₦airaland Forum

TRULY A MOTHER INDEED

Abia Gov`s wife distributes 850 empowerment items.

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

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

Another health sector first in Abia State

ALL is now set for the Abia State government to score another first as usual 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.

The 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

Another health sector first in Abia State

ALL is now set for the Abia State government to score another first as usual 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.

The 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

TAO accepts OUKs challenge to answer him after 2015.

TAO has willfully elected to serve as prosecution witness against OUK to make the job of EFCC easy and recover billions of Abia money converted to OUKs SLOK GROUP 9787945 (remember that no.) Prison no. on our minds now.
OUK are you there?

The Good lord has already liberated us from occultism and greed. Let us pray that God will have mercy on there soul for knowing belatedly that there is GOD. Pray for OUK

Enyimba dedicates award to Governor Orji

Chairman of Enyimba International FC of Aba, Felix Anyansi Agwu has dedicated to the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji, last weekend’s award as the Coolest Nigerian Football Club by the BusinessDay Generation Next Survey. The survey and award ceremony was a collaboration of BusinessDay Newspaper and HDI Youth Marketers, a brand support and marketing company.

The survey polled over 15, 000 youths in different parts of the country to determine the best brands that appeal to the over 70 percent youth population of the country. Enyimba emerged the most popular brand amongst this demographic segment of the country ahead of Kano Pillars and Ocean Boys.

Receiving the award on behalf of Enyimba Chairman at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Harry Iwuala the Marketing Consultant to Enyimba FC described it as very deserving and a reciprocation of the passion and commitment of the Abia State governor to uplifting Enyimba and football in the state.

In a prepared speech read on behalf of the Enyimba Chairman, Iwuala said, “this award is dedicated to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji who has been very passionate about the development of football as a platform for the empowerment of Abia youths and job creation for adults. He has demonstrated this through adequate funding of the club and the team will do more to thank him by winning major trophies this season”.

He then thanked the organizers for including football club followership in their survey which he said “will contribute in building positive perception for the domestic league clubs in the country”.

My govt beyond blackmail – Orji


ABUJA—Governor Theodore of Abia State has said that his government was beyond blackmail following what he described as politically motivated criticisms by the opposition, which finds it difficult to believe the pace of development in the state.

In a statement in Abuja, yesterday, by his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Mr. Ben Onyechere, said: “We will remain resolute and undaunted in our determination to uplift the status of the state by changing the land marks of underdevelopment for which it was hitherto known.

“This habitual peddlers of falsehood have lost touch with reality based on their previous assumption that Abia political space was their private estate. There is no need to continually engage in sing songs over the achievements of the Governor Orji’s administration because we owe this sworn enemies of Abia State no apologies or explanation.

“The contraction by one detractor that his village is not developed by government is the dream of failure on behalf of his sponsor, who reigned for eight years in Abia.

“The sponsors of this hired funeral criers, whose major grouse is the loss of political power to the people of Abia, have refused to understand why the majority of Abia people have continued to embrace and support the trend of fortune that is currently bequeathed to the state by the Orji’s administration.

“This mischief is nothing but an attempt to divert the attention of economic crime agencies over the squander and conversion of Abia funds for their private enterprises in the past.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/my-govt-beyond-blackmail-orji/

What did Uzor Kalu do for Abians? - Abia Youth Movement Ask

1. Bought ships from Abia money which has been repossessed by the banks.

2. Bought planes from Abia money which has been grounded.

3. Set up Northgate Bank which license was revoked by OBJ. All from Abia money.

4. Mama Okija bought a 5Million used house in Sugarland Houston, guess from where Abia coffers.

Those that live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Kalu stop being envious of Ochendo.

Kalu stop being obsessed with Ikuku. It's a bad idea.

Kalu can you explain your obsession with Ikuku? How are the mighty fallen.
The once so called " Miri yiri Enyi " fighting with someone in his view as "insignificant as Ikuku"

Ikuku was not the one that closed down your businesses, your greed did.

Gone are the days you terrorize Abians. Nobody is afraid of you anymore.
Deal with that.

The many battles he fought and the rivers of controversy he swam to get to this level of his inspiring political life are sufficient to derail even the lion-hearted .But what has kept Theodoe Orji going as a politician and leader is adherence to the principles of truth and unwavering faith in God.T.A has set a new pedestal for good governance ,now recognized as the socio-economic projects popularized as Ochendo Legal Projects. He has provided all the foundation structures, which other states take for granted, but which have been conspicuously absent in Abia state since its creation. The governor has effectively tackled the menace of insecurity ,which for many years brought the state to its knees. The entire state is now wearing a brand new look by virtue of the legacy projects ,many still under various construction stages of completion . investors who fled the states in the wake of heightened insecurity have since returned and many more are thronging the state in search of potential areas of investment.
Many people were expressing fears over what will become of the developmental projects he is still building across all the 17 local governments of the state.But Ochendo has given them the assurance that he will not leave behind a legacy of abandoned projects As a man who rose from the position of of clerk to becoming a permanent secretary, he understands the importance of having functional infrastructure for the smooth running of a state .
Before mounting the saddle of leadership as the third executive governor of Abia state ,Orji had acquired vast experience in the management of men and resources and that explains why he was able to record monumental achievements in spite of the lean resources accruing to the state. There is no part of the state that has not left the impact of his legacy project , which no doubt ,he will e remembered for . Beyond that ,T.A ORJI will be remembered as a chosen visionary leader who transforms Abia state for posterity.

