₦airaland Forum

Abia govt to train 40,000 artisans

Forty thousand artisans and local entrepreneurs of Abia State origin are to be trained to perfect their skills in goods and craft productions that meet international standard.

The artisans who hitherto lacked capacity building and skills to deliver good production lines would be exposed to 40 different specialised, identified and commercially viable areas to produce products that could be exported abroad.

The artisans would be trained by international experts from the United States, Thailand, and South Africa and would be certificated by the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

This was made known at the recent South-East, South-South orientation programme for partners and stakeholders of the Global Export Market Access and Expo (GEMAEXPO) of the unifying Nigerian project in Umuahia.

At the flag off of the programme, the wife of the state governor, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji said GEMAEXPO would teach the young artisans and exporters modern dimension of international business transaction and to discover and understand the inherent opportunities in the global market and meet the expected standard therein.

Lady Orji said the programme was aimed at replicating the Asian Tigers economic ingenuity and foresight by galvanising the artisans to exploits and produce crafts that would compete favourably in any economy in order to accelerate our own economic development.

She commended the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji for making the state investors’ friendly, adding that some of the policies put in place and legacy projects going on are testimonies of the government commitment to restore the economic fortunes of Abia and for Aba to

regain its lost glory as the Japan of Africa.

Abia in a march of unimaginable Health Reformation


It has always been said that vision gives insight to mission. Seven years ago, a middle aged man of Amokwe Ugba descent of Ibeku Ancient Kingdom, then Chief of Staff of the government of the day, offered himself for the service of his people in the gubernatorial cadre. Strange as that was due to the fact that Civil Servants were not known to be too courageous in risking their achievements to the fluid political firmament, but something was certain about this new convert; he had a wealth of experience in the service of nation, state, and community. With introspection, what he lacked practically, he made up from in-depth study of peculiar situations and analytical biographies of successful men.

Today, Abia state has become a Mecca of sorts to multifarious medical pilgrims and missions, as would be illustrated below. One of the mission statements in his manifesto that medical care will become available, accessible and affordable from womb to old age has come to reality.

According to Professor A U Mbanaso, Personal physician to his Excellency and Medical Director of Abia Diagnostic Complex, the governor took an irrevocable decision in September 2007, few months after his inauguration as the third democratically elected Governor of Abia State. He decided to replicate what he saw at Howard University Teaching Hospital in United States of America, where all units of a medical facility were available in one location. This led to the partnership with Me-cure of India which started with the most up to date in diagnostic laboratory. Furthermore he unfolded his health master plan which has reengineered, reformed and rejuvenated the state of health in Abia.

The National policy on health domiciled the three facets of health with the different tiers of government in that the local governments are to focus on the Primary Health Care, Secondary Heath Care with the state governments and Tertiary to be handled by the federal government. Obvious imbalance in these arrangements have somewhat forced Abia state Government to dabble into the three to answer to the needs and yearnings of the people. For instance, Specialist Hospitals fall into the tertiary health care which normally should be left for the Federal Government but realizing that previously the only specialist Hospital for the South East was at UNTH Enugu, the distance and other logistic problems forced the state to invest heavily into the specialist hospitals.

Before 2007, dialysis machines were strange medical contraptions to the extent that if they were sent free of charge to most hospitals in Nigeria, people will push it aside as there were no skilled manpower and personnel to operate it. As it was, people in the South East who had renal ailments had to book for sessions in UNTH Enugu or travel abroad at huge cost for attention and comprehensive analysis. Abia Specialist and Diagnostic Complex has come of age operating in three locations. The Ochendo administration has acquired a total of seven dialysis machines. Among these seven machines, one serves as standby spare, another set aside for HIV patients, while Hepatitis sufferers have one to themselves. The remaining four are left for normal patients to avoid complications which may result from contamination of blood.

In addition, the Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Complex offers a high variety of health package never seen before involving Bio-Chemical and radiological diagnostic investigations. As it is well known and established, a good investigation leads to good diagnosis which will give grounds for accurate care or control as the case may be. These consist of mammography which can scan the female breast and detect cancer at the earliest stage. Computed Tomography, CT scan for short, is a medical technology that uses x-ray and computer to give three dimensional images of the human body. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), medical diagnostic technique that combines strong magnetic fields, radio waves, and computer technology to create images of the body using the principles of nuclear magnetic resonancefor total scanning. For the biological mentioned above, this concentrates on the hematological specimen, where one drop of blood can yield 1000 results. As hinted earlier, these are in the three centres of Ugba Health Centre, Aba Road and Amachara.

Amachara Specialist Hospital has proven to the be the luckiest of the three with seven new buildings to cater for different needs including an administrative block, resident doctor’s quarters, a modern chest center for TB patients. Exceptionally cheering is the accreditation to train house officers by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. There are other things too long to be enumerated.

On the Secondary Health Care category, plans have been transformed into action in rebuilding, refurbishing and restructuring our general Hospitals which in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, used to be the health rave of the Easterners. As this piece is being read, action is on in nine Local Government Areas spawning the ambitious project termed One Hundred (100) bed Hospitals in nine Local Government Areas carefully selected from the three Senatorial Zones which translate into 900 beds. These are in Arochukwu, Ohafia, Umuahia South, Okeikpe. Others are in Ikwuano, Aba North, Obi Ngwa, Ugwunagbo and Osisioma. Out of this lot, Obi Ngwa and Ikwuano are being raised from the scratch.

On a balanced scale, the Ochendo Health Vision has touched on all health departments. The former school of Hygiene which metamorphosed into school of health sciences, school of health technology may graduate to College of Health Tech with so many departments including the all important environmental studies. Students from this school are already enjoying all trappings as they subscribe to the NYSC.

The psychiatric nursing in Abia is in a new site with a laudable blueprint. Abia now is the envy of other states for having five schools of nursing and midwifery. Namely: Amachara, Umauhia, Abiriba, Aba and ABSUTH. If not for the embargo placed by the National Council, these schools would have been fully optimized.

Ochendo from inception as Governor took the Primary Health Care seriously intent on placing health care delivery at the doorsteps of Abians. Many may not know that we have a total of 710 PHC centers in Abia as they concentrate their statistics on the newly built ones by the present administration numbering over 250 and forgetting the abandoned and existing Health care centres which have now been upgraded, reconstructed and re-equipped. This means that the 184 electoral wards in Abia have 3 PHCs in the each electoral ward in Abia.

The Abia State University teaching Hospital is given all the leverages to triumph. There exists a management team to stop unnecessary interference and allow due process and accountability. At present it is imbued with modern Hi-tech appliances which places it as first among equals what with 3 dialysis machines, a ramp, and an elevator. There are four new blocks namely: The College of medicine block, maternal and child complex and the commodious admin block.

The ministry of health has an enviable accommodation in the state. Apart from being one of the few in the old secretariat, health workers have enjoyed all fringe benefits, including payments and emoluments with the additional CONHESS and CONMESS salary structures that are still strangers in most states of the federation.

