₦airaland Forum

Orji: Why Abia Will Not Go to Bond Market


Unlike most of his colleagues, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State Government has ruled out going to the bond market to raise funds for the financing of projects in the state, saying that he would continue to manage the available resources.

Speaking during an interactive session with financial journalists in Umuahia, the governor said instead of issue raising debt from the fixed income market, he would rather work towards increasing the state's Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to meet infrastructural needs.

“We want to cut our coat according to our size. When I take bond, when my allocation comes from Abuja, they will take part of it to settle for the bond. I will not be able to pay salaries and I may have problem in the state. So, it is better that I manage what I have prudently and increase my IGR. We keep putting our officials under pressure to increase our level of IGR.

“To take bond of N250 billion or N300 billion? I will never do that! I am happy with the structures we are putting on ground and when you go round the state you know it is prudent management. But when you raise bond, you may end up not even utilising the money for the purpose it was meant for,” the governor declared.

According to him, his administration was assiduously working towards attracting investors to the state as well as the reviving of ailing industries.
Orji revealed that the Nigerian Breweries in Aba has concluded plans to invest N17 billion in the expansion of its operations in the state.

He added: “So, in terms of industrialisation, we are trying. But government does not run industries. What we are doing is trying to bring in people that can revive our dead industries such as Golden Guinea Breweries Limited, which we have gotten and I am sure would be revived before 2015.


“The glass industry that we have in Aba is running. These are government industries. The others are privately owned industries. Therefore Aba remains key to us; that is why we are fixing the infrastructure. We want to repair all the roads, keep the place clean, provide security, so that people can come in and invest.”


According to the governor, his administration had embarked on youth empowerment programmes to alleviate poverty in the state and address the issue of kidnapping and other social vices.


“Today, Abia pays the highest minimum wage in the whole of the federation. We pay N20,100. Check out if there is any state that is paying that. Despite the fact that we are not very rich, we pay that amount and even the arrears. We introduced biometric system of payment to flush out a lot of ghost workers from the system,” he added.

Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji will in matter of weeks will commission a new ultra modern complex for the State Broadcasting Corporation. This is the first time any administration is building such a befitting structure many decades after the establishment of the station. This development will help in addressing the issue of lack of offices being experienced by the staff of the radio and tv station and at the same time, accommodate the new modern broadcasting equipment provided by the State Government for BCA.

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.source :http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/another-health-sector-first-in-abia-state/

I blame Sir Emeka Offor & stupidness of Ikedi Ohakim dat made ds Mad man rochas 2 bcum d Gov of my Mother's state
its only a mad man can be acting d way ds Arewa boy is doing in Easten heartLand
fews weeks ago he cud not pay 4 airtrip of Heartland Football club to Gabon
He fake an accident & run away bcus EFCC r looking 4 him
He paid over 1 bn 4 a job dat av not even bn draw
Okorocha a member of AREWA PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS A P C
I pity dat state were my mother cum 4rm
I T C av two loading bay @ Aba & Umuahia Abialine only @ Owerri
I T C as i was told made over 80% of profit on dat Abia road why on earth will a man wit brain kills d goose dat lay golden eggs & him only a mad man can do dat
Imo & Abia r one

Abia Gov’t To Set Up Rehabilitation Homes For Drug Addicts


Abia state government says it has concluded plans to build centres that would serve as rehabilitation homes for drug addicts in the state.

Speaking during the 2013 UN Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Abia state Office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the state governor , Chief Theodore Orji stated that the fight against illicit drugs and drug abuse has gone beyond the use of force or fire arms.

He disclosed that the importance his government attached to the fight against drug addiction led to the setting up of a committee with the mandate is to map out plans on how to eliminate cases of drug addicts arrested in the state.

The governor who was represented by Mike Uzuegbu, Chairman, state Committee on Drug Abuse and Control described the problem of illicit drugs in the country as enormous and which needs all hands on deck to fight it.

This is why the Abia state government has invested heavily and also set up a drug committee to tackle the problem.

“We believe that the use of arms will not always solve the problem of drug intake. We are going to go into massive education on these our sons and daughters. Because they are our brothers but it is unfortunate they have to fall into this kind of thing, so we are going to use education to do more of the work and we believe by the time we appeal to their consciences, most of them if not all will start realizing the need to leave this kind of life and turn a new leaf.

“We know the cost in naira and the damage to health and so on and so forth. For Abia state to be a crime free state the use of illicit drugs must be reduced minimally and that is why we are standing here today to lend support to all that the federal government is doing through the NDLEA and other agencies to reduce drug abuse to zero level in the state. All of us must work together to make that we achieve the goal. This is why the Abia state government has invested heavily and also set up a drug committee to tackle the problem.”

Speaking earlier, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade described the theme, “Make Health Your ‘New High’ in Life Not Drugs” as a call for vigilance by all stakeholders on the risk of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

Giade who was represented by the Abia state NDLEA Commander, Florence Ezeonye enumerated the successes made by his agency in the fight against illicit drugs and added that they had seized 2,827,861.70kg of cannabis, 178,120.73kg of cocaine, 195,283.92kg of heroin and 233,699kg of psychotropic substances and 21,871 drug traffickers being convicted since the agency commenced operations in the past 23years.

He said that the agency in the past two years have also, detected and dismantled 5 illicit methamphetamine production laboratories in the country (4 in Lagos and 1 in Nanka Village, Anambra State), stressing that the impending danger of the growing methamphetamine production in the global drug market calls for active participation of Nigerians and international collaborators.

