₦airaland Forum

It is so sad that people judge the Governor's performances from a distance without even visiting Abia State to see for themselves what actually is the truth on ground. From where am standing and judging from the past Governments that has come and gone in Abia State, His Excellency Chief Dr. T. A. Orji (Ochendu Ibeku) has done marvelously well and better that any previous government with reasons. It is only left for any other incoming Government to improve on what he has already done. Today, Abia is the most secured State in Nigeria, there are new structures all over Abia. there is no way okorocha can be compare with T.A

We should not underestimate the importance of the work That T.A id doing .T.A has recorded enormous achievement,it is obvious and we know it....T.A is a governor but he is more like a father who listens to his people,he has been down to earth,loyal to the people of Abia state,we the people of Abia state are also loyal to him and have been loyal,working with him to help and encourage him in any way to move Abia state forward

when i see something appreciable ,i do appreciate it,and i think what i see as i speak is appreciable and am appreciating it ..its a good work by the state governor

Abia government inaugurates security committee


Abia state Government has inaugurated a 12-man Advisory Committee for the Abia Vigilante Group with a charge to ensure that the tempo of security in the state is sustained.

The committee has a retired police commissioner, Chief Udeka Onuoha as the chairman.

Inaugurating the committee, Governor, Chief Theodore Orji charged them to ensure that Abia State remained the safest state in the country.

Represented by the Secretary to the Abia State Government, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, Orji told the committee members that they were carefully selected because of the great importance the government attached to security.

The governor also charged the committee to ensure that members of the vigilante group were well disciplined so as to sustain the peace in the state.

According to the governor, the state was willing to maintain the present lead as one of the most peaceful and secured state in the country.

He, therefore, urged the committee members to be dedicated.

Governor Orji told the committee that its role was among other things, to monitor the wave of criminal activities in the state and provide effective means of control.

The committee has a two- year tenure but the state leader of vigilante group, who is also a member, has more than two years tenure.

However, he added that any member found wanting could be removed by two-third majority of the committee members.

Members of the committee are Chief Udeka Onuoha, Chairman, Mr. Martins Idika, the State Commander-General Abia Vigilante Group and Emeka Ekeke.

Other members of the committee drawn from other security organizations and market groups included Mr. Eleanya Okorojri, Dr. Okezie Agharaukwu, Friday Eze, Uzoma Onyenufo, Christopher Okoronkwo, Jones Onybuchi and Rev. Ernest Onyeukwu who will serve as the secretary.

In his response, Onuoha, on behalf of the committee, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in them and assured that members of the committee would do its best to ensure that the good security in the state was maintained.

Pity, Okorocha can’t govern Imo and is looking at Abia – Okpara

JAMES Okpara, is the Special Adviser to Abia State Governor on Public Relations. In this interview he responds to criticisms of poor performance leveled against Governor T.A Orji by some eminent Abia indigenes and the recent face-off between Abia and Imo States. Excerpts:

Are you saying that the allegations of non-performance are not true, because even most residents of the commercial city of Aba share the opinion that Ochendo has not delivered in Abia?

Ordinarily, you would expect that Chief Orji Kalu would keep quiet, but we have seen the contrary. The contribution of Orji Kalu to Abia State is a classic example of how to develop yourself, your family and cronies and impoverish the state. Under Orji Kalu, what existed was a culture of impunity never seen before in any part of the world.
Okpara

Okpara

There are reports of friction between Abia State and Imo State over the operations of their respective Transport companies. Does it mean that there can be no peace between the two sister states?

When you address somebody as Your Excellency, that means that there are certain norms and values that are mandatory for the person. You expect the person to have excellence in character, composure, comportment, behaviour, utterances, carriage, relationship, conduct, integrity and every other excellence that is attributable to a human being.

The position of a governor has grave responsibilities and if you used to be a serial and pathological liar, a person that does not honour agreements, a motor park tout with other disagreeable dispositions, you must stop it. The truth is that the people of Abia State and Imo State are one and the same. Nobody can separate them or make them fight each other.

Regrettably, the incumbent Governor of Imo State since assumption of office has been busy trying to stake embers of fire hatred between Imo State and Abia State. The sooner he realizes he can not succeed the better. As the late Bob Marley said, you can deceive some people some time, but you can not deceive all the people all the time.

Okorocha is a close personal friend and political associate of Orji Kalu. This is part of their grand scheme for one of them to contest the presidency in 2015. It is one thing to use falsehood and propaganda to win gubernatorial election. It is another thing to govern.

Gubernatorial election
Part of the false propaganda that was deployed in the 2011 gubernatorial election in Imo State was the allegation that the former Governor of Imo State was against a particular Church and that he ordered a priest to be beaten. The average Igbo person is very religious and because of the above, a good number of voters mobilized and voted against the former governor.

There is a lot of work to be done in Imo State and instead of minding his state, Governor Okorocha has been busy trying to foment trouble in Abia State. Owerri, the capital of Imo State is dirty and overflowing with refuse. The rancid smell of rotten and decaying refuse is everywhere. The rate of armed robbery and kidnapping in Imo State is uncountable and the man has no answers to these problems.

Civil Servants are always striking in Imo State, Infrastructure are dilapidated and instead of tackling the problems of Imo State he is busy funding miscreants to cause unrest in Abia State. There is a Radio Station in Aba that they established to spew out lies and falsehood everyday about the Government of Abia State with the aim of inciting Aba residents against their government.

On the transport issue, about three months ago, the Government of Imo State closed down the premises of Abia State Transport Network Limited in Owerri and stopped it from operating. The excuse was that the loading bay distorted the master plan for Owerri. Meanwhile, another transport Company called Peace Mass Transit which is in the same premises with Abia Line was not closed down.

The Government of Abia State wrote to the Government of Imo State to request that the premises be reopened and if that was not possible, that an alternative site be provided for us.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/pity-okorocha-cant-govern-imo-and-is-looking-at-abia-okpara/#sthash.4Co5LeWl.dpuf

2015 too far for OUK...

OUK does not need to wait till 2015 to say what he knows about TAO. OUK raped Abia\\\\\\\\s economy dry. Let OUK tell us the rationale behind splitting N50M cheques into ten in favor of INLAND BANK and JONES UDOGU.

Will OUK wait till 2015 to tell us why that Abia\\\\\\\\s (1999-2007) N500M was paid into SLOK account? .

Will OUK wait till 2015 to tell us what happened to Hon. Emeka Aboli the GM of his SLOK GROUP? Why did he replace him with Eme Igu? Who sent Eme Igu to kill Mike Ogbonna?

OUK, while you wait, know that IKUKU holds the four aces
May be OUK is still waiting for 2015...

We know Emeka Aboni
1. He was OUKs siphon pipe that lodged ABIAs N1B monthly to SLOK GROUP account broken down into drafts of N50M each by Jones Udogu

2. OUK made him a fugitive as he has remained in Gambia where he is d Manager of SLOK and cannot return to Nigeria.

3. EFCC was alerted by d surprise lodgment of N1B at a time into SLOK account by this Emeka Aboni.

FREEABIA urges OCHENDO to be a prosecution witness after 2015 to recover OUKs loot and secure OUKs imprisonment.

Coming next...
why OUK ordered the killing of Mike Ogbonna his personal aide of 17 years.

People can talk what ever they like,but Rochas started all this mess...he was the one who caused this mess...why would he just asked the Abia line network to vacate without any necessary measures for new provision for them.....

this is not abia's issue,it is Rochas who started it all,he should end it.....

Abia Engages Imo in Economic War, Shuts down ITC in Aba, Umuahia

The Abia State Government at the weekend hit back at the Imo State Government by banning the Imo Transport Company (ITC), from operating in any part of the state, in what appears to be the commencement of an economic face-off between the two sister states.