Governor T.A. Orji commends the Super Eagles
Abia State Governor, Chief T.A. Orji has commended the Super Eagles for qualifying for the finals of the 2014 African nations championship at the expense of hard fighting Elephants of Cote D' Ivoire.
Speaking through his chief Press Secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue, Chief Orji described the qualification of the Eagles as highly spectacular and historic.
Chief Orji who said that the Keshi- led boys have done Nigeria proud, stated that as the defending champions, it could have been disastrous if the Eagles failed to pick the final ticket.

The sports loving Governor who congratulated president Jonathan for his support for the Eagles, charged Keshi and his boys not to be carried away by the present victory, instead, they should start early preparations to defend their title in South Africa in 2014 when the event starts.
He argued that Nigeria has remained the target of other nations in the continental soccer hence the need to prepare well.
Abia State Governor, Chief T.A. Orji has commended the Super Eagles for qualifying for the finals of the 2014 African nations championship at the expense of hard fighting Elephants of Cote D' Ivoire.
Speaking through his chief Press Secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue, Chief Orji described the qualification of the Eagles as highly spectacular and historic.
Chief Orji who said that the Keshi- led boys have done Nigeria proud, stated that as the defending champions, it could have been disastrous if the Eagles failed to pick the final ticket.

The sports loving Governor who congratulated president Jonathan for his support for the Eagles, charged Keshi and his boys not to be carried away by the present victory, instead, they should start early preparations to defend their title in South Africa in 2014 when the event starts.
He argued that Nigeria has remained the target of other nations in the continental soccer hence the need to prepare well.

@Mepounds,highlight the few dividends of democracy u felt during ORJI UZOR KALU's time as a governor,let us analyze them now...i hate sentiment

FACE THE FACT
By Hendrix Obi
Are we to say former governor of Abia state ,Orji Uzor Kalu knew what the people needed and he had the people at heart? The answer to that is ''NO''. Why has OUK started orchestrating a bogus good will speeches at various functions ? We have not forgotten that in his 8 years in the office ,OUK used state fund to establish slok airline,ship companies and enrich himself the more and cared less for the poor people of Abia state. But what remained assured is that prosperity will not exonerate nor forgive him;he grovel at the feet of the huge task,handed down to him as a governor .He did not possess answers to the problems encompassing people entrusted into his hands.He is a total FAILURE.OUK focused on personal interest by employing constricted and artful leadership styles and made no difference. T.A has been better than him ,gong forward and in all measures,so we hate hearing the issue of ORJI UZOR KALU. OUK never transmitted transformation through democratically organized process.Propaganda has eating deep into the system ORJI UZOR KALU,and hearing him come out to speak about Ndi Igbo makes me think he is just mocking the entire Igbo community. If good leadership must emerge, there should be a serious consideration to avoid a self-serving biased attitude when the people of Abia state is constantly faced with a serious challenge for survival. What OUK lacks is the true vocation of ideology. Despite posing as Controversial figurehead in Nigeria polity,OUK is never a man to be reckon with in Abia state because he did nothing which we may fall back at and remember him for good.He is an out-and-out failure in Abia state