The NDLEA boss hinted that his agency is partnering with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to coordinate the importation of all chemicals used in the country to ensure that they are used for medical purposes and also to prevent their diversion for illicit drug production.source :http://www.spyghana.com/abia-govt-to-set-up-rehabilitation-homes-for-drug-addicts/

Kalu and his inflections


By Okwuchukwu Ahaiwe

As I flipped through the pages of June 15 edition, I stumbled on Orji Uzor Kalu’s June 12 lecture in Lagos. As a June 12 activist, paragraph 3 of the treatise on page 64 stung me like a bee: ‘As the governor of Abia State, (1999-2007) I took a stand and declared June 12 a public holiday and it was observed as the de facto democracy day in Abia State.’ Irritating as that was, I did not want it to foul my perusal of the lecture paper. The two-page newspaper version of the lecture was highly impressive especially the graphic references on June 12 and all that happened. His recommendation for restructuring the polity makes sense too.
Having exhausted the piece, I went back to the stinging paragraph that differed with my facts on June 12. Facts are sacred they say. When our assumed leaders speak; listeners should have confidence and make references to such believing that they are facts. Kalu may have forgotten or may want to rewrite history. History is history and fiction is fiction. History is a record of events that took place at a particular time and period in particular places where chroniclers considered them newsworthy events.
Specifically, Kalu claimed to have declared June 12 a holiday while in office and I state emphatically that he did not in his eight years in office. June 12 was not a child’s play to have unwarranted inflections like Kalu did. It was a revolution in electoral history that shook Nigeria to its foundations. It was a movement that stirred all democrats, all truth lovers and civil liberty organizations to join the fray irrespective of the looming dangers from the jackboots. Students demonstrated, market women closed shops, a new phrase came into the lexicon- Abiola riots. As Kalu admitted, innocent Nigerians lost their lives. So it is not right for anybody to come out of hiding and try to impose himself on our psyche that he or she was a June 12 activist.
The other question is, outside attending and addressing people in OPC-organized lectures while in office, what was Kalu’s contribution during June 12, 1993 and after? Before then, he was elected into the Federal House of Reps and stood a big chance to be heard. What was his opinion when Abiola was in jail? What did he do when Abiola died? When the civil liberty groups championed by Oliver Agbakoba and others protested, where was Kalu? His action reminds me of a frightened actor who took refuge over a superior firepower in a cowboy movie, coming out to boast how he returned fire when the shooting had ended.
June 12 is a nightmare that blights our dreams. A question that begs for answer. Until it is answered, Nigeria will hardly get it right. June 12 is a political template for Nigeria waiting to be adopted.
Kalu got it wrong again when he claimed that there was election malpractice in the Senatorial election in Abia North. In quotes: ‘I was a senatorial aspirant in the election and I can give you first hand experience. It was an exercise in which security agencies, particularly the military were used to subvert the will of the people.’
Is he trying to claim affinity with Abiola as one of the deprived? Kalu wants to be ascribed as a democrat but without the least democratic principles. The worst antidemocratic events happened in Kalu’s eight years in Abia than any other. He used the impeachment clause one too many. Kalu dethroned the first speaker, orchestrated the second where Hon. Chris Enweremadu and his colleagues ran to Abuja and were impeached by a minority in the house. Kalu ignored all suggestions and recommendations of all stakeholders and exercised serious highhandedness in the party at all levels, ruling like a despot. Chief Tony Ukasanya is still alive and could inform on how he was removed as the first state chairman of the party. He changed deputies as if he was in a dress rehearsal- Abaribe, Nwafor and all.
Kalu should amend his ways. Age is on his side. He can re-strategize and rebuild. Endless hunting with the hounds and running with the hares cannot help him. Reputation is a potent factor in Nigerian politics. Your political sins of today will certainly haunt you tomorrow.
Kalu is a former governor of Abia. Nobody can take that away from him as you can hardly write Abia’s history without him. In like manner, it is odd for him to make claims that insult Abia collective sensibilities. On his assertion of winning elections, that is neither here nor there. Is Kalu the type to keep quiet under such circumstances? Why did he not go to court if he had a good case? Facts are sacred and opinion is free.

The writer lacks understanding n,his writeup lacks depth facts for good head to comprehend,what more can i say.He who wrote rubbish and thinks he can influence us with it is wasting his time,there is no true about this write-up and am saying he should think wisely.This is an attempt to defame the character of a good leader but we all know that this crap can not call any attention becos its all bunch of crap filled with lies......Nairalanders don't listen to super-fake stories of this kind

who doesn't know OUK and his sugar-coated tongue..he is a con man..we all know that..always using every avenue to seek for political platform......looter and embezzler

REAGAN: GOD IS WATCHING YOU
Emerson once wrote that every violation of truth is not only a sort of suicide in the liar, but is a stab at the health of human society. Emerson was counseling Reagan Ufomba.
The shackle (as at 1st March 2013) you see on this page is what is remaining of the much publicized NGWA WOMEN HOSPITAL proudly managed by OCHIAGHA REAGAN UFOMBA. Reagan had published in his various Internet Sites that the dilapidated structure you see is designed to take care of at least one hundred women who are in dire need of medical care especially pregnant women. In further expansion of his lie, he quoted how much billions he votes from his personal income to fund this hospital.
The truth is, this hospital has never functioned for one day. Relatives of pregnant women who rush them to this shackle during emergencies end up losing such women. There is no life in the place. The only thing that has ever functioned is the sign board, although it is also fast dilapidating like the others.
Only recently, Reagan paid NTA over Two Million naira (N2M) to advertise the scholarship he awarded to his kinsmen which value was put at about Five Hundred Thousand naira (N500,000). Reagan wants to be Governor and can do everything to get attention.
You build a hospital that is killing instead of saving lives, just know that God is watching you. You give N500,000 and publicize it with N2,000,000, just know that God is watching you! You failed in managing one hospital but you are aspiring to manage over 256 others when you become Governor, just know that God is watching you!

If we must continually stay afloat in the face of the earth, we ought to pay much more attention to health. Medical institutions are the most important areas of interest where every past present and future administrations would be expecting to invest heavily to enable us override the challenges of health situations we are facing on daily basis. people have died untimely, great men and women have buried without fulfilling their goals due to poor health care, but this has not been the case since the emergence of T.A ORJI as the executive governor of Abia state.He has been paying much attention to health sector, providing necessary facilities ,and sophisticated or utility equipments necessary for health institutions. I think T.A has been working..We pray he continue in his effort to make Abia truly number 1

@ Obi123,thank you for your statement ,the beneficiaries can make something out of these,if they are wise enough,many have had nothing doing but she may have turned some people's life around by this her initiative...so let us stop casting aspersion on her way of empowering youths....after all I did not see orji Uzor kalu and the other doing something like this during their own times....