Imo State Government had in May ejected the Abia State government-owned Abia Line Network Company (ALNC), from its loading bay in Owerri, which forced the transport company to close shop as there was no alternative location provided by the host government.

But Abia State government finally invoked a tit-for-tat response as the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Cosmas Ndukwe, Sunday announced in a statement that the state government had shut down the loading bays operated by ITC in Aba and Umuahia with effect from July 6.

Ndukwe stated that the closure of ITC was “in response to the continued closure of Abia Line loading bay at Owerri without any recourse to the Abia State government”, adding that passionate appeals made to Imo State government to rescind its decision had fallen on deaf ears.

The statement further stated that security agencies were mandated to impound ITC buses found operating in any part of Abia State, including prosecuting the operator for “engaging in illegal loading bay anywhere in Abia State”.

To ensure total compliance, Abia State government warned landlords against making their properties available to serve as loading bay, saying any landlord found violating the order would lose the Certificate of Occupancy (CoU) of such property.

Abia State government had last Friday issued an ultimatum to its Imo State counterpart, saying it had till July 9, to provide ALNC an alternative loading bay in Owerri or risk the closure of ITC loading bays in the state.

In the ultimatum, which was signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state Governor, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, recalled that Abia people have been facing harrowing experience travelling from Owerri to Umuahia, since ALNC was shut down in May, hence the need for Imo State to rescind its decision and restore the operations of Abia Line.

However, Abia State government did not wait for the ultimatum to expire before clamping down on ITC.

THISDAY reliably gathered from a Government House source that there was no positive signal from the Imo State government, despite the fact that Abia Line had been out of business in Imo State since May, hence the state government had to back its words with action “to drive home its point”.

The General Manager of ALNC, Mr. Ugochkwu Uwaeke, had complained about the problems faced by the transport company in Imo State, when he told journalists in Umuahia, that Abia Line had been grounded in Owerri since May on the orders of Imo State government.

He claimed that Governor Roachas Okorocha had visited the loading bay of ALNC along Wetheral Road and ordered the transport company to close shop under the guise that he was restoring the aesthetic beauty of Owerri.

However, Uwaeke alleged that the political undertone behind the action of the state government became clear when other transport companies operating on the same Wetheral Road were allowed to be doing business.

He lamented that after ejecting ALNC from its operational base, the state government refused to provide alternative loading bay for the company, despite the formal request sent to the governor to provide company with a conducive place to do its business, which was ignored.

“Agents of the same government have frustrated every effort made by the company secure another loading bay within the Imo State capital.

“In Imo State, we (Abia Line) don’t have a single place to operate our business,” Uwaeke said, adding that Okorocha “should remember that Imo and Abia States are brothers. Abia State was carved from Imo State in 1991 and in asset sharing Abia Line got 40 per cent of the vehicles in the fleet of Imo Transport Company (ITC).

Uwaeke insisted that the closure of ALNC operations in the state was unwarranted as the company had never defaulted in fulfilling its levies on tax and environmental obligations to both Owerri Municipal Council and state government.

But in a swift reaction, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, denied that the action of the government was political, saying the directive did not affect Abia Line alone.

Offor said the sacking of ANLC was in lieu with Okorocha’s agenda of recovering the master plan of Owerri, which according to him, had been distorted.

“It is not a big issue; if he (Uwaeke) has any issue we will address it, he should do the right thing,” Offor, adding, “Imo and Abia are brothers but he should be warned to desist from making careless statements.”http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/abia-engages-imo-in-economic-war-shuts-down-itc-in-aba-umuahia/152717/

Cashless policy will attract more banks to Abia – Orji

Abia state governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has asserted that the cashless policy introduced by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will attract more viable banks into the state.

The governor stated this last weekend at Owerrinta, near Aba, while commissioning a new branch of a commercial bank. He said that due to the the security he maintains in the state, more banks were willing to come to the state.

Orji said the new bank would fill the gap left by the exit of other banks from Ngwa areas as a result of insecurity of the past, as well as help from the economy of the place and the state in general.

Earlier in his speech, the managing director of the new bank, an indigene of the state, Mazi Alex Oti described the new branch as the only bank branch in the entire Ngwaland, except in Aba areas following the exit of banks like the defunct Co-operative and Commerce Bank, National Bank, and others as a result of insecurity in the area.

According to Oti, the bank wants to impact on the people as the absence of a bank can stall an economy,adding that the branch of the bank will move farming in the area forward.

Abia: Umunneochi LG commend Governor Orji’s administration.

Some notable traditional rulers of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia state have commended the government of Chief Theodore Orji for his interest and contribution to the growth and development of the local government.

Aside the several road projects which he had executed in the local government, the administration of Governor Orji has given a large number of people from the area appointments, hence the need for the commendation, the royal fathers noted.

The nine traditional rulers, who spoke under the umbrella of Umunneochi Royal Fathers' Supreme Assembly, also commended the member representing the local government in the House of Assembly, Prince Ikedi Ezekwesiri for "quality representation" urging him to do more.

They however appealed for improved welfare of traditional rulers, stating that presently, traditional rulers receive poor attention.

According to them, besides being small, the stipend was not always regular, adding that traditional rulers are supposed to be paid welfare stipend by their various Local Government Councils.

The royal fathers who were at the House of Assembly to commend Ezekwesiri noted that what they called "paltry welfare package is what they receive" urging the state House of Assembly to ensure that the welfare of royal fathers in the state was improved on.

They on Prince Ikedi Ezekwesiri, representing the area in the House of Assembly, to see how he could compliment the little stipend they receive.

"We pray and demand that he takes the welfare of Umunneochi Traditional rulers seriously, to balance the effects of poor attention and paltry stipend paid to them at irregular times", the royal fathers said. They however commended him for his kind gestures to the less privileged in the area.

The visiting royal fathers thanked the law makers for his timely intervention when Umuaku/Mbala communities were hit by flood disaster, saying that the timely intervention of the law maker "ultimately saved lives and property in different communities affected by the flood.

They also lauded Ezekwesiri for "restoring hope to an ailing indigent old widow" by building a four room bungalow home for her at Leru Umuchieze, and noted that "the hitherto old haggard widow is today refreshed and happier".

Urging the law maker not to relent in his effort, the royal fathers also praised Governor Orji for "his unequalled regard, love and respect for Umunneochi people".

While responding, Ezekwesiri expressed his gratitude to the royal fathers for the visit and promised to do more by ensuring that the area is represented well.

Abia and the Internet Jobbers


Kingsley Emereuwa writes that no amount of cyber attacks would deter the administration of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State Abia State is unique in many senses. Apart from its pride of place as the number one state in alphabetical order among the comity of states in Nigeria, Abia is the only state that can, according to its indigenes, be sighted in the Holy Bible. Before the assumption of office of the present governor, Chief Theodore Orji, Abia was politically notorious. It was quite unfortunate that the otherwise peaceful state was caught in the web of political disagreement between then gladiators from the state and then federal government.

While the altercation and muscle-flexing lasted, the people of the state were no better for it as the situation then had made lucid the old adage that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Thus, as the imbroglio between the state and the powerful federal government lasted, Abia citizens both at home and abroad, suffered collateral damage in terms of self-advancement and political patronage.

How come each time Abia is in the news for the good or bad, it generates more than a passing interest? Why is the state always attracting interest from noisy busy-bodies who will always find out a bushy hair without noticing well-cut hair? During the menace of kidnapping, Abia was a feast for the commissioned agents.

As far as they were concerned, the governor was the cause of the incessant kidnap cases in the state. At the time of the total eradication of the vice, no one would commend the efforts made by the governor. But that was not all. Kidnapping started reigning in other places including the neighboring states to Abia. Quite unexpectedly, the media began to play down on it. Unlike Abia, kidnapping was no longer a front page story. Then, the issue of an ugly gang rape! Suddenly the governor's detractors went to town with the gist that the incident took place in Abia State University, Uturu. Hell was let loose. Commissioned hack writers stopped short of alleging that the governor was an accomplice. Nobody gave the security agents any chance. Not even highly placed individuals could exercise restraints in their comments, of course indicting the state.