DON NORMAN OBINNA: LIFE’S GREATEST MISTAKE
by Frankie James
To prove to the whole world that your tissues of lies against Abia State Government do not have colorations of parochial interest, pursuit of hate agenda and blackmail, I want you to swear by anything you hold sacred that you never called officials of Abia State Government from 08022794720 demanding for a bribe of Five Million naira (N5m) to enable you establish your magazine Spokesman (a news blog site) either which you would cause to be published heartrending lies against the State Government.
When the official called your bluff, you made good your threat by that senseless, moronic and half baked story about Abia State Government. I do not know whether to sympathize with you for your display of myopia or to pity your ignorance. There is just nothing normal about NORMAN. But for the Internet that has provided free platforms for idiots and imbeciles like you to publish their ineptitude, I know very well that the only media organization that would have employed you is the one they called LOLLY (Dauda the sexy guy) because you seem to be good in celebrated immorality. You did freely give information that you were a former editor of Compass. Now, if this is true, you need lessons on navigation because you are charting a dangerous wrong cause.
You obviously have the thinking power of a rock and the brain of a sponge, otherwise you would have known that no seasoned journalist would perpetuate mediocrity. With no intention of giving you any undeserved attention, I will offer you help.
You revealed how much States shared in Federal Allocations but did not tell us what portion of that amount accrued to Abia. According to you, “despite all these funds received, there is still a conspicuous absence of infrastructural development…”. Instead of demanding N5m, we will oblige you free ride to all the seventeen local governments in Abia where there are well over 250 primary health centres, conceived, built and equipped by the TAO led government in Abia. We will take you to places in Ossah, Ekeakpara, Umuola, Eluama, ebem, abiriba, umuola, ukaegbu, isuochi, mkpuka, arochukwu, alayi and indeed well over 100 communities with verifiable 100 projects making a bold statement that Abia is prudent in the management of resources.
In your estimation, nearly all the schools in Abia are dilapidated and collapsed. Yes, that was the situation on ground and frankly everywhere in Nigeria. Abia may be the worst until the strategic intervention by TAO. I have every reason at this point to believe that you are an INTERNET ABIAN else you would have also noted that the same Government College Umuahia you claimed the government abandoned has a thirty (30) classroom block constructed by TAO. You may also take a trip to Ndume Otuka Community Secondary School Ahiaeke Umuahia. It is a secondary school and not a University as you would think at first sight. If you knew Osusu Primary School, Aba North before now and visit there now; you would willfully ask God to end your life for trading in falsehood. Abayi Girls Secondary School is strategically located at the heart of Aba Owerri Road. May be the spirits who know all mortal consequences struck you with blindness, else you would have seen that gigantic edifice in that school which is another bold attempt to revamp education in Abia. May be, it was your slowpoke father that built the new classroom blocks at Tenant Road primary School Aba or the one at Ogbor Central School, Avonipupe Ubakala. This feat is replicated in virtually all communities in Abia. That Library at Ibeku High School is classic and you also need to visit the facility to upgrade from an idiot to a more reasonable being.
If you appreciate the level of decay before now, you would not open that your gutter, maggot ridden mouth to say that schools in Abia have all collapsed. You either live in the moon or have perpetually colored spectacles through which you see things.
May be the spirit of a failed N5m deal is still controlling you, else you would not have imagined that the LEGACY PROJECTS do not exist. According to you, “they are mostly uncompleted buildings and some existence (sic) old buildings…”. You see why I said you are a fool? For your information, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, the Honorable Minister of Health was in Abia on Monday 22nd July 2013 to commission a Dialysis Centre in an “old” building. Visuals of that ceremony telecast live on AIT on that 22nd would prove to the world that apart from being daft, you are also criminally demented. While waiting for the N5m to click, come to Umuahia and take another look at that “Alaoma Hospital Mortuary” and give us a health institution within and around our sister states with facilities and structures as seen. It is now obvious that you never saw the “old Alaoma mortuary” and would definitely not appreciate how much effort the government invested in cash and thinking. You will also need to visit Amachara and appreciate the 100 bed ward which maybe your father conceived and built to provide quality health care.
There is one observable common trait amongst all critics of Abia State Government and that has been the usefulness of those LEGACY PROJCETS. As vague, thoughtless and meaningless as that argument is, this nincompoop who calls himself DON NORMAN OBINNA insists that the projects do not exist in the first place. For the avoidance of doubt, I will refer you to all critics of the government because collectively and individually they have appraised such monumental legacy projects as the New Government House, International Conference Centre, Workers Secretariat, Abia State Specialist Hospital & Diagnostic Centre, Ultra Modern Market, Umuahia Industrial Market, Amachara Specialist Hospital, High Court Complex just to mention but a few. These projects were conceived and either fully constructed or under construction by the TAO administration. You most likely have a problem with English Language else you would have realized the real import of EXISTENCE.
In your pursuit of vainglory, you put a question mark on the veracity of the claim that 4,500 Abia Youths receive stipends from the State monthly. You wanted the State to give you list of names. As who? As what? For you to up your take on the bribe to be collected from the State government? Because you are a criminal, the State would not be under any obligation to disclose such vital information to you. You may in turn seek to extort monies from the beneficiaries. There are about eight banks managing these accounts. Do a check and find out in all how many of these graduates receive monthly stipends.
Abia State government has in place the most potent and workable Youth Enpowerment Scheme. Others gave buses on hire purchase. Abia gave 238 (and still counting) free. Those in neighboring States who gave on hire purchase forced those youths to go on exile. We know one of the States where some of the cab operators turned to criminals because of the stringent conditions of the hire purchase scheme. We will not mention names but what Abia State did was to work out an enduring formular to ensure that indigent youths who are employable (and willing to ride Taxis) were given these vehicles. This method is already yielding fruits. As at the last count, two States had sent technical teams to understudy what we are doing.
I cannot find any records of your works anywhere. It is possible that you are useless to both self and community.
Abia State is work in progress and would not be distracted by senseless, baseless, thoughtless and meaningless fabrication of lies against her. You will need to find more useful things to do and do well to appreciate the enormity of energy being dissipated (for real) in laying the foundation for smooth take off of Abia State. If a State is still talking of a Conference Centre, Government House, Workers’ Secretariate, Ultra Modern Market and a High Court Complex etc in the 21st century, I think the government should be applauded for having the courage to start afresh. Abia just started afresh and what would happen in the comming months would be a further authentication that Abia is working

Abia in a march of unimaginable Health Reformation


It has been said for the umpteen times 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.

Before the inception of the administration of Governor Theodore Orji, Abia State health sector suffered untold neglect. Access to primary, secondary, and tertiary health care was difficult. All the State-owned health care centres were not only understaffed, but staff morale was at it lowest ebb. Cost of drugs and other medical services was beyond the reach of the ordinary Abians.

Consequently, maternal and child health indices in the state was embarrassingly poor compared with the national statistics.

However the depth of the rot in the health sector did not intimidate Governor Theodore Orji who immediately rolled up his sleeves and went to work. A strong believer in the dictum that health is wealth, Ochendo as he is fondly called decided to make affordable healthcare a cardinal focus of his people oriented administration. Today, given the first class facilities he has provided at all levels, he has completely transformed Abia State into a veritable destination for medical tourism as well as given succor to the masses of his grateful citizenry.