One thing people forget is that all these cost a lot of money,what are we even saying,a lot of the beneficiaries can't afford some of those items if you leave it to them...I must say that the wife of the governor has lifted some people among the participants and am sure they were smiling home with heads held so high.This is a high spirited way of assisting many youths...keep it up madam excellency ....

My prayers are for the governor to be steadfast and not be distracted in his good work..sooner than later Abia will reach her destination...Keep it up T.A,it is obvious that transformation is your watch word....God will grant you more strength to actualize more goals

The journey to continually progress in developing Abia state is on course as the governor has again marked the commissioning of Ministry of justice complex ....kudos Gov.T.A ORJI. History has just been made today in Abia State. The first administrative complex for the Judiciary (Ministry of Justice) is been commissioned today by Gov. T.A. Orji. We are right when we say we are building the foundation for a new Abia State. He met no foundation, ministries and govt offices on rented buildings but he took it upon himself to do the most needed....Abia State infrastructural development also known as legacy projects.

INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT IN ABIA STATE....

The struggle for the creation of Abia by her patriot was in essence to bring development closer to the people.

The concept was trampled upon by the parochial and lopsided interest of various regimes that ran parallel to the development blue-print of the state until the political and economic liberation lunch-pad of Governor T.A. Orji.

The accommodating peace and the much sung liberation of Abia State is not a propaganda or political gimmicks for cheap popularity or acceptance but a fact in issue in the actualization of developmental ideas of Abia State.

Ochendo has fought and liberated the State from civil despotism and economic despondency and has faced squarely the issue of provision of democracy dividends to the people as typified in his exemplary prototype legacy projecst adoring different parts of the State.

Today, Gov. T.A. Orji will be commissioning Ministry of Justice, he has succeeded in unifying and galvanizing the abundant human and natural resources of the State.

Abia is rebranded. there is a new wind of change in Abia State. A change for the better. A change for togetherness for common good.

" My victory, your victory" these were the unmistakable words of the patriot, Chief T.A. Orji while thanking Abians for his re-election in 2011.

Abia of 22 years is old enough but T.A. Orji's ideas in the State are young and new; growing in style and strength and to God be the glory.

The struggle for the creation of Abia by her patriot was in essence to bring development closer to the people.

The concept was trampled upon by the parochial and lopsided interest of various regimes that ran parallel to the development blue-print of the state until the political and economic liberation lunch-pad of Governor T.A. Orji.

The accommodating peace and the much sung liberation of Abia State is not a propaganda or political gimmicks for cheap popularity or acceptance but a fact in issue in the actualization of developmental ideas of Abia State.

Ochendo has fought and liberated the State from civil despotism and economic despondency and has faced squarely the issue of provision of democracy dividends to the people as typified in his exemplary prototype legacy projecst adoring different parts of the State.

Today, Gov. T.A. Orji will be commissioning Ministry of Justice, he has succeeded in unifying and galvanizing the abundant human and natural resources of the State.

Abia is rebranded. there is a new wind of change in Abia State. A change for the better. A change for togetherness for common good.

" My victory, your victory" these were the unmistakable words of the patriot, Chief T.A. Orji while thanking Abians for his re-election in 2011.

Abia of 22 years is old enough but T.A. Orji's ideas in the State are young and new; growing in style and strength and to God be the glory.

Igbos and their makeshift leaders
It is unfortunate that some of our Igbo leaders have refused to dump their past and tune up to some accepted norms of office and civil society
The state of the Igboman in Nigerian polity requires much introspection as to focus our strength and intellect, our plans and strategies to issues that will improve on our chequered past.
A very regrettable statement credited to His Excellency Rochas Anayor Okorocha leaves much to be desired.' During a visit of the Igbo Rescue Agenda, Abia Chapter, Gov. Okorocha declared that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia led by Gov. Theodore Orji, had failed.'
In the above statement, he was urging Abians to come over to APC to be free from political bondage. Without making much fuss, a few questions are pertinent.
Is Okorocha in two political parties at the same time?
Is APC registered as to be brandished as the best choice for Igbos?
If not, why is Okorocha urging Abians to migrate from light to a very dark and hazy tunnel?
He goes as far as insulting our mentality, intoning that Ojukwu would have joined APC if alive. Isn’t that insulting to our collective psyche and what Ojukwu stood for?
Ojukwu did not hide his Igbo-centrism. Has APC enough showing to be a solution to the Igboman’s problems?
How long did Rochas interact with Ojukwu as to predict his political actions if he was to be living.
From all indications, this is political parasitism on the sacred name of Ojukwu as to perch and fly endlessly on his immortal wings.
Come to think of it, did Rochas seek the opinion of Ojukwu’s widow, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu who from all reasonings and indications is the likeliest Ojukwu most trusted confidant living.
From the look of things, Rochas may be on his old game of waltzing from one party to another, contesting all contestable just for the fun of it.
Recall that Okorocha contested against Achike Udennwa for Imo Governor on ANPP platform. Formed Action Alliance in 2005, back to PDP in 2007, contesting for the national Chairmanship. I have actually lost count and sequence.
Thank God that the Abia governor is not taking him seriously, this would have led to another press and cold war.
Let us look for solutions rather than creating more problems that will unnecessarily heat up the polity.
Henry Opara
Amakohia Urrata
Imo State.

Orji alleges blackmail on projects


Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has described those insinuating that his administration was yet to complete a project as habitual blackmailers, seeking attention.

He said their positions cannot be argued since they had admitted that there were ongoing projects in the state.

The governor, in a statement by Special Adviser on Public Communication to the Governor, Mr. Ben Onyechere, said: “Their position shows that they have exhausted their bag of tricks because the people can no longer be fooled since they live with these projects; both ongoing and completed ones.

“Anybody who is criticising the disbursement of vehicles to youths as taxi cabs should remember the era of donation of wheelbarrows as youth empowerment programme.

“It is not in my character to blow my trumpet, but I can beat my chest confidently with practical evidence to show that we have long surpassed the expectation of our distractors, who are now gradually acknowledging our achievements.”

