PRACTICE AND T.A ORJI IS A GREAT ABIA PATRIOT FOR DOING THAT JUSTICE TO OUR CITIZEN. AFTER ALL, THEY WERE THE PEOPLE ORJI KALU USED FOR TEN YEARS AS COLONIAL WARRANT CHIEFS TO SUBJUGATE OUR PEOPLE. THEY CAN SCREAM AND SHOUT AT THE STADIUM BUT TRUE ABIANS REMAIN HAPPY WITH WHAT T.A ORJI IS DOING ON THEIR BEHALF. ON ELECTION DAY, THEY WILL STILL MIGRATE BACK TO THEIR STATES WHILE WE STAY HERE TO DETERMINE OUR FUTURE.

BREAKING NEWS! BREAKING NEWS!! SENATOR NKECHI NWAOGU TAKES SENATOR ABARIBE TO THE CLEANERS OVER SPONSORSHIP OF ABIA AWAKENING, ABIA PEOPLE’S VOICE etc
It was a show of shame yesterday at the local wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe Int’l Airport Abuja as an obviously enraged Senator Nkechi Nwaogu enagaged in verbal war with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe over the sponsorship of politics of calumny, hate and acrimony using Abia Awakening, Abia People’s Voice and other dirty social network pages.Nwaogu described Abaribe as a greedy, gluttonous and violent politician who has paid his OBINGWA kinsmen heavily to use Abia Awakeining and others to promote hate in Abia State. The Senator from Osisioma challenged Abaribe to name one single OSISIOMA person in that their Abia Awakening.She reminded Abaribe that blackmail will not work for him again as his OTU ONU outfit is known for political violence and rancor. Nwaogu threatened to report Abaribe to NGWA traditional rulers over what she called his (Abaribe’s) insatiable quest for power.Abaribe sensing that the game is over, asked that the matter be discussed in private. It took the intervention of the diminutive, big headed UMUOSU (land of outcasts) man – Uzor Azubuike to avert physical war.
OUR OBSERVATIONS:
1. The sponsorship of Abia Awakening and the others by NGWA PEOPLE is no longer in doubt
2. All the noise about non – performance is a ploy to blackmail the govt. and cause disaffection
3. Nkechi Nwaogu is simply distracting from the main issue. We expect her to use her personal facebook page to denounce the miscreants in Abia Awakening
4. Senator Abaribe is truly an author of confusion but he must be kind enough to tell us his other co – conspirators – in – chief.
5. The war of attrition being promoted by OHA NGWA will consume them first.
6. Abians are watching with keen interest as the plot thickens
http://thejuristlaws..co.uk/2012/04/breaking-news-senator-nkechi-nwaogu.html

some one that came out in a media like sun-newspaper to say something about his state and his governor on a true state of mind without any fear could the person be described as lier