On Tuesday, July 16, NANA, an international Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America paid a courtesy call on the Governor and explained their laudable project which entailed a medical mission involving a seminar with nurses and midwives and tours around Abia. They took time to inform on the killer nature of hypertension which could actually be controlled with drugs and constant monitoring. In affirmation that Abia has joined the world health reckoning of the 21th century, an analysis obtained from the diagnostic center at Amachara was used in United States by Mrs Pat Ukigwe, the leader of NANA, to proffer prescription for her mother. What more can we say or ask for?

With these massive health reforms on ground, there are no doubts that Chief T. A. Orji has achieved his dream which is to govern healthy people. Many whose dirges and obituaries would have been read and sung are living and walking about. Children are recovering, mothers are medicated and old people are cared, controlled and managed. Abia has become a medical Mecca with pilgrims streaming from neighbouring states like Ebonyi, Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, and Imo State.

On the economic scale, multi million naira has been saved on foreign exchange which has resulted in a reversal of capital flight. To ensure that these grand designs are not bastardized but made to serve future generations, an executive bill is on the floor of Abia House of Assembly to make health matters and all the installations to be backed up with an act of Parliament which would require a certain ratio of the house before amendments are made.

Ochendo has invested in the unimagined. He recently empanelled a 14man committee on drug abuse and control. Already drug addicts are being rehabilitated. According to Dr Okechukwu oga, immediate past commissioner for health, provision of Health Insurance Scheme for Abians is at an advanced stage. Worthy of mention are the collaborative activities of Her Excellency Lady Odochi Orji, the Woman of Valour who has consistently hosted Medical Missions in free scanning of breast for cancer and leading a strong advocacy against teen pregnancy among other things. This is no coincidence but the visionary plans of one man who dreamed and wished that all Abians will imbibe healthy alchemy from one chalice.

Supportive of these noble governmental efforts and the resultant achievements of Ochendo are some NGOs and foreign donor agencies who have become partners in progress. Among these are: WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, ROTARY INTERNATIONAL, Society for family Health, FHI 360- Family Health International who believe that health and housing are paramount. The NDDC has given needles and syringes and mosquito nets. Shell is helping with training 50 Abia Nurses; Chevron is building the chest Unit. Presently, there is an existing WHO grant for four years in eradication of Malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia. MTN Foundation has donated a mobile clinic and eye an centre.

It did not come as a surprise that Ochendo was on Friday, 19, 2013 honoured by The Nigerian Optometry Association as the Prime Ambassador of Health-care during their 37th annual conference in Abia. Without contradiction, the works on ground have filled up the check list.

Even Rome, one of the most beautiful cities of Europe was not built in a day. Abia is on a Health Hi-tech march and we say welcome to the Hon Minister for health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, who has been dispatched by the presidency to unveil the Diagnostic complex of Abia.

Abia state partners MTN Foundation on free eye care screening

‘Sight For All’ programme has kicked off in Abia state. This programme which is in partnership with MTN Nigeria and Abia State Government is geared towards screening and restoring eye sights to thousands of people through free treatment and surgical operations.

The government urges those who are in need of such service to visit the Abia State Women Development Centre in Umuahia, the state capital

T.A Orji has examined the backwardness and build up rot which ensues from improper handling of issues that could obviously be traced from the inventive period when Abia state was created . He is a leader that does strive for a balance on its success and continuity,attract development in its justifiable act of genuinely democratic-polity and systematic approach forming basis of a democratic reality.it is true that is widely believed that Abia state can be said to have had a dysfunctional domain of history of downsize performance coming way back as from the time of creation of Abia state. people cast aspersion ,its is an every day norm, and it is always said that Abia leaders, governors, present and past lack transparently most reliable structures, certain operative context and diplomats hinging on knowledge in all their varieties as their ultimate resources and have fallen below the immediate goal of democratization of the electoral process which contradicts what is been expected of them by their followers.

Aba, T.A Orji and the rest of us

“Aba residents themselves must be law abiding and disciplined.”

Aba! Our Aba. A town commercially and economically endowed that is likened as the Japan of Africa, whose residents could fabricate anything to mimic its originality.

Aba (the Enyimba City) is cosmopolitan, meaning that it harbours a mixture of ethnic groups; from Igbo the natives to Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, Efik, Ibibio, Kalabari, Opobo, Beni, Tiv, Idoma, Sierra Leonean, Ghanaian, Togolese, Beninaou, Cameroonian nationales etc. Aba attracts people of diverse ethnic groups and interests because of the burgeoning of trade and commerce there.

A typical day in this Enyimba city starts by 5 a.m. and terminates by 11 p.m. when most of the traders would have satisfied themselves of having made a good day. Aba, indeed, is a business delight. And this is where the problem comes.

Aba-Ngwa as it is often referred to is a city in a hurry; a city where liquid cash accompanying the merchandizing of goods and services flows with unrestrained gush, thus pushing this commercially-oriented city to the edge of assuming the toga of a land where only money speaks. But that is not the way it was in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Aba is one (if not the only) well designed city in West Africa. The colonial masters did a beautiful design on Aba; carving the roads and streets to suit a pattern of 10 houses compartment for a junction and constructed a well laid out sanitary lanes that separates one house from the other at both adjacent and at the rear.

Aba in the days of yore possessed some resemblance of cities in Europe as it was as organized as it was disciplined. Discipline was the core value then when hygiene was regarded as sacrosanct. Sanitary inspectors inspected not only the sanitary lanes but houses referred to as “Yards”. Indeed, the fear of sanitary inspectors then is the beginning of your escape from the wrath of law; and so every resident kept to the sanitation code of the then Aba County Council; cleaning the drainages and carting away wastes (refuse) to the designated points. No one dared to build structure on unauthorized place. Without a doubt, the giant drainage that runs through Old Court – School road to the Aba River was dreaded. No one dared to build structure on it. Then, Aba was sweet and habitable as its population density was low and manageable.

But things got out of hand when after the civil war; people of all hues displaced in their formal abodes as a result of the war made the town their new residence. Population increased geometrically and deterioration of the city started. Aba began to witness despicable defacing as structures were built on unauthorized places. The sanitary lanes were converted to shops, stalls and rooms to let, thus jettisoning the gradual developmental process the colonial masters had introduced.

By 1990s, Aba had deteriorated in physical outlay that it had become a huge jungle so to speak. Current of water that usually flowed freely in the drainages and terminated in the Aba River found their way on the roads and streets which helped in damaging them. The giant Aba drainage (the Aba big gutter) was converted to shops and stalls by rapacious individuals while the purpose it was supposed to serve was defeated. Aba became a flooded town and Ndiegoro emerged out of the process.

In this confusion, government after government abandoned their civic responsibility of restoring the city’s lost glory. In 2007, shortly after his swearing in, T.A Orji (Ochendo) carried out a major intervention in Aba that resulted in rehabilitating the Aba-Owerri road, Port Harcourt road and Ikot Ekpene road; the three major roads in this commercial city. Bent on putting Aba in the economic map of the world, T.A Orji began the rehabilitation of markets, pipe-borne water abandoned in the 1970s, and other roads in this city.

