₦airaland Forum

Chief Larry Essien blasts the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu

Former Chairman of the PPA, Chief Larry Essien has again stated that the ambition of former Governor of Abia Orji Uzor kalu to become a senator in 2015 is a big joke

Reacting to the publication Essien maintained that he stands by his earlier statement as he insisted that kalu remains a political leper and fraud symbolized

Abia Police Uncovers Training Ground for Kidnappers.

state police command Thursday said that it has taken proactive measures to checkmate resurgence of kidnapping in the state following the discovery of a compound in Umuokeyi village Obingwa local government where kidnappers were allegedly being trained. State commissioner of police, Mr. Adamu Ibrahim made this known at a press briefing on the achievements of the command to combat crime in the past one month. He said that the kidnappers in training numbering 37 persons were arrested at Ugoji compound along Bible College Road Umuokeyi, Obingwa. “Kidnapping is trying to return to Abia but we are mounting surveillance,” he said, adding that the state police command was committed to ensuring that crime was reduced to the barest minimum in Abia.

Details to follow

Icon JD :
The hero of our time, who made an impression.The man who validated his existence .You made the biggest mark by the legacy you left behind.You are no longer with us but you are like everyday hero whose imprints will be felt by Nigerians and the entire black community. Your dedication in service for our great nation will ever be remembered.A hero is more than an image,he represents triumph.You triumphed, displayed courage and the will for selfless service to our nation,Africa and the entire world.You left a vacuum that will be hard to fill up.Your footprint will continue to serve as a moral example to be respected and emulated by those you left behind. Adieu Justice Oputa.Adieu the Icon of our time. — with Icon JD.

2014 Will be Year Of ‘Legacy Projects’ – Orji


Governor Theodore Orji of Abia state has said that the year 2014 would be a year that all legacy projects and the solid foundations being laid for the sustainable development of the socio-economic and political transformation of the State, will be fully consolidated for the interests of the citizens, towards a new face of Abia State.

According to the Governor in a statement, the State has advanced in its democratic agenda and expanded the frontiers of participatory democracy in Abia State, making it more inclusive, more tolerant and open to everyone that shows the skill, without bondage to godfathers.

He stated that the bench-mark of governance established would ensure that “no one and no leader of the future will make the mistake to return the State to the dark days of strife, impunity and ad-hoc process, and in a private estate of the few, for the few, and by the few.”

Governor Orji urged all citizens of the state to join hands and ensure sustenance of security in which has paved way for the serene environment for business growth. He also promised 24 hour uninterrupted power supply to Abia and its environs through the geometric power plant.

“We will continue in 2014 to drive all our restructured and re-engineered platforms of the new face of Abia to a level where everything is not only changing for the better, but strengthened to be self-propelling.

“I will continue to remind all Abians not to forget where we are coming from – to this far, so that we never derail from our new direction,” Orji said.

A NEW YEAR GOODWILL MESSAGE DELIVERED TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ABIA STATE, BY HIS EXCELLENCY, CHIEF T. A. ORJI (OCHENDO), GOVERNOR ABIA STATE, TO USHER-IN THE NEW YEAR 2014

MY GOOD PEOPLE OF ABIA STATE!

I have the pleasure to usher-in the year 2014 and to wish all Abians ‘a very happy and prosperous new year. The year 2014 is our year of hope and great expectations, when our legacy projects and the solid foundations we have laid for the sustainable development of the socio-economic and political transformation of Abia State, will be fully consolidated for the interests of our people.

As we have progressed in the journey towards a new face of Abia State, I have had occasions to look back to the past where we began, not just further down the line, but up to 2013 and through to the first half of our second term in office. I must say without equivocation, that I feel confident and emboldened to say we have not only acted boldly and prudently in many issues, but we have made a tremendous difference in Abia State.

Today, no one can deny that we have made indelible impacts in the lives of our citizens in all sectors, and I am certain that we have brought Abia State to the right path, and the right note of an irreversible development.

As we match proudly into the year 2014, with great hopes and expectations, we are also moving towards the end of our second term in office. The commencement of the electoral process for installing new leaderships in our State and in our Nation, will also begin this year, and I expect our citizens to participate actively in all stages of the process so as to reap the benefits that accrue from there.

Through all the unfolding landmarks in our State and in our Nation, I have good reasons to believe that nothing will ever be the same in Abia State, as our people and our State continue our upwards movement, defying all odds to surge ahead as one of the safest and most secured States in the Nation, and also as one of the fastest growing economies of our Nation.

No one and no leader of the future will make the mistake to return this State to the dark days of strife, impunity and ad-hoc process, and in a private estate of the few, for the few, and by the few. I expect the year 2014 and beyond to yield greater achievements and value expectations for this State!

A few years ago when we arrived at the governance of this State, we were confronted with many negative indices. These include, but not limited to general insecurity in the State, especially kidnapping; poor infrastructures at all levels, poor governance and administrative culture of impunity, low level of economic development and flight of investment capitals, neglect of the government/public sector institutions, growing unemployment and a demoralized un-empowered youths.

The year 2013 saw our Government establishing firm grips on all our past negative indices, and now making appreciative gains and landmark improvements, especially through the prudent selection and implementation of our legacy projects throughout the State. These approach and agenda will be fully consolidated in the year 2014.

It is very gratifying to note that we have achieved our first benchmark of governance of Abita State, through the provision of a reliable and fast improving security system for our environment. We have developed our key infrastructures – road networks, and other public institutions throughout the State, and we have deepened the democratic process in our State.

We have greater expectations that these trends will accelerate in the year 2014. This will be our year of greater expectations and consolidation of our promises of good living and economic prosperity to be readily brought to the doors of our citizens, just as many of our laudable legacy projects will also begin to bear fruits.



The year 2014 will be the year for the consolidation of the politics of our State into the mainstream of Nigeria’s politics. Our well articulated programmes and the key roles we play within our great Party the PDP, helped us in 2013 to restore Abia State to its pride of place as a truly first State of the Nigerian Nation, and indeed as God’s Own State.

We will advance these further in 2014 and beyond - as the Federal Government of Nigeria commences and completes the Enugu-Port-Harcourt dual carriage way, which is now on-going, including many other Federal projects in the State, especially in the agricultural transformation agenda of the Federal Government. I therefore expect nothing less than the total commitments of our people in support of the PDP.



In the year 2013, our State also advanced our democratic agenda and expanded the frontiers of participatory democracy in Abia State, making it more inclusive, more tolerant and open to everyone that shows the skill, without bondage to godfathers. This particularly helped us in strengthening the security of our State as people-centered, but more especially it created the serene environment for business growth and investment that now exist everywhere.



2014 will further consolidate all these, as Abia State becomes the first port of call for many investors that have now shown interests in our conducive environment.

Some of the new investments that will begin to bear fruits in Abia State in 2014 include our many private-public partnerships with Acroidation International Ltd to develop a new Abita International Industrial City (ABIIC) within a 300-hectare landmass at Osisioma near Aba. When the first phase is completed in 2014, it will provide a relief for the congested markets in Aba Main City, as well as provide an industrial cluster with modern machineries for creative manufacturing in Aba.

We expect ABIIC to provide the required excellent manufacturing and marketing outlets to boost the confidence of Aba ingenious manufacturers and fabricators, so that Aba made goods can be marketed and sold as ‘Abia made goods’ anywhere, with pride, and Aba becoming the true center of entrepreneurial excellence, and the true ‘Japan of Africa’.

2014, will also see our collaboration with Greenfield and Payless Retail-Chain organization - all private Companies now engaged in the building of a modern Abia Mall in Aba, come to fruition. They will host sales and display of goods manufactured in Abia State under decent platforms.