Governor Orji’s wife donates food items to destitute homes



Lady Mercy Odochi Orji, wife of the Abia state Governor, distributed food items and other materials to over 37 destitute homes, orphans, prison inmates and people living with HIV/AIDS in the state.

She said the donation exercise was part of her “complimentary roles in the governance of our dear state, Abia”.

The First Lady said the donation was designed to“alleviate the plight of the less privileged in the state”.

According to her, the Governor had from the inception of his administration made it a duty by ensuring that all Abians benefit from his government.

“The government of His Excellency, Sir T. A. Orji, our icon of democracy is totally committed to the welfare of the less privileged, that is why these food items are being delivered here today.

”It should be noted that this distribution of food items is in keeping with the Ochendo administration’s determination of making all classes of Abians partakers of the noble ideals of his government.

“Therefore, as you receive these dividends of democracy, I enjoin you to be in harmony with yourselves, be law-abiding, respect all constituted authorities and spare a moment during your quiet time in prayers to God for peace and success of this administration”, Mrs. Orji said.

The Abia First Lady also appealed to philanthropists in the state, organized private sectors and corporate bodies to assist the government in alleviating the suffering of the less privileged.

Governor T. A. Orji Mid-Year Score Card In Brief

In line with his administration transformation agenda and in keeping with his promise of fast tracking the development of the state, the Abia state government under Chief TA Orji has continue to embark on development projects across all sectors of the state?s economy. The last few months has witnessed unprecedented activities in the various sectors which could be best approached.

Governor T. A. Orji is presently building a new Abia State for the good of all. governance,breakdown of all traditional values of hard work, integrity, honesty, communal and self help spirit,discipline, transparency and accountability in conducting community and government business.

Today weak infrastructure, decline in quality of education and a legacy of impunity are things of the past and no more in the character or identified with the people and government of Abia, God’s own State. Starting with the first ever Economic Summit, which was organized between the 6th and 7th of December 2011, a new Abia as envisioned by her great scholars of international reputation and a cream of other technocrats fashioned out, “A modern, prosperous and secure state built on the energy, drive and enterprise of its people”.
This new vision was all that was required to under pin an agenda for creating shared prosperity through the development of desirable infrastructure, industry, agriculture and mutually beneficial linkages.
Tremendous achievements have been recorded under Gov. T.A. Orji as enunciated and enumerated below.

AGRICULTURE:
More than anytime in the history of Abia State, agriculture has received a boost with the reactivation and revitalization of a 5-ton/hour industrial oil palm at Mbawsi, a 2,600 hectare (1,500/ha of improved seedling) of oil palm estate is already in place at Ohambele and 200 hectares of oil palm plantation at Ulonna North and South and Ozuitem – Amamba.
Altogether, 1 million improved seedlings have been planted at the fallow areas of these plantations.
These excluded the pilot songhai integrated farm on 55 hectares at Okwoi Ibeku for plantain banana and pineapples while another 200 hectares have been cultivated for rice and fish farming at Ndibe-Abam in Bende LGA.
Recently, 55 tractors were acquired under PPP initiative for farmers hiring services. The state has continued to honour its counterpart obligations and is part of the new cassava and oil transformation initiative (COTI). As a pacesetter, Governor T.A. Orji recently signed the irrevocable payment order (IPO) to empower Abia commercial farmers to access the N1 billion Agriculture loan domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The mega farms otherwise called Liberation farms are being established in the 17 LGAs of Abia State in collaboration with ASOPADEC. The project is estimated to create 40000 jobs while a modern abattoir is been set up in Aba under another PPP agreement with an Ottawa-Canada based food company.

ELECTRICITY
Umuahia is the only state capital in the entire South East that has electrified the entire streets and roads with street lightings. It is also very peculiar to state here, that it is only in Aba,Umuahia and its environs, that regular and uninterrupted electricity supply has been successfully achieved. This came as a result of the commissioning of the new 2 x 40 MVA, 132/33kv Transmission substation and the 132KVDC transmission line located at Ohiya in Umuahia by the Governor. That is not all, the Abia State government under Chief T.A. Orji had facilitated the ferrying of the gas turbines across Imo River to ensure early completion of the NIPP project at Alaoji. In line with Governor T. A. Orji’s determination to ensure regular availability of electricity for Abia’s numerous small and medium scale industries, the State is leading other South East States to procure the Enugu distribution of PHCN of Nigeria while at the same time installing transformers
in the rural communities.
New Asepa Permanent Site Umuahia

ROADS
Governor T.A Orji has embarked on more than 50 different road projects in various parts of the state in the recent times. While a good number of these roads have been completed others are at various stages of completion. Some of the roads are Faulks Road Aba, Nkata – Alaike roads,Umuahia, Ndiokereke-Ndioji, Abam–Arochukwu road, and the Aba -Owerri road, Aba which has opened up another vista of business opportunities for Aba residents. Also commissioned is the popular Ukwu-mango road in Aba which hitherto had remained not just unmotorable, unpassable but in a very deplorable condition. Ukwu-mango is a very indispensable link into the Ariaria International Market.

HEALTH
In line with Governor T.A. Orji’s promise to sustain primary health care delivery system, he has already upgraded all facilities at the state owned specialist hospital at Amachara and Abayi to the extent that it is the most functional and adequately staffed state owned hospital around here. The Amachara hospital is also an annex ofthe ultra modern diagnostic centres in both Umuahia the State Capital and Aba, the commercial city of Abia with the the new chest clinic at Amachara-Umuahia.
In addition, a storey building has been
constructed for house officers alongside the 2 story building complex meant for resident Doctors. Besides renovating the theatre, work is completed at the accident and emergency units of the hospital. These were executed to enable it cope with increased activities and prevailing challenges. More importantly, Governor T.A has constructed and equipped more than 250 health centres in the different parts of Abia State under its primary health care services and development programme. Each of these health facilities has, in compliance with the MDG been provided with a bore-hole and a tricycle to convey patients to and from the health centres. It is therefore heart worming that Chief T.A Orji kept his assurances that every political ward in Abia State most have a health facility to attend to the health and social needs of the constituents.
As part of his efforts to provide quality health care and services to Abians, Governor T.A Orji is also constructing an auditorium at the specialist hospital Abayi, Aba for student doctors while at the same time meeting the counterpart obligation to the health partners and affiliate agencies such as WHO, UNICEF as demonstrated by the polio-free status of Abia State.
As a tertiary referral centre, Abia’s diagnostic centres are readily accessed by a cross section of Nigerians. Patients who would have been flown abroad for emergency medical treatment are now patronizing the Abia diagnostic centres which boast of world class and State- of- the- art-equipment.