The roads that received his attention and got his Midas touch are Park, Pound, Azikiwe, Danfodio, Ulasi, Ngwa, Ama Ogbonna, Brass, York, Ube etc. But the floods have their toll on these roads.

It will be noted that no government since Abia was created in 1991 took it as a priority to embark on any damage control in the city. In fact, some of the regimes presiding Chief Orji’s administration, particularly the immediate past, encouraged the construction of market stalls in unauthorized places. It is appalling that the greatest critic of Ochendo’s administration is the very man that presided over a regime that saw to the monumental dilapidation of Aba.

Now, after the first attempt to recover the city through the reconstruction of some major roads, the Abia state governor has begun another massive programme on that. During his first tenure, Orji invited Aba City Fathers and landlords in his project of recovering Aba. This bilateral synergy became popular and led to the remodeling of some sections of the town.

But the indiscipline in the town became the bane of the developmental process in the city. Despite the several warnings that the drainages and sanitary lanes so blocked were the reasons of the continued flooding, the residents saw no sense in this well researched counsel as they continually build on the drainages with reckless abandon.

However, unlike other administration that ruled the state with deceit, lack of cognate planning and corruption, cheap propaganda, uncoordinated approach to administering of Abia etc, the T.A Orji’s administration began a sustained second phase of the recovering of Aba in his second term. This second phase has led to the rebuilding of 10 roads and later 16 roads as well as the clearing of the colossal refuse/heaps of rubbish in the commercial city. These roads include Azikiwe, Faulks, Osisioma, NIPP – Osisioma depot roads etc.

Such roads include the East Street, Old Express – Samec road, Ukwu Mango which connects the Ariaria axis of the Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway, Cemetery roads etc. Even as the reconstruction of the roads was going on, the administration saw it as a point of duty to build a pedestrian bridge at the Abia Polytechnic, Aba. It is worrisome that those sponsoring mischief and undue criticisms against the Orji administration were the very people that caused Aba’s decay which Ochendo is trying to clear. If they had lain the foundation for the recovering of Aba as Ochendo is doing now, Aba would have been a lot better.

But the T.A Orji administration is taking the recovery of this commercial town in strides; first the roads, the waste disposal and then the water provision. No administration, no matter how magical and richly endowed financially, would embark on any reconstruction of a city that is in ruins in one fell swoop. Even if the Abia administration would have loved to do so, the insufficient allocation from the federation account as well as the deficient internally generated revenue (IGR) would not allow it.

Consequently, it will be wrong for anyone to single out a particular road or roads as basis of judging the Ochendo’s administration in Abia state. If such roads, the enemies of government are banding about as dilapidated, have not been reconstructed, it is simply because the rehabilitation process is yet to get to them. Ngwa, Ohanku, Obohia et al roads are some of the roads that will soon benefit from subsequent phases.

As the government is rebuilding the roads and cleaning up Aba from wastes and rubbish heaps, so also the administration is embarking on the provision of portable water not only in Aba but the entire state. All these projects will materialize before the expiration of the tenure of the government. What is required is patience and cooperation of the people.

However, whatever the government of T.A Orji does in Aba could still be glossing the problem of the city because the poor financial status of the state will not allow it to carry out a marshal plan that will comprehensively suit such a mega city. In this instance, the federal government should take over or at least ensure the total recovery of Aba from social and economic decay which could lead to its collapse.

Aba is a major commercial town, like Onitsha, Kano and Lagos. If Aba is allowed to die because of neglect, a major component of the entity called Nigeria has died. It is in the public domain that Abia administration currently does not have the financial capacity and capability to rehabilitate the city. The government has done well in trying to recover Aba and also in arresting the ugly incident of kidnapping that made the residents to flee the city some time ago.

Certainly, the federal government’s involvement (or in collaboration with international agencies) would lead to a major redesigning of the town, dismantling and removal of obstructions like the stalls and shops built on drainages and in sanitary lanes. This approach should also involve experts that should drive the process. If possible, a marshal plan for Aba should be produced in this intervention process. This is what the fifth columnists and the armchair critics of T.A Orji should be advocating and not to misinform the public on the state of Aba with dubious and skewed pictures of different scenario of the town.

Aba residents themselves must be law abiding and disciplined. Lawlessness introduces anarchy which brings under development. No tangible recovering process can be achieved if the people continue to disobey the environmental and urban laws. In every organized city, it is said, the discipline of the system and of the people creates room for enhanced services, service delivery, security and progress. Indeed, there is no alternative to this maxim. For the Enyimba city to be recovered as the government of T.A Orji is proposing, people must work in liaison with the government.

Why Orji Uzor Kalu is Desperate -Senator Emma Nwaka, chairman of Abia State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)


What is the controversy between the Abia PDP Chapter, and the former governor of Abia state? What exactly is the problem?

Well, I do not see any controversy at all. The truth of the matter is that former governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu, is not a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of which I am the state chairman. I know that he made efforts but unfortunately for him, he met the very wrong people; people who have already resigned from the party, and they said they issued a card to him. It is unfortunate because I believe they have duped him. Who knows how much he gave to them because I just noticed some desperation on his part. And it makes you wonder why any person should be desperate. I have heard people talk about freedom of association, I begin to wonder whether we understand what it is all about. It is about two people. Or more than two people agreeing to come together. It is not about somebody from outside insisting you must be my wife, I must be your boyfriend, I must come into your house. It doesn’t work that way. You have to bring an application. I was in the church this morning, Roman Catholic Church, and after normal service, and it was time for holy sacrament, they said if you were not of Roman Catholic faith you could not partake of it. It is also like that in a political party because if you even go through a section of the constitution that talks about freedom of association, you will see clearly where it talked about political parties, where it said that even INEC can use conditions. So it is not a free party, it is not something you just walk in any how. Even the PDP makes it quite clear that at the ward level, you can be rejected. So it is not an automatic thing. We have to look at your antecedent, we have to find out whether your mind is with us because you are talking about a people who have a common agenda working together to actualize it. You are coming into our house, and already you are abusing the leader of the party who is the state governor. You said the party chairman can go to blazes. You call us all sorts of names you say you want to come and take over the party. Can’t you smell trouble? So if we don’t want such a person into our party, how can anybody blame us

It seems you don’t believe that the more the merrier

I have told you already. He wants to come back, and from outside, he is abusing everyone of us inside. The retired Generals in the party, the elders of the party-he is abusing every person, he is abusing the leader of the party. If you want to marry a wife and her first step is already abusing your mother, your father, you have to be careful; you can’t bring such a person into your house because that is disaster foretold. So if you can stop it, why not? We have this strong feeling that his PPA is still waxing strong, and that he is a member of PPA, and that all he wants to do is come and cause confusion in PDP and while we are struggling with that, they will then use their PPA to do whatsoever they want to do. So we are very conscious of that. The day he said he joined the PDP, the man who was there welcoming him, Sam Nkire, is the National Chairman of the PPA. So if you are coming into PDP, and you have chairman of your party (PPA) welcoming you into PDP, something is wrong. Can’t you see the contradiction? Can’t you see there is something awful he has in mind? At times he says he built this house, that is the PDP, for Christ sake, if you marry a woman, if you marry somebody, and somewhere along the line you separate, even when you come back there must be conditions. You don’t just come back, and say this is my wife. If you were a wife beater, if you don’t provide for your wife, if you did not do what you are supposed to do to consummate a marriage, for Christ’s sake, you don’t just walk back and say you are taking her back. We are talking about a political party, you see, PDP is a movement not just a political party. It is a movement and if it is moving and you stand in the way, it has a way of crushing you and moving on; not like PPA where a family calls the shot. No! Everybody in PDP is somebody. Everybody’s vote counts, and we consult, we reach consensus before we do anything in PDP. So a situation where you walk away and think you can just walk in like that, I mean, it doesn’t work.

