Abia: Democracy Space as Regulated Fiefdom – A rejoinder

By Madubuko Hart

On 14 March 2015, one Eddy Odivwri published an insidious article in the revered ThisDay newspapers with the title, “Abia: Democracy Space as Regulated Fiefdom”. The picture of Governor Theodore Orji was well engraved on the article. Odivwri, perhaps, did all that in order to woo his paymasters for ‘a job well done’.

Odivwri has showcased that he was among the persons who have made the business of writing to look like a wicked career due to disinformation they dish out to the unsuspecting public against their prey. But he forgot that Governor Orji is not in any competition with any governor in or outside the country. What this means is that the governor has said it the umpteenth time that he has fulfilled all his electioneering campaign promise and stands tall to hand over the baton of power to whoever that wins in the forthcoming election.

Having said that, it was cruel on the part of Odivwri to have written that, “Those who know say Gov T.A. Orji has paid greater attention to his vain title of “Ochendo Global” (whatever that means) than ensuring that even the refuse which keep mounting on the Aba-Port Harcourt express way (by Osisioma junction) are cleared. Rather than improve, the streets of Aba and Umuahia are degenerating into squalors. There is hardly much that can be celebrated in Abia State on account of the sitting governor’s ability. Yet, he revels in the deceitful accolades of his hangers-on.”

In Igbo we do say that those who do not know where the rain started to fall on them will not know where it will end. By his name, it is obvious that Odivwri is a wayfarer, someone who is not abreast with the happenings in our dear Abia State, but is working on sentiment and hearsay and injuriously malicious judgments of the opposition politicians in the state. It is pertinent to let Odivwri know that well-meaning Abia people are happy with the governance of Ochendo Global and not what the opposition politicians present the state to look like in the eyes of the world.

Much as we know, opposition politicians would always be in the game of destructive criticism instead of being constructive. Odivwri, although, did not know that Governor Orji has done many Legacy Projects as were contained in his electioneering campaign promises. The bright Chief Press Secretary to Governor Orji, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, would refer to such sentiment as expressed by Odivwri as "a wishful thinking and a huge political joke" or journalism joke. For example, recently, the Abia State Government, through Ajunwa, asked the loquacious governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Chikwe Udensi, to first clean the mess in his (Udensi’s) “confused house and his dead party before making unfounded allegations” against the current administration.

In the cause of exploration for this rejoinder, the administration of Governor Orji, inter alia, has achieved the following feats in the areas of education and other infrastructures.

In education sector, Governor Orji has built model primary schools in the 17 Local Government Areas of the state that are fully equipped to international standards. He also has refurbished so many primary schools that were dilapidated across the state. In the same vain, he has built model secondary schools across the state fully equipped to international standards. He approved bursary for all Abians in tertiary institutions.

In Health sector, Governor Orji has achieved the following: 1. Abia state specialist hospital and diagnostic center umuahia, umuahia north lga(100% complete), 2. Dialysis and ophthalmology center umuahia north lga (100% completed), 3. Modern eye center umuahia north lga (100% completed), 4. Abia state specialist hospital and diagnostic center annex amachara umuahia south lga (100% completed), 5. Construction of 100-bed hospital amachara umuahia south lga ( 100% completed), 6. Construction of doctor’s quarters at abia specialist hospital annex amachara umuahia south completed, 7. Abia state specialist hospital and diagnostic center aba, osisioma lga (100% completed), 8. Construction of 100-bed hospital at absuth, osisioma lga (99% completed), 9. Construction of absuth theatre hall at aba general hospital osisioma lga(100%completed), 10. Ahiaba okpuala health centre isiala ngwa north (100% completed), 11. Ozuabam health centre arochukwu lga (100% completed)…

12. 100-bed ward hospital mgboko obingwa lga, 13. Admin block at absuth aba, osisioma lga, 14. Ngodo primary health centre umunneochi lga, 15. Umuegwu okpuala afuguri health centre umuahia north lga, 16. Umuodo health centre ugwunagbo lga, 17. Construction of 100-bed general hospital at okagwe ohafia lga (100% completed), 18. Construction of 100-bed general hospital at obingwa lga (95% complete), 19. Construction of 100-bed general hospital at ikwuano lga (98% completed), 20. Construction of 100-bed general hospital at arochukwu lga (98% completed), 21. A new completed 100 bed general hospital at okikpe in ukwa, a new mother and Child hospital completed and commissioned at ABSUTH Aba, over 250 PHCs built  across the State- Ward to Ward.