APGA Is Bent On Taking Abia, But That Won’t Happen . by donzico2: 7 minutes & 42 seconds
There are no airs of officialdom about him. As Secretary to the Government of Abia state Professor Mpka A. Mpka still lives at Abia state University Uturu where he had been an award winning Vice Chancellor. He is also working hard in his new position to make a difference in the administration. In this chat he talks about strides made by the current regime and the political rivalry between parties in the state; Eccerpts You come from a town Abiriba that is known for business how come you ended up a proffessor?My parents were not business people. My father was an agricultural officer. He was a superintendent of agriculture in charge of the old Owerri province and later Okigwe Province in the First Republic .So, my orientation from my father’s angle wasn’t that of the business enterprise. It was the acquisition of good education and that was where he channeled all of my siblings. My mother was the first female Grade II teacher in Abiriba. So again you could see from that angle our orientation wasn’t towards business but towards education.
So for a family to have all the children, the siblings as graduates was a big achievement as at that time. I, for instance, am a graduate of the Faculty of Education, Curriculum Studies. My elder sister was of Education Administration, may be because my mother was an educationist.I’m the third in the line, the first sibling was an educationist, then came the one that did nursing. Even though she did Nursing she also took a degree in Public Administration from the University of Nigeria, and then myself. After myself, my younger sister who is rounding up her Ph.D as a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt . After that came the next two boys, one a Pharmacist, he was practicing in Port Harcourt where he died. We were six of us and we were all graduates.
Even though my father was a product of the merchantile process he saw that there was a limitation. It didn’t give him everything he needed. In fact, he was an apprentice to a businessman and at some stage he decided to pull out as an adult to go to school.It a appears government is gradually commercializing university education rather than funding it. I agree with you that it is the primary responsibility of government to provide education to the citizenry. But at the same time the individual has a right to determine the kind of education, the quality of education that he wants to obtain or parents would want their children to have.Government wants to democratise educational opportunities and given the population of Nigeria more Universities may be needed in order to provide opportunities to the teeming population of people who qualify for education.
But then when government is unable to provide all those universities, there is need for partnership between the private sector and government. That explains why government has tended to liberalize the establishment of universities so that individuals, church organizations, corporate bodies, etc could establish universities. Government is trying to establish standards that must be met; that any individual that wants to establish universities must follow. That’s what the National Universities Commission, NUC is doing. And if the NUC would put its feet down and ensure strict compliance with the stipulated standards I think the problem of poor quality education will be solved.
But It’s not doing enough; NUC is not doing enough because we know of compromises. We know what people do when they go for accreditation; we know. So in principle, yes the guidelines are enough to make the quality of education substantial. But those implementing those standards get compromised along the way. That is the problem we have.Let’s zero in on Abia State. What’s going on in the state?
Let me believe I understand you to say what’s going on in the state. What is going on in the state is excellent administration of Abia State . Let’s start with the vision of His Excellency. First of all let me say that when we judge His Excellency we plead with the people to understand the peculiarity of the circumstances under which he emerged. I was appointed SSG because His Excellency believed that I did well as the Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University. My people didn’t lead a delegation to him. Nobody did. He saw that and because he is talking about merit, he’s talking about competence. He’s talking about credentials; he’s talking about credibility. He’s talking about ability.I commend what he’s doing because this is in the context of limited funds. All of us know. You see, people say go to Akwa Ibom, go to Rivers State . How much is Akwa Ibom receiving? How much is Abia receiving? So we have to judge in the context of the availability of resources.He has led Abia back into the PDP fold. It’s a wonderful plus.
When the kidnappers that were dislodged from River State gravitated into various South-Eastern States, Abia became unbearable and investors fled. It was the connection of His Excellency with the Federal Government that attracted the federal troops and other agencies to deal a fatal blow to that scourge that threatened the economy of Abia State . And kidnapping literally disappeared.All the people in Aba fled. Industries folded up; powerful individuals disappeared, went on self-exile. But today life has returned because peace has been restored.
Investors are coming back. In fact a few days ago Guinness Nigeria Plc returned, they had earlier fled from Aba . They came to launch one of their new product DUBIC lager beer. They have now come, established a brewery and they started manufacturing because the environment is now conducive. These are some of the dividends that we have benefited by returning to the mainstream of the Nigerian politics.
We’re able to plead with the federal government and we received very ready hearing. So part of what they did, they didn’t just come back talking about Guinness, they’re now official sponsors of the Enyimba Football Club Jersy.Abia has industries why is the state not doing well in internally generated revenue.
The factories weren’t functioning. Golden Guinea was not functioning. The Modern Ceramics Industry was not functioning, Aba Textile Mill was not functioning.
These are potential revenue earners. Nigerian Breweries in Aba folded up and disappeared. It is now that it came back.
For Aba, one would say you have Ariaria market why don’t you get revenue from it? Ariaria had remained impassable. You will hear of “Ukwu-Mango” and there are about six to seven roads that are being tarred in Ariaria.
We thought that it was unfair to impose a taxation or go to take from them when we’ve not created the enabling environment.In Ariaria area we will now morally feel justified to ask for money, internally generated revenue from them. Before now IGR wasn’t coming!
We have involved in a number of consultants who have done well in some other states of the federation to Abia State and we’re experimenting and the experiment is yielding positive results. And internally generated revenue is beginning to increase now. It’s a gradual process the people have to be keyed into the process..
And that is one. We cut our coat according to our cloth. And when we also remember also that on the average Abia will receive N3.5 billion when conditions are very favourable and we spend N2.5 billion paying salaries and wages we have only N1 billion left. From this N1 billion doesn’t it amaze you that so much is being done. Not less than N5 billion has been sunk into Aba roads as I speak with you.
Sir can you mention the roads?
Three weeks ago we commissioned four roads in Aba – three roads in Aba plus the pedestrian crossing at Abia State polytechnic, Aba. It’s not just creating roads, we demolish illegal structures and excavate drains .
So it’s not just as simple creating roads. What are there for us to see? We could not go to commission things that do not exist. That famous Ukwu-Mango road is a major stake because it reduces the distance to Ariaria market. And within Ariaria as many as six or seven roads are tarred within that environment.
Not to talk about Port Harcourt Raod, Ohanku Road several of them within Aba; Old Express/Samek, Aba-Owerri( Express Road junction Railway Crossing), Danfidio Road, Obikabia Road(eleven kms), Aba Town Hall- Fire Service, Azikwe Road, Umuocham Road, Ohanku Road, East Street Erosion Control completed and work is in progress in several other roads including Umueze Road, Ekeakpara Road, and some Federal roads This is in respect to Aba. The same massive road construction work is going on in various other parts of the State.Needless to talk about federal government roads that are being rehabilitated by Abia State government. If you take Umuahia - Akara Road , it’s a federal road; if you take Ohafia – Arochukwu road; it’s a federal road, but it’s the state government that has taken over the rehabilitation of those roads. Reason: it’s not the federal government that uses these roads. It’s our own people. It’s our vehicles that break down each time they pass there.So, in terms of the roads in Aba and elsewhere there’s hardly any part of the state, including my community, we’re from Abiriba – the road leading from Amogudu cutting through the city into two, passing through up to Ali Ndi-Oriri was tarred by the state government.But talking quite seriously I think in the context of the money we had whether it is justifiable. Yes, because it is not just roads alone. The infrastructural development is to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs to thrive, that’s why it has looked at and focused and invested in power generation.At the moment there are two power generating sub-stations. One from Osisioma and the other one from Ohinya, Ohinya is close to Umuahia. In the next 14 days or less, Umuahia and its environs will have light up to Isikwuato. And the other one will power the whole of Aba area. We believe that with electricity you can engineer industrialization. Several other things will come easily with constant electricity.
There’s hardly any community in Abia State that doesn’t have a transformer. Yes, there’s hardly any.So if all these things are happening why are people not happy with the regime?There are administrators that do one thing and they go announcing to the whole world “I’ve done this, I’ve done this”, Ochendo by nature is is reserved. He talks very little but does very much.
And unless you are very close to see what he’s doing; it’s like his generosity. He is a simple man.
People sometimes mistake his gentleness for weakness.If His Excellency receives a message that you’re bereaved, if he’s not there in person he will send somebody. I have consistently gone on his behalf to people who would not expect even a local government chairman to pay them a visit.
Now let me address what happened in Aba which is interesting. And I like to say that we in Abia State believe that the burial of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was a solemn assembly that should ordinarily attract the sympathy of all Igbo people; where political differences should be submerged.Unknown to us our APGA opponents had prepared to use it as a political platform. First of all, they told us that the body of Ojukwu would arrive at 7am – in order to allow them flood the stadium with their hired and indoctrinated crowd most of whom were not Abia indigenes. We were warming up for 7 O’clock they gave us another announcement “Oh it’s coming at 12noon” and we relaxed, only for them to fill up the place. And by the time we arrived, the paid and well-indoctrinated hoodlums had occupied strategic parts of the stadium. I understand that each of them was paid N2,000. Check how much money a state government would dish out to hire 20,000 hoodlums and pay them N2,000 each And the directive for them was once His Excellency stands up begin to hoot, once another governor comes up, begins to applaud. Our people are humane; we’re hospitable. Sometimes to a fault. And we allow everybody have a field day and a free hand. More around – in Aba . We did not mind that leadership of several trade unions are non-indigenes. We don’t mind, but then our political enemies have casshed in on this liberality to use those structures that we allowed to exist in the name of democracy to fight against us.Let me tell you, I have security report that APGA planned to take over Abia in 2015 and what APGA is doing is to sow seeds of discord amongst the people.What you’re saying is that the protest was stage-managed?
Stage-managed! Completely stage-managed! And I have my reasons for saying so. If it is the same group, does Aba have how many populations? One homogenous population. How come that when we returned to commission projects it was a heroic welcome that Ochendo received? Then who were those that were hooting a few weeks earlier? Where were they? They have received their pay and gone away!
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2012/apr/25/national-25-04-2012-022.html

PRESS RELEASE
The inclusion of President Goodluck Jonathan in the list of 100 most influential persons in the world by TIME magazine has been described as historical and unique.In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Ugochukwu Emezue, Governor Theodore Orji said that this singular honour is not just for Mr.President alone but to Nigerians and the black race. According to the Governor, the recognition has confirmed the confidence the world has in Jonathan’s ability to transform Nigeria. Chief Orji hinted that this development will no doubt spur the President to go the extra mile in ensuring that this country becomes the envy of the world.Speaking further Chief Orji stated that this honour which is coming few days after Okonjo Iweala’s failure to clinch the World Bank top
position which he attributed to international politics has proved that Nigerians have great potentials that will stun the world soon.
The Governor while congratulating the President on this rare honour,urged him to keep his eyes on the ball so as to take the nation to unimaginable heights of progress in various sectors. He told Mr.President not to be distracted . As he puts it “Mr. President is a man
of destiny and God has a hand in the affairs of this nation as such he should march on till our collective aspiration as a nation becomes a reality.
http://www.abiastate.gov.ng/2012/04/press-release-12/

i wonder why some people will come out to criticize the governor of a state without any proof. it is true that for the past 4 years the governor have been battling with so many opposition in the state.yet the governor is trying and abia state is working.if not for anything the ukwu mango and aba-owerri road that was constructed by his administration. http://www.abiastate.gov.ng/category/projects/roads/,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5On2bz6Rxc.

The ministry of education in Abia has initiated stringent measures to tackle the poor performance of pupils in public primary and secondary schools.The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs Monica Philips, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Monday that the government was worried by the phenomenon.Philips explained that the measure included the demotion of headmasters and principals whose schools consistently posted poor results in final examinations.She further said that stiffer sanctions would be introduced in schools to check truancy and absenteeism by the teachers.We also made it compulsory that teachers should teach at least five subjects, including English language and mathematics each day,’’ she said.The commissioner said the measures were part of government’s efforts to bring back sanity to public schools and ensure better performance by the students.
This administration is determined in its efforts to ensure that sanity returns to our schools.The government will no longer tolerate indiscipline on the part of teachers and students,’’ she said.She charged the principals, headmasters and headmistresses to ensure the effective monitoring and supervision of their teachers and students.Philips said the ministry would collaborate with the civil defence corps for the arrest of students in uniform found to be loitering during school hour.She also said the government’s welfare package for teachers included promotion as and when due as well as their training and retraining.She said the government had commenced the renovation and furnishing of public schools in the state to make them conducive for teaching and learning. (NAN)
http://pointblanknews.com/new/news/4136-abia-govt-takes-steps-to-stem-poor-performance-in-public-schools.htm

Abia state. have never seen a state where people are so quick to criticise impulsively!If he does he is damned,if he doesn't wahala.Respect ur leaders pls!

its quite unfortunate that migraine-suffering person's who out of their hatred refused to take into account the very many project that the governor has been putting into place.this person must be crazy to post such things.