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY:
The Abia State Government being piloted by Chief T. A. Orji is bent on providing the enabling environment for business to thrive in the state.
That is why many investors are now interested more than ever before in partnering with the state government. The government has signed MOUs with various companies within and outside the country willing to do business with the state. Not long ago, Alkamali Oil of United Arab Emirate entered into partnership with Abia State towards exploring opportunities in the oil sector. There is a similar plan by a private investor to set up a cement manufacturing plant in Arochukwu following the abundance of limestone -a major raw material for cement production. There are many of such partnership between investors and the Abia State Government going on in the state.
The Abia State Government has also taken a giant leap forward in its effort to-relocate the Umuahia Main Market from its present location to a more spacious and ideal place. It has therefore vigorously pursued the plan to realize the Ubani Ibeku Ultra Modern Market project in the shortest possible time after the former contractor handling the project failed to deliver.
At the moment, work is progressing steadily at the site of the new market at Ubani Ibeku where about 5,000 shops have so far been built. All things being equal, by December this year traders will start moving over to the new market while the space where the old market was situated will be converted to another use by government.
In the same vein, the state government has concluded plans to relocate traders at the old Industrial Market to a more conducive location at Azueke Ibeku in the Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state. Government plans to build more than 5,000 shops in the new market while already, about 3,000 shops have been realized. The rest will soon be completed.
Government’s desire is that by the end of the year, movement of traders to the new market would have commenced. Apart from constructing new markets, some old markets have been receiving the attention of the state government. Not long ago, the executives of market associations in the state were provided with brand new official buses for their executives. Infrastructural development of the markets is a continuous process. For instance, rehabilitation of internal roads in Ariaria International Market is nearing completion.
Transformers have been donated to the markets.

SPORTS:
SINCE the inception of the present administration in Abia State, it has recorded giant strides in the field of sports. The most recent are:
1. The reconstruction and re-sing of the Umuahia Township stadium/ Upgrading of the stadium.
2. Acquisition of World Class wrestling Ring.
3. On-going collaboration between Abia State Government and Vejie Bold Club of Denmark for the establishment of a sports academy his the state.
4. Signing of the Abia State Sports Endowment Fund by the governor.
5. The state qualified to play in the 2012 WAFU
competition (Continental Football Competition).
6. The state now presents two club sides in the pro-league in the 2012 football season. It is on record that Abia State has over the years produced notable and international sports men and women who have excelled in various fields of sports. Names like Kanu Nwankwo, world champion in power lifting, Obioma Aligekwe are Abia sons.
Recently also, the Enyimba Football Club’s chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu was elected into the board of the Nigeria Football Federation. The director of Sports, Abia State Sports Council, Mr.Ejikeme Ikwunze was also appointed into the nine-man ministerial committee to reform football in the country.


PUBLIC UTILITIES
Abia state government since the inception of the 2nd tenure of Chief T. A. Orji has made tremendous achievements in the area of water and electricity through the ministry of public utilities.
In the area of water,” a comprehensive consultancy services has been carried out on how to rehabilitate the old Umuahia Urban water scheme and other water schemes in the state through the ministry of public utilities and water Resources. The ministry is also liaising with the federal ministry of Niger Delta for the Regional water schemes in the state to be captured in the federal government’s subsidy Removal Reinvestment programme (SUREP).

This will involve the reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion of the water schemes. Also, the rehabilitation of Umuokpara water scheme has been executed. In the area of electricity the timely intervention by the state government facilitated the inspection and pre -commissioning tests of the Completed 132kv network from Alaoji- Umuahia and the 132/33 KV injection substation equally energized. Consequently, the state government in 2011 awarded contract for the construction of 5no 33kv High Tension feeder lines from the Ohiya 2×30 MVA, 132/33kv injection substation.
The 5 No 33KV feeder lines radiates from Ohiya injection sub-station to the following locations – Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu, Ntigha Umungwa. Construction work along Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu and Umungwa has been completed while work on the Ntigha axis is in progress. This has greatly increased the electricity supply situationin Umuahia metropolis and its environs.
In addition, government initiated and completed the installation of solar energy streetlights in the following areas of Umuahia metropolis-house of Assembly junction to Bende Road, Ndume Otuka Road, Road 3 Low Cost Housing Estate, Health centre Road, World Bank, Adelabu street and Bende road which has reached about 80% completion.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS:
One of the greatest legacies of the Chief T. A. Orji’s administration in the state is the sustenance of peace in the communities. This has impacted positively on development. Through its relevant agencies like the ministry, of local government and chieftaincy Affairs, it has resolved Ezeship and , inter- community disputes in rural, grassroots communities through prompt, settlement of 76 ezeship and inter-community disputes.
The government has provided conducive environment for local government administration by taking proactive decisions ‘fed actions on security reports received from the local governments. The Abia state government has continued to pay allowances of Ndieze regularly in addition to facilitating payment of over NI00m old debts as well as arrears of salaries owed by the 17 LGAs and ensured regular prompt payment of salaries owed by local governments in the state. The state government during the period under review completed the construction of the JAAC / Ndieze secretariat crescent with asphalt by direct labour; procured and distributed 3711 300KVA transformers to the 17 local governments and institutions in the state. Government also procured and distributed 72 vehicles to the 17 transition committee chairmen and all Revenue units of the 17 LGAs as well as the principal officers of Abia state traditional Rulers council. Government has also made funds available for the renovation of the local government headquarters and also produced uniform sign posts for them. The ministry in keeping with the governor’s directive empowered 6000 Abia youths across the local government areas.