Hence, Governor Theodore Orji has excellently distinguished himself in empowering Abians through massive provision of health services as follows.

Construction and equipment of more than 250 health centers in the 291 political wards in the state. Each of the health facilities has, in compliance with the millennium Development Goals. MDG, been provided with generators, a borehole and a tricycle to convey patients to and fro the health centers.
In addition, community ambulances have been provided in all the local government areas in the state such that a patient who cannot be helped at the primary care level could easily be transported to the nearest secondary or tertiary health care centre.
Provision of over 18 administrative vehicles for primary health care activities in the local government areas as well as
Operation of free maternal services for all pregnant mothers I the state up to six weeks.
Similarly, a functional secondary health care system is in place in each of the 17 local government areas. At present, over 10 hospital projects are ongoing in the state. Services at Amachara Hospital in Umuahia South Local Government have improved. In addition, a storey building has been constructed for house officers alongside the two-storey building complex meant for resident doctors. Besides renovated the theatre, work has been completed at the accident and emergency units of the hospital. The General Hospital in Ohafia, Okikpe and Arochukwu are being expanded. The Government is building a 100-bed hospital in Arochukwu, just as Obingwa Local government, which never had a hospital, is now boasting of a functional hospital. The 100-bed hospital is being replicated in all the 17 LGAs in the state.
The highpoint of the governor’s intervention in the health sector is at the tertiary level where, Abia specialist Hospital and Diagnostic centre built in the record time by Governor Theodore Orji, boasts of world-class and state –of –the-art equipment for diagnosis and treatment. The state government entered into partnership with Me-Cure Health services of India in the provision of the facility and manpower training. Today, many Nigerians who would have been flown abroad for emergency medical treatment are patronizing the Abia Diagnostic centers located in Umuahia and Abia state university Teaching Hospital Aba. The state is also partnering pharmaceutical companies such as Neimeth and Emzor to provide affordable and quality drugs to it citizens
In addition, the state has strengthened its community health insurance, which it developed in collaboration with the national Health Insurance scheme. Three communities in the state-Ohafia, Umuahia North and Osisioma are in the pilot programme. The aim is to make people participate and make health cheaper and drugs available
Upgrading of the Amachara General Hospital as part of Abia state teaching hospital and diagnostic centre, which has secured accreditation from the medical Examination Board for training of House Officers.
Construction and equipment of a functional chest clinic in partnership with the Agbami partners of Chevron oil field.
Organization of series of medical mission under the office of Her Excellency, involving screening of communicable diseases, treatment and control of breast cancer, eye diseases and surgeries.
Partnering with MTN foundations in the MTN yellow doctors programme.
Initiating a partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company in the training of the State midwives.
Reconstruction of the School of Health Technology, Aba
Ensuring the continued accreditation of the Abia State University Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
The provision of Health Insurance Scheme Services for the state workers.
Almost completing the process for the provision of modern and highly equipped Eye centre within the Abia State Specialist & Diagnostic Hospital Umuahia. From these and other indications, it is obvious that Governor Theodore Orji has blazed a trial in the health sector. Today, history will once again be made as the Honorable Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, joins Abians to inaugurate its first ever Public Dialysis Centre. Henceforth, kidney patients from Abia and environs can now heave a sigh of relief, as they no longer need to travel to distant lands. The Abia Dialysis Centre has a record seven machines with special provision for different categories of persons including HIV, Hepatitis and Tuberculosis patients.
One man, the Ochendo of Abia State, whose mission of giving a better life to his people is unprecedented, has painstakingly provided all these facilities. Governor Orji has been able to achieve all these phenomenal projects because he first made Abia one of the most secure states in the Nation, a feat that earned him international awards as Pillar of Security.

On a memorable day like this, we salute the kind-hearted gentleman, His Excellency, Chief Dr. Sir Theodore Ahamefula Orji, Ochendo Global.

GOV T.A ORJI : “We will drastically reduce the number of people going to India for medical treatment and also save the huge amount of money being spent. We are also partnering with them in eye treatment. We have entered an understanding with them; we have made some money available to them.

“If there is any sector we have made tremendous achievement it is in the health sector. We have nine 100-bed hospitals going on in state now.

“I have come to serve you; I have come not to deceive you. If I am a deceiver, you will know. I am not a deceiver. My yes is my yes, my no is my no” - His Excellency, Dr. T.A Orji speaking at the Commissioning ceremony of the Ultra modern Dialysis center in Umuahia on Monday.

Orji Urges France To Review Strident Visa Conditions

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has appealed to the French government to ease its stringent visa conditions for Abians seeking to travel to the country.

The governor made the appeal at the weekend in Umuahia when the French Consul-General to Nigeria, Francois Sastourne, visited him at the Government House, Umuahia.

Orji observed that many Abia residents who wish to travel to France find it difficult to do so, and opt for other countries. The governor said that he was not making case for fraudulent visa applicants but genuine ones, and advised that in such situations clarification from the state government should be sought

Orji, who used the occasion to woo French investors to the state, said Abia has many areas that would be of interest to French businessmen.

According to him, there are many profitable areas where French investors can individually or in partnership with government or individuals invest as the state “is now an investment destination for many people.”