These persons incensed Abia indigenes by the unsubstantiated allegation that the incident took place in the state. The Police issued a statement but Linda especially would have none of that. To them, the state government and officials were guilty as charged in their estimation. The University issued a statement, and that further exacerbated the gladiators.

Just when the attack dogs had satisfied their paymasters, the police unveiled the criminals behind the dastardly act. And to imagine that it actually took place in another state while enemies had feasted on Abia without any tangible proof to link such to Abia suggests an orchestrated scripted being acted out.

It is however surprising to behold that all those who hastily abused a state and its people for a crime they knew nothing about have not found honour anywhere to ask for forgiveness. The question now is: who dunno it?

One may not search for long to find the answer. The hand of Esau is felt, but the voice is unmistakably that of Jacob. The people are also aware. They are even wiser than their tormentors of yesterday think. The era of rice and tomato politics in exchange for the conscience and commonwealth of the masses in Abia has gone for good.

Head or tail, the litany of accomplishments by the governor of Abia has put his detractors to shame to the point that they now merely haul sand at his efforts. And to sing the requiem, many laurels have come from several local and global awarding-organisations which gave honour to whom it was due.

Today again, the Internet is replete with ubiquitous fora on Abia manipulated by jobless thespians attempting to force themselves into relevance. Some use theirs as tools for blackmail and campaign of calumny against a governor who has touched his people's lives. Can the poor farmer at Mbom Ibeku not forever remain grateful to the man who caused the first coal tar to his village?

What more will they say that will mean a thing to the villagers of Obikabia, Emede, Okagwe, Ndi-Oji Abam or Amaeke concerning Ochendo and expect it to bear fruit? None! As for his place in history? Ochendo certainly does not need the verdict of detractors nor praise-singers, but history. And with the monuments already in place, his enviable place in history is comfortably assured.source : http://m.allafrica.com/stories/201307031034.html/

who has seen something good and not appreciate it,the governor is doing a good job and we all are behind him....keep it up ochendo abia

@sobaemma, what do you think you are saying/ what do you think Imo governor is doing/ what has his wife done so far, do u not know that the governor's wife gave out vehicles to empower youths as well, especial young men who have been drivers of other people's vehicles, you guys are only here to rubbish characters but am sure you will not succeed.....does that look like a 500 hundred thousand naira worth of items..@sobaemma you must be a damned pessimist...frustration must be killing you

there is nothing like politics about this...even at that what is wrong, so you people should stop being pessimistic and face reality, people have been empowered that's all we know and all this critic is hype and defamation ....The wife of the governor has done something good ,and we like it, the beneficiaries are happy, they know what all those items mean to them ,so you guys should leave all this negative insinuations coming from your dirty hearts

This is a good initiative and i wish things like these will be carried out continually to empower most youths who can't afford luxurious education and others who have had various trainings but could not afford the money to buy the necessary tools to start on their own.In this way many youths will be empowered to start a life of their own given to the difficult times and other constraints we are facing in Nigeria these days...Kudos!

THE ANNIVERSAY CELEBRATION OF THE 2013 DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD

The 16th day of every June is a remarkable day in the life of every African child. It is a historical day for all Africans and lovers of African Children. That is why it was set aside by the African leaders and members of the African Union (A.U), as a special day for remembrance of African Children who were disfigured and butchered to death by minority apartheid Government in Soweto, South Africa – 1976. The theme for this year celebration is: Preventing Harmful Socio-cultural Practices against Children: Our Collective Responsibility. In Her speech explains that, this theme is very appropriate in view of the responsibilities of parents and caregivers in the training of our children to be patriots and worthy ambassador. Furthermore, it is a fact that the government of His Excellency, Sir Dr. T.A. Orji (OCHENDO) sees children as the future of all human society, that need to be nurtured and protected. This will enable them develop into responsible and productive adults, who will tomorrow assume leadership for the running of our society. Her Excellency, always lean on the words of Ephesians 6: 1—3 which says “children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” and obey in all things for it is pleasing unto the Lord. Let the words of the 5th commandment which says “obey thy father and mother, so that thy life will be long here on this earth which I have given thee”, Deuteronomy 5:16 be your watchword. Finally, the Ochendo administration has removed all bottlenecks that will hinder the smooth operations of the 5th Abia State Children’s Parliament. It has complied with the relevant provision of the child right act of 2003 for the interest of Abia Children.

By Ben Tellevision

The wife of the Abia state governor The wife of Abia State Governor, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji has called on philanthropists, wealthy individuals and corporate organizations to assist and support the Hannah May foundation in her laudable mission as she urged 850 beneficiaries of her distributed empowerment items to judiciously make use of the equipment or items to reduce poverty create employment and make wealth.

Pictures of the empowerment items distributed to various classes of people to Abia. 227 sewing machines, 198 generating sets,158 barbing kits, 94 hair dryers, 40 grinding machines, 32 desktop computer sets, 20 weaving machines and three vulcanizing machines, to 50 indigent women, widows, unemployed youths, and vulnerable groups from each of the 17 local governments at Umuahia Township stadium,

Abia Gov`s wife distributes 850 empowerment items.

By Ben Tellevision

The wife of the Abia state governor The wife of Abia State Governor, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji has called on philanthropists, wealthy individuals and corporate organizations to assist and support the Hannah May foundation in her laudable mission as she urged 850 beneficiaries of her distributed empowerment items to judiciously make use of the equipment or items to reduce poverty create employment and make wealth.

Pictures of the empowerment items distributed to various classes of people to Abia. 227 sewing machines, 198 generating sets,158 barbing kits, 94 hair dryers, 40 grinding machines, 32 desktop computer sets, 20 weaving machines and three vulcanizing machines, to 50 indigent women, widows, unemployed youths, and vulnerable groups from each of the 17 local governments at Umuahia Township stadium,

Orji and Abia Youth Empowerment Model

Recently, Abia State Governor, Theodore Ahamefule Orji, blazed the trail in youth empowerment when he organised Abia Youth Empowerment Summit. Here Dr. Eze chikamnayo, media consultants attest, is the fact that the governor is seriously fighting unemployment by devising economic schemes that will empower the youth of the State…

April 24, 2013, was like no other day in Umuahia, the very serene and rapidly developing capital of Abia State. For those who were witness to history, the city happily embraced thousands of Abia youths who had thronged the Michael Okpara Auditorium and the Umuahia Township Stadium for two epoch-making events. They had come from all the nooks and crannies of the state and beyond, to participate in the Abia Youth Empowerment Summit – an ingenious policy initiative aimed at uplifting young men and women in order to harness their creative potentials.

The spontaneous show of solidarity and appreciation for the driver of the event, Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji, was overwhelming. In their numbers and colours, thousands of youths cheered as he made for the podium in the company of Mallam Lamido Sanusi, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ), who had been billed to speak to the youths. From the visible excitement in their faces and the lyrics of the songs to which they freely gyrated, it was obvious that Ochendo, as Governor Orji is fondly called, has blazed a trail in transforming this unique strata of the Abia community.

Sanusi, ever engaging and never shy to address important subjects, did not disappoint as he made a meal of the instructive topic, “ Youth Empowerment as Panacea to Insecurity in Nigeria.” His appearance at the 1st Ochendo Annual Lecture Series, which was symbolically dedicated to the youths, was as pioneering as it was thought provoking. For the great gathering, the import of what transpired was not lost at all. If anything, the event established in very unmistakable terms that the future belonged to the youths and that Governor Orji is a leader imbued with foresight.

