The Crucification of Gov. T.A Orji: The Gospel Assessment of Fejiro Oliver Tour - SERIES 1

For weeks, Nigerians from all works of life have bombarded my phone lines with request of my honest view and assessment on my tour to Abia State. Whenever I check my social media messages, the same call is made for me to grade the man, Theodore Ahamefula Orji that I went to see. Hard as I try to shy away from writing on the issues; I am compelled to respond the baggage of stories written on the media concerning him. Whether positive or not, my questions to most of those interested in my report have been that they should judge the Governor and the State from the eyes of my colleagues who went there. “Fejiro. Speak so that we can believe” have been the unanimous responses to me”

Let the gods speak through me as I pen down this words. To say I was stunned when I got the invitation would be a lie of the decade; as I already knew long ago that I may be visiting the State soon for an assessment tour, haven being briefed by my good friend and brother, Nnaji Obed, the S.A, E-Governance and Strategy. I know I just shot myself on the foot for being close to Obed, but again I cannot deny him because of politics and what people say. When the invitation came as expected, I set forth. Follow me friends.

Is T.A Orji a failure in governance? Has he truly underdeveloped Abia as we all read? Is he a media creation of Obed and is he truly the worst governor in Nigeria? Truth be spoken, he can be any of the above depending on which side of the divide you stand. But friends and fans, if you have followed me and believed me all these years when I speak the thoughts of millions without being compromised, then kindly lend me your ears and stand by me as I spew out what I saw during my tour.

It is a mortal crime that heaven will never forgive if we begin to judge a governor by the works of his neighbor. It is also a bigger danger that the celestial may hold against one, if parameters for good governance is judged with one local government area. Every State must have a foundation and bid me say this today; Abia State NEVER had a foundation until Gov. T.A Orji came on board.

If Abia had a propeller, the Abia that we all saw would have been a paradise today. Here was a State that had no functional Specialist Hospital nor a State Secretariat. This State today boasts of one of the most beautiful Secretariat in the whole of South East with lifts and a working Specialist Hospital. This was not built with sands but from the meager money which the State generates.

Truth be told, I went to Abia with the hope of seeing nothing ion ground. The low and medium housing estates all over the State will not be discussed by me. Let it be left to those who will pack in when completed for them to tell us how much we vilified a man, for trying to make his State look like a modern city. They criticize his International Conference Centre and I ask, “Why are men so insatiable?” They forget so soon that this is a State that boasts of renowned men and women who attracts event to the State and thus cannot afford to host such under canopies. The ICC built with less than N2 billion will stand shoulder tall with the one I have seen in most States in Nigeria. Let’s not take this glory from him.

Friends, I will not also tell us on the Abia State Digital Library that we all saw. The facilities inside will bring back a dull brain after staying inside for seven hours. Oh yes, it is as beautiful as that. And before you go comparing it with the Akwa Ibom E-Library; permit me to tell you that I have entered the two edifices, and while Uyo edifice is more beautiful, Abia State own is more structured and built with sincerity of purpose. Did I tell us that there is an ‘Idea Room’ inside for those who want to think and brainstorm?

The Umuahia we once know used to be a city of traffic gridlock, but today there is free vehicular movement. The reason is not farfetched as the market causing the gridlock has been relocated and in its place sited the Umuahia Event Centre; a place so big that it can occupy 10,000 vehicles. Why hold rallies in Stadium and destroy the place when this event centre has been built? Today’s action of ours will speak against us when we condemn a man who dared to put his State on the map of pride.

We love the Cinema world! This is also coming life to Abia courtesy of T.A Orji who successfully signed a partnership with Spars to build a shopping mall that has such facilities. We love the night life, yet we wish to see a State like Abia without it.  What hypocrisy. And before you come calling for my head that it is not owned by Abia State; friends, it is called ‘Abia Shopping Mall’, not Shoprite. Give Orji his dues on this and not play political ludo with this. Abians deserve a mall of theirs and he has attracted this.

If the Shopping Mall is a surprise, then the New Umuahia Main Market, Ubani will be more surprising. Not just the regular market spread across the country, but with organized parks and terminals. I know this because I have gone to various international markets in Nigeria. This market which is still ongoing and will house 10,000 stores will be the pride of every trader. Not because the road network is good or the transport fare is subsidized but few kilometers away from their houses a sprawling Ubani New Market Estate meant for them. Yes, the traders will be proud owners of their own houses. 