In his remarks, the consul-general said he was in the state to explore ways of promoting cooperation between Abia and France.
- See more at: http://leadership.ng/news/210713/orji-urges-france-review-strident-visa-conditions#sthash.5popJ05f.dpuf

Abia in a march of unimaginable Health Reformation
By Eddie Onuzuruike

It has been said for the umpteen times 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 bosom 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 bosom 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.
image.jpeg

Abia in a march of unimaginable Health Reformation
By Eddie Onuzuruike

It has been said for the umpteen times 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.
image.jpeg


Eddie Onuzuruike.

Optometrists Commend Health Care Devt in Abia

With the phenomenal transformation of the health care delivery system witnessed in Abia State over the last two years, the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) has recognised the state as a model, saying Abia has taken giant strides in the primary, secondary and tertiary health care services.

The optometrists were impressed that the administration of Governor Theodore Orji has built and equipped over 250 health centres across the 17 local governments, three specialist hospitals with state-of-the-art diagnostic centre components at Aba and Umuahia.

A dialysis centre has also been added for treatment of renal diseases while 100 bed hospitals are located at Arochukwu, Ohafia, Umuahia South and Osisioma Local Government Areas. Orji has promised that the additional 100 bed hospitals under construction in eight other locations would be inaugurated before the end of the year.

The commendations for these achievements poured in at the 37th AGM/Scientific Conference of NOA, which ended at the weekend in Umuahia, with notable experts in the field delivering papers and lectures aimed at further improving capacity of the professionals in the field.

In recognition of the remarkable development of health care services and infrastructure in Abia, NOA honoured the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji, with the Prime Ambassador of Health award, urging him not to relent in his efforts to make quality health care accessible and affordable to Abians.

National President of NOA, Dr. Ikechukwu Nwakuche, said the award conferred on the Abia governor did not fully capture his “contribution in providing phenomenal leadership for the advancement of health care.”

According to Nwakuche, “For him, good health is tantamount to wealth and for that reason the preservation of the security and property of Abians as well as the provision of adequate health care have come to take the centre stage in Abia development agenda though the legacy projects agenda.”

Governor Orji, in his response, explained that his policy of providing quality health care to the people was informed by his experience as “home boy” who has witnessed how diseases have ravaged families, making some people blind, crippled or sending them to untimely deaths.

He said his infrastructural development projects would be meaningless if the health of the people was not factored into the programme, pointing out that he would be more fulfilled by building health institutions that people can access and get answers to their health problems.

“I’ll be happy if I am a governor of healthy people and not of sick people. It is only the healthy that can enjoy the dividends of democracy,” he said, adding that with good health people would be empowered to ask for their rights and hold government accountable.”

when people talk lies,just watch them and utter nothing ,then allow them to talk some more....the truth speaks for its self.T.A is working

obinalihe: Abia government insists it is not marginalized by FG


Abia State Government has said it does not see itself being marginalized by the Federal Government in the area of locating tertiary institutions.

Governor Theodore Orji, who said this Monday evening, shortly after returning from China, said that the state was expecting the Federal Government to take over some of the state’s tertiary institutions.

According to Governor Orji, the state Government had already written to the Federal Government requesting it to take over some of the institutions.

The institutions, Orji disclosed include the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba; Abia State College of Education, Arochukwu and the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, (ABSUTH).

The governor said that the state was very optimistic that the Federal Government would take over the institutions and run them.

He added that the state was eagerly waiting for a favourable response from the Federal Government on the request.

Presently, the only Federal tertiary institution in the state is Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, near Umuahia, the state capital.

On the trip to China, Governor Orji announced that it was a huge success.

According to him, the trip had opened way for Chinese investors to come and invest in the state.

Orji disclosed that he met several investors with interest in various areas and assured them of the favourable investment environment available to them.

He expressed hope that very soon some of them would visit the state.

Besides, Orji said that Abia state would benefit from the bilateral agreements Nigeria signed with the China, especially http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/07/16/abia-government-insists-it-is-not-marginalized-by-fg/ in the railway services.

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.

T.A has comprehended what democratic leadership is and how democracy can be ran to improve development in the wider sense.Leadership starts with nerve-racking passion that seizes you, and will commove the gradation mentality, and this phenomenal apathy varies with leader to leader.
Governor T.A has the mental resources and intellectual gradients which determines how he responds to the challenges and this has yielded much advantages and brought lot of change, either to sustain, transformation, retain growth and uphold the validity of progress Abia state over a period of time

Governance in Abia and who made it better

It is true that governance in Abia state has procreated a lot of challenges, consequentially, greatest if the greatest. A few like T.A has comprehended what democratic leadership is and how democracy can be ran to improve development in the wider sense.Leadership starts with nerve-racking passion that seizes you, and will commove the gradation mentality, and this phenomenal apathy varies with leader to leader.
Governor T.A has the mental resources and intellectual gradients which determines how he responds to the challenges and this has yielded much advantages and brought lot of change, either to sustain, transformation, retain growth and uphold the validity of progress Abia state over a period of time.

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.

Unlike T.A Orji, some if not all those who were before him were focused on personal interest by employing constricted and artful leadership styles and made no difference. T.A has demonstrated his administration without cynicism, and such an operative system is a necessity to achieving a critical project. He has manifested a firm reliance and his relationship-oriented manner has create the affinity amongst the people of Abia state.