Indeed, the occasion served as a reminder to the fact that one of the greatest challenges confronting leadership, especially in emerging economies, is the task of harnessing the huge deposits of human capital. To state that this critical resource remains the most strategic of all factors of production is to repeat the obvious. Does elementary economics not teach that labour is the factor that bears the brunt of managing other elements in the production equation? And where else can we readily find a better stock of ‘Labour’ if not amongst this vibrant strata of our populace ?

Available data gleaned from reputable global agencies continue to support and lend credence to the above assertion. While this fact is held as correct, there is also a constant reminder that each economy remains unique in the shape and size of its demography. The matrix of this relationship is, perhaps, the reason some societies have been celebrated for the large number of youths that make up their population.

No doubt, a robust and youthful population is a huge asset waiting to be deployed for greater deliverables. And, this is where Africa nay, it’s components, is generally believed to hold a comparative advantage. Or, what would you make of an economy where nearly 45 percent of its ever-growing population is within the age bracket of 18-35 years? Now, you know why Africa would continue to remain a source of envy even though the industrialized economies continue to hold the levers of technology, dictate the pace of development, and largely determine what price to pay for what they lack.

Indeed, this is the crux of the matter. To argue that Africa’s rich endowments and poverty of ideas is a huge paradox would be an understatement. Her comparatively younger population, largely unskilled, illiterate, sick and malnourished has become a bomb waiting to explode. And, it may, indeed, explode if the growing class of emerging leaders insist on playing politics with the future of youths.

The intention of this piece, therefore, is to laud an exemplary policy initiative aimed at redirecting the course of development and hinging same on youth and people empowerment. First, while the Ochendo Annual Lecture Series is designed as a fertile ground for intellectual exchange, the Abia Youth Empowerment Summit, A- YES, organized in collaboration with the Ochendo Youth Foundation ( OYF ) is the vehicle through which the governor is systematically investing in the future of Abia State. This was why after the Lecture at the Auditorium everybody moved to the Umuahia Central Stadium where hundreds of free equipment for self reliance were distributed to young beneficiaries from across the state.

Governor Orji’s several interventionist programmes are the reason the state has now attained an enviable height in peace and security management. Put modestly, His Excellency has become a model of sort teaching the youths how to fish, rather than just feeding them with fish. He understands that if government do not keep young people busy in a responsible and productive manner, the devil will definitely keep them busy by diverting their capabilities to nefarious ventures. This is why the example amply set by Ochendo has made Abia State an oasis of peace and security and this should be emulated by all in the interest of posterity. By adopting a multi pronged approach wherein youth empowerment is infused into all sectoral plans of government, the Abia Governor has not only created innumerable jobs but also catalyzed a sustainable growth chain that will outlive his administration.

Central to the Abia youth development model is the aggressive pursuit of education-for-all policy. Under this scheme, education is being offered free to all Abia children up to secondary school level. This is in addition to the return of schools to their original owners and the total infrastructural overhaul of remaining public schools. This scheme is further complemented by scholarship grants which is enjoyed by students at both local and international universities as well as the regular retraining of well motivated teachers to cater for citizens who cannot afford to attend private schools. Thousands of young Abians are currently reaping from this novel initiative.

The state, in partnership with the CBN, has disbursed agricultural loans worth over a billion naira with special focus on areas that support young farmers. The Ochendo Liberation Farms which are located in the 17 local government areas of the state attest to this fact. Statistics show that over 20,000 youths are currently engaged in the return-to-land project involving the revitalization of many farm settlements and plantations across the state. The resuscitation of all the plantations in Abia State has created so many opportunities. Viable palm plantations, cocoa, rubber, plantain and most recently cassava is now found in the three senatorial districts.

The state is also aggressively pursuing the agriculture value-chain concept by introducing hybrid seedlings and developing processing factories which hold ample job opportunities for youths in the rural areas. The process of fertilizer distribution has been made less laborious for rural farmers with the youths being given free fertilizer allocations to encourage their involvement in this critical sector.

Self-employment is also being driven to the zenith by training and equipping youths with both financial support and the asset base that support the growth of their businesses. The car operators and other services is located within this sphere. For the first time in the history of Abia State, Governor Orji gave out over 200 brand new commercial vehicles free to young beneficiaries. This, in addition to easing the transportation challenges facing the state, has created a trickle down effect in the economy. The First Lady, Mrs. Odochi Orji, has complemented this initiative with her efforts focused on girl-child education and skill acquisition. Today in Abia, you can see proud young owners of fashion shops, hair dressing saloons, bakeries and other ancillary businesses feeding their aged parents and sustaining their families.

To further drive youth employment in the rural areas, the state recently met the partnership requirement to enable her participate in the Rural Access and Mobility Projects ( RAMP ). Under this initiative, over 500 kilometers of access roads is being tackled in rural Abia with multiplier effects on the agro-economy and youth employment. Indeed, nearly 7000 youths have been trained and absorbed in the direct labour scheme of the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission ( ASOPADEC ) and Abia Road Maintenance Agency (ABROMA ) These youth centered initiatives of Governor Theodore Orji has wiped off all manners of criminality in our rural areas.

Many more have become self – employed even in the urban areas. Specific mention must be be made of the biggest industrial market in Umuahia and Ohiya Artisans Village which have productively engaged over 5000 youths. These two specialized centers were specifically conceptualized by Ochendo to target the thousands of freed apprentices who roam the streets because they are unable to start their own business. Today, if you go to the industrial market and the artisan village, you will see proud young shop owners living their dreams as a result of the vision of Governor T. A Orji.

A lot more could be said but even ardent critics have come to acknowledge that Governor Orji’s response to governance is providing answers to the dilemma confronting his peers in the quest to strike a sustainable balance between resource and management. In Abia today, enterprising young people are gainfully engaged, the rate of crime is at its lowest ebb. There is security of lives and property and with the current revolution in infrastructural provision coupled with the conducive political environment, Abia State under Ochendo is witnessing unprecedented renaissance .

Any surprise then that accolades continue to trail his several engagements with Abia youths which has turned Abia from a pariah of sorts to a Mecca for major national events. In the last twelve months alone, NUJ, JAMB, NYSC, Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, Senate Press Corps and many other organizations have held their Annual retreats in Abia. These and more are golden testimonials to what can be achieved when a creative,committed leader like Governor T. A Orji is in the saddle. From kidnapping and other social vices , Abia Youths are now the fulcrum around which the new era of liberty and prosperity is hinged. For Ochendo, it is time to say a well deserved well done. source :http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/06/orji-and-abia-youth-empowerment-model/

‘Abia No Longer A Family Business’


After spending six years as governor of Abia State, Dr Theodore A. Orji has provision of security topmost on his list of achievements. The second, he tells CHRISTIAN OCHIAMA and PEMBI STEPHEN-DAVID in Abuja, is ‘liberation’ of the state from ‘bondage’

It is an era of mid-term assessments; you have less than two years to go. What would you consider your greatest achievement so far?

My achievements are all great. Which one will I begin with? I will say that the security of life and property which I brought to Abia is my greatest achievement. I say this because there was a time security in Abia was terrible. Remember when some of your colleagues were kidnapped in Abia State? But we fought against it to the extent that Abia is today very peaceful. If you start ranking states that are safe, Abia will be ranked among the first five, if not the first. Since we did that, other developmental programmes have started yielding dividends in the state. That is the greatest achievement because it’s security first; any other thing is secondary.

The other area in which I can say that we did very well is liberation of Abia...



Liberation from?