A N1 billion agricultural loan received from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will soon be disbursed to farmers in Abia State.The state government broke the news in Bende Local Government Area during the inauguration of the 2012 Cropping Season.Governor Theodore Orji said the government has also paid its counterpart funds for the FADAMA III, the IFAD–NDDC–FGN–Community-Based Natural Resources Management Project and the Agricultural Development Programme.Orji, who was represented by his deputy, Sir Emeka Ananaba, said the 55 tractors procured by the government would be sold to farmers at subsidised prices.He said the government is determined to create jobs, reduce poverty, ensure food sufficiency and facilitate rapid economic and rural transformation through agriculture. Orji said the government would subsidise farm inputs through the Growth Enhancement Support Initiative Scheme.He said the privatisation of the Abia Rubber Company and Nkporo Oil Palm Estates would soon be completed to ensure optimal productivity.
http://thejuristlaws..co.uk/2012/04/abia-farmers-to-get-n1b-cbn-loan-soon.html

A N1 billion agricultural loan received from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will soon be disbursed to farmers in Abia State.The state government broke the news in Bende Local Government Area during the inauguration of the 2012 Cropping Season.Governor Theodore Orji said the government has also paid its counterpart funds for the FADAMA III, the IFAD–NDDC–FGN–Community-Based Natural Resources Management Project and the Agricultural Development Programme.Orji, who was represented by his deputy, Sir Emeka Ananaba, said the 55 tractors procured by the government would be sold to farmers at subsidised prices.He said the government is determined to create jobs, reduce poverty, ensure food sufficiency and facilitate rapid economic and rural transformation through agriculture. Orji said the government would subsidise farm inputs through the Growth Enhancement Support Initiative Scheme.He said the privatisation of the Abia Rubber Company and Nkporo Oil Palm Estates would soon be completed to ensure optimal productivity.

It was a carnival of sorts at the Women Square of the Aba South Council Secretariat as the Abia State government donated four hummer buses and 20 tricycles to youth groups and individuals in Aba North and Aba South local government areas of the state.The benefiting groups include Aladinma Abia Youth Organization, New York City Youth Movement, Colombia Youth Movement and Down below Boys Youth Organization.Speaking at the occasion, the member representing Aba North/ Aba South Federal Constituency, Hon. Uzo Azubuike said it is a way of empowering the youths who worked for the success of the PDP in the last general elections.According to him, The youths should be encouraged to be self reliant. We condemn the practice whereby youths are neglected and regarded as thugs after helping candidates to win elections into office. The PDP will no longer condone such practices. Every officer holder is now required to make a monthly return to electorate.On his part , the governor's son, Engr. Chinedu Orji, thanked the people for their support for the government, describing the youths as great assets to the party. He decried the antics of the opposition parties in the state whom he alleged ,has nothing to offer the people, rather than causing disaffection.Engr. Orji, whose alias Ikuku rent the air each time his name was mentioned at the occasion, decried the rate at which youths worked for the success of the party at the polls are being branded thugs, few months after the exercise, called for a change of attitude of the part of the representatives.Hence , I will do my best to plea with all our representatives to remember the people who voted them into office.Senators ,Rep members, State Assembly members, Commissioners, Special Advisers and other officials should do something at intervals to make the people happy. We will ensure that those who work enjoy the fruits of their labour, younger Orji said.Handing over the buses and tricycles to the beneficiaries, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu enjoined them to make good use of the gifts as the government is poised to make life better for the people. The Speaker further called on the residents of the city to support the state governor's efforts to address the state of infrastructure in Aba.Expressing happiness at the donation, the Chairman of the Aladinma Abia Youth Organization,who simply gave his name as Izubundu, thanked the government for their kind gesture , promising that his members will put the gift to good use.Dignitaries who graced the ceremony include the Commissioner for Environment, Engr Solomon Ogunji, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Emma Nwabuko, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy governor, Charles Ogbonna.
Others are the Member representing Aba South in the state Assembly,Hon. Nwogu Iheasinmuo, her Aba North counterpart, Hon. Blessing Nwagba,Deputy Whip of the Assembly, Chief Humphery Azubuike. State PDP Secretary, Barr. Charles Esonu, Acting Transition Committee Chairman of Aba North and Aba South Councils, Goodluck Amaefula and Sarah Onwusoro, respectively, amongst party supporters.

The last has not been heard of the security breach in Aba during the burial rites of the late Igbo leader, Dim Emeka Ojukwu, which led to the suspension of 10 commissioners and the 17 Transition Local Government Chairmen. The matter took a new turn recently, when the governor, Theodore Orji, recalled eight of the suspended commissioners and 15 transition chairmen.But that is not the crux of the matter. Tongues are wagging, not just because some of the suspended aides were recalled and others still left in the cold but because the State House of Assembly asked them to come for screening before they would return to their different offices.While some are wondering why the lawmakers are angling to re-screen officials who were never removed from office but only suspended and council chairmen, whose councils were never dissolved, there is rumour that the officials may have been asked to pay N1million screening fee, each. For this, the Abia State House of Assembly, has been under intense criticism from commoners, who are insisting that the lawmakers are expected to screen Eze Chukamnayo and Donatus Okorie for the office of commissioners and not the entire eight commissioners, who have been recalled, while the two chairmen, who are being used to replace the Aba North and South chairmen, are to be screened and not the entire recalled 15 chairmen.

DR Eze Chikamnayo is the Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Information, Strategy and Civic Orientation and presently a nominee to the Abia State Executive Council. In this interview he speaks on the governor’s major achievements and projects the government is currently handling. Excerpts:
THE opposition has criticised the administration of Governor Theodore Orji claiming he has performed below average. What is your take on this?
Governor T.A.Orji has surpassed all expectations. In the last 10 months, he has proved that his promise of leaving visible legacy for Abians at the end of his tenure is not just a mere promise but one that is backed with action. The major plank of his second term is the total transformation of Abia in the areas of infrastructure development, economy, politics, the way politics is being played, what I call the transformation of the political culture of Abia State and even in civic orientation of the people. So he has taken a holistic approach to the plank of transformation. It is not a one-sided approach.
I will give you some examples. In just 11 months, he has proved that Abia was truly under bondage for the period he endured a devilish despot. Between 1999 and 2007, Abia State was under siege. Especially between 1999 and 2008, while other governors in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos and most of our neighbours, were busy seeing vision, putting up master plans, laying solid foundation, Abia State was unfortunate to have been saddled with a self-centred and insatiable governor, who did not work for the state but for himself and his family. This was the unfortunate scenario that T. A. Orji found himself.
Politically, he inherited a highly polarized and volatile state where there was a group of those who said they were home based politicians and tagged others Talibans or Abuja based politicians. Abia was hot politically, volatile, explosive. The best brains, the elites, the technocrats, all went into exile as a result of the very oppressive intolerant atmosphere that was created politically by the former governor.
How has the governor been able to address the issue of kidnapping in the state?We had kidnappers, coming from the neigbbouring states where militancy had become a way of life. You had all sorts of brigands taking one name or the other. It was the kind of atmosphere that T. A. Orji inherited when the man in Rivers inherited power plant, the man in Akwa Ibom inherited a thorough master plan and one of the best drainage system in the world, the man in Cross River was inheriting Obudu Ranch and Tinapa, the man in Lagos inherited a well-thought-out new Lagos master plan and several other projects that were on-going. Our governor inherited crisis in all ramification, crisis at all fronts, he inherited political enemies.
So with this type of environment, little or nothing will happen in terms of development. Beyond these issues of insecurity of lives and property was a more pernicious and vicious cankerworm called mamacracy, which was the desire of the former governor and his mother to turn Abia State into a fiefdom, a dynasty, a personal property, as against the principles of democracy.
Immediately, the security problem was tackled, Governor Orji moved to the next level with the provision of infrastructure. In Abia today, Governor T. A. Orji is leaving a legacy of over 100 outstanding edifices, structures, covering every arm of government and all sectors.This includes two world class new secretariats going on at the same time. This is the fastest project in the history of Abia State if not in Nigeria. In less than seven months, this twin secretariat, brand new, first of its kind, is now at the roofing stage and will soon be commissioned.
The former did not leave in the landscape of Umuahia any two-storey building. And I can now show you more than 50 solid edifices that have changed the silhouette of the landscape of Umuahia.
Source: Vanguardnews