We have also signed an MOU with an indigenous Company – Honeywell Industries Plc., to establish an agro and solid minerals processing plant in Umuahia in 2014. We have also given our support to the Nigerian Breweries Plc., Aba in its N17 billion expansion project and automation of their bottling and canning lines, utility plants and waste treatment plants. Also we expect a Cassava Flour processing plant to be built by the Federal Government to commence in Abiriba in 2014. Our infrastructural support given to Geometric Private Power Plant to enable it commence a 24 hour uninterrupted power supply to Aba and its environs, will also begin to bear fruits in 2014.

All these projects are coming on stream in Abia at this time because the promoters have seen the advantage of our secured environment and the vibrancy of our people, especially our young population. These projects will mean a lot to Abians, because they will generate employment for all our people, improve their living standards and increase our revenue generation at all levels of government.

In 2014, we will also witness the completion of many of our legacy projects, especially those that are coming on stream to recapture the salient institutional forms of statehood – long ignored in Abia State. These will include the first International Conference Center, the first Abia State Civil Service Secretariat, our redesigned Courtrooms, and many of our housing Estates. All these will be put to the service and use of Abians to boost business and the morale of our State work-force.

In 2013, we beefed-up our modern Health Care Centre from 250 to 710 in all our political wards in the State, and also commenced the construction of 100-bed hospitals in nine Local Government Areas of the State. We equally commenced the expansion of our modern diagnostic centres in Aba and Umuahia, with dialysis centres and chest clinic

These are our attempts to ensure adequate health care delivery to all Abians, which will be consolidated in 2014 when the Abia Teaching Hospital expansion at Amachara is completed. Our goal is to increase free accessibility of health care delivery to children, pregnant women, senior citizens and the physically challenged persons in 2014.

In 2013, we focused a lot of our social development activities to empowering our unemployed youths and retraining them, so that they can become the real engines of our economic development in the coming years. That is why we provided more than 700 Siena brand vehicles and other empowerment tools required by retrained youths, both to give them a sense of belonging and to take them to the new base of self sustenance. This will be further improved in 2014, to reach many of our youthful citizens, including the creation of more permanent forms of employments.

During 2013, our Government introduced a new electronic tax product system, where revenues accruing to the State are deposited directly into Government Accounts, both to avoid leakages and double taxation. We have further advanced that project into many other taxable products, and I am happy to inform you that your cooperation brought tremendous success to the scheme, with a consequent rise in our internally generated revenue (IGR).

That is why in 2014, your citizens’ taxes and revenue contributions will begin to have greater effects on the financing of our State development projects, especially our commencement of the construction of Abia Airport project to be located between Aba and Umuahia. This when completed, will enable our business entrepreneurs to move and travel easily and conveniently around Nigeria and the World, while opening up more business opportunities and employment in our State.

We also plan to open up our Civil Service for more employment of our people in 2014, including the re-absorption of disengaged non-indigenes in our Civil Service work force. In all these, our goals are to put back as many people as possible into the work force of our State, so as to improve lives and the well being of citizens.

Through our democratization programmes, our prudent management of our human and material resources, and the careful pursuit of our legacy projects in 2013, the Government of Abia State have completely broken away from the past ad-hoc approaches to development and governance of Abia State.

We have been able to manage our lean resources to reduce leakages and produce healthier results with minimal expenditures. This has formed the new basis for trust in our Government and we intend to sustain this.

We are therefore confident that with the solid foundations we have laid for the sustainable transformation of the socio-economic and political sectors of our society, the further development of Abia State from 2014 and beyond will be on auto-pilot.

We will continue in 2014 to drive all our restructured and re-engineered platforms of the new face of Abia – to a level where everything is not only changing for the better, but also strengthened to be self-propelling. I will continue to remind all Abians not to forget where we are coming from - to this far, so that we never derail from our new direction!

I cannot stop commending our citizens for the solid supports you have given to our Administration, your prayers and your sacrifices, so that we all achieve our dreams of the new face of Abia State – where stability, security and prosperity of our people are the new basis of our social contract with the citizens, and are now more guaranteed than ever before.

Let us therefore advance towards 2014 with great hopes and expectations, believing that our citizens and our Governments are more ready and willing to make the desired sacrifices and share the cooperation necessary in keeping our State growing stronger and better for all Abians.

On this note, I once again wish all Abians a happy and prosperous New Year, 2014, and may all your dreams for the year come true!

God bless Abia State, God’s Own State!

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!



Thank you

Happy new year to all good Nigerians...Wishing you all the best in this glorious new year

Governor Orji's achievement in 2013 unprecedented in the state

The mouth or fortunate enough to have had their nuts cracked for them by the proverbial benevolent spirit, include great power of vision, focus, large heart of dedicated service and patriotism. Analysts of world affairs are also of the opinion that quality leadership fast tracks the development drive of their societies

by making effective and efficient use of available human and material resources. The third democratically elected Governor of Abia God’s Own State, Chief T.A. Orji (Ochendo) belongs to this class and so has uniquely proven himself an innovator, servant leader in bureaucracy and politics and who is dedicated to human and infrastructural transformation of the Abia State.

Emerging from the realm of the civil service to that of political leadership of Abia State, Governor T.A. Orji has become a celebrated national case study exemplifies true leadership, humility, hard work and achievement notwithstanding challenges on his way. Just last week Abia State Government acquires land for the proposed Abia Airport at Ikwuano LGA and in Olokoro Umuahia SouthT.A. Orji preaches Love, Peace at Christmas

In line with his administration transformation agenda and in keeping with his promise of fast tracking the development of the state, the Abia state government under Chief TA Orji has continue to embark on development projects across all sectors of the state?s economy. The last few months has witnessed unprecedented activities in the various sectors which could be best approached. Governor T. A. Orji is presently building a new Abia State for the good of all. governance,breakdown of all traditional values of hard work, integrity, honesty, communal and self help spirit,discipline, transparency and accountability in conducting community and government business.

Today weak infrastructure, decline in quality of education and a legacy of impunity are things of the past and no more in the character or identified with the people and government of Abia, God’s own State.

This new vision was all that was required to under pin an agenda for creating shared prosperity through the development of desirable infrastructure, industry, agriculture and mutually beneficial linkages. Tremendous achievements have been recorded under Gov. T.A. Orji as enunciated and enumerated below.


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GOD BLESS ABIA AND NIGERIA. Marry Xmas and Happy new year.

Abia State Governor, Chief T.A. Orji, As A Successful Leader By Charles Ajunwa


Common attributes of successful leaders, whether born with the proverbial golden spoon in the mouth or fortunate enough to have had their nuts cracked for them by the proverbial benevolent spirit, include great power of vision, focus, large heart of dedicated service and patriotism.


Analysts of world affairs are also of the opinion that quality leadership fast tracks the development drive of their societies by making effective and efficient use of available human and material resources.

The third democratically elected Governor of Abia God's Own State, Chief T.A. Orji (Ochendo) belongs to this class and so has uniquely proven himself an innovator, servant leader in bureaucracy and politics and who is dedicated to human and infrastructural transformation of the Abia State.

Emerging from the realm of the civil service to that of political leadership of Abia State, Governor T.A. Orji has become a celebrated national case study exemplifying true leadership, humility, hard work and achievement notwithstanding challenges on his way.

Indeed, the admonition of our Lord Jesus Christ to Christians to let their light so shine before men and women that they may see their good works and glorify their father who is in heaven, has found true expression in the life and governance of Governor T.A. Orji.

With diligent implementation of his people-oriented policies and programmes, Governor T.A. Orji has indeed strategically made tremendous difference in the political engineering of the state since her creation on August 27, 1991.