Abia was in bondage. By ‘bondage’, I mean that the former government held Abia State hostage. They personalised government. It became the government of one family, by one family, for one family, instead of government for all. This was the brand of government we met. It was no inclusive government. It got to an extent that even the major stakeholders in the state absconded to Abuja, Lagos… and those who were at home withdrew into their shells. That was the situation we met. But, today, all these aggrieved stakeholders are behind me as the governor of Abia State. If there is any function to be held in Abia now, just announce it and you will see all of them – from Lagos, Abuja and even outside the country – and we now seek their opinions regarding some issues. If I want to appoint commissioners now, these stakeholders can give me names and, from those names, I can choose those who are quality leaders and appoint them. Formerly, those who were commissioners were appointed from the bedroom. Someone would just sit there and write the names of people of no substance. I saw this happen in my first tenure: there were 17 of them on the list and I was told to just go and announce their names. I was not even given the credit as a governor to choose one person whom I deemed fit. If you look at the quality of the people whose names were there, you would be ashamed of yourself to go and introduce them to the public. A chairman’s highest education was Standard Six while others were okada riders. Stakeholders did not like it, because this is democracy – a government of the people, by the people and for the people -- and you have to involve them. Right now, we are running an inclusive government in which every person participates. That is a major achievement. These two things – security and freedom – are the greatest.



Will your successor also be free?

Of course, I have started it. When I leave office in 2015, the person who is coming after me will be undisturbed. Why should I disturb him? I will be an elder statesman, and if he does seek my advice I will give him. If he does not, disturbing him will be the last thing I will do.



This is your second term; ordinarily, you would have been a lame-duck governor. Is it the case presently?

No, I am in charge right now. Very much in charge, with the massive support of the people of Abia.



I was actually talking about being very active in infrastructure development and things like that: Abia State, for instance, does not have a Government House worthy of the name. What are you doing about these things?

There is a revolution in Abia State as far as infrastructure is concerned and that has come because we are no longer in bondage. There is a revolution in infrastructure and other things which you think a government can do. If you want, I will tell you the achievements we have recorded.



Go ahead please.

In terms of health, we have made tremendous effort because it is important for people. In Umuahia, we have built a specialist and diagnostic centre that was never there before. It is equipped with the best examination and diagnostic equipment. When you are examined and if it is something treatable at the centre, it will be treated. If not, referrals will be made overseas, if it cannot be managed in Nigeria. It is in Umuahia and it is also in Aba. We also have a dialysis centre; six dialysis machines are being installed to help the treatment of those with renal problems. The complex also houses an ophthalmology centre (for the eyes). If you move away from there, we have a specialist hospital for children. If you go there, the place has been renovated and more buildings constructed so much so that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) came to inspect the facilities and granted us the licence to accept interns. This means that young men and women from different schools can come for their internship. If we were not doing well, they would not give us that permit. On ground, we have 250 health centres spread all over the 17 local government areas and the 291 wards. They are functional and you are welcome to verify them any day.



And each has a doctor?

No, not all of them. But they have visiting doctors and lots of experienced nurses. This is because these health centres are deep in the village. The local government areas have 17 ambulances, in case of emergencies, to make the movement of sick people easier. We are building a 100-bed hospital in Arochukwu, in Umuahia (Amachara), within the teaching hospital, in Osisioma, in Obingwa, in Ugwunabor and in Okikpe (Ngwa East LGA).



And they will be completed in good time?

Of course, everything needed – the money, the men and the know-how – is there. So construction is going on at a very fast rate. These things are there for you to come and see. This is for health alone. Because of what we have done in the health sector, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) came and donated a chest specialist centre to us free of charge – it’s fully equipped. All these are for our people to enjoy the benefits of democracy, because if one is sick, one cannot enjoy democracy.

For electricity, we evacuated power from Orhia (a village close to Umuahia) from Umuahia, up to Obowu and Mbano in Imo State. We resolved that we’ll have 24-hour electricity in Umuahia and its suburbs. We are now extending it to other local government areas.

Aba is a special case: Geometric [Power Ltd] is there; soon it will be commissioned to supply power. The federal government is also putting finishing touches to its NIPP project in Alaoji. That, too, will soon be commissioned. So, when we finish these, there will be constant supply of power to Abia and environs, so that the factories can have some breathing space. Before now, it was only power-generating sets, and you know what it costs to use generators in running a factory. When there is power, they will produce more, expand and create more jobs.

For agriculture which produces food for us, we have what we call ‘Liberation farms’. These farms are located in the three senatorial districts of the state. These are places where our people will be helped to plant and care for some particular crops. An example is Ukwa West where we have plantain and banana plantations. In Abia Central, it is cocoa, while Abia North was selected for oil palm. The project in Ukwa (Abia South) has taken off and it employed 50 young people on the spot. They are on the farm and they are doing very well. In Abia Central, 35 people work on the farm. In the next three months, seedlings will be distributed to the people free of charge, just like we did with the cassava stems enriched with Vitamin A.

As for our rubber plantation that was dead, those of you from Abia know the place. We had to call in investors to come and revive the place. Now, they have employed 1,000 people in that place who are tapping the rubber. We are also good in oil palm production, you know that. We have a sprawling oil palm plantation in Ohambele, which was lying waste all along because investors had not come in and the government was not concerned about it. We brought foreigners who came into the place, cleaned it up and are now producing oil palm. They have improved the mills and are building more. They are all functional now. The federal government has chosen Abiriba as the site for the cassava processing plant which it plans to build.

As for cocoa, the best cocoa farmer in this country, Chief Onyewuaku, is from this state. He has won laurels everywhere. He won those awards because of his ingenuity in cocoa farming. This is a man who did not even go to school, but he has become wealthy from his cocoa farms everywhere. This is the same thing we want in cassava farming: encouraging our farmers through donation of input. And they are doing very well.

As for road construction, the roads we have constructed are very many. In Abia North, we are constructing roads in Arochukwu. There is another one from Isuikwuato to Afikpo, the Umuokereke-Ndioji road, the Ohafia road, the Abiriba-Uzoabam, the Umuaku road, and the Acha road. Almost all of them are completed.

If you come to Abia South, there are about 18 roads, all completed. If you go to Aba (I invite you to come and see for yourself) and behold the things we have done, you will be impressed. Now, there is no more noise-making in Aba because all the roads which had been abandoned for many years – the Azikiwe Road all the way to Amaogbonnaya, Milverton… Geometric Road, to facilitate entry into the new power facility.



Have the 17 local governments been assisting in any way?

Yes, of course. They are doing well at their level. Some of them are solely into youth empowerment, renovating schools and local government headquarters. If you see Umuahia local government secretariat, it looks like a university -- with very good buildings. The same applies to Umuahia South and other local governments.

We mandate the chairmen and tell them what they have to do within a given time, unlike before when they were a law unto themselves.

As for schools, we are doing marvellously well. Somehow, we are gifted with intelligence; if there is any competition in Nigeria, if we participate, one of the first three must be an Abian. An Abian made the best result in the John Hopkins University. We have been getting commendations for that. As for literacy in the South-east, we are No. 1. This is a federal government report. This is due to our effort.

We have built model schools in every senatorial zone within the state. There is no senatorial district without at least three of these model schools. You can compare pictures of the schools as they were before and that of the present time.



Those of us from Abia would have expected that, by now, we would have a befitting Government House; what are you doing about that? Secondly, what is the state of IGR (internally generated revenue)?

Concerning a ‘befitting Government House,’ I want you to note that I am not the first civilian governor. I am the third. Even the military occupied this place. When I go to other states and see their government houses, I cannot but feel bad about this one when I return. But I have decided to build a government house. If you come to Abia, you will see it. It will be ready before I leave in 2015.

Before now, we had no secretariat. Rather, the ministries were scattered all over the state (this one in Abiriba Street, the other one over there, and all that), but now we have renovated the old one to standard. We are building an international conference centre. The only hall we can boast of is the Michael Okpara Hall, which can barely take up to 500 guests, but this one we are building can house more than 5,000 people. It is so modern that when you see it you will marvel, because it has many offices for conferences, both above and underground.