On infrastructure, the governor has achieved the following and is still achieving: 1. Construction of new government house in umuahia north lga (70% completed), 2. Construction of international conference center ogurube layout, umuahia north lga(97% completed), 3. New asepa office complex, umuahia north lga (100% completed), 4. New bca office complex umuahia north lga(100% completed), 5. New worker’s secretariat complex umuahia north lga (100% completed), 6. Renovation of abia state house of assembly complex, 7. Women development and skill acquisition center ogurube layout umuahia north lga (100% completed), 8. Construction of asubeb office complex (99% completed), 9. Construction of joint account allocation committiee complex (80% completed).

10. New high court complex building umuahia north lga (100% completed), 11. Ministry of justice office complex umuahia north lga (100% completed), 12. Renovation of customary court building umuahia north lga (100% completed), 13. Renovated old high court building umuahia north lga, 14. Renovated magistrate court complex umuahia north lga, 15. Construction of 28 room constituency offices at abha, 16. Construction of emeka omerua guest house umuahia north lga, 17. Construction of additional buildings at the commissioners’ quarters umuahia, 18. Construction of abia state planning commission office complex umuahia, 19. Remodelling of abia hotels umuahia. 20. Built a new modern e-library umuahia, 21. Construction of traders estate at the new timber and allied market umuahia, 22. Built and completed new umuahia bus terminal at ohiya.

23. Built and completed new umuahia main market at ubani, 24. Built and completed new timber market, 25. Built and completed new timber and allied market umuahia, 26. Ongoing construction of new abia shopping mall umuahia 89% completion stage, 27. Ongoing construction of the new aba shopping mall at osisioma, 28. Ongoing construction of nuj state complex, 29. Over 250 primary health centres located across the state completed, 30. Establishment of 3 major liberation farms...okikpe, lodu ndume and ikwuano.


These projects are verifiable. It behooves on Odivwri to know when to make political pulsation from pummeling. The son of the governor, Chinedum Orji, a civil engineer that he mentioned in the article is a philanthropist and has been running his business outside the government. He does not manipulate the government of the state, besides, he has never held any political appointment in the government. Let Eddy Odivwri look elsewhere whenever he wants to mislead the general public with such article of his, and not at Abia State.

Madubuko Hart writes from Aba

The Ochendo Legacy That Will Live On

By Dr. Kenneth Anozie

The City of Aba is in the heart of the Ngwa Nation; a very powerful industrial / commercial nerve center that prides itself as the Dubai of Nigeria. Some of the best clothes, shoes and other fashion accessories one finds across Nigeria are produced in Aba. In fact most of the residents and those who come into Aba to do business understand the role of Aba as the headquarters of Clothes and shoe making in Nigeria and beyond. Aba is a very important city in Nigeria. The people are very ingenuous. The people are quietly but steadily making very powerful political agitation; they want the Governorship of Abia State zoned to them; ie Abia South Senatorial Zone.
Governor T.A Orji understands this and has set all the machinery in motion to maintain the status and importance of the city, and is working assiduously to ensure that this role of the city is maintained. Aba has been cleaned up; the infrastructural improvement in the city is unprecedented. The Governor has also hearkened to their political agitation. In fact A Daniel, well Ochendo Global has indeed come to judgment for the Ngwa nation by zoning the governorship to it.
This write up is not actually about the city of Aba, but we shall return to that later. Ngwa people are notable farmers, craftsmen, warriors, and they can be found in large numbers in all the trades and Professions one can think of around the Nation and even internationally. They are resilient, totally committed to improving the welfare of their people and hold very sensitive positions in government circles at the State, and Federal Institutions. However, they seem a marginalized people.