The Eastern State is known for having mechanic village for artisans, but until T.A Orji came on board, there was none. Do we call him a criminal for relocating the artisans to a villa of their own, which has decongested the city? May I remind us that to relocate such persons takes guts, and anyone in doubt should ask Orji Uzor Kalu who tried it but never succeeded.

Friends I saw beautiful schools which can be mistaken for Secondary School, but they were not. They are Primary Schools built by the Governor with 70 of them spread across the State. It is called the blue roof revolution. If Primary Schools can be like Secondary Schools, then imagine how the Secondary Schools look like. A trip to the Abayi Girls Secondary School may quench your curiosity.

I bid you point any Nigeria Governor who will build a house that he will not live in. but it happened! A state like Abia living in temporary apartment is enough same for the generations unborn, so much that they will cause the day they were born in to Abia. But it all ended as there currently lies in the State the New Abia Government House. Even for a night, T.A Orji will not live in it. He has successfully bequeathed this legacy edifice to the next governor; no one can be more selfless than this.

And then the famous Aba. We all went and got disappointed. Disappointed because the Ogbor Hill we all see on Social Media is far from reality. The real Ogbor Hill is well tarred and the roads linking each other were not left out. The Iriruka Road which is 100km from Aba as well as the Milverton Road was not this way many years ago, but today, cars are driven past there.

For a State that has a monthly allocation of N5 billion with little Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) coming into it to achieve these; let our conscience be our judge. To compare Akwa Ibom State whose Governor Security vote is more that the whole money in Abia State treasury for a year is wickedness taken too far. 

Friends, just few days ago, the famed Imo Rescue Mission had one of his buildings collapsed, despite all the billions pumped into it. None of this has happened in Abia. The buildings and roads we saw are of the best quality that can stand the test of time.

I refuse to join the palm wine bloggers drunkard club who never saw or even saw but for fear of being said he/she is bribed bring down a man who has laid a foundation for Abia. Is he without his faults and shortcoming? Why are projects rushed in the twilight of his tenure? Many of these posers will be answered in subsequent series.

To T.A Orji, they say, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him”, but like Pontius Pilate, I watch my hands off the hands of an innocent man in the media crucification.

NOTE: Watch out for subsequent series and photo evidences.

These little things matter…

Fejiro Oliver, Managing Editor of Daily Voice NG and Media Consultant can be reached on +2348022050733, +2348160067613 or secretsreporters@gmail.com. Engage him on twitter on @fejirooliver86

Igbere Community Accuse Orji Uzor Kalu Of Murder, Orji Uzor Kalu Skips Town

October 9, 2014 saw the former governor of Abia State in the person of Orji Uzor Kalu avert possible mass lynching by the irate youths of Igbere community – as the remains a former driver to Orji Uzor Kalu was laid to rest at his hometown of Isiegbu Amankalu, Igbere in Abia State. This is following information available to 247ureports.com obtained from community stakeholders in Igbere, the hometown of Orji Uzor Kalu, indicating that another associate of Orji Uzor Kalu had collapsed again at the residence of the former governor under circumstances that raises more questions than answers.

On August 22, 2014, a long driver, Uche Orji, of the former governor of Abia State collapsed at the Igbere home of the former governor after eating a meal with the former governor. According to available information, the unfortunate incident occurred as the former governor arrived his home from a political meeting. Shortly after arriving from the meeting, the driver collapsed after having a meal at the residence. The body of Uche Orji was then smuggled out of Orji Uzor Kalu’s home away from possible dictation by the public or the media.

Laying Uche Orji to rest
In attempts at deny having played a role in the death of Uche Orji while responding to the growing tension in his hometown community, Orji Uzor Kalu explained that he eat the same food that Uche Orji did – and so, he could not have played a role in his sudden death. But Orji Uzor Kalu’s denial appear to not have dissuaded the irate youths who appeared convinced beyond doubt that Orji Uzor Kalu murdered Uche Orji. Some of the youths point to possible ritual as the reason behind the sudden collapse of Uche Orji.