One of such positive testimonies is his political recruitment of ebullient professionals, tested men and women representing, in equitable terms, the three geo-political zones of the state, in the State's Executive Council and other segments of the state's political and administrative structure.

This has no doubt engendered a great sense of belonging among all strata of Abia populace and positive inputs into the socio-economic and political system resulting in steady growth and development in all sectors of the economy.

Today, Abia State is witnessing peace and tranquility among the diverse Abita populace; this has hardly been seen before, because politicians of different party blocs seem to have found a common platform on which to ventilate their ideas in a progressive format.

This has engendered unity of purpose. After all, has it not been said, time without number, that peace and unity remain the strong pillars of social equilibrium and human advancement.

Having created the strong base for enhanced social cohesion among Arians, the Governor T.A. Orji administration has equally concretized human capital development through various skills acquisition programmes for Abia youths.

The result is that thousands who would have been dependents are now breadwinners and agents of economic development. Apart from the training of thousands of youths, the trainees were armed with the relevant starter parks and funds for the smooth takeoff of their learned trades.

The health and housing sectors of the state's economy have also enjoyed robust attention of the Governor T.A. Orji administration. These feats have robbed off on the health care delivery of Abians. For the first time in the history of Abia State, we have the international standard specialist diagnostic and dialysis centres both in Umuahia and Aba, several general hospitals have been built and more are being built in addition to over 720 primary health centres already constructed and equipped.

The feat also include the 100-bed hospitals built in nine out of the 17 local government areas of the state. Governor T.A. Orji also provided ambulances in all the 17 local government areas in the state for the movement of patients to hospitals. He also provided hundreds of tricycles in this regard.

The relocation of old markets in Umuahia, the state capital, and establishment of new ones such as the Modern Market in Ubani Ibeku and the Industrial Market in Azueke Ibeku not to talk of Ohiya Mechanic Village, is a master stroke that has given the state capital a facelift. It is a pragmatic step to broaden the infrastructural landscape and economic base of Umuahia. Furthermore, high-rise buildings and modern architectural edifices now dot the landscape of Umuahia.

These include the International Conference Centre, New Workers' Secretariat, New Government House, Joint Allocation Committee building complex, ASUBEB secretariat, to mention but a few.

The dispensation of justice in Abia has been given a new definition through the building of modern High Court complexes in Umuahia and Aba.

Road construction as a catalyst for economic and social transformation has equally captured due attention of the administration of Governor T.A. Orji. For instance, many roads in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state and other cities like Umuahia have been reconstructed while new ones have been embarked upon in the local government areas.

Take it or leave it, Governor T.A. Orji has impacted positively on all sectors of the state's economy and has reconnected the political web of the state to the Federal Government thereby promoting national unity, better coordination of developmental programmes and provision of dividends of democracy.

Little wonder, the strings of national and international awards to the Governor T.A. Orji seem unending. It is indeed an acknowledgement of his hard work and commitment to excellence.

What is natural, befitting and beneficial for the present and future generation is to give the Governor the needed continued support, cooperation and suggestions that will encourage him to do more.

For Governor T.A. Orji, he is a confirmed bridge builder, restorer of hope whose legacy projects will stand the test of time. Bravo the Legacy Governor!

Nnaji Obed Asiegbu
SA e-Governance & Strategy
to the Abia State Governor
nnajiobed@abiastate.gov.ng
www.abiastate.gov.ng
08130196187

The Abia Govt have acquired land at Ikwuano LGA and Olokoro in Umuahia South for the proposed Abia Airport #AbiaStateExco

T.A. Orji Preaches Love, Peace At Christmas

The Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, has enjoined Nigerians to embrace the love of Jesus Christ and shun bitterness in their relationship towards one another, as Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
In a statement made available to our correspondent and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, Governor Orji extolled the virtues of Jesus Christ, saying such life should be an example for everyone who seeks the greatness of Nigeria.
“The life of Jesus Christ is characterized by great virtues that include love. The love of Jesus Christ to mankind is immeasurable and can only be understood through his works that is known to be filled with compassion.
“It is this kind of lifestyle of love that can make a country. We owe this debt to God and to fellow human being to extend love at all time, even in the face of hostility as admonished by the word of God.”
Governor Orji who believed the country can overcome its challenges only through love said, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. That is what the Holy Bible tells us in the book of 1 John 4: 7.
“God is the father of love. Love is a gift, given to us without merit. It stands true, and we must choose to abide in it by living in the commandments that allow us to have unity with God. Love is found in God, for God is love. Love produces unity and that is what is going to keep our nation together.”
He warned against inciting the public against the leadership of country, saying that is not what Jesus represents. “Our nation needs to stand together to overcome. Those inciting the public against the leadership of this country through false alarms are doing so for selfish reasons without the love of the country in their heart. We must do our best for our country as creations of love.
Orji also called on Christian leaders to continue to pray for the country and leaders across the country as the Holy Bible enjoined so as to ensure that the country is always on the right path.
“Christian leaders cannot be tired of the happenings around the country at this time. It is a battle to be won on our kneels as we are encouraged by the holy book to pray for the peace of our nation,” he admonished.

A first Lady’s Beautiful Gate****

Mrs Odochi Orji at an empowerment event

The widows and those with disabilities are faced with several challenges too numerous to comprehend. Discrimination is just one of them. In a reminiscence of a biblical story of the beautiful gate, one woman whose heart goes to the indigent widows and disabled, the wife of the Abia State governor, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji has turned her surroundings to a place of refuge for these less privileged, with Christmas just a few days away. Adeola Akinremi writes

The sun shone from a cloudless sky as they began to make their way into the east side of the government house. Soon, the sun revolved and there was a downpour. They defied it. For two days last week, hundreds of indigent widows and people with disabilities thronged the serene environment where Michael Okpara Auditorium is located inside Abia State Government House. Some took their seats under a large size party canopy just outside the auditorium, while others sat on beautiful oriental pieces of furniture inside the hall. The struggle for space was not a small one as the beautifully decorated hall was filled to capacity. The din both inside and outside the hall was a mixture of different conversations coming from one direction. It was easy to understand their joy.

“The wife of Abia State governor, Lady Odochi Orji is a kind woman,” said Mercy Samuel who has been in a wheelchair for more than five years. “She has been seeking inclusion for the indigents and the disabled since her husband was elected the governor of Abia State. She routinely brings together people with disability of all categories to encourage them to fulfill their dreams.” Lady-Mercy-Odochi-Orji-1612.jpg - Lady-Mercy-Odochi-Orji-1612.jpg

True, across the categories of the disabled who were at the government house on a recent Wednesday, the mood was upbeat. The deaf and dump who made signs with their hands, the blind aided by their walking sticks and paraplegic in their wheelchairs and those assisted by crutches had joy written on their faces, the moment they stepped into the government house.

Unarguably, the indigents and disabled are faced with Nigeria’s myriad challenges, ranging from unemployment to lack of social security. And in the face of these heavy odds, Mrs Orji has made it her mission in life to integrate the disabled and indigent widows into the national mainstream to bridge the gap between the disabled and able-bodied.

Her strategy addresses both the individual and society. By providing the disabled with moral support to help restore their self-esteem and sense of dignity, she inspires them to fight for their rights. By campaigning for awareness, she educates the public about the realities and rights of people living with disabilities. She goes to the extent of empowering the skillful ones among them to enable them own their businesses.

So last week, hundreds of empowerment items were distributed to the indigent widows and disabled. Sewing machines, hair dressing equipment, catering equipment, barbing kits, computers, grinding machines and many more were some of the items handed out to the widows and disabled who converged on Umuahia last Wednesday.