EDUCATION:
Education remains a key priority of the state government. Accordingly the state government has invested huge resources to that sector. There is a functional free transport services for students in Aba and Umuahia and this has alleviated the financial burden on parents. Scholarships have been instituted by the government for bright indigenes of the state to pursue academic programmes locally and overseas. Renovation of public primary and secondary schools is a continuous process and many dilapidated schools have benefitted from this gesture.

WOMEN AFFAIRS:
The Abia state government gives premium to the development of women, children, the indigent, elderly and persons living with disabilities. Over 200 women have been trained in various skills. A total of 1500 women had benefitted from the free pre and post natal treatment for pregnant women for the first six weeks. The Abia state government through the ministry has continued to take care of destitute and the less privileged by collaborating with the Itumbuzo mentally destitute home in the evacuation of some mentally ill persons in the state. Various sensitization programmes on child trafficking and abuse, HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, harmful traditional practices, child right law, child immunization, maternal mortality have been carried out by the government.

PETROLEUM AND SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT:
Abia state government has been able to achieve 100% maintenance on the vandalized system at Port Harcourt Refinery Osisioma Depot pipeline in collaboration with the independent petroleum marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). The depot is expected to commence operation soon and will boost the social and economic development of the, state. The government has been able to clean up and take remedial actions on the 16 spill incidents that occurred in the state in the last one year due to sabotage. Solid minerals Data Bank has been created and has indicated the locations of solid minerals site in the state. This has helped attract foreign investors to solid minerals sector and invariably will create employment and increase the state governments revenue.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
It is the desire of the Abia State government that her citizens do not lag behind in this technological age. Its relevant ministry, the ministry of science and technology thus initiated the Ochendo free computer training designed to train Abians in all local government Areas of the state to be computer literate. The training programme has been on for public/civil servants. About 700 candidates have so far been trained. There is also the computer for All Abian initiative CAAI designed to enable interested public/civil servants in Abia state to own their own computer sets at affordable prices, without interest. About 500 public servants have benefited from the programme. The state also keyed into the federal government ECOWAS/CUBA initiative of replacing high energy consuming incandescent bulbs with lower energy consuming fluorescent lanterns deployed in government buildings and estates across the state. The ministry has completed work on the Abia state science and Technology policy.

FINANCE:
The state government through the ministry of finance has taken proactive measures that have meaningfully enhanced the revenue base of the state government. The financial management organs of the state government have been overhauled to ensure efficiency and transparency.
Consultants on revenue base have been engaged that have assisted the government identify many revenue windows and potentials hitherto untapped previously. This has resulted to the marginal increase in the internally Generated Revenue; (IGR) profile of the state government.
Efforts have been intensified to complete the data capture of all state civil servants with a view to actually determine their number in the government payroll to eliminate ghost workers. The state government through the department assisted the former community banks to recapitalize to micro finance banks as part of the state government empowerment programme for the people at the grassroots. The ministry set up and inaugurated a committee on E-payment solution. Payment of salaries and pensions is up to date in the state.
All categories of retired civil servants have been paid up to March this year. The finances and General Purposes Committee has been strengthened to entrench due process, transparency and accountability in the award of all government contracts. The reconstruction, evaluation and updating of the state government’s debt had been done at the state level, the first in the south East zone. Plans have been concluded to extend same to the LGAs before the end of the year. The government has fine tuned appropriate framework and strategy that would compel remittance of collected revenue to the Board of Internal Revenue (BIR). This has become necessary because revenues expected from various internal sources have failed to reach projected levels.

SECURITY:
The Ochendo government seems to have made the greatest achievement in this sector.
Till date the state government has given out more than 150 patrol vehicles to security personnel in the state to help fight crime as well as communication equipment. The exercise is still on going. Besides, the state government was instrumental to the rehabilitation the Army barracks at Ohafia which has boosted the security of the state. The joint military -police patrol has copiously tackled crime. Today Abia is not only the most peaceful state but the safest state in Nigeria to the glory of God.

Abia: Umunneochi LG commend Governor Orji’s administration.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Orji Demands Investment On Waste Management

Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji says the state government would assist both local and foreign investors that are willing to cite their waste recycling plants in the state.

Orji, who stated this during a one day workshop on e-waste sensitization/awareness organized for Abia Organization of Market Associations (AOMA) in Aba, posited that the establishment of waste recycling plants at different parts of the state would help to manage domestic and industrial wastes generated in the state.

“Recycling plants when established would go a long way in converting wastes into wealth and also, assist the state government in creating job for the unemployed who are expected to be engaged as workers in the plants.”

The governor who was represented by Bernard Ogbonna, Permanent Secretary Abia State Ministry of Environment added that the state government would render technical assistance and give the investors the necessary support to ensure that their businesses thrive in the state.

In his speech, Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Mrs. Ngeri Benebo observed that though crude recycling method provides employment for youths, the hazardous substances in e-wastes may cause adverse effects on their health.

Benebo, represented by Razaq Ashiru, South East Zonal Director said that the agency has put in place legal instruments to stop individuals and companies from disposing e-wastes indiscriminately and expressed the willingness of NESREA to work with state governments to ensure that they are carried along in the enforcement of relevant environmental laws.

He further said that agency had been collaborating with experts from the United Kingdom under the “E-waste Africa Project” to train the informal sector on sound ways of handling e-waste.

Programme Manager, Forte Communications, Mr. Ben Ezinma said that the strategic nature of the commercial hub of the commercial city in e-waste generation necessitated the seminar in Aba.

Ezinma regretted that the size of e-waste generated in Aba has not been positively maximized; stressing that e-waste would be a goldmine in the state if they would be recycled and also a source of employment generation.

