₦airaland Forum

Wogu Bags Pride of Abia Gong

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has been honoured with the Pride of Abia Award by the Hallmark Daily Newspaper.

Presenting the award at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia Abia State, during the official presentation of the Daily tabloid, the Abia State Executive Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, stated that Chief Wogu has indeed contributed immensely to national development, as the peace and harmony being enjoyed in the nation’s labour sector can be traced to the resilient efforts of the Minister.
He said: “The honour that you are being given today is a well-deserved one, because you have done Abia State proud in various field of endeavours; this honour therefore is to motivate you to do more”.

Orji described Wogu as a rare breed Abia indigene who has done the state proud in both political and public arena with records of landmark achievements. He urged the Minister to continue contributing positively to the development of Nigeria in general and Abia State in particular.

Responding, Wogu stated that the recognition is an honour that will spur him to do more in all fields of endeavour and to further imbibe the true spirit of Abia, which are; honesty, dedication to duty, selfless service to mankind and loyalty in his political deeds and beyond.
The minister thanked the organisers of the event for finding him worthy to be so celebrated. He used the medium to highlight some of the developmental projects of the Federal Government through the collaborative efforts of the State governor, while calling on Abia indigenes to continue to support the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and the state governor, towards making Nigeria great and Abia State the pride of Igbo land respectively.Source :http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/wogu-bags-pride-of-abia-gong/139093/

Abians help fight Cancer
Chief (Mrs) Odochi Orij in a peaceful demostration with Umuahia Women in Abia State

Cancer known medically as a “malignant neoplasm” is a broad group of various diseases involving unregulated cell growth which mostly causes death if not detected and treated early. The rate at which people die because of this deadly disease is perhaps the reason why every February 4th is observed globally as World Cancer Day.

On Monday, February 11, 2013, sequel to His Excellency,Governor T.A. Orji’s vowed belief that Health is Wealth, the office of Her Excellency, Mercy Odochi Orji, Wife of the Executive Governor of Abia state in partnership with the State Ministry of Health, organized an education programme aimed at fighting against cancer to mark the 2013 World Cancer Day.

Her excellency, Mercy Odochi Orji spoke about the High Tech-Modern Diagnostic Centre in Umuahia, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba and other health facilities that had been put in place in all parts of the state through the commitment and hard work of His Excellency, Sir Dr. T.A. Orji . urging the people of Abia to go for regular medical checkups for early detection and prevention of the deadly disease.

The theme of this year’s observance was termed, “Cancer, did you know?” Its focus according to Ralph Igbokwe, the Chief Press Secretary to Her Excellency, was primarily to dispel the damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer, their true causes and ways by which they could be prevented.

Lectures on Cancer related topics was delivered by Eminent Professors of Medicine like Prof. Joshua Chingozi Ogbonnaya, KSC, OON. who was the Chairman of 2013 World Cancer Day Celebration and many others. The event was held at Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia which was followed by Free Breast Examination, Free Pap Smear for Cervical Cancer and a host of others.

The Event was heralded by a sensitization rally along the Major Streets of Umuahia, the State Capital that Monday morning.source :www.abiastate.gov.ng

Orji Uzor Kalu’s Unwarranted Attack on the Person of Governor T.A .Orji – Calling a Spade by Its Name – By Sampson Orji


It is a mistake to think that just any criticism of those in authority is intended to spur action in the positive direction. Many do not fully understand the unique and complex background from which Abia state recently emerged. it was a failed state in every sense of it . For 8 solid years Abia state remained under the struggle hold of despotism and demagoguery. It was a regime that smacked of inconsistencies in word and action. People like ‘yours faithfully’ were hunted down for daring to speak out against official malfeasance and unbridled profligate life style at the expense of the public till. There was deliberate policy of state terrorism endorsed with the executive red pen.thuggery was legitimized and it formed an inseparable arm of government .’Yours faithfully’ and few others who braved the situation to speak out had all the paraphernalia of executive incumbency unleashed against us. Communities like Idima Abam were almost destroyed on false information to the police in an attempt to arraign ‘disloyal’ on trumped up charges. These and a myriad of other vices were the woes that Abians daily struggled to live with during the eight years of Orji Uzor kalu ‘s rule in Abia state.

I am not just a living witness but a victim of the misrule and highhandedness that befell Abiastate for eight years. The story of what happened in Abia between’ 1999 to 2007 is one that would require a fulltime narrative and it should be left for another day. My concern today is to draw a contrast between the erstwhile regime and the present one, for purposes of utter clarity.

What would be the yard stick to measure performance in Abia state in terms of good governance to the people .certainly not one offered by the likes of Orji Uzor .

I am, to say the least, very stunned to note that Orji Uzor has the effrontery to accuse the present Governor Non performance in the administration and management of the state resources. In one of his diatribes he accused the Governor and his children of amassing so much wealth and even dared to query his source of wealth’.

The question is what does Governor T.A Orji and his children have that a governor can’t legitimately afford. The former governor , within his 8 years of governorship floated an airline , a bank in Gambia , acquired hotels and two oceans liners , a larger than life property in Potomac, Maryland, united state , etcetera.

It should be recalled that in Orji Uzor kalu overmastering desires to subjugate the Abia political elite , he cultivated a horrendous intolerance of any form of dissent between 1999 t0 2007 . This was a period that no well informed Abia is in a hurry to forget.

It was a period when governance equated to prodigality and ostentation, while vagueness and ambiguity was the norm in virtually every official transaction. Memories of history do not fade away quickly. It is strange as it is amusing t read the former governor of Abia state in his ‘good governance ‘in Abia during his 8 years rule. I can only grief for the reading public who might not have the facts to effectively situate the two regimes and personalities. For the avoidance of doubt these are two extremes with a marked difference in perception, emphasis, objectives, values and priority.

During the period of that regime , when inclination to malfeasance gained ascendancy over reason , and many politicians were cowed made to cultivate a slave mentality that consistently crawled for parental adoption , there were few of us who had the steely determination to call the bluffs.

A person‘s true greatness does not fully surface until he vacates the scene, otherwise the private and public life of the present governor of Abia state would bear true of an ancient injunction that ‘honour be given to whom it is due; understandably, this injunction has evolved to a nascent political axiom which canvasses ‘honour’ as the function and product of the performance ethics that bother on selfless sacrifice for collective good.

In the thinking of the ancient, honour’ becomes the group recognition of the relevance of character and action to the development of human collective.

It insults the sensibilities of Abians to read Orji Uzor trying unsuccessfully to inflict dent on the character and integrity of Governor T.A Orji, perhaps in vexed protest to the expose of his moral ills as then governor, by the sterling qualities of his successor.