According to Mrs. Orji the abuse suffered by the handicapped in Nigeria and promise made by her husband before coming into office is influencing her decision to support indigent widows and disabled in Abia State.

“The maltreatment of widows in our society is inhuman, unbearable and ugly. When a woman loses her husband, a civilised society should rally round to support her and her children. Causing her more pain at the death of her husband is evil,” Orji said.

She added: “This government is widow friendly and caring for the disabled is a huge priority for Governor Orji. We have demonstrated this day after day and the evidence is there. The disabled faced enormous challenge in our country, so their inclusion into the society has been one our priorities since 2007.”

Yes, according to International Labour Organization’s (ILO) statistics, one out of every seven people in the world or some 1 billion people—has a disability. Between 785 and 975 million of them are estimated to be of working age, but most do not work. While many are successfully employed and fully integrated into society, as a group, persons with disabilities often face disproportionate poverty and unemployment.

That statistics, according to the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Governor, Charles Ajunwa, is what Mrs. Orji is working to reduce. “The effort of the first lady is focused at giving equal opportunities to everyone. She has been so dedicated to the plights of the poor. She is doing everything to help get them to the mainstream of the society, including canvassing for policies that will support their aspirations.”

One of the beneficiaries, Okezie ThankGod Kelechi from Bende Local Government Area of the state who has been blind for over 10 years was full of praises for Mrs. Orji. He said: “It is encouraging that we have a woman who shows concern about our welfare and our future in a society where we are lonely most times. People who act this way fear God and Mrs. Orji is in that class. Her determination to change the status quo for the disabled and the poor generally is unmatched.”

To be sure, the wife of the Abia state governor has recently built a three-bedroom bungalow for an indigent widow, Mrs. Best Ekoba Alozie from Abayi, Ohanze, ObiNgwa Local Government Area of the state.

During the unveiling of the house, Orji disclosed that her office has so far built and equipped six houses for indigent widows and two blind residents of the state as part of her complimentary role to her husband’s determination to ensure people on the lower rung of the society feel the impact of government.

She restated the commitment of Governor Orji’s administration of enhancing the welfare of not only the indigent widows but also to all vulnerable groups in the society and other Abians to feel the impact of the government and empowered them to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the state.

She equally appealed to well endowed Abians to assist the government in ameliorating the plight of all indigent widows and other vulnerable groups in our society.

Orji expressed the hope that such support being given to the less privileged will help them integrate into the society. She cautioned against any forms of abuse, molestation and oppression of the indigents in the state, saying they must be shown love.

Indeed, without a social security net for the vulnerable sections of society, those further disadvantaged by a disability of any kind are left to fend for themselves. And in a society with strong family values, the role of providing support to a family member with a disability has fallen to parents, siblings or other relatives.

In the past the governor’s wife has attracted charitable organisations like Ejay Foundation, Health African Cancer Mission, Abia State Medical Mission, Mtn Foundation, Associated Health Resources Centre in the United States, Tolaran Charity Foundation, Lagos, to partner with her charity, Hannah May Foundation to provide support to the less privileged in the state.

Over the years, people have been screened for cancer, groups have tested and advised on handling of non-communicable disease like high blood pressure and diabetes. Others have received eye glasses, crutches, hearing aids. Most HIV positive have not been left out. Through her pet project, widows have moved into newly constructed and furnished houses, childless couples have been assisted in adoption to prevent separation and divorce that would have resulted from barrenness.

Through the Hannah May Foundations, youths and adults alike have acquired skills, received machines and equipment free of charge to offer services like computer analysis, hairdressing, dress making, event, management and catering as to live successfully, become lawful and marriageable members of society. She has raised family values to an enviable height by example as her mode of dressing has become a dress code in Abia and beyond. She has given out her only daughter at the ripe age to a deserving son not waiting and insisting as some would do that it should be a Governor or the president’s son that can have her hand in matrimony.

Strangely enough, Mrs. Orji said her office gets no budgetary appropriation but she has risen assiduously to the challenges of becoming a powerful fund raiser.

She is the first to acknowledge it. “I have taking on the role of a fund raiser in addition to what I do. It is because I want give voice to the voiceless. I am asking people to support what we do so that together we can heal our society. My husband has been so supportive, but I am asking him for more,” she said.

Orji then lazed her words with a verse from the bible to underscore the importance of her professed interest in helping the poor. She said: “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid

Hello Abians ,Friends and well wishers ! It is no longer a news that the Old Umuahia Main Market has been relocated to a better location around Ubani Ibeku in Umuahia with traders trading happily. The old site has been cleared and our intention is to make it a place to be proud of by all Abians. Tell us what you think the old Umuahia Main Market site can be developed into and how it could benefit Abians considering the capital city renewal initiative...Have your say.

T.A.O

The governor of Abia state has been of great standing in his work in making Abia sate truly number 1,if you are here to disseminate wrong and bogus information,you are definitely backing the wrong horse and i think you lack sense of judgment ...let us not be lead astray ,for we all know that Abia of before can not be compared to Abia of now in any way,we have seen greater work done by T.A that can not be compared to the late Orji Uzor kalu's administration...T.A has transformed ABia beyond every reasonable doubt...

Emezue Battles APGA Over Proposed Abia Airport Immediate past Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Theodore Orji, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue has berated the state Chapter of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for describing the proposed Abia airport as macabre drama. Emezue who spoke to newsmen in Umuahia at the weekend called on APGA to be constructive in its criticism of the programmes and policies of the state government rather out of malice. Abia state chapter of APGA, had in a statement signed by its chairman, Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu , described Gov. Theodore Orji’s plan to build an airport in the state as a macabre drama. The party posited that an airport is not a priority for Abia state with less than 15 months to the tenure of the present administration as it could make do with the Sam Mbakwe Airport at Owerri or the Akanu Ibiam International Airport at Enugu. “How can a government be talking of building an airport less than 15 months to the expiration of its tenure? This is another propaganda stunt; a man who cannot drink tea is talking of drinking ‘over-tea’. An airport is not a priority for Abia state. There are airports in Imo and Enugu states. The best is to treat the state government with the ignominy it deserves because the airport issue does not merit a response,” APGA said. But in a reaction to APGA’s criticism of the proposed airport project, Emezue said, “There are things people do or say at times that are out of malice. Since it is Gov. Theodore Orji that said it, it must be condemned. Don’t we have an airport in Calabar and the Akwa Ibom people have built another one in Uyo? Don’t we have airport in Benin City and a new one at Asaba, Delta state? Why didn’t the Akwa Ibom or Delta people say we have airport in Calabar or Benin City, we are not going to build our own? There is nothing wrong with the timing of the airport project whether it is close to 2015 or not because government is a continuous entity even if It was not completed by this administration, I believe the succeeding one will also understand the importance of the project and complete it.” Emezue described the building of airport in Abia state as a priority stressing that it would boost the economy of the state. “Building an airport in Abia state is a priority. We are always talking of investors. An airport will ensure that our investors come straight to Abia state. We have Aba as the commercial nerve centre of the South East zone. How do you boost tourism if not encouraging the ease of movement of people? Do you know how many times we have gone to other people’s airport and got disappointed? It is giant step for Abia to plan to have its airport. Abia is an oil producing state with a viable commercial town. “Some states that don’t have a viable commercial city boast of an airport and it have been a big boost to their economy. Abia cannot afford to lag behind to tap from our huge potentials and develop the economy of our state,” the former chief press secretary added.

Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji (2nd right), his wife, Mercy (1st right), Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, President General, Ibeku Egwu ASAA Development Association (IEADA), Chief Onwularuwa Onuoha and Professor Joshua Ogbonnaya, when the Governor's kinsmen Honoured their son as the Grand Patriot of Ibeku, which took place at the Ibeku High School, Umuahia....