He lauded the Abia State government for stimulating investment on e-waste, stressing that it was a good move to attract investors to establish recycling plants in Aba where they can have access to raw materials to run their businesses

Odimegwu Onwumere and his unending blackmail


It is not difficult knowing the subject matter of Odimegwu Onwumere’s writings. His topics and subjects are easily known and therefore, very easily predictable. If you endure the grammatical and structural insults encountered going through his gibberish like I have done on many occasions, he is either, praising Orji Uzor kalu, extolling Njiko Ndi Igbo- Kalu’s pet project or heaping unwarranted insults and blackmail on Chief T.A. Orji. To some, it may be a wonder reading his numbskull in elitist newspapers like Thisday, The Guardian and Vanguard, but not to me and many discerning Abians. He badly needs credibility and so posits in credible newspapers. He is a hacker, intent on achieving maximum results with his uninspiring, jaundiced and pejorative articles. One thing is certain: The world knows Chief T.A. Orji. The world equally is aware of his efforts to rewrite the history of Abia from the negative and indolent to the present land of developmental changes.
Many notable Nigerians ranging from ministers, legislators to the presidency, have seen and testified that all claims of good governance and provision of monumental social indicators in Abia are evident, under-reported and are existent in the maps of Abia State, consequently one thousand Odimegwus cannot obliterate or obfuscate the quantum developmental strides of T.A. Orji. One thousand Odimegwus cannot make their lies stick against glaring facts. According to an African proverb, ‘no matter how long a tree trunk remains in the River, it does not make it a fish.’

I urge Nigerians and others to read the unmerited claims and praises in support of Kalu. April 9th, 2013 in the Daily Independent, where Kalu was heroised for volunteering to negotiate with Boko Haram. These are few examples. The papers are awash with other supportive articles by Odimegwu on kalu’s pet project, Njiko Ndi Igbo.

From the above, there is no doubt about whom Odimegwu is working for. If in any doubt, look at the most laughable which was his piece on kalu’s 53rd birthday where he wrote about Kalu as a man of the people, calling him the big masquerade-Thisday, April 28, 2013. On October 23rd, 2012, he disdains Igbo leaders as do nothings, uncouth and myopic- same THISDAY. If any doubts exist, it is better read than narrated. Of all virtues imaginable, he credited Kalu for his humility. From the above, Odimegwu has shown that he does not know what humility is all about. Abia people and their leaders like Gen Ike Nwachukwu, Ambassador Ojo Maduekwe and Chief Tony Ukasanya can testify to the impropriety of his hyperbole. In literary styles, irony and opposites are allowed anyway.
In order to minimize the negative, let’s leave that to readers to judge for themselves but one thing is certain that Odimegwu is Kalu’s protege and has shamelessly done kalu’s dirty jobs.
The article of Tuesday, June 11, page 19, is a bundle of lies, blackmail and a poor attempt to discredit Abia State, Abia people and the Abia government. Poor in the sense that the world knows the honest attempts and efforts of the incumbent Governor to substitute, reinvent and address the iniquities of past administrations. In the said article, his opening line is the worst attempt at philosophy. It is as grammatically offensive as it is devoid of logic- a potent aspect of philosophy. Sample this rigmarole: ‘some persons are so clever that they do not understand their misbehaviours. A cheap bookshop is better than the costliest ignorance. A person with intelligence through an organized religion/government has a measured intelligence. And anybody with measured intelligence is not just wittical.’ Does this make any sense?

In paragraph two, he wrongly accused the governor of ruling from abroad and condemned an aide for granting an interview in Lagos. Any alert mind will know that Odimegwu in Igbo parlance is not only ranting but asking for palm oil to chew palm fruit. What stops an aide from granting an interview when in Lagos, Aba, Kaduna or any other part of Nigeria? After all, most of the aides live in Lagos and Abuja as their workplaces in the liaison offices.

The case of the governor ruling from abroad is neither here nor there. His Excellency Sir T.A. Orji hardly travels without reasons and come to think of it, the governor is entitled to vacations and as a well-trained administrator, always working to improve the lot of Abia, he works during vacations with proven results. From the records, the former governor who Odimegwu roots for made not less than 63 trips while in office and it is this same governor that held the office for Kalu for eight years.

In paragraph six, he relapses onto their old refrain of unsubstantiated claims profiling uncompleted projects. One would be forced to ask again, can Odimegwu name projects completed by his master in Aba where he lived all his live except building roads to toilets and to bushes where he intended to appropriate lands in his hometown of Igbere?

We will be repeating ourselves if we take on the quantum and monumental projects of T.A. Orji. They are manifest in the three senatorial zones viz the roads in Aba and beyond, the agric revolution in Ukwa, Umuahia, Abam, Arochukwu, Ikwuano. The cocoa plantations and nurseries, the expanse of pilot cassava farms bear testimonies of a man who has come to re-engineer. Do we keep repeating the legacy projects some completed and others at advanced stages of completion? Think of the renovated old secretariat and the fast-paced new one spawning the most current in gadgetry. The Broadcasting Corporation of Abia’s 48 room offices is still the rave of the day in office accommodation, the High courts in Umuahia and Aba, the never-experienced but imposing international conference centre? What about the ASEPA House recently commissioned by Hon. Aminu Tambuwal? The list is endless as it will be immodest to keep refering to the Good Governance Team led by Mr Labaran Maku, Hon Minister for Information who acknowledged that Abia is underrepresented- Mohamed Garba, NUJ president. Hon. Ozo Mgbachi and his team of the House Committee on works were highly impressed with what they saw. The good Governance team couldn’t complete the project sites due to its large numbers.

Odimegwu true to type and style sees nothing good in Abia, to him the bequest of cars and tricycles are nothing. And blindly sees no job opportunities in owning and driving cabs.
Onwumere is a hireling of no fixed address claiming Rivers and Aba as home. We know of Kalu’s other aids like Iyk Ekoma and his special assistant on media, Emeka Obasi. We are aware of the staff in the Sun Newspapers even though they write negatively to protect their jobs, but who is Odimegwu? What is his motive? In paragraph twelve he makes reference to our people, whose people? Is Odimegwu from Abia? Where exactly? I challenge him to prove this or appear for a public debate.

In paragraph thirteen, he dabbles into a nonexistent incident in Umuocham Girls Secondary School, Word Bank, Aba, where illegal fees were collected as he claimed. If Odimegwu knows his onions, why did he not investigate to know who collected the money? Is T A Orji the principal of this school? Is this alleged situation going on in other schools in Abia?

Again in paragraph nine, he denounces the empowerment of youths with vehicles and in his narrow and little mind sees it as an opportunity for the governor to flaunt his Photos. What a shame? Does the governor need to buy vehicles to pest posters? The cost of two vehicles alone can pay for flex posters and bill boards in thousands of places.