Those that registered him, were members of your party?
Yes, they were; but they resigned. They went to the local government party chairman at Bende local government, that was on the 10th of January to say they were no more with the PDP. You know, God has His own way of doing things. At times, I hear people say it is not possible that the entire executive can resign. But they don’t know anything about mystery. For instance, when Abacha was alive, we had all the political parties in Nigeria saying he was their presidential candidate. What was wrong about that? Even in Abia state here, I had the Executive members of APGA declare for PDP. I received them here, the entire executive. Are they not coming from one party to another? So, if you decide you want to leave our party, there is free entry, there is free exit, we don’t have to question you why you are going, but the important thing is that they moved, and before moving, they returned party membership registers to Chief Ihendu who is Chairman of the party at Bende, Orji is from Bende. So they returned the registers to him. In fact I had the registers here, the day I addressed a press conference, I brought out the registers because after returning the registers to him, it was brought to me, and we searched and we didn’t see his name there. So if he is carrying our card, he is an imposter, we don’t know where he got the card from. If you are not in the register, you are not a member of our party. Assuming tomorrow we want to hold primary, and you just brandish a card, and say you are of the PDP, it is like INEC register, you may have a card, but during the voting time, they have to look through the register, if your name is not there, you cannot vote. They can even arrest you to find out how you got the card.

Why do you think he wants to come back to the party?
I am not a mind reader. What we know clearly is that he still belongs to PPA. And then, for us why we say no is that he is so abusive, even from outside. Every person knows he owns a newspaper, and you can see all the columnists in there falling over themselves just to support him as if I can just walk in and say I want to be made an Editor and I will be made an editor immediately. There are rules, there are things you have to do to become a member. If I quit as editor, I cannot walk in and force myself again on the publication.
It won’t work. That is the point I am making. You are coming from outside, but you keep abusing all of us, calling us rouges, all of us are not doing well-you are the only one. And we are talking about a political party. In fact one of his writers even wrote, and called him the Chief of Abia state. I hope God will forgive him.
Now, I hear three alleged reasons why he wants to come back to the PDP. Number one is that he wants to be a Senator, number two is that he wants to install a successor to the current governor in 2015. Number three is that he is desirous of a President of Igbo extraction.
Whatever his ambitions are, as far as we are concerned, we don’t care. He said he is a wonderful politician, he floated his PPA, so he can still use that platform to achieve whatever he wants to achieve. And you know he went on to establish what he calls Njiko Igbo and then said he is apolitical. It tells you something about his character-lack of consistency, running with the hare and chasing with the dog all at the same time. It is a huge problem. We don’t want such a person in our political party. And you know, it is not just people from other local governments, even from his local governments. I don’t know whether you saw the communiqué signed by everybody who is somebody from Bende that they do not want him in PDP. Are you going to impose yourself on us? And then if he wants to be President, he can still run from his party, afterall in 2011 he wanted to go to the Senate and he ran against Senator Uche Chukwumerije who beat him fair and square. So if he wants to be president, let him come from his party, PPA. If he wants to join the PDP, he has to convince us. But that is not even thinkable anymore because it is already engraved in the minds of the people that all he is coming to do in PDP is to cause trouble, and we don’t want trouble. When he was there piloting the affairs of PDP, PDP was divided. We had the Abuja politicians, and Umuahia politicians. But today, given the nature of Governor T.A Orji, having regard for every human being. Every person in the eyes of Governor T.A Orji is somebody. He gives you your due respect, that is why we have this harmony not just in the executive branch, but also in the party because he is the leader of the party. We have a situation where for you to become somebody, even vie for party office, you don’t give money to any person and that is the truth. And we don’t take you to any shrine. Let me tell you, this is a Christian state.
Were those things happening before?

Of course. I am sure you have heard about Okija. Those things were happening. And Abians have said, enough, no more. And there is this fear that given this antecedent, if Orji Uzor Kalu comes back there is the possibility of dragging us back, to Egypt. I tell you, if we make the mistake of bringing him back to PDP those who are our members, and even non-card carrying members of the society will run away from PDP. We don’t want that. We want to build PDP.
Are they afraid of him?

They are not afraid of him. They do not want anything to do with idolatory. That is the issue. Didn’t he run, didn’t he present a candidate for governorship in 2011? So no person is afraid of him. He knows. I heard him say that he brought me into PDP but what he forgot to tell them is that I was in the Senate when he was a member of House of Representatives. So who is leading who?

He reels out what he did for Governor T.A. Orji. Why does he not reel out what T.A. Orji did for him? He should tell the public what the governor did for him as INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Enugu. He should also tell the world why the EFCC detained T.A. Orji. Where did Governor T.A. Orji go wrong with him? Where? It is simple. The man refused to hand over Abia to him. Nothing more.

Now, one of the things he said in a recent interview with a national paper is that the former President, General Obasanjo did not want the present governor of Abia state to be governor. And that Obasanjo had called him to bring his younger brother who was in the House of Representatives to be the governor?

Now le me ask; if he decides to go to the new party, APC, doesn’t that pose a threat to the PDP in the state?
Talking about APC, I pity them. We are not against competition. Let them come let us compete. Not just talking about Abia state, I know that at the federal level, come 2015, PDP will retain power. You see, these people are like a house built on sandy foundation, it will soon collapse. Already, they have made it clear to us that they are not going to practice democracy in that party because already you know that Muhammed Buhari will be the presidential candidate. And then you know that Bola Tinubu will be his running mate then what is there for other people? All others will just be there to go and canonize them. When it comes to that, every person will begin to fight. So that party is not going to stand the test of time. I have forgotten who exactly, but a member of the so-called party I don’t know why I even call it party because they have not met the conditions for registration, a member of the party that may come to be said that some of them have plan B. that is exactly what I am telling you that it is going to collapse. And talking about not allowing any person to come, you know that they allowed ANPP reluctantly to be part of this proposed marriage. Buhari did not want them. Then talking of APGA, you know that our brother Rochas is just there on his own. PDP owns Imo state; we have majority of the people in the House of Assembly, don’t mind that they have to say they are APGA. At times, it is good so that you, don’t have anarchy. You know lets just continue. But whether he can bribe them into the so called mega party is another kettle of fish entirely. I don’t see him dragging them. In any case, people like Uche Ekwunife, Chris Anyanwu and the rest have said that they don’t know what he is talking about. So the thing will just collapse before it gets on. And I know that Orji Uzor Kalu would not want to be there. My advice to him is to continue with his PPA. Since he said that he is the be that all and end all in PDP, let him replicate it in PPA, and make it a strong national party. Why is he running back? Does it mean he can only build one house? Let him build another one and make it as beautiful as the other one. Particularly, he said he has all the connections, he has the resources, we are happy for him, but let him stay there and fight us, let him not come inside and start a fight. Because even in the constitution of the PDP, there are things you cannot do like criticize the party any how when we have channels. Even in a home; there is nothing strange about it, you don’t talk to your father any how. You don’t talk to your mother any how. You must talk to them respectfully. You don’t have to go and wash your dirty linen outside assuming you have any. That is the man you want us to admit into our party? No way!