T.A Orji has brought in transformation,and the difference he has made is far greater than what i envisage in the beginning ,so with total consummation we will encourage him to observe continuity and be more clinical in avoidance of uneven disposition of democratic and political influence in order to balance energetic sense of purpose with a concern for the service of others...

THE DECISION OF THE ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT TO BUILD AN AIRPORT IN THE STATE IS WORTHY OF COMMENDATION. IN THIS NEWS ANALYSIS CHUKS IBEGBU, A PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANALYSTS LOOKS INTO THE IMPLICATION OF THE PROJECT TO THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE.
The Abia State Governor, Chief T.A. Orji, recently announced his intention to build an airport in the state. Since that announcement, there has been a flurry of reactions from several segments of the society. Some people consider it not a priority in the state while a major segment of Abians consider it very timely. There is nothing wrong with the diverse opinions since public debate is part of democratic culture and ethos.
However, a dispassionate look into the whole issue will show that Ndi Abia actually need this proposed airport. Firstly, Abia is a business inclined state and virtually all important businessmen and women at Aba travel a lot to other parts of the country or overseas for one business transaction or another to do business. Presently they are facing the challenges of landing in neighbouring states and facing the hurdles of traveling by road to Abia State with its attendant hazards . Building an airport in the state will checkmate this hazards . Secondly, it will enhance the business and economic tempo in Abia State as investors will have a one-stop access to the states.

Moreover, it will encourage Abians living outside Nigeria to increase the frequency of their visit home and also attract the much needed investment to the state.
The multiplier effect of an airport in Abia State is overwhelming. Some people argue that the nearness of Imo Airport, PortHarcout Airport and Uyo Airport respectively to the proposed Abia Airport makes it untenable. This writer disagrees with this notion. Navigationally, there is nothing wrong or strange with two or more airports sited near each other as long as they are properly equipped with navigational aids after all local and international airports still stay beside each other without any harm. The mentioned airports will complement the Abia Airport.
As for the place to site the airport, there are many suitable places . However, consideration must be given to the viability of the surrounding places and nearness to both the state capital, Umuahia; and the commercial nerve of the state, Aba.The new international market at Ubani Ibeku and the international markets at Aba stand a lot to benefit from the proposed airport. As the committee the Governor set up on the project deliberates on the issue this writer suggests the airport be sited in any of the following places viz; between Isiala-Ngwa and Ubakala or between Abia boundary with Okigwe and NNPC Mega Station, Umudike area, , Bende area or Uzuakoli. The airport may also be called Aguiyi Ironsi Airport, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu Airport, Z.C. Obi Airport, Alvan Ikoku Airport , God's Own Airport , Ochendo Abia Airport etc.

Ndi Abia should congratulate Governor T.A. Orji for this very thoughtful project among other legacy projects going on in the state now. All hands must be on deck to realise this enduring project which will be undertaken through a public private partnership. To God be the Glory

ABSG SIGNS MOU TO HARNESS AGRICULTURE

The investment drive of Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has continued to yield positive results with the latest signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on agro-allied and solid minerals between the state government and Honeywell Group.

The MoU covers the the establishment of a cement factory in Arochukwu as well as development of the state’s agricultural sector.

Speaking during the signing of the MOU at the Government House, Umuahia, an elated Governor Orji who thanked the Honeywell Group for coming to invest in God's Own State, said the state was endowed with huge human and material resources.

Governor Orji assured the company of his government's readiness and cooperation to ensure that the objectives for signing the MoU were fully realized at the end of the day.

Though he said his administration has had a nasty experience in the past in its bid to develop the state through a Public Private Partnership initiative, he said that his government has reengineered itself to forge ahead and has decided to do business only with investors with proven track record.

Following the decision of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Abia State to recall non-indigenes disengaged from the Abia State Public Service – two years ago, applications are hereby invited from interested applicants affected by the policy for re-engagement into the Abia State Public Service.

REQUIREMENTS

Applicants are required to enclose evidence of having served in the Abia State Public Service including copies of letters of disengagement from the service, letter of first appointment and present appointment, academic qualifications, as well as birth certificates or statutory declaration of age.

Closing date for submission of application is 16th December, 2013. All applications with supporting documents must reach the Office of the Head of Service, Library Avenue, Umuahia not later than the stated closing date.

G.C. ADIELE ESq

Head of Service

Abia State.

Abia’s Investment in Sports Meant to Empower Youths- Gov. Orji

Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia has said the state government’s huge investment in sports was a deliberate policy of his administration to empower youths and reduce crime.
Orji said this in Umuahia during the investiture of new patrons for the Abia Warriors Football Club and launching of the club’s official website and colours.
He said he had no regrets investing in sports, saying Abia state was already reaping the immense benefits of the investment.
``Have you ever seen a footballer being a kidnapper or an armed robber?’’ Orji asked.
He said footballers were known to be people with discipline, saying ``this is why we have continued to encourage them, because they will never engage in criminal activities’’.
The governor noted that even though the state was not financially buoyant, it was richly endowed with men and women talented in different sports.
``Abia is not rich, but endowed with great men and women who manage our lean resources to get results for every money we invest in sports,’’ he said.
Orji expressed satisfaction with the management of the three football clubs in the state and ensuring effective application of the available human and material resources to achieve results.
He specifically commended the management of Enyimba International FC of Aba and Abia Warriors for doing the state proud in the last league season.
The governor recalled that while Enyimba FC clinched the Federation Cup trophy, Abia Warriors FC got promoted to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
``It is a thing of joy and a thing of glory that Abia now has two clubs in the nation’s premier football league,’’ he added.
Orji, who acknowledged that the feat was not easy to achieve, described the ownership and sponsorship of Enyimba, Abia Warriors and Comet FC as being capital intensive.
He however enjoined Abia Warriors players to fully utilise the opportunity of featuring for the club by excelling, assuring them of government’s readiness to continue supporting the club.
``If you (the players) watch the way we have supported football, you will know that this is your chance to excel. It is your time to make it,’’ the governor said.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, had said that Nigeria and Abia were experiencing a revolution in football.
Maigari, represented by the First Vice-Chairman of the association, Chief Mike Umeh, expressed joy over Nigeria’s qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil without any Presidential Task Force.
He also commended Orji for his commitment to the growth of football.
``The administration’s investment in Enyimba and Abia Warriors lifted the clubs to an enviable position,’’ he said.
The state’s Commissioner for Sports, David Chigbu, expressed happiness that Umuahia residents would soon begin to watch premier league matches in the city.
``This will be made possible more with the ongoing rehabilitation of the Umuahia Township Stadium,’’ he said.
Chigbu said the playing of premier league matches in Umuahia would stimulate socio-economic activities in the area, with a boom in the hospitality industry.
In his address, the Chairman of Abia Warriors, Chief Emeka Inyama, said the club’s management was committed to transforming the club with the introduction of international best practices in its operations.
Inyama explained that the club would also phase out the payment of sign-on fees to players and replace it with enhanced salary.
``Delays in the payment of players’ sign-on fees, running into hundreds of millions of Naira annually, had always been a source of friction between club owners and the players,’’ he said.
The chairman listed the construction of a club house and camping ground with modern facilities, as well as the establishment of a football academy, as his top priority.
``These are to help in preparing the players in our feeder teams to fill openings in the club’s team,’’ Inyama said.
He however thanked the governor for his unrelenting financial support to the club, saying the gesture ``helped to bring the club to where it is today’’.
The event also witnessed the investiture of the governor as the club’s Grand Patron.
Orji, who donated N10 million to Abia Warriors FC, said his gesture was to appreciate the club for gaining promotion to the NPFL.--www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/abia’s-investment-sports-meant-empower-youths-gov-orji--

GREATEST IGBOIST, GOOD NEWS: Since many of our sons only invests anywhere but Igboland leaving our land to groan in pain; basically leaving state Governors to cater for the welfare and job opportunities for the people; a core Yoruba man, Dr. Oba Otudeko, CFR, had found Igboland a viable place for investment. We at Ndi Igbo page are happy to announce to the house that Oba Otudeko, Chairman Honeywell group of Companies, was in Abia State to seal the deal of investment with the signing of MOU on Mineral exploration, Cement production & Agro and allied industry.
According to the Dr. Otudeko, Abia State is the right place in the South East for his company to invest massively in having seen the security in place and seeing the foundation for the accelerated future growth being laid by Governor T.A. Orji. It will also bring massive employment for the Youths, he said.