what shall it profit you to gain the whole world and lose ur soul

This is an update on the story as published by Nigeria News, an online news media.
The identity of the guy that committed this ugly and heart rendering act has been revealed. Investigation by the juristlaw showed that the man in question is the younger brother of Chief Reagan Ufomba of APGA, called Izuchi.
According to inside source, the Ufomba’s family is noted for secret society membership. This is not the first time this is happening. Regan himself did this during Orji Uzor Kalu tenure when he was the P A to the Igbere politician. Our source said that it’s a common knowledge in his adopted community in Ngwa land that Reagan’s family is very fetish, that's why they have been told to go back to their place of origin Ogoni land. Meanwhile police have begun a man hunt of Izuchi Ufomba, the culprit who is now on the run like his senior brother Reagan.
More details later.
http://thejuristlaws..co.uk/2012/04/home-news-top-stories-abia-state-man.html

What’s your quarrel with Governor Orji’s critics?

When a critic is constructive and persuasive with superior argument, I will be inclined to think along with him. But what some popular tabloids and columnists seem to celebrate these days is the corrosive, poorly investigated line of journalism that evades the cardinal principles of what, where, when and how while not situating the points of discourse. in their proper perspectives. I feel irresistibly drawn to make a comparison between positive and negative criticisms, when ‘critics’ of Governor T.A Orji in their lopsided analysis not backed by facts expose the real objectives of the sponsors of such criticisms.
On the other hand many reporters, and media chiefs who have had the opportunity to visit Abia State and see for themselves what the governor has done in the last 12 months of his second stay in office, attest to the proactive moves of the state government in terms of infrastructure and structural development of a state that had hitherto not witnessed any meaningful development since inception. The areas of emphasis extend to road construction in the rural areas where the farm gate culture is a way of life for the people, a huge infrastructure reclamation of the commercial city of Aba and of course re-designing Umuahia the state capital to wear the face of a modern state capital. The list of work in progress is simply impressive and only a discerning and willing observer can patiently take stock of this developmental pace.

The governor recently asked his aides to report the truth not falsehood; why?

His Excellency Governor T.A. Orji could not have asked his aides to report falsehood. He was only making obvious what ought to be seen as the issues on ground. He has concrete achievements to showcase to everyone and these rattle those who believe governance of the state can be accessed by pandering to falsehood in the public space. The truth is that for every claim made by the state government, the facts are verifiable and since most of the completed and on-going projects are on ground, no previous administration can lay claim to have initiated or completed any. What I am saying in effect is that the governor was right in asking his commissioners, and advisers and all key personnel of his government to report the facts at all times since facts are sacred and verifiable before the public space.
You should know Abia has been the butt of criticism by the opposition whose every activity is aimed at making a cheap point before the electorate. On our part, we are aware that the claim to governance and continuity is in our ability to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, this is the governor’s focus and he is determined not to be distracted by lopsided criticism while welcoming balanced criticism as a way of improving the policies and programmes set in the Abia blueprint whose input has come from various sources including Abia’s first economic summit sponsored by the state government and which had all eminent sons and daughters of the state such as Okonjo Iweala, and Anya O Anya, making their inputs on the way forward for a balanced developmental pace for the state.
Aba needs a special attention, what is the programme of the state government for the Enyimba city?
The state government has placed great emphasis on road construction and two Fridays ago, His Excellency Governor Orji commissioned the completion of crucial road networks that have long been an eyesore to the residents and traders of Aba..
The emphasis is to give the people an infrastructure network that can help them in their commercial activities that stretch to the sub-region of West Africa. The essential road networks long identified by government include those connected to neighbouring states such as Rivers and Akwa Ibom, who make use of them to do business in the state. With this in mind the focus extended to the Aba/Owerri Road all the way to Osisioma Junction to Motor Park and down to the Asa – Port Harcourt Road, terminating at the Ala –Oji Express Road. The works ministry in conjunction with the contractors on ground worked on the Bata Opobo Junction from the Bata – Ikot Epkene road junction and now to Ukwu Mango, commissioned by the governor two Fridays ago. There is no doubt that the Aba resident and businessman today can attest to noticeable changes in a once squalid environment whose key roads were simply impassable. The work still on ground is enormous after years of poor development and decadence. Beyond the reconstruction work going on, these streets and roads call for constant maintenance and this philosophy has helped in the reclamation of Osusu Road. This extends to the Okigwe Road by Ariaria Market as well as the dual expressway from Omme Junction down to John Udeagbala Junction, which is a five kilometre stretch situated along the Port Harcourt – Aba Road. The Eziukwu Road has also been overlayed with asphalt, and the same is true of the Aba- Agbama Road.Concrete projects overlayed with asphalt include the Amuzukwu to Umuezeagu Road, the Amuzukwu – Orieugba Road, the Timber Road in Umuahia, and the Obikabia Road

There is also the Umuahia – Ohafia Road, Ohafia Arochukwu Road, Nunya – Eluama Road. Aba’’s drainage system has long been a source of concern to the extent the Ukwu Mango stretch was covered with garbage and stalls and houses built on it. This is history as Ukwu Mango has been reclaimed just as the need to fix the entire drainage system in Aba is a major challenge, with the construction of the Osisioma Modern Motor Park and asphalt overlay of major roads in Aba.
What problems were on ground when you assumed duty as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry?
One was stifling bureaucracy and lack of vision to drive the industrial and commercial setting of the state, no demographic profile of trades and traders, and a well articulated design for revamping the moribund industries. These industries include among others, the Golden Guinea Breweries, International Glass Industry- Aba, Aba textile Mills, Modern Ceramics-Umuahia, the metallurgical complex, Aba, Abia Hotels, Enyimba Hotels, Aba and many more. If these industrial complexes are revived, they will be able to absorb over 80 percent of the unemployed people in the state. I inherited all of these and have long given them a prioritised attention. At the commercial end, there is what we have identified as unwieldy trading activities going on at every nook and corner of Aba, the commercial city of Abia. Such activities turned the city of Aba into one large monolithic market. There was no difference between the residential and trading zones. Then there is the enormous amount of refuse generated and dumped indiscriminately at every turn both in residential and non-residential parts of the city. Naturally, these have affected drainage as the various outlets for such drainages became blocked. Notwithstanding the Governor’s directive to relocate these traders to designated markets, they were adamant, prompting him to set up the Environmental and Allied Task Force which is being housed by my ministry.

What is your game plan for resolving these contradictions?

First the basic operation of the task force the Governor inaugurated was primarily to compel compliance to Government directives and instil sanity in the market place. This task force-the Environmental and Allied Task Force, that is, was charged to keep Aba clean and relocate traders to designated markets. We manage the operations of this task force and this has afforded me the opportunity to record a reasonable success so far in terms of sanitising the city. It is painful to Government that the obstinacy of the traders will leave it with no option. Even the Governor daily laments to us that the operations of the task force must be laced with human face. It is a daily operation and it is not cheap. Except for the Governor’s determination, it would have been impossible to sustain the operation beyond one month. So far the exercise itself has opened up new investment opportunities as investors are embarking on construction of new markets.