I have heard some people talk about the APC and one of the Southeast governors. I have heard some people say that it is a total betrayal of the Igbo cause, a total betrayal of the symbol of APGA. The symbol of APGA, of course, we are talking about the late Ikemba.




Onyeaghala Nwannaya, you know that is their motto.




And that Ojukwu took APGA as an Igbo party, something for the kindreds. Even though some governors are of the PDP, they had the same cause, the same motive. Like in 2011, they decided that everybody would support the PDP presidential candidate that no true Igbo son should go to any other party. Now Imo state governor joining the APC, they think it is the total betrayal of the Igbo spirit. What is your opinion?




I don’t want to discuss Ojukwu and APGA or even Rochas. But I agree with you that this is a betrayal of the Igbo cause if what you want is to produce a president of Igbo extraction. Because as I told you, we already know the presidential candidate of APC is from the North, Buhari, and we know that the Vice President is coming from the South west, Bola Tinubu. Where does that leave the Igboman? No where! This our party, PDP belongs to Ndigbo.




Jonathan is Ijaw, but he is Igbo. He has shown it in different ways. Come back to look at it, look at the important positions we are holding under the PDP, Chief of Army Staff, until recently, Comptroller-General of Immigration, the Finance Minister, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Stock Exchange, you have AMCON, aviation Health, Stock Exchange, Due Process, Debt Management Office, DMO. Jonathan gave Ojukwu a state burial, a burial fit for a president. Before 2015, we’ll get the second Niger Bridge. He completed the Onitsha Dry Port. And still counting. The APC cannot give it to you. Whether it is Codein or APC. I don’t know, but they cannot give it to you. If they have stopped using codeine to cure malaria and all that, I don’t know why they are prescribing APC to us, APC is outdated also (laughter). We are moving forward not APC. PDP is the place to be for Igbo, for Nigeria. This is the longest period we have had democracy in Nigeria and that is under PDP. Occasionally, we have our misunderstanding, conflict is part of life. The important thing is your ability to overcome. PDP will overcome, it will overcome APC.




You continually said that the governor has been a PDP governor for just two years. But the argument has been that he has been a governor for six years.




You see when he was governor for first term, he was under PPA. And you know what it is like when your platform is privately owned. You will expect that most things will be done to feather the nest of the owners. But here in PDP, as I told you, it is like a PLC. Every person has an interest here. And then again, you are dealing with a man who, for the four years he was governor under the platform of the PPA, was always feeling so bad that he was not given a free hand to really deliver the dividends of democracy to Ndi Abia. So now that he is here, one thing we have all guaranteed him is peace of mind. And no person tells him to bring government resources so that a few will just sit down and share. We know that what will carry us to 2015, and give us victory, are the legacies he is leaving behind. And he is leaving so many of them. For him to have done in two years more than he did under PPA tells a lot of story. And just imagine he has two more years to go. I leave it to you to imagine what Abia will become by 2015. whether it is APC or Codeine or whatever, no party can take Abia away from the PDP. No party.

‘Made-in-Abia product exhibition’ elicits fresh confidence in locally made goods

Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, has one of the largest concentrations of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and a good number of them are engaged in leather works, steel fabrication and garment making. These have made the city very popular.

A survey carried out by the United Nations revealed that the Aba leather cluster consists of 11,000 enterprises with 23,000 employees and earns an annual turnover of $100 million.

The garment sector is estimated to have more than 20,000 artisans fully engaged in garment making and designs.

The role of micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) cannot be overemphasised given its relevance in resource mobilisation, utilisation and overall contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a nation.

It serves as the engine of economic growth and development, as it responds to the macro-economic problems militating against developing nations like Nigeria.

It is pertinent to note that the ‘Made-in-Abia Product Exhibition’ was a bold attempt to promote locally made goods by Abia people, within Abia environment, to accelerate the economic development of the state.

It was also unique because the initiative came from the office of the governor’s wife, Mercy Odochi Orji. The office made all the necessary connections to bring together committed and interested people from the public and the organised private sector under a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative.

Governor Theodore Orji was impressed with the project and strongly commended the initiative from Her Excellency’s Office in its entirety.

He was also full of praise for the public and the private sectors of the society that shared in the dream, by coming together to begin the process of taking Abia-made products to the next level and with renewed confidence.

According to the governor, “I find this exhibition very unique in another special way. It is a celebration of the famed ingenuity of our people, especially our local entrepreneurs, whose ‘can-do’ spirit and legendary quality goods were once celebrated and sold all over the world under false labels, even though they were indeed ‘Aba-made’ goods.

“Aba-made-products are Abia-made products, and these are still sold through-out the countries of West Africa and the world under false labels.

“It is time for Abians to reclaim the pride of their franchise. It is my belief that the project will provide ample and timely opportunity for Abians to become proud again to market their products as Abia-made products and flaunt their ingenuity.

“Through this medium, Abians will not only reclaim our rightful place as pioneers of the Nigerian and African economic revolutions, but will once more lay the solid foundation for the new and young industries that will spring up and grow in our urban and rural areas from accelerated demand and supply of Abia-made goods”.

Continuing, the governor said, “As part of our legacy projects, our government has been building new markets and renovating or relocating old ones for better positioning and for aesthetic values. These new markets are meant to offer veritable grounds for continuous exhibition and massive exchange of goods and services that promote Abia-made-products, which fame will certainly soar after this exhibition, and new wealth created in our state”.

The governor implored Abians to employ their energies, their ingenuity and business-acumen for productive competition, through creativity and not through dishonest or criminal activities to help in building a prosperous Abia of our dream.

“I assure Abians and especially our commercially-minded citizens that there is enough room for everyone to work hard in all sectors and with honesty, create the values that will make Abia products desirable and Abia State great.

“Our government will continue to ensure the maintenance of peace and security which we have now established in the state, so that the enabling environment for business, equitable politics and the good life which our people crave for and enjoy, will be firmly established in Abia State”, he said.

The core lesson to be learnt from the exhibition is the courage and resilience of one woman, and of several people that share the same dream to promote the identity and good quality of a proud people and a proud state.

It is a lesson in the belief that working together, ordinary people, the public and the private sector can make Abia work again.