T.A is a leader who is not arrogance, he is neither hostile nor dominance. he is possesses the character of a leader that does not create deep-seated antagonism between his aides and his underlings . T.A ORJI is a leader who is ever ready to endure the trashed heaped on his head, and he must not revile.

The past leaders in Abia had assumed that we do not have any dreams to be fulfilled, they lost track of the rudimentary process which was important to embark on and lead us to our destiny. Propaganda ate deep into their system,selfish interest brought down their values , and the significant of democratic leadership was not met and which made them to fail in their very tenures.

Not too long again before the fruitless tenure of Orji Uzor Kalu collapsed under the weight of repression , dictatorship and autocratic.-he turned the Abia state to a political laboratory and came up with a grandiose political transition that was described as the most non-democratically and non-profitable in of its era which produced no democracy. An administration which created the dullardity of no transformation. OUK's dual tenures were an industry whose business experience held no water in democratic terrain. Obviously he was unable to diffuse the polity in good manner.

But after his eviction from office by constitutional duration, came a man we should support his efforts ,that are spontaneously bringing the desired socio- economic development. T.A Orji made the different and with total consummation we will encourage him to observe continuity and be more clinical in avoidance of uneven disposition of democratic and political influence in order to balance energetic sense of purpose with a concern for the service of others.

Abia State Government has directed all Mass Transit Companies both private and government owned to relocate to the new Ohiya motor terminal along Enugu Port-Harcourt express way as their new loading bay.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary Ugochukwu Emezue, this directive has become necessary as government is making all efforts to ensure that these mass transit companies operate from a decent and a more conducive environment.

According to Emezue, operators of the mass transit scheme have been given three weeks to relocate to the new Umuahia Bus Terminal at Ohiya.

Government insists that those who fail to comply with this directive may have themselves to blame, as offenders will face the wrath of the law. Source : www.abiastate.gov.ng

2015 too far for OUK...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

H.E. T.A. Orji meets with Abians in China during his visit to China with Mr. President.
Governor T.A. Orji in China

Abia State Governor Chief Theodore Orji has urged people of the State residing in China to be good ambassadors. In a statement signed by the CPS, Ugo Emezue. The Governor in a town hall meeting, told Abians in China to be law abiding and shun the urge to trade drugs. According to Chief Orji, Abians are noted for integrity, hard work, and excellence as such they should not do anything that will bring shame to the State.

Chief Kingsley Megwara in China with H.EHe pleaded with those of them who have factories in Guangzhou and other cities in China to replicate it in Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia. He assured them of security back home even as reeled out his numerous legacy projects that elicited thunderous applause. Governor stated that he would 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.

The Special Adviser on Diaspora Matters, Kingsley Megwara and Chairman Chief Eleanya Okoroji accompanied the Governor visit to China

Governance in Abia and who made it better

By Patrick Obinalihe

It is true that governance in Abia state has procreated a lot of challenges, consequentially, greatest if the greatest. A few like T.A has comprehended what democratic leadership is and how democracy can be ran to improve development in the wider sense.Leadership starts with nerve-racking passion that seizes you, and will commove the gradation mentality, and this phenomenal apathy varies with leader to leader.
Governor T.A has the mental resources and intellectual gradients which determines how he responds to the challenges and this has yielded much advantages and brought lot of change, either to sustain, transformation, retain growth and uphold the validity of progress Abia state over a period of time.

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.

Unlike T.A Orji, some if not all those who were before him were focused on personal interest by employing constricted and artful leadership styles and made no difference. T.A has demonstrated his administration without cynicism, and such an operative system is a necessity to achieving a critical project. He has manifested a firm reliance and his relationship-oriented manner has create the affinity amongst the people of Abia state.

T.A is a leader who is not arrogance, he is neither hostile nor dominance. he is possesses the character of a leader that does not create deep-seated antagonism between his aides and his underlings . T.A ORJI is a leader who is ever ready to endure the trashed heaped on his head, and he must not revile.

The past leaders in Abia had assumed that we do not have any dreams to be fulfilled, they lost track of the rudimentary process which was important to embark on and lead us to our destiny. Propaganda ate deep into their system,selfish interest brought down their values , and the significant of democratic leadership was not met and which made them to fail in their very tenures.

Not too long again before the fruitless tenure of Orji Uzor Kalu collapsed under the weight of repression , dictatorship and autocratic.-he turned the Abia state to a political laboratory and came up with a grandiose political transition that was described as the most non-democratically and non-profitable in of its era which produced no democracy. An administration which created the dullardity of no transformation. OUK's dual tenures were an industry whose business experience held no water in democratic terrain. Obviously he was unable to diffuse the polity in good manner.

But after his eviction from office by constitutional duration, came a man we should support his efforts ,that are spontaneously bringing the desired socio- economic development. T.A Orji made the different and with total consummation we will encourage him to observe continuity and be more clinical in avoidance of uneven disposition of democratic and political influence in order to balance energetic sense of purpose with a concern for the service of others. --by Patrick Obinalihe

Tap From Orji’s Experience On Security, Group Task FG

The New Mobile Police Officers' Mess erected by T. A. Orji's administration in 2013


A group, the Abia Renaissance Movement (ARM) has called on the Federal Government to tap from the experience and wisdom of Gov. Theodore Orjir in the areas of security, community engagement and conflict resolution in addressing the challenges at the centre.