It is not the fault of Governor T.A Orji that Orji Uzor chose to fritter away 8 solid years on thealtar of prodigality and ostentation an embraced actions that were visibly inimical to the objectives and logic of collective development . The spoilsport propensities in which the Abiaexecutive arm thrived under his regime left much to be desired and riled many of us whom he hunted down with all the war chest available to him as governor. The bestial reign of Orji Uzor’sregime was anchored on vile propaganda and cruelty that surpassed those of the roman emperors.

Contrariwise, the conscientious, considerate spirit with which Governor T.A Orji has marked his dealing with people has earned him the respect and admiration of people like me and we are in the greater majority of the Abia populace. He has, by consistent moral uprightness, struck a note on the imperatives of selfless service of Abians , considering public good greater than his personal convenience –a clear departure from what it was under Orji Uzor Kalu .

According to melford okilo,’Honour is the practice of right actions’. This statement bears true of the character and persons of chief T.A Orji, who merely endured Orji Uzor for 8 years , being a career civil servant at the time.

The former Governor has no moral standing to utter a word against Governor Orji, or any member of his family because what stands sure behind Governor T.A Orji is priceless andtimeless. It is beyond the mundane, and radiates transcendent values. It is the beauty of his humble but firm spirit which daily seeks to practice prestige conferred by wealth and the material privileges bestowed by class that engulfed the former governor while in office.

Governor T.A Orji cannot condescend so low to join issues with him. Those who quite understand Orji Uzor’s antics and unbridled cruelty will defeat him in his own game on his own turf when the time comes.

If it takes a pause to inform us of the liberation of Abia state from the grips of sinister demonism in oath-taking of all practical office holders as stand practice of that regime while it lasted ; the tacit deployment of silent elimination by hook or of all those who failed to succumb to the evil order. Or those who were found to have breached the oath ; the sudden decimation of personalities through hire and fire , using the air waves as the preferred medium of communication to inflict maximum injury on the targeted personalities ; the trumped-up charges usually ever available to hound opponents of the regime, notwithstanding their membership of the same political party ; the solicited hero worship of sorts savored by both mother and son; the celebration of mediocrity in governance ; the near total disrespect to elders and hunting of thosewho would not mortgage their conscience ; corruption in the highest order with direct debit on public treasury into private companies ; the hide and seek strategy as state craft; intimidation and extra judicial killings , etcetera, etcetera .

The victims and near victims of these social ills and criminalities, some of who are still around,can testify. I am one of such people. In the period, prominent sons of Abia in the capacities of ministers of the Federal Republic, National secretary and Republic, legal luminaries of note –some of who wear the silk today, were causalities’ of the despotism and cruelty that held court in that regime and would easily attest to the veracity of these piece . The investigative machinery ofthe EFFC equally testifies to that.

Abians have been librated and we have no apologies to anybody. we rather have vowed to remain grateful to God for his infinite wisdom and mercy that saw to the emergence to Governor T.A Orji , who came in the caste of Moses-serving in the court of pharaohs’ to receive the requisite training for the arduous task of liberation . it is history replayed in Abia . Just as Mosesendured the stench of injustice against all odds, to fit the man God required for the job. He hasnever failed to inform all who cares to hear, that he did not perform this feat by sheer strength or sophistication of his own, but by the Devine mandate entrusted on him by God.

For me, it is the freedom of speech and after the speech, the restoration of the dignity of all Abiapoliticians to operate without fear that makes all the difference. The provision of infrastructure by T.A Orji’s administration, which is verifiably littered all over the state, becomes secondary.The Arab spring is a testimony that freedom is a basic need of all humans, Irrespective of creed or race. If all these are acknowledged, I would need to know what else makes Orji Kalu’sdefinition of good governance – and let all who love justice and freedom say Amen.

-

Sampson Orji was a member of Abia state House of Assembly during the 1st tenure of Orji Kalu’s regime and a member of the state executive council of Abia state in the present administration.source :http://247ureports.com/orji-uzor-kalus-unwarranted-attack-on-the-person-of-governor-t-a-orji-calling-a-spade-by-its-name-by-sampson-orji/comment-page-1/#comment-219312

ABIA STATE POLITICS A MATTER OF CONCERN?