How do you intend to revive these moribund industries in the state?

First, I’m carrying out a technical evaluation of these moribund industries to enable us approach foreign investors. This evaluation extends to financial audit. The government’s investment policy will provide entry and exit plans for the investors. Yet I must admit we have a handicap here. Let me use Golden Guinea Breweries as an example. Government allocates funds to help maintain the salaries of its skeletal staff as well as keep the plant and its premises in good shape. This allocation remains constant, yet government does not have the latitude to dissolve the board and management because the brewery is a publicly quoted company (Plc). We have approached Budweiser, the Sona Group, Heineken and South Africa Breweries. We cannot just come in to turn around the fortunes of these industries. We cannot just dissolve the board by executive fiat. The situation right now is that we are talking to the management and board to agree with us on the take off plan and we are going to summon an AGM of share holders to fine tune these details

Modern Ceramics

The ceramic industry was concessioned to the Catholic Church but unfortunately no major turn around has taken place since the take over deal. We are yet to know what their problems are and why the management has not gone into full production

IGI

With a production line utilisation of 20 percent, we think this is not ideal. We are reviewing Churchgate and its management of IGI. Its tenure and conditions need to be reviewed if we must move forward. The management of Aba Textile Mills also needs to be reviewed as the place is completely comatose. It has been vandalised and converted to a warehouse for imported items. The governor recently constituted a committee whose charge is to come up with the best and quickest way to resuscitate the industry and put it back on stream irrespective of the management constraints.

Abia Hotels Limited

We are talking to a core investor who is going to upgrade the Umuahia section to a three star hotel in partnership with the state government. Arrangement has gone far and we are at the stage of dotting the Is and crossing the Ts. The metallurgical complex needs an injection of funds to complete the various sections. This is one project that requires heavy funding.

Aba with eight big industries holds a potential to employ 40 percent of all the graduates produced in the entire South east. It is also the governor’s desire to establish modern markets that will accommodate the traders and their associations currently trading in unauthorised places. I share that passion with the governor and we are at an advanced stage of developing these markets in Umuahia and Aba.

We have three large markets on the drawing board with the ultra modern complex-Abia International Industrial City Centre, attracting a major investor from Spain. The first phase of the complex will have 25,000 stores of international standard. The other two markets have also reached advanced stages. There is the Ukwa Wholesale Market whose development is being undertaken by a local investor. There is also the General Building Materials Market among others, packaged under a PPP arrangement.
Umuahia
Umuahia, the state capital is not being left out in the development of modern markets. The Ubani-Ibeku Market located close to the Umuahia/Ozuitem Road is mapped out to accommodate the present Umuahia Main Market. On completion in the next one year, the main market will be relocated to give Umuahia a befitting look. In the same vein, the Ohia Mechanic Village is at 80 percent completion stage and the mechanics are expected to relocate to the market at the end of this month. An industrial market is being built in Umuahia and dealers in timber and building materials, as well as other categories of traders will move in there within the next six months.
http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/politics/43111-%E2%80%98orji%E2%80%99s-achievements-have-left-the-opposition-behind%E2%80%99.html

Sampson Orji is Abia State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry. He spoke on completed and on going projects in the state after the state Governor, Theodore Orji commissioned some completed road projects in Umuahia, the state capital, recently. Orji challenged critics of the governor to visit Abia and see things for themselves rather than engage in unconstructive criticisms.
What’s your quarrel with Governor Orji’s critics?
When a critic is constructive and persuasive with superior argument, I will be inclined to think along with him. But what some popular tabloids and columnists seem to celebrate these days is the corrosive, poorly investigated line of journalism that evades the cardinal principles of what, where, when and how while not situating the points of discourse in their proper perspectives. I feel irresistibly drawn to make a comparison between positive and negative criticisms, when ‘critics’ of Governor T.A. Orji in their lopsided analysis not backed by facts expose the Areal objectives of the sponsors of such criticisms.On the other hand many reporters and media chiefs who have had the opportunity to visit Abia State to see for themselves what the governor has done in the last 12 months, can attest to the proactive moves of the state government in terms of infrastructure and structural development of a state that had hitherto not witnessed any meaningful development since inception. The areas of emphasis extend to road construction in the rural areas where the farm gate culture is a way of life for the people, a huge infrastructure reclamation of the commercial city of Aba and of course re-designing Umuahia, the state capital, to wear the face of a modern state capital. The list of work in progress is simply impressive and only a discerning and willing observer can patiently take stock of this developmental pace.The governor recently asked his aides to report the truth not falsehood; why?
His Excellency Governor T.A. Orji could not have asked his aides to report falsehood. He was only making obvious what ought to be seen as the issues on ground. He has concrete achievements to showcase to everyone and these rattle those who believe the governance of the state can be assessed by pandering to falsehood in the public space. The truth is that for every claim made by the state government, the facts are verifiable and since most of the completed and on-going projects are on ground, no previous administration can lay claim to have initiated or completed any. What I am saying in effect is that the governor was right in asking his commissioners, and advisers and all key personnel of his government to report the facts at all times since facts are sacred and verifiable before the public space.
Aba needs a special attention, what is the programme of the state government for the Enyimba city?The state government has placed great emphasis on road construction and only last week, His Excellency commissioned the completion of crucial road networks that had long been an eyesore to the residents and traders.
The emphasis is to give the people an infrastructure network that can help them in their commercial activities that stretch to the sub-region of West Africa. The essential road networks long identified by government include those connected to neighbouring states such as Rivers and Akwa Ibom, who make use of them to do business in the state. With this in mind the focus extended to the Aba/Owerri Road all the way to Osisioma Junction to Motor Park and down to the Asa–Port Harcourt Road, terminating at the Ala –Oji Express Road. The works ministry in conjunction with the contractors on ground worked on the Bata Opobo Junction from the Bata–Ikot Epkene road junction and now to Ukwu Mango, commissioned by the governor two Fridays ago.There is no doubt that the Aba resident and businessman today can attest to noticeable changes in a once squalid environment whose key roads were simply impassable. The work still on ground is enormous after years of poor development and decadence. Beyond the reconstruction work going on, these streets and roads call for constant maintenance and this philosophy has helped in the reclamation of Osusu Road. This extends to the Okigwe Road by Ariaria Market as well as the dual expressway from Omme Junction down to John Udeagbala Junction, which is a five kilometre stretch situated along the Port Harcourt–Aba Road. The Eziukwu Road has also been overlaid with asphalt, and the same is true of the Aba-Agbama Road, among many others.
Aba’s drainage system has long been a source of concern to the extent the Ukwu Mango stretch was covered with garbage and stalls and houses built on it. This is history as Ukwu Mango has been reclaimed just as the need to fix the entire drainage system in Aba is a major challenge, with the construction of the Osisioma Modern Motor Park and asphalt overlay of major roads in Aba.What problems were on ground when you assumed duty as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry?One was stifling bureaucracy and lack of vision to drive the industrial and commercial setting of the state, no demographic profile of trades and traders, and a well articulated design for revamping the moribund industries. These industries include among others, the Golden Guinea Breweries, International Glass Industry, Aba, Aba textile Mills, Modern Ceramics-Umuahia, the metallurgical complex, Aba, Abia Hotels, Enyimba Hotels, Aba and many more. If these industrial complexes are revived, they will be able to absorb over 80 per cent of the unemployed people in the state. I inherited all of these and have long given them a prioritised attention.
At the commercial end, there is what we have identified as unwieldy trading activities going on at every nook and corner of Aba, the commercial city of Abia. Such activities turned the city of Aba into one large monolithic market. There was no difference between the residential and trading zones. Then there is the enormous amount of refuse generated and dumped indiscriminately at every turn both in residential and non-residential parts of the city. Naturally, these have affected drainage as the various outlets for such drainages became blocked. Notwithstanding the Governor’s directive to relocate these traders to designated markets, they were adamant, prompting him to set up the Environmental and Allied Task Force, which is being housed by my ministry.
What is your game plan for resolving these contradictions?
First the basic operation of the task force the Governor inaugurated was primarily to compel compliance to Government directives and instill sanity in the market place. This task force – the Environmental and Allied Task Force – was charged to keep Aba clean and relocate traders to designated markets. We manage the operations of this task force and this has afforded me the opportunity to record a reasonable success so far in terms of sanitising the city. It is painful to government that the obstinacy of the traders will leave it with no option. Even the governor daily laments to us that the operations of the task force must be laced with human face. It is a daily operation and it is not cheap. Except for the governor’s determination, it would have been impossible to sustain the operation beyond one month. So far the exercise itself has opened up new investment opportunities as investors are embarking on construction of new markets.
How do you intend to revive these moribund industries in the state?
First, I’m carrying out a technical evaluation of these moribund industries to enable us approach foreign investors. This evaluation extends to financial audit. The government’s investment policy will provide entry and exit plans for the investors. Yet I must admit we have a handicap here. Let me use Golden Guinea Breweries as an example. Government allocates funds to help maintain the salaries of its skeletal staff as well as keep the plant and its premises in good shape. This allocation remains constant, yet government does not have the latitude to dissolve the board and management because the brewery is a publicly quoted company (Plc). We have approached Budweiser, the Sona Group, Heineken and South Africa Breweries. We cannot just come in to turn around the fortunes of these industries. We cannot just dissolve the board by executive fiat. The situation right now is that we are talking to the management and board to agree with us on the take off plan and we are going to summon an AGM of share holders to fine tune these details.
On the Modern Ceramics, the industry was concessioned to the Catholic Church but unfortunately no major turn around has taken place since the take over deal. We are yet to know what their problems are and why the management has not gone into full production. But there are very strong plans to revamp all moribund industries in the state.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83185:abias-investment-policy-will-provide-entry-and-exit-plans-for-investors&catid=31:business&Itemid=562