The day following Uche Orji’s, the former governor skipped town for Lagos. From Lagos, he telephoned the Uche Orji’s family promising to make a large sum money available to the family for the upkeep of Uche Orji’s children. Unfortunately, Orji Uzor Kalu has yet to redeem his promise nor visit the grieving family or widow.

The driver, Uche Orji, was the ‘Pilot 1’ to the former governor, and was popularly referred to as Pilot 1. He was 37years old, married with 5 young children.

Laying Uche Orji to rest
Uche Orji was laid to rest on October 9, 2014. Orji Uzor Kalu was not present or represented at the funeral. According to sources from the scene of the burial, Orji Uzor Kalu made a security based decision not to attend the burial because irate community youths had organized themselves ready to pounce on the former governor in a violent manner. The youths from the hometown of the former governor had come to burial ready to attack the former governor because of the mysterious death of their brother.

Angry youths – Laying Uche Orji to rest
The latest death of an associate to the former Abia State governor comes following the controversial collapse of a female friend, Chinwe Masi at the Maryland [USA] home of the former governor, four years ago as Orji Uzor Kalu prepared for the presidential elections of 2011. Chinwe died at Kalu’s 14900 Rivers Road, Potomac, Maryland home on August 19, 2010 according to Montgomery Police officers.

Sources who confirmed that Chinwe was at Orji Uzor Kalu’s mansion the day she died, also revealed that he immediately relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in the US where he maintained a low profile while waiting for police to conclude their investigations. This was as the family members to Chinwe expressed concern that the police will not find the real reason Chinwe died because, according to them, Orji Uzor Kalu is vested heavily in occult practices, and may have used Chinwe for unknown rituals. She was 47 years old.

Both mysterious death which occurred in the month of August, according to a local politician within the area is to ‘signify something’. The politician refused to elaborate on what it may signify.

Efforts to Orji Uzor Kalu failed.Igbere Community Accuse Orji Uzor Kalu Of Murder

Abia at 23: How Orji re-destined “God’s own State”

By  Uche Nwosu

At the beginning of every generation God creates a leader who emancipates his people and refocuses them to the part of reformation. Such leader comes rarely, except when they are needed to lead crusade against slavery, savagery and uncertainty like Moses in the bible did. They are great men because God has made him so. According to Henri Frederic Amiel, a Swiss writer, “Great men are the real men: in them nature has succeeded”. Accordingly, Gov TA Orji, the man that is steering the ship of Abia state is a great man that has succeeded in rewriting the history of this “God’s Own State”. As Abia marks its 23^rd year Anniversary under the administration of this indefatigable administrator, it is pertinent to recall Abia’s position before he took over as its chief executive officer.
Having been created on August 27, 1991, Abia was bereft of quality infrastructures because, either by omission or commission, the military that ruled the Old Imo State where it was carved out from shied away from carrying out a sustained developmental process on its territory. And so when Abia state was created by the Ibrahim Babangida’s administration the challenge of the absence of quality infrastructure became its bane.

The problem was so pronounced that the then military administrator, Navy Captain Frank Ajobena had to resort to converting school buildings and personal houses of residents of Umuahia to offices and government houses. Against this backdrop, the Library Avenue Primary School not only became a government office but a cabinet office. The Emeka Emerua house, situated at the GRA Umuahia near the school was renovated to serve as the Abia government house. Ironically, that is where government house Abia state is currently situated until the current Gov TA Orji’s intervention.
It was also on record that Ajobena also embarked on the reconstruction of some roads and buildings to accommodate the army of public and civil servant who, having being disengaged from the civil service at Owerri, had to travel from Owerri to Umuahia on daily basis, to perform their official assignments. Even though he tried to position the state to a level that befits a modern state, Abia remained a huge glorified local government.

Indeed, it was so until the administration of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu. Though his was a diarchy (a combination of civilian and military government), Onu’s administration that came on stream in January 1992 was terminated with other governors when General Sani Abacha staged his November 17, 1993 coup d’état. The unceremonious removal of the government left his dreams unfulfilled and made Abia worst for it.