ORJI UZOR KALU ‘S UNWARRANTED ATTACK ON THE PERSONS OF GOVERNOR T.A .ORJI-CALLING A SPADE BY ITS NAME

It is a mistake to think that just any criticism of those in authority is intended to spur action in the positive direction. Many do not fully understand the unique and complex background from which Abia state recently emerged. it was a failed state in every sense of it . For 8 solid years Abia state remained under the struggle hold of despotism and demagoguery. It was a regime that smacked of inconsistencies in word and action. People like ‘yours faithfully’ were hunted down for daring to speak out against official malfeasance and unbridled profligate life style at the expense of the public till. There was deliberate policy of state terrorism endorsed with the executive red pen.thuggery was legitimized and it formed an inseparable arm of government.’Yours faithfully’ and few others who braved the situation to speak out had all the paraphernalia of executive incumbency unleashed against us. Communities like Idima Abam were almost destroyed on false information to the police in an attempt to arraign ‘disloyal’ on trumped up charges. These and a myriad of other vices were the woes that Abians daily struggled to live with during the eight years of Orji Uzor kalu ‘s rule in Abia state.
I am not just a living witness but a victim of the misrule and highhandedness that befell Abiastate for eight years. The story of what happened in Abia between’ 1999 to 2007 is one that would require a fulltime narrative and it should be left for another day. My concern today is to draw a contrast between the erstwhile regime and the present one, for purposes of utter clarity.
What would be the yard stick to measure performance in Abia state in terms of good governance to the people .certainly not one offered by the likes of Orji Uzor .
I am, to say the least, very stunned to note that Orji Uzor has the effrontery to accuse the present Governor Non performance in the administration and management of the state resources. In one of his diatribes he accused the Governor and his children of amassing so much wealth and even dared to query his source of wealth’.
The question is what does Governor T.A Orji and his children have that a governor can’t legitimately afford. The former governor , within his 8 years of governorship floated an airline , a bank in Gambia , acquired hotels and two oceans liners , a larger than life property in Potomac, Maryland, united state , etcetera.
It should be recalled that in Orji Uzor kalu overmastering desires to subjugate the Abia political elite , he cultivated a horrendous intolerance of any form of dissent between 1999 t0 2007 . This was a period that no well informed Abia is in a hurry to forget.
It was a period when governance equated to prodigality and ostentation, while vagueness and ambiguity was the norm in virtually every official transaction. Memories of history do not fade away quickly. It is strange as it is amusing t read the former governor of Abia state in his ‘good governance ‘in Abia during his 8 years rule. I can only grief for the reading public who might not have the facts to effectively situate the two regimes and personalities. For the avoidance of doubt these are two extremes with a marked difference in perception, emphasis, objectives, values and priority.
During the period of that regime , when inclination to malfeasance gained ascendancy over reason , and many politicians were cowed made to cultivate a slave mentality that consistently crawled for parental adoption , there were few of us who had the steely determination to call the bluffs.
A person‘s true greatness does not fully surface until he vacates the scene, otherwise the private and public life of the present governor of Abia state would bear true of an ancient injunction that ‘honour be given to whom it is due; understandably, this injunction has evolved to a nascent political axiom which canvasses ‘honour’ as the function and product of the performance ethics that bother on selfless sacrifice for collective good.
In the thinking of the ancient, honour’ becomes the group recognition of the relevance of character and action to the development of human collective.
It insults the sensibilities of Abians to read Orji Uzor trying unsuccessfully to inflict dent on the character and integrity of Governor T.A Orji, perhaps in vexed protest to the expose of his moral ills as then governor, by the sterling qualities of his successor.
It is not the fault of Governor T.A Orji that Orji Uzor chose to fritter away 8 solid years on thealtar of prodigality and ostentation an embraced actions that were visibly inimical to the objectives and logic of collective development . The spoilsport propensities in which the Abiaexecutive arm thrived under his regime left much to be desired and riled many of us whom he hunted down with all the war chest available to him as governor. The bestial reign of Orji Uzor’sregime was anchored on vile propaganda and cruelty that surpassed those of the roman emperors.
Contrariwise, the conscientious, considerate spirit with which Governor T.A Orji has marked his dealing with people has earned him the respect and admiration of people like me and we are in the greater majority of the Abia populace. He has, by consistent moral uprightness, struck a note on the imperatives of selfless service of Abians , considering public good greater than his personal convenience –a clear departure from what it was under Orji Uzor Kalu .
According to melford okilo,’Honour is the practice of right actions’. This statement bears true of the character and persons of chief T..A Orji, who merely endured Orji Uzor for 8 years , being a career civil servant at the time.
The former Governor has no moral standing to utter a word against Governor Orji, or any member of his family because what stands sure behind Governor T.A Orji is priceless andtimeless. It is beyond the mundane, and radiates transcendent values. It is the beauty of his humble but firm spirit which daily seeks to practice prestige conferred by wealth and the material privileges bestowed by class that engulfed the former governor while in office.
Governor T.A Orji cannot condescend so low to join issues with him. Those who quite understand Orji Uzor’s antics and unbridled cruelty will defeat him in his own game on his own turf when the time comes.
If it takes a pause to inform us of the liberation of Abia state from the grips of sinister demonism in oath-taking of all practical office holders as stand practice of that regime while it lasted ; the tacit deployment of silent elimination by hook or of all those who failed to succumb to the evil order. Or those who were found to have breached the oath ; the sudden decimation of personalities through hire and fire , using the air waves as the preferred medium of communication to inflict maximum injury on the targeted personalities ; the trumped-up charges usually ever available to hound opponents of the regime, notwithstanding their membership of the same political party ; the solicited hero worship of sorts savored by both mother and son; the celebration of mediocrity in governance ; the near total disrespect to elders and hunting of thosewho would not mortgage their conscience ; corruption in the highest order with direct debit on public treasury into private companies ; the hide and seek strategy as state craft; intimidation and extra judicial killings , etcetera, etcetera .
The victims and near victims of these social ills and criminalities, some of who are still around,can testify. I am one of such people. In the period, prominent sons of Abia in the capacities of ministers of the Federal Republic, National secretary and Republic, legal luminaries of note –some of who wear the silk today, were causalities’ of the despotism and cruelty that held court in that regime and would easily attest to the veracity of these piece . The investigative machinery ofthe EFFC equally testifies to that.
Abians have been librated and we have no apologies to anybody. we rather have vowed to remain grateful to God for his infinite wisdom and mercy that saw to the emergence to Governor T.A Orji , who came in the caste of Moses-serving in the court of pharaohs’ to receive the requisite training for the arduous task of liberation . it is history replayed in Abia . Just as Mosesendured the stench of injustice against all odds, to fit the man God required for the job. He hasnever failed to inform all who cares to hear, that he did not perform this feat by sheer strength or sophistication of his own, but by the Devine mandate entrusted on him by God.
For me, it is the freedom of speech and after the speech, the restoration of the dignity of all Abiapoliticians to operate without fear that makes all the difference. The provision of infrastructure by T.A Orji’s administration, which is verifiably littered all over the state, becomes secondary.The Arab spring is a testimony that freedom is a basic need of all humans, Irrespective of creed or race. If all these are acknowledged, I would need to know what else makes Orji Kalu’sdefinition of good governance – and let all who love justice and freedom say Amen.

Sampson Orji was a member of Abia state House of Assembly during the 1st tenure of Orji Kalu’s regime and a member of the state executive council of Abia state in the present administration.

GOV. ORJI EXTOLS EAGLES FOR WINNING NATIONS CUP
Abia state governor, Chief Theodore Orji has congratulated the super Eagles of Nigeria for winning the African cup of nation’s trophy.
The governor who spoke through his chief press secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue after the epic clash praised the Eagles for doing the nation proud in South Africa.
According to the governor, the victory of the super Eagles means a lot to the nation especially at this point of the nations march towards becoming a reference point in the continent especially in sports.
Chief Orji said that Nigeria must draw some lessons from the Eagles success and that is the fact that determination, team work and dedication are ingredients of success.
Chief Orji maintained that though Eagles missed many scoring chances , they still made the nation proud.
Governor Orji saluted the coach Stephen Keshi for making history by winning the nations cup as a coach having played for The Eagles as a captain.
Chief Orji said that this is the finest moment in the nation’s soccer history.

GOV. ORJI EXTOLS EAGLES FOR WINNING NATIONS CUP
Abia state governor, Chief Theodore Orji has congratulated the super Eagles of Nigeria for winning the African cup of nation’s trophy.
The governor who spoke through his chief press secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue after the epic clash praised the Eagles for doing the nation proud in South Africa.
According to the governor, the victory of the super Eagles means a lot to the nation especially at this point of the nations march towards becoming a reference point in the continent especially in sports.
Chief Orji said that Nigeria must draw some lessons from the Eagles success and that is the fact that determination, team work and dedication are ingredients of success.
Chief Orji maintained that though Eagles missed many scoring chances , they still made the nation proud.
Governor Orji saluted the coach Stephen Keshi for making history by winning the nations cup as a coach having played for The Eagles as a captain.
Chief Orji said that this is the finest moment in the nation’s soccer history.