Our courtrooms were once terrible: the judges operated under hardship. But now, if you step into them, you will see that we have built modern courtrooms and renovated the old ones in Aba and Umuahia. Since Abia was created, the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) had never had any new office. I went there and saw about 10 people in an office. If you had a visitor, the others had to give you space to discuss whatever it is you want to discuss. But we have built a standard office complex for them. The same thing applies to the agency which keeps Aba and Umuahia clean. They were staying in a rented apartment, but now they have an office which was commissioned by the speaker of the House of Representatives when he visited recently.

We are relocating the Main Market in Umuahia to another place. By September, they will have to move to the new site. The Timber Market in Umuahia has already been relocated and the old site is now the Ogwugwu Housing Estate. The spare-parts dealers who were occupying the central position in the market have been relocated to where they are presently operating. You can see that the whole place is expanding, not to talk of the housing estates which are springing up -- the housing estates in Ishieke, Amokwe, Umuahia, and the new one for civil servants which is Aso Estate.

Now, regarding the IGR: When I came to Abia, I had N200m a month. Today, I am happy to announce to you that we are making good progress -- almost reaching the ‘B…’ mark.



But you did not do this alone; what is the relationship between your government and investors?

The special centre I told you about for diagnostics is under a PPP scheme with foreign investors. It is working. Many times I have gone to talk to investors, and some of them have come for feasibility studies while others have come to settle. Let me also point out that the local investors have disappointed us. They may have done well somewhere else, but in Abia they have disappointed us.

You see the market we are building in Ubani began with local investors, but they disappointed; they could not keep up with their side of the agreement. The housing estate at Amokwe began with a local investor; we did everything, brought certificate of occupancy but, in the end, we did not see him. Government had to do it alone, just like we are doing with the market. With these disappointments, the government feels sceptical about the honesty of local investors. But the foreign investor has been busy -- even before the security situation was brought under control. Everyone ran away, but they remained day in, day out. Today, they are reaping the fruit of their labour. I have confidence in them, so they will run the dialysis centre for us (they brought in the equipment which are being fixed presently). We are also inviting them to come help us run the chest specialist clinic. That is our experience. It has worked for us, but not with local investors.



Today, we have a problem of youth unemployment; what is Abia doing in that regard?

We are doing well in that regard. From our experience during the kidnapping period, we discovered that the perpetrators were mainly youths. During the amnesty programme, we invited them and they came out. While I was talking with them within the chambers and asking them why they did the things they did, I looked at them and saw that these were young men who were less than 30 years of age. Some said they were jobless, others cited village and family problems. So, we decided that we could empower these young men and have some peace. We offered employment to 4,500 of them, placing them on salaries.



And they do no work?

Every month they come for their salary (N18, 200). But we decided that that would not do; we decided to put the skill acquisition centres commissioned by the First Lady into good use — by imparting skills on them and lauding the graduates. You see, any young person you give a vehicle as a means of livelihood will value it and never forget you in life. We started from the local government areas by distributing motorcycles, tricycles, computers, barbing equipment and others. We have done it for Osisioma, Aba North, Ohafia, and climaxed in Umuahia when we gave out 220 vehicles without conditions -- no conditions, no paybacks-- for transportation. They are mandated to use it for commercial purposes. They are so happy about it. If you go to Abia and see these youths, you can’t tell them anything bad about the government. By so doing, we have increased standard of living, elevated the people and enriched the state and its people.



After leaving office in 2015, what’s next?

2015 is still far, if you ask me. My priority is to complete these projects which are before me and, by so doing, write my name in gold. When 2015 comes, like every other problem, I will face it.
- See more at: http://leadership.ng/news/180613/abia-no-longer-family-business

Twisting the Facts on Abia...

Displeased with an article by Mr. Odimegwu Onwumere on the state of Abia State, a public policy analyst, Chinyemike Torti, craves objective analysis of the government of Governor Theodore Orji

For some time now, the pages of tabloids and online blogs have been sullied with materials from a self-acclaimed ‘poet’ and ‘author’ trying to defend the interest of an expired political lineage that ravaged and pillaged God’s own state for close to 11 years until the incumbent Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, liberated it from their grip.
At the drop of a hat, Mr. Odimegwu Onwumere, somersaults in the mud- waxing lyrical about the imagined virtues of his paymaster- the poster boy of toxic poison in the Nigerian politics.

His recent write up disparaging the administration of Orji, published in THISDAY of June 11, is one of the examples of his attempts to serve the interest of his paymaster and should be condemned by genuine stakeholders in the Abia project. However, this article is to situate the situation in Abia State in true perspective, free of misrepresentation and wishy-washy rhetoric.
In his piece, Onwumere struggled unsuccessfully to unleash fabrication on the magnitude and impact of Abia infrastructural development and dividends of democracy. He went further to conjure some phantom, beer parlour tales about a suffering citizenry, illegal taxes and fees paid by some school pupils in Umuocham Aba, unpaid salaries etc.
We, therefore, urge that all the spurious allegations about the governor should be consigned to the trash can.

The achievements of Orji, in all sectors of the Abia economy, are self-evident, to the critical mass of Ndi Abia. However, we make bold to invite third party, non-partisan members of the civil society
to an all expenses paid facility tour to verify the authenticity of projects already inaugurated and those in progress in agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, transport, security, energy etc.
Recall that the Minister of Information, Hon Labaran Maku, recently visited Abia on the good governance facility tour, wherein Abia was rated as a numero uno state.
The governor, as a loyal steward to Abians, has taken a holistic, pragmatic, integrated and all embracing development agenda, especially in the areas of infrastructure provision. All the federal roads that cross cut into the state, including township roads, are being worked on by contractors.

The magnitude of civil works currently going on at Aba is a clear manifestation of the governor’s determination to give Abia an entirely new face. Samplers: Ekeakpara road in Osisioma, Geometric Power Plant access road, Georges street, Milverton Avenue, SAMEK road, Dan Fodio road, Ukaegbu road, Azikiwe road, Ukwu Mango by Ariaria road, Express road, Aba-Owerri road, etc.
Outside the Aba inner city roads, we have Ogbor Hill-Omoba, Obikabia,Ohanku roads in Abia south, Ovim-Acha-Isiukwuato, Nunya, Eluama, Abiriba-Nkporo in Abia North and Amoba Nnono Oboro, dualisation of Ubakala-Old Umuahia road, Afugiri, Mbawsi Ntigha all in the Central zone.

All these roads were inaugurated in the presence of notable personalities and stakeholders like Eze Ikonne, Uwakwe Ukaegbu, and the Abia Polytechnic Rector, Elder Onukaogu. Alongside these roads are
drainages that will protect the roads from flooding and water logging.
Outside the feat in Aba, Orji is delivering a 10-kilometre road for every of the 17 local government areas in Abia. That translates to 170 kilometres of roads. Within a space of two years, 52
roads have been completed. And these are all verifiable.
The breathtaking transformation at Ogurube layout, in Umuaha- a hitherto barren and bushy terrain to a glitzy neighbourhood accommodating, the International Conference Centre; the new complex of the Abia House of Assembly; the new quarters for Commissioners; the 54 room BCA complex; the new Government House (landscaped for construction); ASUPA complex completed and inaugurated.