There is no place for Odimegwu in the world of fair and decent writing since he hasn’t the finesse, style or even raw skill. No wonder in his efforts at using the name of Ochendo for practicing his odious genre that is nothing but pen terrorism.

Odimegwu is public enemy number one. His continuous demonization of His Excellency Sir, T.A. Orji indicates that he wants Abia back to desecration and plunder of the past. It means too that all that Abia has gained shouldn’t be. The earlier we put Odimegwu where he belongs, the better. According to Grosvenor, figures do not lie but liars will figure and Benjamin Franklin, American author concurs ‘it is hard for an empty bag to stand erect.’----Eddie Onuzuruike.

source :http://thejuristlaws..com/2013/06/odimegwu-onwumere-and-his-unending.html?spref=fb

Abia: When evidence marks the end of argument
THERE is a passage very common among the Ibeku people in the present-day Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. It is a passage used to draw home a conviction over an issue in dispute.

It is put thus: “Lekwa onye ohii, lekwa ihe ozuru’’, grammatically interpreted as: “Behold the thief as well as his loot”, while in the literary term it connotes that evidence will surely mark the end of an argument or doubt over any issue. For some inexplicable reasons, many unscrupulous characters have sprouted within the past few years and assumed commentators on a catalogue of issues comprising both the serious and mundane with Abia in focus.

There has been a contraption of intellectually bankrupt pessimists who have wished that the stagnation that was Abia remained the lot of the state. Fortunately, Governor Theodore Orji, being conscious of history, has already chosen his part, while posterity will be his judge. Then their usual mantra was the swan-song of non-performance.

Notwithstanding all, Governor Orji left no one in doubt of his determination to turn around a state which administration he inherited when the state in all ramifications and rating was lying prostrate. His attempt at the inception of his government left no one in doubt that the man was in a hurry to transform his state. But little did he know that what he thought was a patriotic agenda would earn him umbrage and calculated sabotage from those who ran with the hare in the day, and at the same hunted with the hound.
However, with hindsight, the Governor had to take his political destiny into his own hands since “he that wears the shoe knows where it pinches”. Since then, Governor Orji has known no political peace as every arsenal at the disposal of his traducers have been deployed to tarnish and rubbish his efforts.
One thing though is that the Governor himself was not oblivious of the onslaught expected from these reactionary agents who would have given anything to remain as devourers of the people’s commonwealth.
It is then no surprise that for daring to leave a once prostrate state better than the comatose condition he met it, he has become the target of politically-instigated campaign of calumny. Nothing would placate the gladiators unless the treasury of the state is handed over to them. They engage the services of their Internet rats to publicly masturbate about morals and service delivery in their own understanding.

The Orji administration, within the period of its liberation from the stranglehold of now expired political buccaneers, has shown determination to turn around the fortunes of an ordinarily promising state which suffered initial still-birth owing to the incompetent political midwives. But thank God as Ochendo has been able to restore the years eaten by the locust. From education to agriculture and power. From security to health, commerce and industry, judiciary and infrastructure, the government has left its marks as depicted by the legacy projects to its credit.
Did it not take the withdrawal of the accreditation of the law programme of a neighboring state university headed by the immediate past president of ASUU for the people of Abia to appreciate that the commitment of their governor to elevate the standard of education in his state was beyond the rhetorics of a political campaign rally. If it was Abia State University that lost that accreditation, hell would have known less fury than the government of Ochendo.

The taste of the pudding, they say, is in the eating. While others revel in dancing to the gallery, Abia operates with the Latin legal maxim: “res ipso loquitur”, meaning that the facts will always speak for themselves. And as we say in our local parlance, the self-glorifying story of “Dee John’s exploits in the war will only be believed when we see his military boots”. Apart from the tertiary institutions, there has been silent upgrade of facilities and infrastructure in the public schools in Abia courtesy of the present administration. The feats are only made known through the awards given to the state by policy makers and regulators in the sector.

Also, power has greatly improved in the entire state that residents in the state now enjoy steady electricity supply. In Abia today, people can predict the period and time of supply from energy source. The ripple effect is economically felt as small and medium scale enterprises rekindled the economy, ending crime.

Governor Orji came into office when no single industry in the state was operating. While the privately-owned ones like International Equitable Association, Nigerian Breweries and Dubic Breweries had closed shop, government-owned industries, especially in the hospitality sector, were sold to the cronies of the then Lords of the Manor. That was how Abia Hotel Aba and Umuahia went on economic sabbatical.

That was also the case of Golden Guinea Breweries, Modern Ceramics, Ogwe Golden Chicken and Abia Rubber. Even state-owned corporations like Abia Marketing Company, Abia Newspaper Publishing Company became ghost corporations. Ochendo got some of the industries back to their tracks.

Today Dubic Breweries is back to the shelf with its products, Nigerian Breweries has returned to Abia while the reactivation of the both the Golden Chicken and Abia Rubber has long commenced.

Mr. KINGSLEY EMEREUWA, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.

VANGUARD

PEOPLE SHOULD STOP DEFAMING ABIA STATE AND HER GOVERNMENT,WHICH HAS TAKEN UPON THEMSELVES TO RESTORE THE GLORY OF ABIA STATE THAT WAS LOST IN THE HANDS OF THE CROOKED AND SELFISH FORMER LEADER .PLEASE BELOW PICTURE OF THE NEW LOOK OF ABA...

@IGBO-SON and co,you are a son of a clueless sadist, frustration must be killing you are your family ,am sorry for you...think before you speak, ask before you speak, listen before you talk , nothing that you have said here has added ,everything is in opposite direction, so wise up and learn the truth.....you can not succeed in disclaiming and discrediting Abia state...a lot has changed ,Abia has attained great level of transformation...we are proudly Abians we are happy!

who ever that posted this can not make any head way in discrediting abia state....Abia does not have such a slummy picture as a habitation for its citizens, and I want to tell the public that this picture does not depict or represent any location or places of interest ,in any form...I urge the users of this forum to please ignore this picture as they where because they are not real..to see about true pictures of roads in abia check www.abiastate.gov.ng