Aba in Abia state would soon enjoy steady power supply

The commercial town of Aba in Abia state would soon enjoy steady power supply .This was disclosed by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue while speaking with newsmen in Umuahia.

Emezue stated the state government and the Geometric Power company are working together to ensure that Aba Electricity company becomes functional in due course.
He added that the when the project is completed, Aba and its environs would enjoy uninterrupted power supply and described the project as priority for the year.

The Chief Press Secretary maintained that tackling the problem of power supply in Aba is in line with Gov. Theodore Orji’s plans to restore the glory of the commercial town.
“When the power project is completed, most of the small scale enterprises and bigger industries which made Aba the envy of other cities in Nigeria would come up again,” he said.
Emezue also assured that the governor would sustain his policy on security due to the gains already recorded in the investment sector.

“Abia is the most peaceful state in Nigeria today because of the comprehensive approach adopted by Gov. Orji in handling security matters,” Emezue boasted.

abia is moving forward

Abia is doing great..am happy for all the good step the governor is taking to bring in more development....Abia adiwo nma

> ABIA TO PARTNER WITH THAILAND
> Abia state government says it is ready to partner with Thailand to explore bilateral investment opportunities between them.
> Governor Theodore Orji stated this at the government house, Umuahia when he met with the Royal Thai commercial counselor in Nigeria, Mr.Boon Intiratana who paid him a courtesy visit with the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA).
> The governor advised the counselor to look round the state and ascertain areas of interest for investment.
> According to him the state boasts of large human and material resources adding that apart from Lagos, Aba remains the commercial nerve centre of the country.
> He described Igbos as very industrious and assured the counselor of adequate security of their investment in the state.
> Chief Orji stated that Thailand is noted for rice production, which he said has helped in feeding Nigerians and pointed out that a major problem confronting Aba is power supply.
> He however stated that the federal government is addressing the problem with the building of NIPP power plant in Aba which is being complemented by the Geometric power plant at Osisioma.
> The governor used the forum to commend ACCIMA for the role it was playing in promoting trade and pledged to continue to assist the chamber.
> In his speech, Mr Intiratana said the purpose of his visit was to see business and commercial opportunities that exist in Abia state and how to promote bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Thailand.
> He said that his country is interested in agriculture especially rice production and food processing, electricity generation, tourism, as well as in construction and transportation and invited the governor to send a private mission to Thailand in May this year for an international food fair and the Nigeria – Thailand business forum.
> Earlier, the president of ACCIMA, chief Eleanya Okoroji said ACCIMA is striving on its noble functions of attracting foreign investments to Abia state ,adding that the Thai commercial counselor is in Abia under their invitation to interact with business people as well as improve on the existing bilateral relationship between Abia state and Thailand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Va47ZL0Tc&feature=share

Aba in Abia state would soon enjoy steady power supply

The commercial town of Aba in Abia state would soon enjoy steady power supply .This was disclosed by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue while speaking with newsmen in Umuahia.

Emezue stated the state government and the Geometric Power company are working together to ensure that Aba Electricity company becomes functional in due course.

He added that the when the project is completed, Aba and its environs would enjoy uninterrupted power supply and described the project as priority for the year.

The Chief Press Secretary maintained that tackling the problem of power supply in Aba is in line with Gov. Theodore Orji’s plans to restore the glory of the commercial town.

“When the power project is completed, most of the small scale enterprises and bigger industries which made Aba the envy of other cities in Nigeria would come up again,” he said.

Emezue also assured that the governor would sustain his policy on security due to the gains already recorded in the investment sector.

“Abia is the most peaceful state in Nigeria today because of the comprehensive approach adopted by Gov. Orji in handling security matters,” Emezue boasted.

Storm over Kalu’s Return to PDP

Emmanuel Ugwu writes on the return of former Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, which has unsettled many party chieftains in the state

For a man who is no stranger to controversy, former Abia State governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, did not disappoint many when he declared that he had been readmitted into the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his Igbere Ward A area of the state. He claimed that he rejoined the party on January 17, 2013 and was issued a registration number 9,787,945 at a reception he had organised for party members in his ward.

Kalu was a PDP member from inception but left with his followers, including his successor, Chief Theodore Orji, in 2006 to form the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), which won in Abia and Imo States in the 2007 governorship election. The party’s fortunes soon began to slide shortly after the 2007 elections as some of the bigwigs of the party defect to the PDP. It was then that Kalu, who was the presidential flag candidate of PPA in 2007 and senatorial candidate for Abia North in 2011 as well as the chairman of party’s board of trustees (BoT), started pondering a return to PDP.

Given that the former governor has been facing a huge opposition in his bid to return to the PDP on whose platform he served as governor for eight years, the news of his purported readmission had stirred controversy, especially in the Abia State chapter of party.

Barely 24 hours after he declared his intention to return to the PDP, chairman of the party in the state, Senator Emma Nwaka, addressed a joint press conference with PDP chairman in Bende Local Government Area, Chief Ihendu Boniface Eke, in attendance during which he refuted Kalu’s readmission story. They brought the party registers of the two wards in Igbere- wards A and B- and a stack of unissued PDP membership cards said to belong to the two wards.

Nwaka flipped through the pages of the registers and affirmed that Kalu’s name was not in the either of them and as such, could not have been readmitted into the party.

Although, there were indications that all was not well with the PDP in the two Igbere wards, Eke said the entire members of the executive in both wards had resigned on January 10, 2013 for inexplicable reasons. He said the chairmen and secretaries had handed over to him the documents in their possessions, including the membership registers and the unused membership cards.

He therefore said there was no way Kalu could have been registered a week after the ward executives had resigned and submitted party documents in their possession. “If they gave him (Kalu) any card, it is fake,” he said, adding that the serial number of the cards issued to members in Igbere Ward A starts with “95” whereas the card purportedly issued to Kalu has “97” as the first two digits.

Besides, Eke said merely brandishing a membership card was not enough to qualify anyone as a PDP member. “Your name must be in the register,” he insisted.

The suspended Igbere Ward A chairman, Chika Emeri, was said to be holding office in acting capacity following the death of Ogbonnaya Chukwu in September 2012 while Amechi Gideon Uko was the substantive PDP chairman in Ward B before the turn of events that swept them away. Both men are yet to show up and explain how Kalu got his card.