Our attention has been drawn to various publications in social networks casting aspersions on the Abia’s most esteemed persons. These faceless individuals parading as APGA YOUTHS alleged that Abia State government in a bid to rape the State Economy earmarks certain huge sums of money as patronage to persons like Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Senator Nkechi Nworgu,Ugochukwu Onyema, General Ike Nwachukwu’ Chief Ojo Maduekwe and the fisrt Chief of Army Staff from Igbo land, our own General Ihejirika just mention but a few.We are pained by these frivolous claims. Though any sensible person would know that no State government no matter how rich would lavishly give out over N500m every month as gratis, we know that the authors are bent on discrediting our best. From the list, we can deduce where the voice is coming from.After Reagan Ufomba tried in the most futile manner to become Governor of Abia State, he has devised all sorts of means to destabilize the State. It is important we trace where he is coming from to enable us proof that he lacks neither honor nor integrity. Reagan had approached the State government to enable him pay off huge debt from Diamond bank. Having failed to rip off the State, he shamelessly resorted to name calling and unabashed politics of mudslinging.Reagan had left a three bedroom flat in Lagos State to become Governor of Abia State. Apart from coming from a background of wretchedness, his kinsman Chief Nwachukwu Nwachukwu had revealed that by birth and descent, Reagan is from Ogoni and therefore can afford to destabilize Abia State.
APGA may exist as a political party. We however know that there is no such thing as APGA in Abia State. We know the existence of Reagan and his Ukwa Ngwa brothers (?) who are determined to rock the ship of the state.Abia State was recently adjudged as one of the most prudently managed States in Nigeria. It is therefore shocking to observe that the State could be paying money to even the revered Uche Chukwumerije, our dear General Ike Nwachukwu and the elite Ojo Maduekwe.Wonder why Senator Abaribe’s name is not on the list of beneficiaries? Ukwa Ngwa people are determined to unleash their venom on the present regime to cause confusion and promote enormous hate amongst the people of the State. Why would they be pulling all structures just to make a statement that they are warming up for 2015? What would it profit them to scatter and destroy their own State?Nobody has the monopoly of violence. We call on the so called APGA YOUTHS to stop disparaging Abia’s best brains just in attempt to score cheap political goals. If they are tired of their concept of ‘see no good, hear no good and feel no good’, they should not turn the heat on a State that has long enjoyed some quiet. We need sustained peace in Abia State
OUR GROUSE AGAINST UKWA NGWA PEOPLE
In Abia State now, it is very easy to feel the politics of acrimony, division and mudslinging being perpetrated by Ukwa Ngwa people just because an Old Bende person is Governor.If our people at home are not disgruntled, if they do not feel harassed and insecured, we honestly do. We can no longer watch while our sons are maligned and discredited. What wrong did we do that our son T.A. Orji would be so abused? Why would anyone think Onyema Ugochukwu is so cheap to live off the State government’s resources?We are aware of recent attempts by Ukwa Ngwa people to promote disaffection against Old Bende. Everywhere, every social network site, every internet site; what Ukwa Ngwa people do is to discredit Old Bende people. So bad that Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt (Senate Committee Chairman on Information who is dumb) gathered Ukwa Ngwa people at Rowmay Hotels in December 2012 with the sole mandate to create confusion in Abia State. After that ‘clarion call’, what we see on Facebook are different sorts of pages designed to bring the office of and the person of the governor to disrepute.As a potent product of their meeting, they have been causing disaffection between the Governor and Aba people to erroneously set the tune for an Ukwa Ngwa Governor in 2015. Recently, Aba residents have been inundated with series of lies, fallacies and ill – feelings.Let it be noted that all the years Ukwa – Ngwa people have run alongside Old Bende candidates. 2015 will not be different. We intend to also make things difficult for them, that is if they will ever win without the support of Old Bende.We will no longer watch while we are decimated as a people. Old Bende people are by no means cowards and lily livered people. We are strong enough to match them words for words while we wait for them in 2015 to see how they hope to take over a State they had willfully destroyed.Henceforth, we shall be publicizing details of their nocturnal meetings aimed at destabilizing the State. Since they have constituted themselves into our own Boko Haram, we wait to see how they would lie on the bed they had scattered.We issue final warning to all agents of disunity and hate. We know them and their contacts. We give them forty – eight hours to dismantle those pages on Facebook being sponsored by Harcourt, Ufomba et al; either which we would confront them head on. We know of Obioma Daniel Ubani (Abaribe’s cousin) who resides at Denmark with personal phone number +49170237608, obi@ubani.info who administers the most fallacious Abia Awakening with his kinsman Kingsley Ahamba who oversees Abia Tower. Abia State belongs to all of us and we cannot watch a few disgruntled elements bring the State to its knees.
http://thejuristlaws..co.uk/2012/04/sharing-of-abia-state-money.html

Abia state Governor Chief T. A. Orji has urged Northern leaders especially the Governors not to relent in their efforts to secure life and property in that region.The Governor, who spoke against the background of the rising wave of bombing which had led to loss of innocent citizens, maintained that his northern colleagues under the aegis of Governors’ forum have shown sincerity in tackling this ugly trend which seems to be portraying the nation in bad light.In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Ugochukwu Emezue, Governor Orji affirmed that Northern leaders, especially the Governors have the capacity to restore normalcy in that region. He advised them not to be discouraged over this menace which he stated will definitely be consigned to the history one day. Chief Orji maintained that the northern leaders need the support of all Nigerians in their desire to put an end to this hydra headed monster. The Abia state helmsman,
urged them to disregard any comment from either people in or outside the government, to portray them as being nonchalant to this burning
issue. He also used the opportunity to task the Police High Command to go the extra mile to curtail this emerging but dangerous trend. “The
police should not give up, there is light at the end of the tunnel”.
http://thejuristlaws..co.uk/2012/04/gov-ta-urges-northern-leaders-on.html