Dr. Otudeko, you are a great friend of Igbo. Thank you for finding it worthy to reciprocate what the Igbo man has been doing for years in every part of your land; which is investing heavily there. Thank you for coming to our beautiful land to invest. Your investments shall yield plentiful goodies sir, you will never regret this deed.

Governor TA, ibu ezigbo nwafo. You remain the most Igbotic Governor. Alaigbo ekele gi for your efforts. Kaa wo.

Abia Example On Non-Indigenous Workers SOMETIME in 2010, the Abia State government after thorough examination of her civil service discovered that it was fraught with fraudulent employment procedures and ghost workers. It was also discovered that some non-indigenous civil servants in the state who were supposed to have been transferred back to their states of origin upon the creation of the state in 1991 on the transfer of service basis had not been transferred. There were also leakages in the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the state coupled with over-bloated workers' wage bills that made it difficult for the state government to meet up with her financial obligations then. As if these were not enough problems for the state, Imo State Government sent the files of retired civil servants of Abia origin back to Abia State government to pay their pensions, a development many viewed as unfortunate, considering the fact that these were men and women who had given 35 years of their lives in the service of Imo State, only to be denied when it mattered most. All these contributed to the massive rot in the state civil service that required urgent attention of government, if the sector was to remain relevant in the day-to-day administration of the state. On the basis of these obvious challenges, the Abia government, after due consultations with the relevant stakeholders in the state, embarked on an aggressive reform of the state civil service to address these fundamental issues that had bedevilled it for decades. The reforms introduced by the government included transferring of non-indigenous civil servants to their states of origin on transfer of service basis, prompt promotion and retirement of workers, payment of N21,000 as the new minimum wage, introduction of biometric data capturing of all the civil servants in the state and tackling of the ghost workers' menace as well as construction of a new ultra modern workers secretariat. While many people, especially workers in the state, commended the state government's intervention in the sector, some skeptics outside the state picked holes on government's decision to transfer some non-indigenous workers to their states of origin on transfer of service basis. This was despite the fact that the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji wrote to his colleague governors in advance, alerting them of his government's plan to transfer the workers back to their states of origin due to some financial constraints his government was facing then. Till today, none of the state governors that were written to by Governor Orji over the matter has debunked it; meaning that they were duly informed and carried along by the Abia State government before and after the workers were transferred. Disappointingly, most of the governors of the affected states have up till today refused to absorb the transferred workers, despite the fact that their civil service system is under-staffed. Having plugged all the financial leakages within the state's revenue sources, coupled with prudent management of resources, the Abia State government recently announced plans to recruit more workers into the state civil service and have decided to use the opportunity to re-absorb the non-indigenous workers who were transferred to their states of origin some years ago, but are yet to be re-absorbed by their state governments. As a result of this, Governor Orji called on the affected non-indigenous civil servants to re-apply for possible re-absorption into the civil service. The news of the planned recruitment of workers, and re-absorption of the disengaged non-indigenous workers in the state was broken during a post-executive council briefing at Government House, Umuahia recently by the Information and Culture Commissioner, Eze Chikamnayo who said the decision was taken by the council with the governor presiding. He explained that the council deliberated decisively on the need to inject fresh blood into the civil service by way of employing the teeming population of youths and to reduce the worsening unemployment. By the development, those who were disengaged in 2010, and who still want to return to their duty posts can re-apply for consideration. The commissioner assured that reapplying for consideration would not make the officers inferior as they stand the chance of returning to the former positions they occupied, adding that already the Head of Service and the Commissioner for Education had been ordered to come up with the modalities which would also consider those who left their places of work due to the rampaging Boko Haram insurgency in the North. The development deserves commendation as a step in the right direction, and timely too; a plus for Governor Orji's understanding of governance. There is a lesson of courage therein for political leaders of today. Courage, they say, is what it takes to stand up and speak; and also what it takes to sit down and listen. Governor Orji's example is that leadership is not a one-way traffic or irreversible. He stood up to speak when it was necessary and had also sat down to listen when it was needful. Good governance demands visionary leaders who can anticipate and act quickly to save situations. Orji's government inherited huge debt, approximately N30 billion from his predecessor, a bloated workforce, a nearly empty treasury and backlog of salaries. Without doubt, nothing short of the pragmatic action taken by the government at the time could have saved the government from collapse. Now that the financial status of the state government has improved, the decision of Governor Orji to recruit new workers, and possibly re-absorb the disengaged ones, is only proper and should be commended and not condemned. It is a demonstration that democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Until perhaps the country comes to terms with the controversy over indigeneship and non-indigeneship, the affected non-indigenous workers should explore the window of opportunity provided by the state government to re-apply because it is better late than never. They should consider that if it has been easy for their states financially since they were disengaged, the states would have absorbed them. There is an underlying supposition that the inability of their states of origin civil service to absorb them since then was a clear indication that the financial constraints that prompted the Abia State government to transfer them equally affected other states. AbiaState government should continue to distinguish itself as a state in the Southeast zone that had worked hard to improve her dwindling financial status. The challenge is for the other states to similarly work hard in order to recruit new workers into their civil service too. The entire zone and the country will ultimately be the better for it in terms of providing employment to the citizens. Romanus Uwa, a medical practitioner, wrote from Aba, Abia State.

Abia State: Problem of refurbishing hospitals persists

The present government in Abia state is making efforts to refurbish the health sector. In the last two years or thereabout, the government has established two ultra modern Diagnostic Centres in Umuahia, the state capital and Aba, the commercial city.

The centres were established in partnership with a well known Indian firm, Mecure. The centres, particularly the one in Umuahia has state-of-the art equipment and facilities. The centres have since commenced operations and have been handling various ailments, some of which used to take patients abroad.

It was commissioned about four months ago by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu. The centre at Umuahia now has a dialysis sector for patients with renal problems, conducts medical tests of various magnitude and other high profile ailments.

The Government has also upgraded the Amachara General Hospital in Umuahia South Council to a specialist hospital with corresponding facilities.

Few months ago, oil giants, Chevron in partnership with other oil firms such as FAMFA, Statoil and Petrobras built an ultra modern Chest Clinic inside the premises of Amachara Specialist Hospital. Well furnished with state-of-the-art facilities, the clinic has since opened to the public.

In the area of primary health, over 200 health centres, have been built across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state. Many of them have been furnished while others are yet to be fully equipped.

Besides, the government has embarked on the construction of eight 100-bed hospitals in various parts of the state including Arochukwu, Okeikpe, Ohafia, Umuahia, Ikwuano, Aba, covering the three senatorial districts of the state.

The state commissioner for Health, Dr. Okechukwu Ogar said that two more of the hospitals would soon be commenced in Uturu and another place.

In effort to ensure that the health institutions have enough medical personnel to man them, the state has embarked on the construction of a big lecture auditorium at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital [ABSUTH] to accommodate more medical students.