But Kalu’s account of the story was different. He claimed to have been registered and readmitted in his ward but that when it got to the notice of the state party leadership, the ward executives were sacked. He said the ward chairmen went into hiding as security agents were being used to hound them.

Kalu accused the party leadership of speaking from both sides of the mouth, saying that they had initially announced that the ward executives had been suspended only to turn round and declare that they had resigned.

The former governor explained that there was a combined meeting of the two Igbere wards during which he was readmitted. “I am back and have been registered, there is nothing anybody can do about it, and if you don’t like it you better resign,” he boasted to the state party leadership.
He warned Nwaka that he might become the first casualty in the power play. But his claim of having returned to PDP is yet to be substantiated as the register containing his name has not been displayed publicly.

Even at that, the mere claim of readmission has generated reactions from all levels of the PDP in the state. On January 21, the leadership/stakeholders of PDP in Bende Local Government Area held an emergency meeting and refuted Kalu’s claims.

The meeting convened “to put the records straight” on Kalu’s purported return was attended by those who are in charge in Bende PDP. They include the two state legislators from Bende, Hon Princewill Onyegbu, Bende South and Hon Ndukwe Ojukwu, Bende North as well as the chairman and secretary of PDP in Bende, Eke and Oji H. Idika, respectively.

In the three-point communiqué signed by 47 persons, the leaders/stakeholders declared that the PDP in Bende “has not changed its position nor lifted the embargo on the readmission of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu into PDP in Bende.”

This was sequel to a similar meeting held on November 14, 2012 where they resolved that Kalu and other “viruses” would not be allowed into the party. They said no member of PDP in Bende has been given the mandate to either lobby Kalu to rejoin the party or receive the membership card of PDP “as is currently being claimed by the former governor.”

“We find it insulting, though laughable, the claim by Chief Orji Uzor Kalu that he obtained the membership card of our great party the same day he also obtained the membership card of Progressive Peoples Alliance,” the leaders said in the communiqué.

They acknowledged that the former governor has been involved in “subterranean manoeuvres” at the national and ward levels to return to PDP. As a result, they said it was “necessary to put the records straight” on the issue of Kalu’s purported registration and readmission at Igbere Ward A in order to properly guide the state and the national leadership of PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public.”

Unfortunately, Kalu’s readmission drama did not end at the ward and state levels of Abia PDP. The leadership of the South-east zone of PDP has also come out to disown him. National Vice Chairman of PDP, South-east, Col Austin Akobundu (rtd), issued a statement where it said the zone had no record to show that Kalu was a PDP member.

He noted that following the controversy over the alleged readmission of Kalu at Igbere ward A, the zonal leadership has conducted its investigations and has already sent its report to the national leadership of the party. Akobundu reaffirmed the position of the party in Abia that not only has the former governor not been readmitted, the PDP in the South-east zone has no plans to welcome him back.

Akobundu explained that the party has enough reason to believe that the founder of PPA “is a paid agent of a presidential aspirant whose mandate is to destabilise the party in the South-east zone,” adding that Kalu’s attempt to rejoin PDP has been roundly rejected by his ward, local government and state chapters of the party.

The zonal boss offered an explanation to the effect that Kalu, in his futile attempt to rejoin PDP, was deceived by some ex-officers of the party to believe they could bring him back. He, therefore, pointed out that the purported readmission of Kalu was in contravention of Article 8, section 8 of the constitution of the PDP (as amended) hence it was void ab initio.

According to his opponents, Kalu should not be allowed to return to the PDP because he bequeathed crisis to the party before he left and having achieved peace and unity, his return would further plunge Abia PDP into another era of internal crisis.

Their explanation was acceptable to National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who, when he received a delegation of party bigwigs from the state who came to protest against Kalu’s planned return, advised the former governor to make peace with the stakeholders.

Kalu’s approach to return to PDP since then has met with stiff opposition from nearly all stakeholders, including members of the state House of Assembly who adopted a resolution during their plenary session of January 22, refuting Kalu’s allegation that they told him that they were not getting anything from the government of Orji. They described the allegations as “blackmail and blatant lies” aimed at causing disaffection between the state legislature and the state governor.

The Assembly further described the allegations as “fallacious and malicious,” stating “categorically and unequivocally that there is a robust relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government in Abia state.”

Similar allegation was also made against the members of the state executive council. But in a communiqué at the end of its meeting on January 28, 2013, members of the state executive council said Kalu’s allegations were “mischief-inspired insinuations”.

In the communiqué signed by the council chairman and Commissioner for Justice, Umeh Kalu, and secretary and Commissioner for Information, Don Ubani, they claimed to enjoy “unprecedented job satisfaction” because the prevailing conditions of service under Orji “are superlatively incomparable to what obtained during the eight dark years of Kalu’s coercive discriminatory and exploitative rule in the state.”

Yet, Orji and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief Charles Ogbonna, were not spared either as Kalu alleged that the duo had hatched plans to print and paste presidential campaign posters in his name in order to discredit him. But Ogbonna said nothing could be farther from the truth as it was inconceivable for him to waste his time and resources on a man who has lost political relevance.

“I have and will never be bothered with Orji Uzor Kalu’s past and present gimmicks at contesting the presidency of this country as his self-acclaimed aspiration lies in the reality of self-delusion,” he said.

As Kalu is entangled in the readmission debacle, observers of Abia politics are itching to see how the whole scenario would eventually play out. Indeed, if Kalu has returned to PDP, it is believed that it would be very difficult for him to operate effectively with the kind of opposition arrayed against him from all strata of the party in the state.source :http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/storm-over-kalu-s-return-to-pdp/138507/

just take some time to watch the inspection of the ultra modern market by T.A Orji...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Va47ZL0Tc&feature=share

OUK is a failure and i can not give him my support..he has failed us

am being optimistic about T.A's initiatives so far and what he is bent on achieving ,am so looking forward to a better days ahead...

as for what T.A is doing in Abia,i give him a THUMB UP.....he has shown greater level of commitment in Abia which has attracted lots of attention,internationally....am so happy for him...just pray he does not get distratced..

How we ‘re rebuilding Abia – Orji

Abia State Governor, Chief T.A Orji fielded questions from journalists on the margins of the National Good Governance Media Tour of the state. Excerpts:

There are fears about the completion of the many ongoing projects in the state before you leave, what assurance are you giving?

I am assuring Abians that I am going to finish the projects that I have started. I cannot start any project that I know that I ‘m not sure I will finish. We have the funding for most of the projects that you are seeing on ground. And as we are progressing, I know that the revenue of the state will continue to improve on a daily basis because of the machinery that we have put on ground.