Abia is known for hosting the highest number of small and medium scale industrialists in the country, however, majority of the industrialists operate in isolation, which prompted the government to use the exhibition to bring them to the limelight.

This is where Abia has comparative advantage over other states in the country. So, the government wants to stamp that superiority by exposing hidden treasures in the state.

Nine sectors participated in the exhibition. They are metal and machine fabrication, leather and allied products, garment, wood works and carpentry, food and beverages, hair stylists and cosmetologists, auto mechanics and chemical and allied sartorial group.

Majority of these industrialists lack exposure which is not good for their businesses and the government wants to expose them through this exhibition in order for them to attract patrons.



UGOCHUKWU EMEZUE

Emezue is the Chief Press Secretary to Abia State governor

H.E Chief T.A. Orji felicitates with Muslims in the State and beyond

H.E Chief T.A. Orji has felicitated with Muslims in the State and beyond as they mark Idel-fitri.

The Governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue while congratulating Muslim faithfuls for successfully completing the Ramadan fast urged them to use this period to reflect on the teachings of prophet Mohammed which centre on love, sacrifice and peace.
According to Chief Theodore Orji, what Nigeria needs now is peace and unity.

To achieve this, the Governor stressed that everyone, both Muslims and non muslims have to make a lot of sacrifice for the nation to witness development and progress.
Chief Theodore Orji also urged Muslims in the State to use this opportunity to pray for the leaders of this country at all levels.

Chief Orji however assured that his government will continue to provide security for indigenes and non indigenes in the State.
He wished the Muslim brothers happy sallah.

Abia-Imo face-off: Imo indigenes urge Governor Okorocha to make peace


AS the face-off between Abia and Imo state governments over relocation of their transport companies persists, indigenes of Imo state residing in Abia have called on their home governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha to make peace and ensure that the Abia State transport company
resumes operation in the state soon.

They lamented the hardship they were undergoing since the crisis, which led to the two states closing the loading bays of their transport companies in each of the state, began.

Imo indigenes in Abia who blamed Okorocha for stoking the crisis urged
him to reach out to Abia state Government to resolve the crisis
amicably and save the people from unnecessary hardship.

In a letter signed on behalf of the group by Chief Jonathan Ikoroha, they said the current crisis was “uncalled for and unwarranted” bearing in mind that Abia and Imo are sister states that should be working cordially.

Ikoroha said the letter was as a result of complaints from Imo indigenes in
the state over hardship they were passing through while traveling to either of the states as a result of the face off.

Ikoroha, who is the Acting Chairman of Aba North Council of Abia state
urged Okorocha and other South East governors to emulate Governor Orji
by appointing non-indigenes into serious positions as a way of
cementing the brotherly relationship instead of engaging in actions
that divide the states.

“Talking about Imo State, the current face-off instigated by the
authorities of that state was uncalled for, as it was unwarranted.

“What I am calling for, is that other governors in the South East should emulate Governor T. A. Orji by actively promoting national unity and integration in Nigeria. This is the only way our country can develop as one of the best nations on earth”, Ikoroha said. http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/07/16/abia-imo-face-off-imo-indigenes-urge-governor-okorocha-to-make-peace/

(Orji Urges Abians in China to be Good Ambassadors)

Abia governor, chief Theodore Orji has urged people of the state residing in China to be good ambassadors while in the Asian country. In a statement by the chief press secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue,the governor in a town hall meeting told them to be law abiding and shun the urge to push hard drugs.
According to chief Orji Abians are noted for intergrity, hardwork and excellence as such they should not do anything that would bring
shame to the state.
He pleaded with those of them who have factories in Gwanzo and other cities in China to replicate same in Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia.
He assured them of security back home even as he reeled out his numerous legacy projects that elicited thunderous applause.
Governor Orji said he will return to China in future to consolidate the new relationship being established during the visit.
Leaders of Abia progressive unions present lauded the governor for his achievements and promised to come home and invest.
Special Adviser on diaspora, chief Kingsley Megwara and chief Eleanya Okoroji accompanied the governor on
the visit to china

Why Critics Of Gov. T.A Orji Are Getting It Wrong – By Mecedonia Ezenwa

check this link ; http://247ureports.com/why-critics-of-gov-t-a-orji-are-getting-it-wrong/

Obi, Orji commend opening of Nigerian Consulate in Guangzhou, China

Gov. Peter Obi and his Abia State counterpart, Theodore Orji have commended the opening of Nigerian Consulate in Guangzhou, China, describing it as apt and strategic decision that would assist Nigerians living in that part of China, which, according to them, is where most Nigerians, especially the gregorian Igbos live and do business. They said this yesterday in Beijing while speaking to the press, during the meeting of Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan with the Nigerian community in China at the Embassy in Beijing as part of the President’s state visit to the country. Gov. Peter Obi was part of his delegation as well as Gov. Theodore Orji.

Gov. Obi who decried the number of our people running into trouble in China, called on them to be good Ambassadors of Nigeria and help in marketing the positive attributes of the country in line with President Jonathan’s vision of transforming the country, both economically and in value reorientation. He expressed optimism that the new Consulate will help Nigerians in China in many ways, including facilitating the movement of Chinese people who are interested in investing in Nigeria. Obi encouraged them to market Nigeria, including the South-East as investment destination, housing the biggest market in Nigeria and inhabited by highly entrepreneurial people.

Obi was joined by his Abia state counterpart in inviting our people in China to think home always by partnering with serious investors for the development of Nigeria, especially through foreign direct investment and the contributions of ideas for the development of the country.

In his own remarks, the leader of Anambra people in China, Mr. Anthony Okafor , who said he was in Anambra State a few weeks ago to make donation to the people affected by the last year flood disaster on behalf of Anambra people resident in China, said he was impressed by the development at home. He said that he had briefed the people of tremendous development taking place in all sectors: roads, health, education, industrialization, among others and that they now appreciate the need of assisting a Government that was focused on providing the needs of the people.

With both Governors for the trip are president General of South-East Traders, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo; his Vice, Chief Gozie Akudolu and President, Aba Chambers of Commerce, Chief Eleanya Okoroji. source :http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/07/12/obi-orji-commend-opening-of-nigerian-consulate-in-guangzhou-china/

FACT FINDING MISSION TO ABIA STATE ,DAY 3 PLUS RELOCATING OF TIMBER MARKET
Timber market was situated at heart of the town , it causes bad traffic hold up,become an eye sore for a state capital.

The siting of such market should be out of the heart of Town ,so that it will drag along development and decongest the town,that way development will spread far and wide .People will start buying off lands closer to the market for expansion,people will feel better going to a spacious place to offload logs of woods,the saw dust and splinters will no longer fly all around the residential houses.
The fear of fire out break which will be aided greatly by the Timber logs and saw dust will be reduced.click for amazing pictures :http://southeastnewsonline..com/2013/07/fact-finding-mission-to-abia-state-day.html?spref=fb

Abia health sector scores another first in South-East Nigeria


Abia dialysis machine 1The entire people of Abia are elated as all is now set for the state government to score another first with the commissioning of the First Dialysis Centre in South East zone of the country.