The group, in a communiqué issued after its second Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Umuahia and signed by its President-General, Mr. Godwin Adindu, said that Nigeria needs the knowledge and wisdom that Gov. Orji brought to bear in tackling issues in his state at the national level.

ARM added that “the governor’s liberation initiatives have been vindicated by his many achievements and the stability that he brought to the Abia polity and that this should be replicated at the centre”.

According to the group, apart from his infrastructural renewal drives, the governor engendered a new mental orientation towards power and politics in the state and gave freedom to the people. “The liberation was a complete revolution. There is now in Abia a true representative democracy. There is harmony. There are no more human deities of power,” the communiqué reads.

The group said that the principled style administration of Orji has raised the bar in governance and set standards that must be sustained, adding that it is the mandate of ARM to ensure that nobody or group would ever truncate the spirit and the tide of the liberation.

“As a mass movement, we are keenly watching the political process not only of Abia but of the entire nation. But, our particular interest is in Abia. We will take to the streets and confront any system that tries to truncate the will and the course of our progress and whose style constitutes a throw-back to our dark ages,” ARM emphasized.

The group also declared that Abia experienced “twelve years of backwardness” in the hand of the previous rulers of the state and thanked Orji for bringing the much needed change.

On the state of the nation, ARM said Nigeria must remain a united country despite the present challenges and called on the sponsors of the spate of violence in the country to repent as their activities have brought untold hardship to innocent and hapless citizens of this country and have also generated a lot of tension in the countr

Governor Orji assures foreign investors of safe business environment in Abia


The governor stated this in China on Wednesday.

The Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, on Wednesday in China assured foreign investors of adequate security for business in the state.

In a statement signed by Ugo Emezue, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Orji, who is in China with President Jonathan, gave the assurance when he wooed investors to the state.

Mr. Orji, while maintaining that Abia is one of the safest states in the country, said that Abia is a virgin market for foreign investments in various sectors including oil and gas, housing, education, agriculture, transportation, commerce and industry, health and tourism.

The governor’s statement to Chinese investors occurs on the day a report by CLEEN Foundation listed Abia as one of the stable states with the lowest risk of threat towards the 2015 election.

Mr. Orji said improved security and infrastructure, as well as tax breaks count as great incentives for prospective investors. He said the agility of the state’s work force and their cordial relationship with foreigners was other benefits of investing in Abia.

The governor had also revealed in Lagos before taking off to China that the state government is set to build a world ophthalmology Centre in the capital city, Umuahia.

Group seeks end to Imo, Abia dispute

An Aba based pressure group, Civil Liberty Organization, has urged Imo and Abia State governments to end their dispute and reopen the transport loading bays in their respective states in the interest of Nigerians that patronize their services.

The chairman of the group, Dr. Charles Chinekezie, who spoke to Daily Trust in Aba, Abia State, condemned the lingering crisis between the two transport ministries, warning that the matter if neglected could be unhealthy for the co-existence of the two states. The two sister states have been on what could be termed an economic face off since this week as the Abia State government hit back at the Imo State government by banning the Imo Transport Company (ITC) from operating in any part of the state. The Imo government had earlier in May, allegedly ordered the closure of Abia-owned Abia Line Network Company (ALNC)’s motor park at Wetheral Road, Owerri.
http://dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/news-news/59015-group-seeks-end-to-imo-abia-dispute

Gov. T.A Orji Assures Chinese Investors of Adequate Security in Abia State.


Abia State a Governor Chief 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, Gov Orji who hosted a group of private investors in beijing maintained 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 said 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 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 opthamology equipment in lagos owned by MECURE, an indian firm. According to him the State Govt 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 Chief Press Secretary