One lingering question is how are you getting funds without borrowing to execute these projects?
It is by the prudent management of the one that we have. If you move around, you discover that we are not extravagant in the first instance; we are not doing showman’s business. We have all buried our ambition to make sure that we achieve these projects. We are cutting our coat according to our size.


*Gov Theodore Orji

So what drives you?
What is driving me is the determination to improve Abia because I know what we have suffered. Before now, if you compare Abia with some of the states that were created with Abia, you would see that it was lagging and people were insulting us, some of them refer to Umuahia as a glorified village. But do you hear that again? People came to Umuahia in the past and said that it was like a glorified village yet we had governors here who were having their personal agenda.

I don’t have any personal agenda. I am not a businessman, I don’t own any company. I am not interested in business because I have said it that if I go into business, I will be cheated because I don’t know anything about business. What I know is this thing that I am doing and I ‘m here to utilise any little money I get and ensure that such is invested on the people. We want to do something for which we shall be remembered.

You have relatively formed a consensus among the political class here and minimized antagonism. How were you able to do this?

If I were a cantankerous governor, we would have been fighting here everyday but we have seen those things as mere distractions and we decided to face governance and you don’t govern alone. You have to carry your people along and what we did was to bring those people that were disenchanted by what was happening before and give them a sense of belonging.

It didn’t cost us anything. What we did was to give them sense of belonging which was not given to them before now. Instead they were driven away and nobody listened to them despite their age and experience. At that stage in life if you find yourself in that position, where nobody cares about you or consults you, what you do is to relax and leave the state to drift to any situation.

I formed the Elders Council (EC) that involved all those elders that will be giving their advice on a regular basis to the government. So, that is a sense of belonging. When you go to those people that you see as pessimists or enemies or visit their houses, they will express surprise. I made Gen Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), the Chairman of the reconciliation committee and he was going from house to house reaching out to those people who were attacking us and today most of them have come together.

If people give the stakeholders a sense of belonging, and empower the youths and the masses just as we are doing, they will rally round your government. Before now what the former administration used to give the youths in the name of empowerment were shovels and head pans. You as a young man, if I give you a shovel and head pan, will you be happy? You will curse me and that was the mentality during the time of the former government because they don’t want anybody to surpass them.

But in our youth empowerment, we are giving out brand new cars and tricycles. I banned the use of Okada here and replaced them with tricycles. We gave out refrigerators and barbing equipment and other items that are tangible which can add value to the lives of the people. You can now see the difference. When you touch the youths in that positive way and give the elders the sense of belonging, you will see that all of them will rally around you. So that is the magic that we are doing.

Some people are advocating going back to the cultivation of some of those things that used to give Nigeria money in the past like palm produce, cocoa and rubber, do you have the intention of reviving that aspect of the economy of this state?

We have already gone back to that. For example, we have the rubber plantation in Ndioji that was wasting but today we have brought in investors who are currently managing that place, tapping the rubber gums, selling them, making money and also giving us our own share. As at now, they have employed 1300 youths for rubber alone. Now we are establishing liberation farms in the senatorial zones. We have started from Ukwa West.

Some assert that you are not doing much on the matter of sports development. So, what efforts are you making to promote sports development?

My brother, who told you that sports has not received an attention here? Enyimba is there. Do you know how much it cost us to keep Enyimba Football Club? Since 2007 that I came on board, they have won many laurels, nationally and internationally, and it takes us a big chunk of money to run that club and they have been in the top league all along from 2007 till now.

Apart from that, just two weeks ago, I rewarded the Paralympics, I gave to each of them N1 million. They won medals in London for Nigeria and not for Abia but we decided to encourage them. So we do encourage our sports people. We don’t come out to blow our trumpets but we are spending a lot of money in that area.

You see, it is only in Abia that we have three football clubs that we are running: Enyimba Football Club, the Comet and the Warriors. Some people are only running one club and they are shouting but we have been running three clubs in Abia since 2007.

OUK is a big floop,we dont need him,period

OUK is a failure,every body knows that..he failed Abia state

Orji Uzor Kalu is a political leper – Abia State Gov’t

The chief press secretary to Abia state governor, Mr.Ugochukwu Emezue has described as laughable allegation by former governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu that chief TA Orji is planning the printing and pasting of Kalu’s presidential posters.
Emezue in a statement in Umuahia said that the Abia state government cannot waste the scarce resources that are being used to build legacy projects to print the poster of a failure.
The governor’s spokesman hinted that Kalu’s antics are well known to Nigerians that is why he is a political leper.
According to Emezue, the former governor who is a desperate man is capable of doing anything to seek relevance and sympathy.
The chief press secretary to Abia governor stated that Kalu who spent Abia money on frivolities as governor is being intimidated by chief TA Orji’s outstanding achievements, hence his desperate move to distract the resilient governor of Abia state.
Mr. Emezue who maintained that Kalu cannot come into a party he destroyed through the window urged him to clear himself of allegations of corruption by EFCC and the current indictment by the judicial panel of enquiry before he will be taken seriously.

“Kalu’s antics are well known to Nigerians that is why he is a political leper” Ugo Emezue
fall-back-big-thumb

The chief press secretary to Abia state governor, Mr.Ugochukwu Emezue has described as laughable allegation by former governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu that chief TA Orji is planning the printing and pasting of Kalu’s presidential posters.

Emezue in a statement in Umuahia said that the Abia state government cannot waste the scarce resources that are being used to build legacy projects to print the poster of a failure.

The governor’s spokesman hinted that Kalu’s antics are well known to Nigerians that is why he is a political leper.

According to Emezue, the former governor who is a desperate man is capable of doing anything to seek relevance and sympathy.

The chief press secretary to Abia governor stated that Kalu who spent Abia money on frivolities as governor is being intimidated by chief TA Orji’s outstanding achievements, hence his desperate move to distract the resilient governor of Abia state.

Mr. Emezue who maintained that Kalu cannot come into a party he destroyed through the window urged him to clear himself of allegations of corruption by EFCC and the current indictment by the judicial panel of enquiry before he will be taken seriously.

if Aba gets power boost tomorrow ,it is under the influece of T.A orji that it happened...T.A is behind the good things coming to Aba and Abia state.....he is the architect....kudos to T.A

there will never be success in Aba without T.A Orji.....whoever this guy is making nuisance of himself should go to his father's ktichen and get some food,guess he is so hungry that it has entered his head.....