Guinness Nigeria plc, one of the foremost players in the alcoholic beverage sector of the economy has deepened competition in the beer segment with the re-introduction of Dubic Lager Beer into the local market.Dubic Lager Beer was a popular brand in Aba , the commercial hub of Abia State and the entire Southeast region, before it shut down production in 1998.The brewery was later acquired by Guinness Nigeria plc in 2003, which produced different brands of Guinness products, before it was also shut down.However, the reactivation of the factory and re-introduction of Dubic Lager Beer by Guinness Nigeria plc, has aroused a lot of interest from beer consumers in the area.
Presenting the new-look Dubic Lager Beer to Governor Theodore Orji and the Abia State Council of Elders at the Government House, Umuahia, Babatunde Savage, chairman, board of directors of Guinness Nigeria plc, affirmed that his company merely carried out the wish of the people, by reintroducing Dubic, their darling drink.According to Savage, people saw Dubic as their own product and we felt that if Guinness is going to be here, we need to start doing something that people want. And the result of that survey, which we did with our consumers, showed that our people here will like the product to come back.That beer you’ll remember was a household name in this State and beyond and we felt we should bring it back home. Although we have so many brands of products, this particular product is actually a citizen of this State and a mature product that has traveled and come back fully,” he affirmed. He explained that Dubic Lager Beer was produced with raw materials, which were actually obtained locally, stressing that it is a Nigerian beer, but brewed to international standards.It is actually a liquid with high quality and you can trace the ingredients to some of our greatest soils in the country. The packaging is unique and it is a great masquerade, which when it starts to dance, other masquerades bow,” Savage boasted.He described Dubic Beer as the brand of the people, which according to him would go places.It is a brand that we know that would go places and we also know that you’ll help us through word of mouth to also spread it, so that people would know that their darling Dubic Lager Beer is back and is here to stay,” Savage enthused.

OCHENDO CARRY GO WITH THE GOOD WORK YOU HAVE STARTED IN ABIA STATE, OUR YOUTH ARE REALLY PROUD OF YOU AS THE GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE, AND PROMISE TO SUPPORT YOU.

Donation of numerous refuse disposal trucks of abia state environmental protection Agency (ASEPA)this gesture of the governor has tremendously enhanced environmental provision and sustainability with consequent boost to the health status of the entire resident of abia state. with this ideal of the governor it will also create room for employment among the youths in abia.

SIR: Aba people may not be that ‘myopic’ to the good and laudable developmental projects of the Governor, Chief T. A. Orji in Abia State. If we have any personal cause to hate Chief T. A. Orji, we should at least applaud him for the long-abandoned Ohanku Road and Falks Road/Ukwu-Mango-Ariaria International Market projects, which he had reconstructed, and which now makes movement easier for the people of Aba and the neighbouring states doing businesses at the Ariaria International Market. The market alone is a revenue generating machinery for the state.His (the governor’s) situation calls for prayer at least to open the eyes of the people, and to see good reasons why they should give kudos to this great governor of our times. I was opportuned to personally watch the commissioning of some big projects at Aba by the governor last weekend, among which included the Ariaria-Ukwu-Mango Road, which hitherto was a mighty ocean that had remained impassable to both pedestrians and motorist, and at the same time harbouring dangerous reptiles and mosquitoes (vectors to malaria sickness).Also commissioned was the Pedestrian bridge constructed in front of the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba. This area because of the inherent beehives of activities that go on there had claimed several lives of both the students and non-students through accidents. During this period, the great governor had also commissioned other numerous projects in Abia State, such as the Nkpa Road, Amuhia Road, Nkata Umukabia Road, East/Danfodio Road, Aba, the ongoing Carting away of mounts of refuse dumped inside the Aba Big-gutter that traverses the School Road/New Market down the waterside. At last Aba has been rid of the cobwebs, and can see clearly.SEE LINKS http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82401:gov-orji-and-road-projects&catid=77:letters&Itemid=613

ABA was agog last Friday as the Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, commissioned the newly reconstructed Ukwu-Mango road that had suffered neglect for 25 years.Speaking with journalists in Umuahia when he returned to the state after the PDP national convention in Abuja, Orji said that he was poised to change the face of the state.
Orji who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, said Aba was dear to him and that it explained his decision to spend about N5 billion on giving the commercial city a facelift.He said that the commissioning of the Ukwu-Mango road would help increase economic activities in the market and the town, thus boosting internally generated revenue accruing to the state government The governor said that from Friday, "I will be in Aba to commission some finished projects starting with the commissioning of the pedestrian bridge built at the entrance into the Abia Polytechnic for the safety of students of the institute".He said that the idea of building the pedestrian bridge was conceptualized after seeing the number of students and those who go there to do one business or the other being killed by overspeeding vehicles virtually on daily basis.Orji said that after commissioning the pedestrian bridge the next project to be commissioned will be the Danfodio road by East Street, stressing that the road in question has never been tarred.The governor explained that the last project to be commissioned in Aba will be the old express road also leading to Ariaria market, while the next day, some of the roads in Umuahia like the Umukabia Ohuhu road and the Okwueyi road.The governor described the condemnation of his administration by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), as the ranting of a failed political party and its governorship candidate, stressing that their aim is to distract him, assuring that they will fail the same way they failed during the elections and at the tribunal.The frosty relationship between the governor and Aba people came up as Orji said he would continue to work for the whole people of the state without any form of discrimination.
He said, "I am always pleased and excited to be in Enyimba city to meet with our citizens and you know that you are always on my mind, despite what seems to be an interminable ‘cat and mouse relationship’, you remain the primary concern of our government".The governor noted that if previous administrations had done what they were supposed to do in the city and the entire state, the amount of funds being spent now would have been used for other things.
There is no amount of intimidation from any quarters that will make this administration to shy away from its responsibility to move the state forward. We are determined to do this difficult job, initiating original, prime projects and tackling the seemingly impossible ones", the governor said.Orji explained that some of the projects being commissioned had been left unattended by former governments, "But we have done them with the mind to help expand the city, with the safety implications-often ignored by our people and also to maintain the aesthetic value of the city".He said that the projects he had commissioned would help in the vehicular and human movement and also assist in the development and fast flow of business activities in Ariaria market and other business concerns in the city, "This is just the beginning of the good things to come to the state in the next three years".He said, "With these new projects we commissioned, we will soon begin to exploit the larger effects and gains, as well as begin to address all the access roads in Aba, even where restorations and reconstructions are already going on".The governor during the commissioning ceremony said that with the commissioning of the projects at both Aba and Umuahia, that he wants to tell the opposition parties like APGA that they are not on ground to know what his government has been doing to uplift the standard of the state.The governor’s action has led to division in APGA. Emeka Nwachukwu, a chieftain of the party took exception to the actions of the governorship candidate of the party in the last general election, Reagan Ufomba. He warned Ufomba to desist from disparaging the person of Abia State governor, Theodore Orji and go back to the drawing board for the next election.Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia over the recent call by Ufomba asking the governor to resign, Nwachukwu said that the former governorship candidate of APGA is not the leader of the party in the state and cannot speak for it.
Nwachukwu said that Ufomba lost at the governorship poll because he did not campaign during and before the election, adding that he should not blame his failure on anyone but himself.He said, "I am challenged and provoked by the vituperations and misrepresentation of facts and falsehood geared towards deceiving the people of Abia state, by Ufomba which has led to diversionary atmosphere in the state".The APGA chieftain said that he ran to represent the people of Umuahia/Ikwuano federal constituency, and "I owe it as a duty to the constituency and indeed the entire state to put the record straight in the face of false allegations aimed at deceiving the people and distracting the government of the day".Nwachukwu noted that Ufomba had ascribed to himself as the disciple of the late Dim Emeka Ojukwu, "when he has no affiliation to the late Igbo leader when he was alive, Ndigbo are known to have respect for the dead, for their souls to rest in eternity, and so he should stop disturbing the spirit of the great Ojukwu".
He said that Ufomba joined the party barely three days to the party primaries and moved through the back door to purchase his ticket against the more credible candidates, "it is obvious that he was not capable to lead the party since he has no political clout, financial muscle to face a candidate like Governor Orji".The APGA chieftain said, "Ufomba was the worst APGA governorship candidate among other candidates in the state during the last election, as he ran did not run a issue based campaign but was busy doing mudslinging".Nwachukwu explained that from the campaign issues raised by Ufomba during his campaign that it was clear that he has no idea of what he wanted to do for the state, stressing that he was busy looking for the platform to sell the APGA party.He said that the party had been hijacked by evil forces in the state, pointing out that they can steal the body of the party and not the soul and that the evil forces had merely succeeded in killing it in the state.The acting council chairman of Isiala Ngwa North local government area, Onyeukwu Nwogu also joined the fray as he described the statements credited to Ufomba as unfortunate. He described the APGA candidate as a politician who has no base. Nwogu said that Ufomba has no moral ground to criticise the governor considering his antecedents.Nwogu expressed confidence in the performance of the governor and said that the people of Ntigha clan where Ufomba hails from and indeed the entire Isiala Ngwa North are happy with the landmark achievements of Governor Orji.A former council chairman, Ginger Onwusibe, berated Ufomba for his cynicism notwithstanding the tangible transformation in all the sectors of the economy in the state.
Onwusoibe said that the defeated APGA governorship candidate does not have the temperament of a leader, pointing out that it is only a sadist that will fail to see the good works of the governor since he assumed office.
The war in APGA is raging. It is a house divided against itself. As the main opposition party, and with the decisions by the elections petition tribunal and the Appeal Court in favour of the governor and the ruling PDP, there may be no distraction in the second term.SEE LINKS ON http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/politics/42129-orji-ufomba-renew-rivalry-in-abia.html