Still on infrastructure, the new Industrial Market Ahiake, was completed and inaugurated barely a fortnight ago, by the Speaker, House of Representative, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; the new Ultra –modern market, Ubani Ibeku, Umuahia is 70 per cent complete. The Aba High Court office complex and that of its opposite number in Umuahia is near completion.
Time and space constraints will not permit a full disclosure of all the dividends of democracy but it is important to mention that in the health sector, the governor has laid a solid template for sustainable growth.
For instance, government has collaborated with an Indian health company, MECURE in the building of global standard diagnostic centres in Aba and Umuahia. These facilities are configured with their overseas facility and surgical operations are done through satellite links.
With MECURE, there is no type of disease that cannot be diagnosed. All the expensive visits to England, U.S.A., India and China for medical treatments are over. Since the diagnostic centres commenced operation in the state, it has become a Mecca for medical tourism, as patients countrywide have been patronising the diagnostic centres for their various health challenges and have been pleased, with the quality of services received. Two hundred and fifty health centres have been built and inaugurated in all nooks and crannies of the state.

Just last week, the Amachara Umuahia Specialist Hospital diagnostic centre with a fully equipped chest clinic was inaugurated by the governor. Other sectors like housing show the Orji imprimatur, vide the Amokwe-Ugba housing Estate, completed and occupied.
Works-in-progress include NIPP housing estate, Ukwa east, SHOPRITE Shopping Mall at located at old Garki –Amuzukwu, modern library at Ogurube layout and modern abattoir at Umuobe-Ovom.
Agriculture has received a big boost through the multifarious regular training, seminars including field farmers’ course as well as providing extension services. Government through the Ministry of Agriculture
acquired 55 tractors that are deployed to farms in the state.

Orji has recently signed the Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) to grant Abia farmers access to the N1billion commercial agriculture loan. The hitherto moribund rubber estate at Ndi Oji Abam has been reactivated employing over 2500 youths.
Already, Abia palm and Nkporo Oil palm are firing on all four cylinders. In the same vein, a Malaysian company, M/S Sime Darby, has indicated its interest to invest about $4 million dollars. The Orji administration has also established mega farms tagged Liberation Farms across the 17 LGAs creating 4000 jobs.
Need we say more? Yes, Orji must be given a standing ovation for tackling the security situation that went haywire some years ago. Recall that, Abia not too long ago, was a byword for kidnapping, stagnation, confrontation and divisions along various ethnic dichotomies, youth restiveness, killings, thuggery and mayhem. That is now history. The Abia security template is being acknowledged and hailed nationally and worldwide.
Abia is today one of the safest states in the country. The nitty-gritty of the security architecture cannot be disclosed openly, but one of the essential ingredients of this formula is the youth empowerment schemes through sports and donation of vehicles and other self employment tools and equipment.

It boggles the mind that any reasonable person would pour cold water as Onwumere sought to do. It is only the pig-headed that will not appreciate the trickle down economic benefits of this
initiative. Who says graduates cannot drive taxis?
Today, PhD holders are tooling around, applying to drive Dangote cement trucks. Orji’s administration has gone beyond the call of duty, to restore the pristine value of education for which Abians were leading lights. He has robustly upgraded the quality of education by instituting and providing the necessary facilities.
Through the State Education Management Board and the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) government has built and equipped several classroom blocks as well as renovation of schools and colleges. Due to limited editorial space, an exhaustive resume is not possible. But be it as it may, it is on record that free tuition is the norm. Since 2008, over 1000 Abia students in tertiary institutions enjoy bursary awards.

With a good number enjoying scholarships, the hocus pocus about illegal levies and fees in Umuocham school is a product of his warped imagination. Orji as a consummate and thorough bred statesman has always extended an olive branch to and welcomed the opposition for an inclusive and anti-exclusionary ideal government that will move Abia forward.
According to the governor, everyone is welcomed; nothing is unimportant, and no one is insubstantial. The pivotal role of critics, pressure and interest groups is a magna carta enshrined in all constitutional democracies worldwide, as they enliven the market place of ideas, debates and well thought-out alternative policy options to governance.

Orji exhorts that our language of discourse should be bereft of verbiage, barefaced falsehood, puerile propaganda, unwholesome and inflammatory utterances, reminiscent of the bourbons that never seemed to learn from the lessons of history.
Problems that call for clear-headed and strategic thinking should not be reduced to a pedestrian level of discourse that could undermine the integrity and security of the state. Activists should elevate arguments to a moral high ground and not pettifogging issues like name-calling.

Torti is a management consultant and public policy analyst

Thisday

I just will always commend T.A ORJI for his effort,he is not like many who had big eye but could not see ,Leaders of pragmatic paralogism have exhibited a large extent of bogus showmanship..he has turn a lot around for good...

H.E. Chief Theodore Orji has sympathized with Nigerian students over the death of five executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji has sympathized with Nigerian students over the death of five executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) including the Senate President, Donald Onukaogu in a ghastly motor accident that occurred in Ikwuano, Abia State on their way to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The Governor who visited victims of the accident at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia where they were receiving treatment photo(2)described the incident as a calamity and sympathetic.
He cautioned drivers to be careful while on the wheels as well as to maintain a manageable speed, maintaining that many would not have died if they were not on high speed.
The Governor said the incident was disheartening as future leaders of the country have lost their lives through the accident.
Chief Orji used the forum to advise student leaders to embark on negotiation with the authorities before they resort to violence, saying that violence usually ends in catastrophe.
Earlier, while conducting the governor round the doctor on duty at the casualty ward, Dr Kalu said that the accident victims were and the dead were brought in in the morning and were said to have had a head on collision with a lorry at Ikwuano on their way to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

He said that apart from the dead, other victims were receiving treatment while some were in stable condition.
In his remark, the coordinator, Zone B of NANS, comrade Chinonso Obasi thanked the governor for sympathizing with them and pledged to be good ambassadors.