POWER SHIFT-
Power shift or zoning has always being a tool to assuage the feelings of marginalization of any people; and very importantly it gives a sense of belonging to a people who see themselves as part and parcel of the larger State. All over the States of the Federation this phenomena is gaining political momentum. In Anambra State, the people of Anambra North mounted such a spirited agitation that most of us who were not part of that area joined in the agitation and it was eventually carried. In Enugu State the Nsukka people are doing the same and the Governor has conceded to their agitation. In Ebonyi State, the Afikpo people are not relenting and the authorities and major Stakeholders have conceded to them. Imo is not left behind as the Owerri Zone has also mounted a spirited campaign for the Governorship to come from their Zone.
Did we not see what happened in the United States of America where a little known Black Senator, Barrack Obama overcame a Political dynasty and Amazon Hilary Clinton to clinch the Democratic ticket and eventually won the Presidency. This was because the major Stakeholders came to the conclusion that power should shift to the minority to also give them a sense of belonging in a country the Blacks have called home.

GOVERNOR T.A. ORJI RESPONDS
News has filtered out from the seat of power in Umuahia that the Governor of Abia State, Dr. T.A Orji and major Stakeholders from the State have on principle agreed that the Governorship of Abia State should be zoned to the Ngwa area, particularly Abia South Senatorial Zone. This is a very good development and speaks volume of a Governor who reads the heart beat of his people and understands that those who must come to equity must do so with clean hands. This is in keeping with the principles of zoning as enshrined in the PDP constitution, as Abia is in the firm grip of the PDP. It is a well known fact that since the creation of Abia State no Ngwa man or woman has made the governorship of Abia State, and now the agitation is mounting daily which has attracted the attention of major Stakeholders. Very good development one might say. But the governor should do more.

OCHENDO THE “LIBERATOR”
His Excellency, Ochendo Dr. T. A Orji, the Executive Governor of Abia State has not only liberated Abia from the iron grip of past leaders who used the State for diabolic experiment, but he has defined development of Abia in new and bold terms; THE OCHENDO LEGACY PROJECTS are doting every nook and cranny of Abia and the people are rejoicing. Everywhere you go in Abia State today, the governor, after his “Liberation Struggles” is changing the face of Abia through Giant Strides of a massive Infrastructural development unequalled in the annals of Abia’s history. “Ochendo Global” needs all the commendations and accolades befitting of his unparalleled accomplishments. This is what we observed during our fact finding tour of Abia State.
Leadership is nothing but a failure if a worthy successor did not succeed the leader. This is where and how Ochendo’s legacy will be measured by history. Will he live up to it?
Mgboko Umuoria Kingdom is a quiet village tucked in the middle of Obingwa Local Government of Abia State, about 15 kilometers North east of Aba city, on the old Umuahia-Aba road. It is part of Abia South Senatorial Zone. The Chairman of Abia Council of Ndi Eze, Eze Eberechi Dick weighs influence over the Community and other Communities in the Locality. There is a confirmed report that the area parades some very powerful Governorship hopefuls like Sir Barr Friday Nwosu, a humble self made devote Christian whose heart beat for the development of Abia State is infectious. The reason for this is very obvious: the Governorship of Abia has been zoned to them and every ambitious politician will like to take advantage of it. We shall return to this.
Recently, I traversed the length and breadth of Abia State in the company of some notable Nigerians like Alhaji Aminu Saidu, President Arewa Consultative Forum, (South-South and South-East), Comrade Anselem Nebeife, former NANS Senate President, Comrade Philip Madaki, National Youth leader; THE GOODLUCK NIGERIA NEEDS PROJECT, Hon Izuchukwu Nwosu, Zonal Youth Leader; The Goodluck Nigeria Needs Project and Hon Segun Jones, A Journalist and a Political Commentator. After 3 days of pounding all parts of the State to see for ourselves the developmental strides of His Excellency, Governor T.A Orji (Ochendo Global), we came to the conclusion that what Abia needs is a regime of continuity, which will consolidate the giant strides already made by the Governor; a regime that will continue from where the Governor have stopped, with someone who will not rock the boat of Abians. That is the crux of this write up. Who succeeds Ochendo Global, on whose hand will he leave the wonderful legacy he will leave behind in Abia State, and concentrate on his Senate duties, which my Organization will formally endorse him very soon.