Consequently, Abia continued to grope in darkness; seeking for a Messiah that did not come under subsequent military regimes in the state. Though, it had some flashes of good governance during the military regimes of late Col Ike Nwosu, Group Captain TemiEjoor, Col Moses Fasanya and Col Anthony Obi, the state was far from attaining its Eldorado, as the state still lacked basic and developmental infrastructure in Umuahia and Aba, its two major cities.
However, in May 29, 1999 the fourth republic was ushered into the country and Abia had its second civilian administration. There were high expectations as the People Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Orji Uzor Kalu was sworn in as the second executive governor of Abia state. Actually, what were considered Kalu’s modest achievements in his eight-year administration were blurred by invectives and verbal onslaughts he unleashed against the central government under the leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

As a result, Abia was considered an enemy state and yanked off from the scheme of things. In this regard, the expectation of the people that their state had returned to the track of sanity, progress and development following the commencement of a democratic government were dashed by Kalu’s quirkiness. And Abia was worse for it. It indeed cringed under the suffocating pang of unforgiving Obasanjo, who did all but allow Abia have any meaningful project from the federal government until he handed over to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

The state of affairs in Abia continued to be pitiable until the incumbent governor Chief TA Orji took over in May 29, 2007 as the third executive governor of the state. Even though Ochendo had a frustrating start, he cautiously steered away from obstacles and clogs laid on his way to governance. These impediments were meant to derail his administration. He began by reconciling the state with the Yar’Adua led federal government; an accomplishment that translated to the present President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Determined to work in order to move Abia in next level, Gov Orji began what today are known as Abia Legacy Projects. He indeed carried out a revolution that saw to the building of housing estates in Aba and Umuahia; construction of roads, enhancing rule of law and quick dispensation of justice by building modern office complexes and residential structure for judiciary officers.
Before he became governor Abia political space was polarized as politicians of Abia origin based in Abuja pitted themselves against their counterparts in Abia state. But Ochendo stopped this by remarkably assembling hitherto political enemies to one large and accommodating umbrella. It has been considered as a masterstroke. In fact it is interesting to witness those politicians who disagreed politically since 1999 come together under a common front to move the state forward.

Gov Orji has carried out the revolution to all sectors, be it political, economic and social. Since his second tenure in office (at the renewal of his mandate in May 29, 2011),  theIbeku born technocrat has built not less than 2,000kms of roads scattered across the state which include Nkata-Alike-Umuahia, Umueze-Agbo-UbaniIbeku, dualization of Tower-Isieke, Ibeku,Umuafia-Agbama, Umuafia-Ndume, Okwoyi, Umukabia,Ohuhu-Mkpa, Okagwe-OmaekpuOhafia ring road, UkwuMango, Old Express/Samek, Abia Polytechnic pedestrian bridge, Danfodio and East street.
There are others too which space cannot accommodate. But suffice it to say that Sir Orji has gone out of his way to provide security by empowering women and youth with skill acquisition and vehicles to sustain them and work as employer of labour. In other subsectors such as healthcare, housing, electricity, security, peace, education, transportation, tourism, infrastructure etc, the Abia state government under the leadership of Gov TA Orji performed excellently. It is on record that the specialist and diagnostic hospital at Aba and Umuahia which it built is yet to be equaled in terms of medical equipment.

On women affairs, the state government through the office of the wife of the Abia state governor, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji has given premium to the development of women and children as well as indigent and elderly and persons living in disability. Over 200 women of various levels have received trainings from the office. Even in education, the Ochendo administration has invested huge sum towards qualitative education. In fact it is its core priority areas. There is a functional free transport services for students in Aba and Umuahia. Scholarships have also been instituted by the government.

As Abia Celebrates its 23^rd Anniversary it is pertinent at this juncture to salute the vision and courage of the elder statesman and founding fathers like Dr. Michael Okpara, the Premier of the defunct Eastern Region who led the crusade to create Abia state; Dr. AkanuIbiam, Dr. Maxwell Agbara, Dr AnaghaEzikpe, Eze Bernard Enweremadu, Chief Ugorji Eke, Chief Nnanna Kalu, Chief S.N Nwagbara, Eze IssacIkonne, Chief Emmanuel Adiele, Chief Bob Ogbuagu, Eze C. N Nwosu ( who led the students body) and of course the good and hard working people of the state for their resolve to build an ingenious state.

• Nwosu, a Public Affairs Commentator, wrote in from Umuahia, Abia state.