‘We’ve got rid of godfatherism in Abia’

Posted by: BOLADE OMONIJO on January 17, 2013 in Politics 8 Comments

Apart from security challenges, Abia State Governor Theodore Orji inherited a poor revenue base and demoralised civil service. In this interview with BOLADE OMONIJO, he speaks on efforts being made by the administration to reposition the state for excellence.

How has it been trying to rebuild Abia State?

There are basic infrastructural facilities that should be on ground to allow government take off properly. But those facilities are not there. Abia must have a foundation. Look at the issue of the secretariat. There is none in Abia State that can accommodate all the civil servants. The one there now was built by the Federal Government. Our ministries are all scattered. We want to have a composite building that will accommodate all civil servants because they are the engine room of the government. Again, look at the International Conference Centre. What we have here is the Michael Okpara Auditorium, which was built more than 20 years ago, when we were in Imo State. It can only accommodate 500 people. Now, when you are holding a conference here, you have between 2,000 and 3, 000 people. That place has become very inadequate. We said no. The best thing we can do is to have an international conference centre that can take at least 5, 000 people. These are permanent structures that will outlive us, which any other person coming after me will not think of. You are here. This is Abia State Government House. My colleague in Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, took me to the new Government House in Asaba. But look at our own. This is my sitting room. If you are many now, some of you will be standing. This has been in existence, since the creation of Abia State. If you go upstairs, it doesn’t contain my family. I have been doing demolition. But the land is there and this is the state capital. It has never occurred to any of those administrations that have been here to build a standard Government House. I am from this town and my people have said that, if you don’t do this now, it is going to be difficult. So, I decided that I will build a new Government House and I am praying that I will be the first person to open it, so that other governors can live here.

What about other areas? What have you been doing?

I am sure you went to the Diagnostics Centre or Amachara General Hospital. If you go there, you will see things for yourself; how we are expanding that place to make sure that the people are healthy. As journalists, you have to be healthy to be asking me questions. So, Abia people must be healthy in order to enjoy dividends of democracy. We have opened up many roads. As we are doing in Umuahia, we are also doing in Aba and other places. We have compactors, refuse vehicles everywhere now. We just bought two before Christmas and all of them are going to Aba to help the ones we have there and keep the place clean all the time. So, in all the areas, we have brought out a template that a house must have a foundation. Like the Golden Guinea Breweries, I saw the investor, as I went to Abuja, and he has assured me that he is coming to reactivate the place. We have relocated the industrial market in Umuahia and at the site of the market, we are building the Ohobo Housing Estate. They are clearing the site now. The same thing will happen to the Central Market in Umuahia. We have reached 75 per cent completion in relocating it to Ubani Ibeku. There, we have over 6, 000 stalls against the 3, 000 stalls in this market now. So, once we finish with that, this market will move and in its place, we find something that we will build to befit the town. And just close to the market, the place we had Gariki before, we are building a Shoprite. They have cleared the site. We have completed everything, paid our own counterpart fund to them and it is left for them to come on board. As we are doing here, we are also doing for Aba and all the other local government areas of the state.

How are you funding these capital projects; are they not too much for the state’s purse?

We are in a hurry. All these projects are those that I can finish before I leave office. The Shoprite is partnership. I bring my own fund and they bring theirs. Some of the housing estates are partnerships. But we did the one we realised at Amokwe. We were disappointed in our partner there; he absconded and we had to do it ourselves. Out of annoyance, we have started building it. We have finished and people are living there now.

People believe that Aba alone is capable of generating the required internal revenue for the state. What are the challenges in Aba?

This state has the capacity to generate one billion naira every month and that revenue is expected to come from Aba. But the truth is that our people don’t pay taxes. So, what we have done is to tutor them. We are teaching them the need to pay taxes and they are responding. Two, there is fraud, not from the people who pay taxes, but those collecting them for the government. Some of them collect and put it in their pockets. That is why we have now introduced another system of direct lodgments into the banks, so that we can have a hold on taxes. We have re-engineered our Board of Internal Revenue, so that it can be more effective. All these are geared towards generating more money, especially from Aba. So, if we can effectively plug the loopholes, the revenue will come. That’s why I have moved into Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state, though the money we expect from there hasn’t come.

Some of the projects you are doing could be regarded as projects that could outlive this generation. What do you have in mind when you are doing these legacy projects?

Everything doesn’t end with building roads. Didn’t Dr. Okpara build roads? Who remembers him today for the roads he built? Nobody! They remember him for Golden Guinea, Mordern Ceramics and agriculture. These are the procedures we are following. Now, if you follow what we are doing, any incoming governor that deviates from that will get the wrath of the people. We have set this standard as we did on security. Any person who comes here and kidnapping returns is in trouble. So, we will set the standards and maintain them so that the incoming governor will maintain them and earn his own respect. These projects we are doing are things that are dear to the people’s heart.

It is surprising that in Abia State, you are just laying the foundation. Why is everything being fast-tracked now in your second term?

We had two civilian governors before I came. Ogbonnaya Onu was here, the former governor, my friend (Orji Uzor Kalu) was here. You’d better ask them what they did because anything I say here will be misinterpreted. But you can now see the difference between this government and the previous ones. In my first term, the things I was supposed to do for my people, I could not do them because there was a godfather somewhere. Why we could not do the much we are doing now was because we were in PPA and PPA was a political party owned by one family and they used it to emasculate the government in power because I was in PPA. They were actually dictating what was happening. As a governor, I would like to appoint my commissioners, but they will bring a list for you and tell you to announce. Will you tolerate that as a governor? You wanted to embark on a project and they would tell you no, maybe so as not to outshine any other person. The major constraint I had was being in PPA.

Couldn’t it be that the PDP wanted to frustrate you because you were in PPA? Was your funding tampered with then?

No! We got our due funds. You should also know that, as a party in the opposition, it wasn’t easy for me. But my personal disposition with our current President ,who was the Vice President then, helped. The major problem then was that I was in PPA. You can now see the difference. Since I left PPA, these things that I have achieved within the two years of my second tenure, for sure, if you have seen all my projects, have surpassed what those who stayed here for eight years did. I can point at some of the things I have done; some of them you have seen. Those that have been here before can point at business empires that are their own. That was their achievement. That is the difference. I am not a businessman. I have come here to work for the people. That is why you see the foundations we are laying. My only constraint now is fund because nobody calls me on phone and says this is what you are going to do or not. I am a godfather to myself.

Before now, Abia State had been threatened by kidnapping. How did you end the menace?