Meaningful development can only thrive in an atmosphere devoid of rancour. Sir Anthony Obinwa Eze believes that the Abia people should be patient with Governor Theodore Orji and give him a chance to fulfill his promises, which he made following the mandate, they gave to him.He claimed that the booing of the governor at Aba during the burial of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was politically motivated.
According to him, by bringing peace and security to Abia after the governor successfully put kidnappers and armed robbers at bay, Orji has laid solid foundation for development in the state and should be given a chance to build on the gains so far made.He said that what the governor needs was total co-operation, support and understanding of the people to make good things happen in the state.
Relationship between Abians and the governor The governor and the people of Abia State have very cordial relationship. But I cannot deny the fact that there are few discordant voices, which is not unusual because even among the twelve disciples of Jesus, there was a Judas. Jesus Christ in all his mightiness could not rule out such people. If that was the case, then how much more a mere mortal like you and I. Since the emergence of the governor in 2007, I will say without any fear of contradiction that the state is moving forward. It is only a blind man that can doubt this. There are visible signs of improvement here and there. All that is required is patience, support and understanding. The governor really means well for all Abians.In the area of infrastructure, he has not done badly. If you come to the state capital and other parts of the state today and see the road networks, you would be impressed. Several new roads have been constructed. There are new linkages here and there. The few discordant voices you are hearing in Abia are nothing but political mudslinging. They base their judgment on hear say and negative newspaper reports. Abia is today one of the cleanest in the country. The sanitation system is going on very well so do many other things. There is water everywhere. Can we talk about the security issue? Aba and other parts of the state were completely shut down for a whole year. It is to his credit that the issue of kidnapping, armed robbery and other vicious crimes have been reduced to the barest minimum. You can today go to bed in every part of Abia state and sleep with your two eyes closed.
The booing at Aba
What happened at Aba was a very big shame to the people of Abia in particular and Ndigbo in general. The action I must tell you was a political vendetta. It has nothing to do with performance or no performance. Some disgruntled political elements hired touts and came there to demean the person occupying the office of the governor of Abia State. One thing they did not know is that the office is not the representation of Governor Theodore Orji; it is the representation of every son and daughter of Abia State. Another thing you will know is that on that day, it was not only Abians that were in the stadium, political opportunists from different parts of the country and their hirelings were there. Therefore, we cannot even use that as criteria to judge the popularity of the governor among his people. So many of those touts were not from Abia State. Another thing we must not forget is the callousness of the people that perpetrated the act.Choosing that occasion to do that showed in clear terms how wicked they are. It showed they did not have an iota of respect for Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Emeka Ojukwu who was lying in state. If they have respect for Ojukwu, they would not have done what they did. They were nothing, but a bunch that has sold their hearts to the devil. Again, when you talk about Abia State, it does not comprise Aba alone. There are three senatorial zones in the state and the governor has been visiting them to do one thing or the other without incidents. I want to say that a lot of goods are coming from the governors not minding the fact that some people for political reasons have decided to go blind on his giant strides in the state .As far as I am concerned, Chief Orji is doing well in the state and can still do better. People should give him a chance and pray for him. Leadership is not easy anywhere in the world.
Leadership is not only about those who are leading. Those who are being led should show support, understanding and help in their own little ways. It is a fact that government cannot do everything for the people. The led should try to be creative and innovative. They can also try to help themselves instead of becoming ready-made tools in the hands of some disgruntled elements that do nothing but crave for opportunities to destroy instead of to build. The electricity project that is going on in Ohiya, is one that can give Abians steady power supply. People should learn to respect their leaders. How many of those touts that booed the governor pay their taxes? If you go to Aba today, you would see importers bringing in heavy duty vehicles to remote areas where those vehicles are not supposed to apply and destroying the roads in the process. Another thing is that some of these people don’t know the roads that are for the Federal Government, state government and local government. They even complain that the expressway in Aba is in bad shape without knowing that they are Federal roads..Comparing Abia with Lagos state
The truth is that if you want to compare the revenue that Lagos State government is generating and want to equate it with the rate of development in Abia and Lagos, you would be shocked to discover that Lagos State is not doing anything. But I want to appreciate the fact that Governor Babatunde Fashola is doing his best to carry his people along .You cannot compare development in Abia with that of Lagos. Lagos State is still enjoying the status of a federal capital. Federal government is still showing a lot of interest in Lagos State as the commercial hub of the country.Advice to Abians
The advice I have for Abians is that they should be patient with the governor. They should also begin to think of what they could do to help the state instead of thinking only of what the state should do for them. Abians should begin to think about how they can build Abia State and not just criticizing. We have first class entrepreneurs scattered all over the world. Abians should learn how to support and pray for their leaders instead of disparaging him. Today, it is T.A.Orji, from 2015, it would be another person and no matter the leader that comes in, if he fails to get the support of the people, there is nothing much he can do. Abians should learn to pay their taxes.A lot of people in Abia are running away from paying their taxes in Abia. In Lagos State, most of the revenue are being generated from taxes. But here in Abia, it is a different ballgame. So, how can you compare the development in the two states? Let Abians not allow themselves to be deceived by those who have decided to make themselves enemies of the government. Let Abians don’t allow themselves to be misguided by this few that have decided not to see anything good in the governor. Let them not allow themselves to be misled or miss-informed by these haters of democracy.