The centre which is at the Abia Specialist and Diagnostic Centre Umuahia came into being following the acquisition of the defunct Alaoma Hospital on Aba road through private-public partnership.

It was constructed by international health and specialist group, MECURE of India. Not many believed that the project will come to fruition so soon considering the bitter experiences of private-public partnership projects which in some cases are crisis-ridden, leading to their termination or complete abandonment.

But the Abia Dialysis Centre was different because of the commitment, sincerity and trans-parency on the part of the parties involved, the state government and Mecure International.

The centre, part of the numerous completed and ongoing projects embarked upon by the present government, has been described as a revolution of the health sector, a sector that has been neglected for years, forcing indigenes or residents to seek medicare outside the state.

Announcing the planned commission of the centre recently, after inspecting the equipment installed there, the state governor, Theodore Orji, happily said that all the facilities needed for the take-off of the centre are ready, adding that government is waiting for the technical partners from India who will man the machines.

Abia dialysis machine 2The state government has also concluded plans on how indigenous health professionals will be trained to work there. With the take-off of the centre, it is obvious that the centre will bring succour to many people suffering from renal problem as they do not need to travel far or outside the country or spend so much money on dialysis, pending when their renal problem will be tackled.

Another good thing about the centre is that majority of doctors and nurses who will be in-charge are Nigerians to be trained for that purpose. There are also enough machines for dialysis to meet the need of patients, unlike the case in several public hospitals. No wonder the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN recently approved the centre for medical students’ internship.

Since 2007, the Chief Orji-led government has recorded giant strides in the area of health care delivery in Abia State. So far, the government has equipped and upgraded one hospital in each of the three senatorial zones of the state into a referral hospital for specialist treatment and diagnosis.

It has also undertaken a massive re-equipping and modernisation of the Amachara General Hospital as the pilot hospital for Abia Central Senatorial Zone and the Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba to serve the people of Abia South Senatorial zone, while the Umunnato General Hospital is to serve as the Specialist Hospital for the Abia North Senatorial Zone.

In the rural areas, the state government is complementing the Federal Government to ensure the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals by building and equipping 250 health centres in various villages in the state. The government has distributed ambulances to 10 local government areas in Abia State to aid in conveying pregnant rural women to the nearest hospital to guarantee safe delivery.

The aim of the government is to ensure that every political ward in the state has a health centre to attend to patients. The government also employed health professionals to manage the hospitals.

As parts of its effort to provide qualitative healthcare to the people, it has embarked on the construction of an auditorium at the specialist hospital Abayi, Aba for student doctors.

The government has continued to meet its counterpart obligation to partner agencies such as WHO, UNICEF and has continued to support the Ministry of Health in its campaigns and other activities aimed at keeping Abia state polio free. In addition, it has also undertaken massive refurbishing and expansion works at the School of Health Technology, Aba, the School of Nursing, Umuahia and the Uzuakoli Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre.

With the completion of Centre, the present government in the state has set another pace in the health care delivery in the country. A rare feat other state governments might soon aspire to achieve, because the Dialysis Centre on taking off might witness beehive of activities especially from patients from southeast zone.

Romanus Uwa, a medical doctor, wrote from Aba, Abia State

H.E. T.A. Orji declared Abia State a virgin market for foreign investments.

Governor Theodore Orji who is in China with President Jonathan on a business investment summit has assured foreign investors of adequate security as he wooed them to come and invest in the State.
In a statement by the CPS Ugo Emezue, Governor T.A. Orji who hosted a group of private investors in Beijing mainimage.jpegtained that Abia is one of the safest States in Nigeria as security is being maintained round the clock. Chief T.A. Orji declared without equivocation that Abia is a virgin market for foreign investments in various sectors like Oil and Gas, Housing, Education, Agriculture, Transportation, Commerce and Industry, Health, and Tourism. Chief T.A. Orji stated that the improved security and infrastructure, tax breaks were among incentives for prospective investors. The Abia helmsman stated that the agility of the States work force and her cordial relationship with foreigners were other benefits of investing in Abia.
Speaking further the Governor hinted that the State has recorded great mile stone in the health sector with the establishment of a world class diagnostic centre in umuahia Abia state.
Umuahia and Aba which is a product of partnership with a foreign investor. The Governor stated shortly before leaving for China with the President, he inspected some opthalmology equipment in Lagos State owned by MECURE, an indian firm. According to him, the State Government having established a Dialysis Centre , is set to build a world class ophthalmology Centre in Umuahia . Chief T.A. Orji said that Abia is a land of opportunities, urging the investors to come in without delay. The Governor will also interact with Abians in China before returning home with Mr President…..Ugo Emezue CPS

ROCHAS WAS THE BAD BRAIN BEHIND THIS CONTROVERSY...HE VACATED ABIA LINE WITHOUT PROVIDING ANOTHER LOCATION FOR THEM,ITS TOTALLY UNACCEPTED,SUCH ACT DOES NOT REVEAL NOTHING TO BE RECKON WITH... AM STRONGLY AGAINST SUCH ACT

Plzz Okorocha should follow due process!! We'r in Democratic dispenzation, freedom of speech should b maintained! No 1 is Above correction and no 1 is above Human nature! They has been existin there for year b4 this adminitration, if they don't want them to b there, yes they(state govmnt) should find a better place for them! Dat is what we called ''the benefit of Democracy'' we'r not in military regime dat u wil just wake up and do wat ever u like. Ndewo nuooo!

Youth empowerment is the road to peace in Abia – Gov Orji.

Abia State Governor The odore Orji, in this interview, speaks on his government’s youth empowerment programme, the merger by the opposition parties, Federal Government’s amnesty to Boko Haram among other issues. Excerpt:

What is driving the Abia State Youth Empowerment Summit initiative that will hold shortly?

What actually is driving the Abia Youth Empowerment Summit (A-YES) initiative is that we realised the potency and potentials of the youths, they can be an asset and they can also be destructive if you do not manage them well. And that is why we decided to galvanise the youth energy, to empower them so that they will be very useful and helpful to the society. What gave us this experience was the kidnapping issue.

During the trying times of kidnapping, we did amnesty and we discussed with the kidnappers one-on-one and were discovered that all of them were youths, very young people and most of them told us their grievances. Some of them said it was because of lack of job, some mentioned family problems, some mentioned other problems. theodore-orji

So we got this idea that if you can get the youths together, particularly, those who are not doing anything and empower them, even if you cannot give them jobs because it is not easy to give all of them government jobs, you can at least give them skills, you can give them implements with which they can feed or fend for themselves. It was this encounter I would say increased my passion to take care of the youths, to make them to be useful to the society and to help us also to maintain the needed security and peace.

The state is set for the youth summit. What is the expectation?
This is a follow up to the other ones that we have been doing. We have carried out this initiative at Ohafia, Abia North, we have done it in Osisioma, Abia South, we now want to do it in Umuahia, Abia Central. So we want to go round the senatorial zones, then we start going town by town. We have experimented with those zones and have seen that it is very helpful. Now if you give an unemployed youth a brand new car, which is part of the things we give, the person can feed himself and his family with such empowement if he is resourceful.