That magic is my secret and like we say, it is security. You don’t discuss it before journalists or else, these hoodlums are all around. If I say it and you write it, they will say, oh, is that it? And they will go and find another means of countering it, bringing back another method, which will make me to start fighting back. So, those secrets are what they are – my weapons. Except maybe, any of my colleagues who come to me and ask me how I did it. Of course, it is difficult. One or two persons have come to me and I said, do this or that. You remember we were the first persons in the Southeast to ban commercial motorcyclists as a means of transportation. We saw that it was Okada that was used by kidnappers to run into the bush. Today, our efforts in that direction have paid off because those who were riding Okada are happier today with tricycles and it is safer too. Since we stopped Okada transport, go to Obioma Ward at the Federal Medical Centre, you don’t see people with their legs hanging for months. One doctor congratulated me for making their jobs easier. It is going round. Other states are doing that. That one you cannot hide it but there are secret ones that we don’t reveal.

Is it true that you spent so much money to end kidnapping?

The kidnapping era was my worst period here. In the first instance, I didn’t cause kidnapping. It was unknown to us in this part of the world. In Abia State, what we knew before were things like armed robbery, murder and the like. But kidnapping came when I became governor and it became a serious challenge for me. By the time it came, we haven’t got the technology or wherewithal to handle it and it became a serious challenge. Abia’s own was out of proportion to the extent that they were using Abia as an example and our enemies cashed in on that – those who didn’t want this government to stand. At that time, if a rat missed in Abia, it was front-page news for even newspapers owned by an Abia State indigene. The thing was blown out of proportion and criticisms were coming from everywhere and as the man in charge, you will feel highly demoralised, especially that time they kidnapped 15 kids in Aba and a journalist. For the first time kidnapping went on the CNN. Who went and put it there? How many kidnapping incidents have we seen on CNN? It was just to discredit the government. But then, it brought out the indomitable fighting spirit in us to fight. God came and brought ideas. Tactics were coming in numbers and we were using them one after the other. Some were working, others were not. But today, you see our state is a model. Anybody who wants to do any case study on kidnapping comes here to learn from us. It is one of the achievements we have made that have elevated this state and myself to the highest pedestal; that we are able to forestall kidnapping because another cankerworm that is worse than kidnapping; it is Boko Haram. So, the fact that we overcame this kidnap saga is a plus for this state. That’s why I have said that I can stop all projects to invest all the money I have here on security to make sure that we are safe. That is the first thing because it is dangerous for any government that fails in that. Some thought we would not overcome because some of kidnappers were being sponsored. Some were sponsored and people were coming to take money from us by 419 means. Some highly placed persons came and told us they knew the kidnappers, that I should bring money. I gave N20m and the following day, they kidnapped 10 people at Osisioma.

naijanewsreelity..com/2013/01/photonews-women-development-and-skill.html?spref=fbNnamdi Ogidi-Nwankpa .....only a blind man will say he has not seen the change in Abia state...kudos to Abia state government

just click here and see things for urself T.A is working,only the blind will say he has not seen anything : naijanewsreelity..com/2013/01/photonews-women-development-and-skill.html?spref=fbNnamdi Ogidi-Nwankpa

Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji has said that his administration is determined to sustain security in the state even if it requires suspending all other projects, emphasizing the strategic role security has played in stimulating economic activities and peace in Abia.

The Governor declared this in Umuahia on Saturday 19th January, 2013 while responding to questions at the Citizens’ Forum of the National Good Governance Tour.

Governor Orji recalled that Abia was a ‘kidnap state’ but when he sought the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan, the President did not hesitate to deploy more military personnel to the state. “Soldiers from Ohafia barrack have been placed at different parts of Abia State to ensure security”, the Governor stated.

“We will be remembered as a government that gave security to the people” Chief Orji added.

In the area of education, he said the performance of Abia students at national competitions tells the story on its own of what the state government is doing for its youths in the sector. “We are doing very well in the area of education we have free primary to secondary education, free transportation for students, free textbooks as well as returned the schools to the missionaries”.

He also said the youths in the state are also being empowered in the area of paying school fees, scholarships, provision of brand new vehicles and motorcycles adding that over 4,500 youths have been empowered by the state. He noted that ASOPADEC is working and has even provided brand new SUVs for traditional rulers.

“We are paying school fees, WAEC fees and University fees as well as granting scholarships to Abia State students. By the performance of our students everywhere, you’ll know we are doing well in education. Abia students must be found in the top 10 of Nigerian Law School and in medicine”, he declared.

On construction of the road leading to the Geometrics Power Plant in Aba, he said he has promised Prof. Barth Nnaji that it would be done free of charge to encourage economic development of the state. He said he was not expecting any refund from the Federal Government because he did not take permission from it before embarking on the road project.

He equally stated that his government has invested more money in Aba than any other city. Governor Orji said contracts have been awarded for the Abia-Owerri road at the sum of N1.8billion and the Aba-Port Harcourt road at N1.7billion. He said 16 contracts were awarded within 1 month for internal roads and 4 have been completed.

Speaking also on appointments, the Governor said appointments in the state are based on qualifications and competence and not influenced by sentiments and god-fatherism in the spirit of upholding dignity.

Explaining the rationale for placing embargo on employment in the state civil service the Governor said the state could not bite more than it could chew considering the lean funds it has to spend. He however stated that employment is streamlined in a way that those who would add value to the state’s economy would be recruited.

He said people would appreciate the President more when he leaves office as the various transformational programmes and reforms of the Federal Government are bound to succeed.

The Governor said he has directed Local Governments to submit payroll of workers to the State Auditor General to process payments, stressing that Abia State Government was not owing any civil servant in the state.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku said for progress to be achieved, Security, Law and Order are needed.

He said from June 2013, Aba, Umuahia and surroundings will have uninterruptable power supply. The Minister said between March and June, all 3 turbines will be fired at Geometric Power Plant. “Abia State is headed in the right direction under the present administration”, Mr. Maku said.

“We will follow up on all the contractors awarded contracts for all the roads in the South East. We are not here for sightseeing. We are here to assess the level of development in all states of the country.

“We have filed a report against the contractor of the PHCN (TCN) Aba sub-transmission station on the transformer that is not working”, the Information Minister stated.

when you decide to crucify a person be sure u are crucifying based on his discretion that is right.....but what am seeing here that some people are just heaping blames on T.A,but i must tell u guys that crucify T.A ,we are not being fare becos T.A been so outstanding,delivering dividends of democracy...am happy with the way things are going in Abia state....am confident that by the time T.A leaves office there will be many things he will be remembered of.....

T.A is a security expert
he is doing great ,only haters will say he is not working

T.A Orji is the man of the ppl

T.A is in the right direction now,we all are saying ...carrying on...and do not lag not get distracted.......