Abia transport and Okorocha



> The Igbo’s vicious circle of self inflicted injury
> As a Deltan who was brought up in Enugu, schooled in Nsukka, and had business calls in Onitsha and Aba cities, I am proud of my Igbo origin and connection and feel very disturbed when the Igbos flounder. Newspaper reports of the show of shame which like a bad dream began in Imo and has now embroiled the Igbo states of Imo and Abia is frightening and may lead us into a huge joke if not quickly addressed.
> This led me into review of previous readings where Chief Orji Uzo Kalu made presentations exposing the relegation of the Igbos in the Nigerian Project. According to him, the North West has seven states while others have six. In terms of local governments, the South East also has the least - 95. The North West has 186 local government areas, North East 112, North Central 115, South West 138 and South-South 123.
> For the federal constituencies, which form the basis for election into the House of Representatives, the South East has 43 while the North West has 92, the North East 48, North Central 49, South West 71 and South-South 55.
> For Senatorial Districts, the North West tops with 21, the North Central, North East, South- South and South West all have 18 and the South East with the least, 15.’
> The imbalance according to the author permeats every political and economic indices vis-à-vis sharing of resources, low numerical strength in the Federal Executive Council, a yawning gap in the National Assembly et al. This stretches to the civil service, military, other uniformed jobs and the diplomatic missions.
> These disparities have been taken further to the ruler-ship of the country. While those from the North Central have ruled for 17 years, 11 months and 20 days as at the time of the address, the North West has occupied the country’s presidency for 13 years, 11 months and 10 days; the South West for 11 years, 10 months and eight days; the North East for five years, three months and 15 days; and the South- South for five years and 23 days.
> But for the South East, leading the country has only been for six months and 13 days. “The structural disparities are constitutionally entrenched (please see the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999), thus their grave implications for Ndigbo are beyond the primary questions of inequity and marginalization.’
> ‘With unequal voice in the Federal Executive Council, in the National Assembly, on the federal judicial benches and a vast array of other fora in which the Igbo find themselves.’
> Having read these catalogues of injustice and institutionalized hostility to the Igbo race, why should Ndi Igbo themselves work hard to be their own worst enemies? Is this a jinx? Can’t Ndi Igbo solve their problems without washing their dirty linens in the public? Where are the so-called Igbo Leaders?
> Eyewitness accounts have it that the Executive Governor of Imo State Owelle Rochas Okorocha stormed no 5 Wederal Road, Owerri, like a trooper, stopping his convoy with blaring siren and screeching tyres on April 19, 2013, and jumped into the business premises and loading bay of Abia Line Networks.
> The Owerri Manager of Abia Line network who was pleasantly surprised at such August visit scampered nervously around to hail and genuflect to the visitor of Imo University, but was rudely shocked by the fire breathing pronouncements that the transport company’s premises has been shut down without good reasons. Oddly enough, Peace Mass Transit and Rivers State transport companies on the sides were left to function.
> According to Abia Line officials who complied immediately like good citizens and made haste to relocate to another site at MCC Road, their efforts were frustrated almost after a seeming consummated negotiation was thwarted at the last moment when ink was almost put to paper. As it appears in this circumstance, some questions are pertinent.
> The initial reasons flimsy as it were accused Abia Line of environmental neglect in the premises. How was this environmental flagrancy ascertained?
> Was this finding on a cleanup day?
> Have there been warnings and surcharges, fines and possible arraignments in any environmental court, by Ministry of Environment that reserves the authority to prosecute?
> Obviously, there is more to it than meets the eye. Why would it be the governor, busy as it seems that will carry out the eviction of a sister state where direct channels exist at top levels? Strangely this occurred without notice and days of grace allowed by law where necessary?
> Mr Ugochukwu Uweke, the General Manager of Abia Line Network in a press conference bemoaned his efforts to resolve this amicably as he wrote and submitted a protest to the office of his Excellency, Owelle Anayor Rochas Okorocha, which his office signed and received on June 26, 2013 and has refused to address. As he claimed, till date no response or the suggested palliative in form of relocation or assignment of a virgin site has been made.
> Incongruously enough, theses are sister states. In truth, Abia Line Network grew out of Imo Transport at the creation of Abia in 1991 when movable assets were cordially shared. This was so thorough that the first fleet of Abia Lines came from Imo Transport where they allowed Abia choicier vehicles since they could not partake in the immovable assets and since then, have operated fruitfully, amiably and collaboratively to the extent of mutually loaning out vehicles when the occasion called for it?
> As many asked, why the hostility ensconced by Owelle at such a high level that makes the Igbo a more laughing stock? Why would some of our leaders not consider the accompanying hardship and suffering their actions would cause the poor masses before embarking on the untoward? More so, where is the Igbo homogeneity and solidarity? Why do they stand aside and watch as such dare devilry continue? Is this a case of a pharaoh that does not know Joseph?
> It is unfortunate that we Deltans, minority as it seems in Delta State are working hard to close the cultural and language gaps and conversely, people who are blessed not to have these destabilizing factors now go to create problems where it doesn’t exist?
> While not trying to pass a hasty judgment, it is on record that our Owelle has become too controversial against his creed and revered title of Owelle, which should be a manifestation of peace, fidelity and educable dispositions like late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and the present Owelle of Onitsha are known for. A catalogue of controversies have trailed Okorocha since after inauguration as a governor if these are points to go by. Recall that he enthroned an unconstitutional fourth-tier government. While that was raging, teachers were ordered to wear uniforms like their students as if in the medieval times. Not done with that, the Imo University was hastily moved to Ogboko, Okorochas village with little or no infrastructure on ground. There is a recent court judgment where a revered Eze was spuriously dethroned and now restored.
> It is my humble plea that Igbo Leaders should as a matter of strict urgency move to find solutions to the myriads of problems facing Ndigbo as listed above to enable future generations to mutate socially and politically.
> The recent news that Peace Mass Transit and Rivers State Transport Companies have been closed has the semblance of a good after thought. It was equally gathered that Imo Transport has been long concessioned to a private operator so what is Owelle fighting for that he should leave important issues of governance to act as a court messenger and bailiff. Could this be a Land grab of a reckless nature or revenge?
> Looking at other scales, the land where Abia Line operates is private property, properly negotiated and commissions regularly paid. Is the governor not belittling his office and self esteem in serving a quit notice so flagrantly? Owelle should have channeled his ejection to the lessee and not Abia line the lessor. After all, Abia is on a legitimate business not involved in criminal operations like kidnapping, armed robbery and gun running that may warrant such executive interference. Igbos should think of solutions and stop escalating our problems.
> Ogbueshi Nnolim
> Oshimili LGA
> Delta State.