We give them tricycles and they can feed themselves with it; if you give them training in skills acquisition, they can fend for themselves; if we send them to the liberation farms that we are doing, the best will come because they will produce food, feed us and feed themselves and will be in a position also to establish their own farms. I know that a docile youth is very restive, but if they are occupied meaningfully, they will be beneficial not only to Abia State but the society.

What are the sectors or areas that you have touched at the moment or would want to cover over time?
I am covering the transport sector, agricultural sector, technical aspect sector, education as well as the commerce sector. These are the areas we are covering at the moment, but we intend to expand the scope. We focus mainly where the youths are mostly needed. In the education sector, we provide scholarships.

During your recent visit to the US, you delivered a paper in John Hopkins University on governors and their functions and our federation? What was your position?

Yes, I delivered the paper in John Hopkins university which is a top range university. They invited me, I didn’t canvass for it. I didn’t choose the topic, they gave me the topic on good governance. I used that unique opportunity also to woo investors to come and for sure the lecture was a window opened for most investors that were present. We talked about good governance, functions of governors and I gave a detailed account of functions of the governors, drawing from the constitution.

Looking from the prism of what you have been able to achieve so far, what do you consider your greatest achievements?

My achievements are numerous and I don’t know where to start or end, but the major one which I continue to tell people was my ability to liberate Abians, to express their opinions and be participants in their government. Secondly, I have been able to bring peace in Abia.

It is no longer news that before now the people were polarised, many were living in Abuja and refused to come back, those living in Lagos refused to come back and these were prominent people in the state, stakeholders, those who were founders of this state, some who founded the state and are old and could not travel outside were made to stay in their homes without coming out but right now, I have been able to bring all of them together as one family. When we do this youth empowerment, you will see the calibre of people that will come. There is optimism in the air about the All Progressive Congress (APC) merger and even in Abia state the opposition say they will floor the PDP through the APC platform. How possble?

How are they going to dislodge the PDP? This is politics, people have to make noise, people have to market themselves, whether they are good or bad, you will say you are the best. These comments are all about politics but what I will tell you is that PDP is a very strong party. It is because they are afraid of the PDP, that is why they are ganging up. It is not easy to dislodge PDP.

PDP is a very strong party that grows stronger and stronger on daily basis. All the experiences of these merger people will be behaving, PDP has had it and is overcoming all of them and is going to the next level. So we in the PDP are not pertubed and in Abia State, what can the APC or the opposition do? We have 24 house of assembly members and there is no other party that won any seat, so tell me are they going to do magic in 2015?
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/youth-empowerment-is-the-road-to-peace-in-abia-gov-orji/#sthash.OdA8iqY1.dpuf

@slim you are not any better and leaving the world for you to lead on,you will be a total failure so cut the crap...the governor's wife has been helpful to as many who benefited

I can see people with different views, but generally there is quite a good impression she has made from the start...she has been generous, not many governors wives will do half of what she has done and that a fact...we all know it...so coming out here to say craps and vomit rubbish from their mouths.....T.A's wife did something good and it will help the beneficiaries to grow.. many of those beneficiaries have had trainings years back without having money to establish their own business and workshop,but with this initiative they can do a lot more....so let us support this initiative and appreciate it more rather than talking down on it...@ slimfit, you are just being hateful ,you are not any better..so go and hug transformer ....or better still jump into mainland bridge

I can see people with different views, but generally there is quite a good impression she has made from the start...she has been generous, not many governors wives will do half of what she has done and that a fact...we all know it...so coming out here to say craps and vomit rubbish from their mouths.....T.A's wife did something good and it will help the beneficiaries to grow.. many of those beneficiaries have had trainings years back without having money to establish their own business and workshop,but with this initiative they can do a lot more....

i think the wife of the governor has done some good job in that regard..she has been showing the spirit of motherhood..keep it up

IGBO-SON AND CO,YOU ARE FAILURES,THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN POST OR SAY THAT WOULD MAKE ANY SENSE IN AS MUCH AS WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE,YOU ARE HERE TO DEFAME A STATE OF ABIA,BUT WE KNOW WITH THE LEVEL OF PROGRESS IN ABIA THERE IS NO MISGIVEN ABOUT THE SUCCESS AND TRANSFORMATION THAT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED ,SO GO AND DIE WITH DEEPENED SCHIZOPHRENIA...

The administration of T.A has brought smiles in the face of many Abians and am we are so proud of what we are seeing ,his performances are not discouraging ,T.A has been up and running with projects,legacy projects that will speak for him over time,so we are greatly privileged to have got him...Orji Uzor Kalu was on the same seat for 8 years without achieving any thing concrete...so you guys should shut up.....

Governor Orji determined to provide consistent healthcare in Abia

Governor Orji determined to provide consistent healthcare in Abia Abia state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji said yesterday that he had declared total war on sickness in the state. This, according to him was the reason his administration has placed priority attention in the health sector. The Governor said this at Amachara Specialist Hospital, Umuahia while commissioning a Chest Clinic donated to the state by Chevron. The Chest Clinic was built by Chevron under Agbami Partnership. Orji explained that he paced priority on health because “it is a healthy person that enjoys democracy dividends”. Governor Orji commended Chevron for the gesture and said that they also chose to assist the government in an area the Government had special interest in. His words: “Honestly, what we have done in the state was to declare war against sickness, and that war will continue until I leave office. If you join me, we will give sickness a good fight. “As I speak to you today, we have modern Diagnostic Centres in Aba and Umuahia. In that centre [Umuahia] we are installing a Dialysis Machines. They are on ground now. And we also have an Eye Centre. “Here at Amachara, we are establishing a Children’s Centre. We have furnished 250 functional Health Centres in 291 political wards of the state and we have given ambulances to the 17 Local Government Councils, we do this bearing in mind that health is very vital”. The governor further commended Chevron for citing the Chest Clinic at Amachara and assured that it would partner well with them to ensure that the clinic functions well. He however appealed to the company to extend its gesture in the area of education. In his speech at the ceremony, the Area Manager of Chevron in Port Harcourt, Mr. Joe Sapka said that the company decided to donate the Chest Clinic as its own way of contributing to the health of the people. Agbami partners, Sakpa explained, have as part of its social responsibility, been adding value to the lives of people and contributing positively to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. He called on Abians to make adequate use of the Chest Clinic for their own good.

@ mens dept,you are the foll who dont know what to say,dont be blind as not to see what transformation going on in abia state now,if you say u dont see one then i consider you a total blind dude around the corner

people that are defaming the state government,they are practically not with us in Abia state...Abians are starting to see a light in the tunnel,only dis-interested individuals will start some bogus story to mislead us..

if all these projects are right in their palce in Abia state,then that means the governor of Abia state is working,because i think what i see will be appealing to every man's eyes...it appeals my eyes so i think the governor is working regardless of what is been said of him by some people.....therefore i like what i see and i appreciate it