For now, Abia health sector can be said to be in good shape, but the worry being expressed is the maintenance of the structures and the equipment.

Abia is flourishing ...no doubt about that,there is a huge transformation in Abia as was never before

Abia wins Good Governance awards

Abia State stood tall at the maiden edition of the BusinessDay Newspaper State Competitiveness and Good Governance Awards held on Wednesday in Lagos. The God’s Own State won two performance awards at the ceremony where many state governments were recognised for good governance.

Recognized in two out of the 13 categories, Governor Theodore Orji was awarded the Best Governor in Health Development and also State with the Most Improved Security. Governors nominated in the Best Healthcare Development category before the joint selection of Orji and Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi were those of Ondo, Niger, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Lagos, Niger and Sokoto states. Similarly, Cross Rivers and River states gave Abia State a good fight in the State with the Most Improved Security category.

Receiving the awards on behalf of Orji, the state Deputy Governor, Sir Emeka Ananaba, commended the organisers, saying the recognition would give the governor and his team the impetus to do more for the state and the people.

He said: “This is a great honour and we are so happy that people within and outside the state recognised the massive commitment of the governor and members of his cabinet to the Abia Project. “Everyone knows that Abia State deserves the State with the Most Improved Security in Nigeria given the reduction of crime-related activities in the state.

As we speak, you can now sleep with your two eyes closed in Abia State.” In his opening remarks, the publisher of Business- Day Newspaper, Mr. Frank Aigbogun, said the Good Governance awards was aimed at promoting competitiveness and good governance among the states, noting that the perception that democracy was not yielding dividends was false as many governors were developing their states. He said: “These awards will deepen peer review mechanism and inspire competitiveness among the states.

“The battle for performance in governance is getting tense among state governments and they are competing for the growing investment flow in the country. While there is always a temptation to say some states are not performing, I want to say much is going on and our democracy is growing.”

Other winners at the event were Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers State in the Best Governor in ICT; Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State in the Best Governor in Transparency category; Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in the Best Governor in Education category, among others.

Of Abia, the Strength Project and Paradox in Reconciliations

“One of the greatest tragedies of life is that men seldom bridge the gulf between practice and profession, between doing and saying”Martin Luther King Jr. , Strength to Love

I am a great admirer of Reverend Martin Luther King, the late leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement who is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience.
*Gov Orji

King, it was in his masterpiece, STRENGTH TO LOVE, and via the above quoted statement pointed out the many paradox of our modern day professed Christians and leaders. Reverend King’s statement is still apt in our modern day nation state, where vindictiveness is elevated to statecraft, by those privileged to sit in deciding authority over the Nigeria masses.

In modern America, a young black African American, who was barely seven years when the Late Reverend King died, debuted and seized the American political space by storm. Barack Obama, the 44th and current President of the United States of America, who like Rev. King is of African descent, in clear submission to King’s assertion, displayed uncommon reconciliatory efforts, when he appointed Hilary Clinton, the former American First Lady as American Secretary of State. Hilary, the wife of Williams Clinton (Bill), ran against Obama in a very bitter campaign for the Democratic Party presidential ticket in 2008.

In AbiaState, the present Governor towed the path of reconciliation after over a cumulative eleven years (1999-2010) of battle with opposition elements in the State. It is on record that the Governor and his opponents (including the author who was at the vanguard of the opposition, before he quit when it became obvious that they had lost focus/direction), fought bitter wars and battles of acrimony, starting from the days of the governor’s predecessor in Office.

It will equally be recalled that Governor Orji was the Chief of Staff for eight ( years before his election as Governor in 2007. The cumulative effect of the battle led to the incarceration of the then Chief of Staff by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), between February and May 2007.

It was while in incarceration that he contested and later won the election as Governor of Abia in 2007. Even after being sworn in, he was between 2007 and early 2010, subjected to tortuous and rigorous litigations at the tribunal, and exhausted all levels of litigations and even beyond, back to back. By July 2010, after the Court of Appeal, Owerri, had re- confirmed him as the Governor for the second time, that the opponents gave up and reluctantly too.

By then, both sides had become war weary and thoroughly depleted in human, material and time resources. The vintage Nigerian politician will take the WINNER TAKES ALL stance, and run away with the spoils of war for themselves and their lackeys only.

But not Governor Orji. He not only sought for a truce, but went further to reach out for total reconciliation with the Leadership of the oppositions in an act of exceptional magnanimity even to the chagrin of his lieutenants, and to the shock of both the leadership and the hawks that cunning sneaked in, invaded and derailed the opposition group from its original noble cause(s).

And of course Governor Orji acted, not by returning hate for hate, but by loving, accommodating and rehabilitating his enemies. Today, and at every cabinet reshuffle, since 2010, the hitherto opposition members and/or their nominees are being given at least 50% slot in the cabinet and other positions of power and authority in Abia State Government.

In spite of most of them (majority of whom still harbor unmitigated hate towards the original members and proponents of the hitherto focused and selfless Abia opposition group), they are on daily basis being allotted several juicy Cabinet and Board positions both in Abia and at the Federal levels, by a Governor who surprisingly decided to go in opposite direction with the above apt representation of Dr Martin Luther King. In so doing, he drew strength and raised the bar to operate devoid of rancor free administration, devoid of hate.

The paradox however of this great and commendable move is that the beneficiaries of his largesse and accommodation are daily finding it increasingly difficult to tolerate accommodate and ‘forgive’ those of their former colleagues in the trenches, who bluntly refused to and rightly so, join them in their various disingenuous divisiveness of extending the war of attrition against the person, personality and Government of Theodore Orji to unacceptable limits, prior to this reconciliation.

They shrink and are united even in their disunited state, at the thought of ever accommodating such people anywhere and anyhow in the scheme of things in the Government and Party in the State and at the Federal Level, whilst employing several devious unused and unusable to blackmail, blacklist and exclude those erstwhile colleagues or even benefactors of theirs in the hey days of the jungle.

They block all space that could have been effectively utilized to accommodate young, vibrant, best and brightest brains, who long to contribute their quota to the socio-political and economic development of the State. When they are not appropriating to themselves key positions in Government, they are recommending one of their own, even if obviously unqualified for such position(s).

The tragedy of the whole thing is that these set of people have been in the public service, for well over four decades and have nothing new to offer, except for their rabid hatred of the best brains, powered by their self-centeredness and their deft ability to flaunt phony titles, questionable qualifications and made up pedigrees.

Why I re-called disengaged non-indigene civil servants” – Governor Orji

Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, has explained that his desire for a united Nigeria informed his decision to recall the non-indigenes disengaged from the state’s civil service.

Orji made the explanation at the grand finale of the Enugu Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, press week held at the Top Rank Hotel, Enugu at the weekend.

He emphasised the unity of the Igbos of the South-East whose indigenes were mostly affected by the disengagement.

According to him, “It is only in Abia State among others in the South-East today that non-indigenes contest elections and win. Non-indigenes are being appointed into political positions in Abia. And so non indigenes should also take their rightful place in the civil service”.

The Governor, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, assured that such obnoxious policy would never occur again in Abia State.

He enjoined other states in the South-East to emulate Abia state in recalling those they disengaged.

Orji urged all Nigerians, particularly Ndigbo residing in Abia State to see themselves as indigenes with full rights and privileges.

In his speech at the event, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Barr. Chukwudi Achife, while assuring media workers of his government’s continuous support, urged them to uphold professionalism in their reportage.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of the Enugu Correspondents’ Chapel, Mazi Chris Oji, had commended Governor Orji for being the first governor in the South-East to reverse the non indigenes policy and recall those disengaged.