A CROWDED RACE.
As at the last count various names are being paraded. So many others are also coming out to join the race. During our tour of Abia in our quest to feel the pulse of Abians we interacted with some Professionals, Local Party Faithful, the Youth, market Women and so many Artisans and farmers who provided us with the kind of leader they want to see as the next Governor of Abia State. One Dr. Ajike Kalu who is a Senior Medical Practioner in the State based in Umuahia and an indene of Ohafia LGA echoed in two sentences the feelings of most other Abians with whom we interacted with. “Governor Theodore Orji has performed creditably well, and it will be to his credit that a Governor from Abia South extraction succeeds him. Abia will also need a thorough bred Professional, humble, with passion for the accelerated development of Abia State, (to continue from where Ochendo stopped), a man of vision, a man who cares about others, a man who will inspire Abians to the next level, a man who is not boastful, a humble man but who loves and fears God”. This in a nutshell is what the generality of Abians are looking forward to from May 29th, 2015.

A KNIGHT INDEED.

“I have not seen a man with so much means, but yet humble, passionate about people and fears God. In fact he is a Knight indeed.” These are the words with which Father Daniel Ndubuisi of St. Dominican’s Catholic Church, Ngodo Isuochi       described Sir Barr. Friday Nwanozie Nwosu, when we met with him. Barr Friday Nwosu, (KSM)is a Knight of the Order of Mulumba. He is a man who defied “poverty gravity”, and pursued his goals with zeal and determination that today he is the front runner for the position of the Governor of Abia State. He has taken his quest to all the Local Governments of the State and interacted deeply with many Stakeholders, Leaders and Abians in general and the response has been politically monumental.
Meeting this humble, unassuming, passionate yet bold and articulate Professional is a journey in life experience. “If I will not meet the expectations of Abians, let God stop me from being Governor of Abia State.”  This is the way he started with us when we met him at his Mgboko Umuoria Country Home amidst a multitude of supporters who daily throng his compound to show solidarity and also wish him well in his aspiration.

Sir Barr. Friday Nwosu is from Mgboko Umuoria Kingdom, Obingwa Local Government of Abia State, part of Abia South senatorial Zone. He possesses an uncanny knowledge of Abia, her people and history and he has vowed to use his vast network, deep knowledge, foreign connections and the wisdom God has imbued him with to set Abia as the fastest growing economy in Nigeria. “Every sector will receive boom in my administration; Agriculture, Tourism, Trade and Investment, Education, the Environment, Housing, etc and Aba will be made the Dubai of Africa”; “I will continue and improve from where Ochendo Global stops, because he has done great to transform Abia State”, Barr Nwosu, a man without any political baggage or hangover concluded.
PASSIONATE ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA
There is something also very remarkable about Sir Friday Nwosu; he is very passionate, and a complete believer in the Transformation Agenda of the President. Hear him; “President Jonathan has redefined leadership in Nigeria, and has set a standard in massive development of Nigeria in all sectors, Education, Transport, Agriculture, Economy, Road Infrastructure, Airport improvement, safety of our Airs, Reform in the Power Sector, Reform of the Political process like ensuring that the votes count, and the current National Conference as well as Welfare of the citizens and more importantly tackling the menace of insurgency in our national Life. That is why Nigerians will keep supporting him despite other challenges dogging the nation”.

And for Bar Nwosu’s passion and support for Mr. President he has been appointed as the Patron of various Pro Jonathan NGOs like; The Goodluck Nigeria Needs Project, Team Goodluck Nigeria, MOVE NIGERIA, Ndi Igbo Friends of Goodluck and several others, and he is presently sponsoring the most powerful book to be written to appraise the 4 years of the Transformation program: THE GOODLUCK NIGERIA NEEDS: The Journey So Far, Beyond 2015.
“THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY”
Every part of Abia State we visited, from Isukwuato to Bende to Umuahia/Ibeku and Ngwa axis, there is this frenzy about Barr Nwosu’s quest to serve that has become infectious. The Slogan in everybody’s’ mouth today is; “THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY”

When we concluded our tour of Abia, one thing was very uppermost in our mind; as those who believe in the Ochendo Legacies, his greatest achievement will be to ensure that the person who takes over from him as governor possesses the attributes, passion, loyalty, vision and wisdom that Bar Nwosu is imbued with; that will be Dr. T.A Orji’s greatest legacies. This is because the Governor will not need to watch his back as he settles down in the Hallowed Chambers of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to continue his Legacies at the Federal Level.
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Dr. Kenneth Anozie wrote in from Abuja
Dr. Anozie is a Public Affairs Commentator/Political Consultant
He is also the Author: THE GOOD LUCK NIGERIA NEEDS
Convener: THE GOODLUCK NIGERIA NEEDS PROJECT