ABIA IS WORKING........see pictures below

Food security in Nigeria: The Abia state example
The Abia State government is set to develop agriculture through a Public Private Partnership initiative, that will boost palm oil production and other cash crops, PETER OKORE, in Umuahia, reports... It is often said that a country that cannot feed its citizens is not worthy of being called a nation. The relevance of this saying is important when one considers the quality of life of the people in the rural communities and the high cost of food prices in urban centers in the country. Nigeria’s agricultural production and food security policy is apparently not working, hence the high costs of food stuffs that are beyond the reach of the masses, and the hunger and poverty that afflict over 70 percent of the population which remains impoverished. However, as part of efforts to introduce its own ‘Food policy’, the Abia state government is doing a lot. To this effect, the government has set out, for its-self, the type of crops to grow at different locations, through the state Liberation Farm Scheme. To cap it all, the government has resolved to go back to the glorious days of the late Dr.Michael Okpara, former Premier of former Eastern Region of Nigeria, when agriculture was the mainstay of the economy.Gov 1 Agriculture sustained the economy of the administration of late Okpara. The region had oil palm and Rubber plantations, Cashew, rice, yams and other agricultural produce. It is a known fact that the oil palm industry suffered a severe set-back as a result of the Nigerian civil war. Virtually, all activities in that sector have been grounded. This is why the handing over of the Abia Oil Palm industry to Shanid investors is a very significant and bold move by the state government. For several years, private individuals have been harvesting fruits from these government-owned plantations in Abia state; selling them and appropriating government money. Worried by this development, precisely in April, this year, the Abia state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formally handing- over the management of the Abia Palm Plantation at Ohambele in Ukwa-East LGA to a private investor, called Shanid Palm, Limited. For a start, the company has employed 500 locals to work on the plantation. According to the Project manager, Mr. Reginald Okereke, because Abia state has the best soil texture for oil palm growth, Shanid became interested and has also taken over the Ozuitem plantation and the Nbawsi Oil Mill, respectively. He said the company has, so far, put in about N1billion and promised to introduce new technology and machines for the operation of the farm. It will be recalled that the agreement between Abia state government and former investors at the Ohambele Oil Palm Plantation was determined for poor performance and lack of trust. Agriculture sustained the economy of the administration of late Okpara. The region had oil palm and Rubber plantations, Cashew, rice, yams and other agricultural produce. It is a known fact that the oil palm industry suffered a severe set-back as a result of the Nigerian civil war. Virtually, all activities in that sector have been grounded. Sometime last year, history was also made in the Rubber industry ,when the Abia state government, under the Private Public Partnership initiative, entered into agreement with a private investor, IMONIYAME Holdings limited to manage the Abia state Rubber Plantations at Amaeke and Ndi-Oji Abam in Arochukwu local government area of the state. As at now, progress is being recorded there, in terms of employments and revenue generations as well as overall rehabilitation of the Estate and meeting up with the corporate and social responsibilities with the host communities. On the whole, these two developments(at Ohambele and Amaeke-Abam) are examples of promoting greater efficiency in the public sector, in collaboration with the community. And, as Governor Orji put it recently at Ohambele: “It is my resolve to keep doing everything possible to ensure that your (host communities) good intentions for donating your land for the palm plantation project are realised. This government is passionate and very committed to getting it right, this time around, in this new arrangement with Shanid Abia Palm LTD collaboration”. Indeed, with all the stakeholders collaborating to drive a project like the Oil Palm plantation in good faith, there is no reason why the state cannot out-shine the intentions of the investors for the benefit of all Abians. It is only a matter of determination, hard work, teamwork and trust to make it. The state is endowed with the right soil texture to grow a lot of these tropical foods and crops. There are lots of bountiful multiple- gains that abound in the oil palm development in Abia state. As a result of the gains of PPP-initiative in the state, It is expected that the Shanid Group-initiative will certainly generate the desired profits which will, in turn, assist in reducing poverty and empowering people from the catchment areas, through new job creation as well as delivering on other economic and social benefits needeGov 2d by the communities. The Liberation Farm pilot project, kicked-off at Okikpe in Ukwa-West LGA, with many hectares of plantain and cassava cultivation. The gesture will also be reciprocated in all the 17 LGA’s of Abia and each LGA is allowed to grow crops where its soil has comparative advantage. The Liberation Farm scheme now becomes the cardinal pilot project of the state Agricultural Transformation Agenda. According to the Agriculture Commissioner, Chief Ike Onyenweaku, the farms are targeted at creating over 1,000 direct jobs. Under the scheme, 50 youths from each LGA , have already been trained and empowered by government to start their own farms in their localities. As efforts to make agriculture the cardinal point of the economic revival of the state, the Abia state government is also in the process of privatising the state-owned Agbozu, Uzuakoli Cocoa Estate. In support of the Cassava value-chain transformation agenda of the Federal Government, Abia state has queued into the Cassava value-chain Transformation. Not only that, Abia State is also collaborating with the federal government to establish a modern Cassava Processing Plant, which is supported by a 6,000 hectare cassava farm. The state is also discussing with an America-based Industrial Development Group to establish a 120 tonnes per day cassava starch factory, according to the ministry in-charge. Still in the area of collaboration with the Federal Government in the Oil Palm sector, the state is raising 300,000 improved Oil Palm Seedlings to be distributed to private farmers to enable them develop their plantations. Responding on behalf of the Shanid Group, its Administrative Manager, Mr. Brian Downs expressed joy to the state government and host communities for their co-operation in reaching an agreement to hand-over the plantations to the company. He promised that soon, the Plantation would take its rightful place as a major revenue earner for Abia state. He said it gives them opportunity to work with the people and government, and promised that they will help to grow the communities as the company grows also. With that renewed assurance from the new investor, Governor Orji urged the new managers of the Abia Palm to bring in more modern machines for the plantations as well as establish oil mills at Ohambele, in view of the large expanse of the place. His words:”If you do not bring in such modern machines, it will take you time to cover the parcels of land the oil palm covers”. Governor Orji said: “We thought it wise that it is good for us to bring-in people who have the capacity and capability to manage it well for us and for themselves. Employment policy here is that the company will, first of all, recruit people from this locality before going anywhere else”. It therefore behoves on the communities to look after this business and regard it as their,if progress is to be made. All-in-all, it is the thinking of government and well meaning Abians are that when these agricultural projects come to fruition, it is only then that Abia state will bounce back to its glorious days of food sufficiency and agriculturally-driven development economy

Abia vigilante service arrests four robbery suspects in Aba

Operatives of Abia State Vigilante Service,AVS,have arrested four suspected armed robbers in Aba, the commercial city of the state.

The suspects were believed to be members of a notorious armed robbery gang terrorizing residents of Umungasi and Ossioma areas of the city.

The suspects, Kingsley Alozie, 26, Ifeanyi Elebeke, 27, Offia Ugorji, 24, and Ikenna Ikechukwu, 22, were arrested by the Ariaria Unit of Abia security outfit.

According to Mr. Martins Idika, the Commander-General of Abia State Vigilante Group, the suspects were arrested on May 31, at their hideout.

Idika said that they would be handed over to the police for further investigation in line with the law establishing the security outfit.

Idika also explained that the gang specialized in attacking their victims at late hours to rob them of their valuables and as well rape female victims caught during the operations.

“Following useful information on the activities of the group, members of Abia State Vigilante storm the hideout at Rigo Hotel, behind Umuehegbu Industrial Market Aba at about 2 am on May 31, 2013, and arrested the four suspects.

“My men also recovered several items including one digital camera; 50 inch plasma television; laptop computers; DVD writers; wrist watches; various types of GSM handsets; pairs of foreign shoes and clothes, among others”, Idika disclosed while parading the suspects.

According to Idika, the suspects have attacked several people within Aba Township. He said that members of the gang normally take off from Umuocham Road from the house of one Indian hemp dealer, Chinedu Kwekwe who is said to be at large.

The AVS boss warned criminal elements still in the state to leave Abia as his men were combat ready to tackle all forms of criminal activities.

Idika also advised parents to monitor the activities of their wards, saying that confessional statements made by most apprehended criminals in the recent times showed that bad company often exposed youth to crime.

DAILY POST NG

Orji stresses importance of youths to development

Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia said on Friday in Umuahia that his government was focusing on youth empowerment to use the enormous potential in them for development.

``These people you see here (youths), if you toy with them, you are toying with yourself because they will show you pepper, but if you galvanise and use them effectively, they will show that they have energy that is positive,'' he said.

Orji made the remarks when he presented a bus each to Abia chapter of National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and the Students’ Union Government of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, on Friday in Umuahia.

The governor, who made the presentation separately, added that the government was pleased with the exemplary conducts of the students of Abia Polytechnic.

The governor, who said the bus would enable the students to attend the programmes organised by other students’ groups, urged them to continue to support government policies and programmes.

In his speech, Chief Mba Ukariwo, the Chairman, Governing Council of Abia Polytechnic, thanked the governor for the gesture and assured him that the school would continue to support government's programmes.

Ukariwo said the management of the institution had tackled the problem of cultism, adding that staff and students now work in harmony.

Also speaking, Mr Chidebere Kanu, the state chairman of NYCN, said since the inauguration of the council by an Act of Parliament in 1964, Orgi's government was the first to accommodate the group.

Kanu thanked the governor for his youth empowerment scheme, especially the recent presentation of more than 200 vehicles to the youths and assured that they would make good use of the vehicles.

@ SouthEast,you are the miscreant in the making who would write rubbish,i know you are also the clone in Mensdept,the chief of negativity ..all of you are derogators,you can not do any better outside this forum....shameful things

@Meringe,you are talking cluelessly uselessly ,there is no truth about what you are saying ,when it comes to sanitation Abia state has tried to maintain healthy environment, and its only selfish business individuals in Aba that are trying to over work the environmental agencies in Abia state....regardless of that ,Abia state government has been on course to fast-track the developmental process by and large,so all these weak minds are trying to distract us from the truth....@Eko Atlantic,i support your last statement...Abia can grown crops ,no man is bound to monopoly of power.....so Abia can do better in agriculture because we have the technical know-how