Oji also thanked the Governor over the role he played in the release of journalists kidnapped near Aba about 2 years ago.

Anglican Bishop of Enugu who is also the NUJ chaplain, Rt Rev Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma was the chairman of the occasion while Dr. Nnanyelugo Okoro of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka delivered a paper on “Journalists and Social Media: Challenges as Opportunities”.

Governor Orji Wins 2013 Businessday Good Governance Awards in Health and Security

The award winning Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, has added to his many laurels by winning this year's Businessday Good Governance Awards in Healthcare Development and Security.

Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir Emeka Ananaba, who led other top government officials to the awards ceremony which took place at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, received the two awards on behalf of Governor Theodore Orji.

While receiving the Buinessday Good Governance Awards won by Abia as best state in Healthcare Development and best state with most Improved Security in the country, Sir Ananaba said "if you come to Abia you will sleep with your two eyes closed," adding that "no other state in Nigeria should win the awards. If you come to Abia there is good health."

The colourful award ceremony was graced by governors of Osun, Rivers, Gombe and many prominent Nigerians.

Governor T.A.Orji Distributes 202 Cars to Beneficiaries of Abia State Youth Empowerment Programme

As part of his government's well thought policy to positively affect the lives of Abians, Governor Theodore Orji, on Friday, November 8, 2013 gave out 202 cars to beneficiaries of the state's Youth Empowerment Programme at the the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.

The people who received the cars are those whose names were listed in the 4th batch of the Abia Youth Empowerment Programme.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Affairs and Development, Prince Maduka Uwadi, said beneficiaries of the 5th batch would receive their own cars in December after the payment of Abia State Student bursary award as approved by Governor Orji.

According to Uwadi, the Abia State Youth Empowerment Programme will also move to Umuahia Township Stadium where Batch 6 would receive their vehicles.

Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Emma Nwabuko, who thoroughly scrutinized the lists of the beneficiaries before the handover proper, told journalists that Governor Orji's desire is to make sure that the youths in the state are empowered which he said would help improve the state's economy.

Some non-indigenes who stormed the venue also thanked Governor for approving the waiver on employment in the state which they said opened window of opportunities for them to

REACTIONS TRAIL MARKET’S RELOCATION
Guardian Saturday, 09 November 2013 20:56 Written by From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia ONE of the legacies that Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State will be remembered for is the relocation of three markets in Umuahia, the state capital, especially the main market, which was moved to Ubani Ibeku, some eight kilometers from Umuahia.
The new market, which sits on about 24 hectares of land along the Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Ohafia-Arochukwu federal road, has capacity for about 7,000 stores, in long blocks of buildings, beautifully roofed in red sheets.
Described as a modern market, it has facilities like schools, motor parks for commercial operators, and another park for traders and visitors. It also boasts of banks, fire station, security posts, hospital etc. It was designed to allow smooth passage of heavy vehicles, and its entry and exit roads are dualised.
A private housing estate is already being constructed, less than a kilometer from the market. And according to the government, it will be provided with necessities like water and electricity to boost commercial activities.
The governor said that the journey to the new Ubani Ibeku market site started in 1935 by the colonial government, but that it lacked the courage to relocate the market to Ubani Ibeku. He added that subsequent governments from the old Eastern Region to the old East Central State and old Imo State, and also those before his administration could not actualise the project.
The new market is part of Orji’s drive to decongest and beautify the capital.
Prior to this time, relocation from the city to the outskirts had been executed on markets that affected timber/building materials, artisans/motor parts and allied materials.
When the actual construction started, the government gave a time frame for completion and relocation of traders. In line with the fashion in which relocation was effected in other markets completed before Ubani Ibeku, a committee was set up to oversee affairs, including sale and allocation of shops to traders at government approved rates.
To get a shop allocation, an interested trader had to apply by purchasing a form that costs N20,000. An additional N100,000 is later paid following allocation. Each shop is priced between N400,000 and N500,000.
Traders who owned shops in the old market buy a new one at N400,000, while those who did not were to buy at N500,000. In each case, the allottee is allowed to pay installments of N100,000 per year, after which the shop becomes his or hers for life.
Relocation commenced after an October 23, 2013 deadline to the traders. Traders who were reluctant to move had little option. The memory of how bulldozers had moved in after the expiration of a deadline on the timber market and others was still fresh. A similar scenario is being re-enacted at the old Umuahia market.
The traders, however, are reacting differently to the development. Some have welcomed the new market, in principle, but are frowning at the short notice given for relocation. They are also lamenting the cost of the shops, describing it as too high. Others have commended the foresight of the government.
One Mr. Uche Nwafor was reported to have relocated to his village because he could not afford to buy a shop in the market. Some have equally expressed concern that the shops might have been designed only for rich traders.
There is, however, a section of the market termed, ‘free zone’, where persons who might not be able to afford a shop can use.
Chairman of the Traders Association, Mr, Onyebuchi Ejidike, had thanked the governor for developing the market he described as modern, urging traders to endure initial discomfort, and reiterating the governor’s pledged to address all issues arising.
It is noteworthy that banks are yet to open their branches at the new market, which incidentally is yet to be fenced. Some observers have faulted the government for not putting such feature in place before relocating the traders.
Water is yet to be provided in the market. A reason being adduced is that attempts to sink a water hole failed due to depth of the water level. As a result, plan is underway to sink a borehole at a neighbouring community and have the water reticulated to the market.
Towns around the market have, reportedly, welcomed the relocation of the commercial centre to the area.
Chief Chidiebere Nwoke of the state House of Assembly and native of Ubani, Emede Ibeku, congratulated the governor for bringing the market to its new site, saying the move would spur development in the community.
Similarly, chief Obi Aguocha, a community leader and President General of Okaiuga Nkwoegwu, one of Ubani Ibeku’s adjoining towns, welcomed the relocation, urging all the new market’s catchment communities to consider the move an opportunity to grow their economic potentials.
Aguocha, who is an Economist, said that markets, the world over, facilitate physical, economic, industrial and commercial development of the communities in which they are located, hence Ubani Ibeku communities would not be different.
He urged the communities to welcome investors heartily and not inflate the cost of lands and rent. According to him the hosts must not become just landlords but active players in the markets.
Already, the government has commissioned a bus service to and fro the market at a subsidised rate of N30 per drop. It is also widening the Umuahia-Uzuakoli road to facilitate traffic flow at peak periods.
Commenting on the take-off of the new market, the chairman of the Relocation Committee, Mr. Ebenezer Offor, said that his committee is happy with the way the traders were moving into the market and resuming trading. He disclosed that (at the time of reporting) about 5000 shops have been allocated without hitches.
“The traders are sending us messages of commendation and we are allocating spaces in the free zone to those petty traders that cannot afford shops. Things are moving on well. The governor is determined to provide all facilities to make the market not only conducive to trading but also digital in operation.
“Our challenge is water, and we have temporarily put in place overhead tanks and are now searching for a nearby community with closer water level where we can sink a borehole and from there pump and reticulate water to the market.”
He allayed fears that shops would soon become exhausted, stressing that the market has enough shops for all the traders that have paid and are planning to pay. He debunked insinuation that the exercise lacked transparency.
“We have observed that some applicants applied for allocations in the name of their children. A verification exercise will revel this.”
Already, demolition of structures in the old market is being carried out, round the clock.
The state government has refused to make public what it intends do with the old market site.

one thing that is pertinent is Abia is far better than what loafers make it,we know that those who pretend not to see the good work done by Abia state government are the indescribable fools who are either paid for by wimps whose intended plots are to bring the good name of Abia state down,but all is to no avail.The state government started off to a good start under the governance of T.A ORJI and everything has been proven to be going smooth.So all the negative assertion are annulled