Governor T.A Orji Deserves Credit

                                                        

Theodore Orji,the executive governor of God’s own State,Abia, has been unfairly criticized if you ask me.Some Abians have often said the man has not done any thing to improve the lives of the people.But if we can reflect inwards for one minute and look back at what was and what is at the moment,then the man should be applauded.Governor T.A Orji surely deserves some credit if not for anything else,but for these two fundamental reasons:

1)       He fought and restored Security to Abia

Upon assumption of office by the incumbent governor Theodore Orji,the State was largely peaceful.But things gradually began to change few months into his first term in office.Possibly  a direct consequence of his falling out with some individuals in the State.From that moment,Insecurity became the order of the day,Abia became the home of Kidnappers,armed robbery and rapist.The governor was not spared in all this as his convoy suffered a violent and spontaneous attack at some point.We remember how 15 innocent school pupils were kidnapped while going to school and kept for days before releasing them after Security agents had closed in on the criminals.

The growing acts of insecurity in the State gave the governor sleepless nights,to him,something had to be done and very fast too.Upon consultation with President Goodluck Jonathan on the issue,the President granted his request and allowed soldiers to be dispatched to the state to restore law and order.Upon the arrival of the Army,the SSS and the Police,the governor provided them with over 500 vans to enable them carry out their duties effectively and successfully.I doubt if the 2011 elections would have been successfully conducted in Abia State had T.A Orji not taken the bold step of confronting and eradicating insecurity.Hear what the governor said on one occasion when he donated vans to security agencies"Governors and their Aids cannot fight kidnappers and armed robbers,but the security agencies are comfortable in that area,as they are trained to fight crimes.Our job therefore,will be to help them with logistics so that they will do their jobs well".As it stands currently,Abia state ranks among one of the most secure states in Nigeria,and thanks to Theodore Orji.Infact,the level of peace and security in the state led to one of his declaration where he said"It is now time to sustain the peace and security that has been going on in the state".

If T.A Orji had not aggressively  fought the menace of insecurity,where  would Abia State have been?Your guess is as good as mine.

2)He united Abians

Theodore Orji is the man who laid the foundation for a united Abia,making every one from the State a stakeholder in its affairs.Governor Orji liberated the State from politics of family affairs,he united Abia State and restored peace among the various political stakeholders in the state.Remember some years ago,we had what was known as Mamacracy  in Abia State.This  was an era where a family decided the destinies of all Abians,you were either forced to be loyal to that ruling family or be thrown out.T.A Orji fought this battle against the forces that had enslaved the citizens of Abia for so long.The governor said"I told myself that within this 8 years I have to stay here,Abians must have a sense of belonging,they must know that the State belongs to them,and I decided to open the doors of government to them".

Before this time in Abia State,decisions were taken by a family without consultations.Other power blocs in the state were sidelined.Appointments into State executive,parastatals and agencies were all taken without consultations.This was a terrible situation.The governor,making reference to this old order of things said"When you are taking decision about the state,you call stakeholders.It gives them joy that the governor called to seek their opinion in issues affecting the state.When you call the major stakeholders like Ike Nwachukwu,Onyeama Ugochukwu,Adolph Wabara or any of them and say this is what I want to do ,what is your view,how do we do it,they will be happy that their governor is consulting them.If you want to make appointment,you don’t give it to your mother or brother to write list of people you want to appoint for you,appointment is for everybody".For years Abia State was ruled like a personal business empire.T.A Orji finally brought an end to all that,and I am sure in many years to come,he will go down in history as the man who liberated Abians from the shackles of mamacracy and godfatherism.

For putting the above in place,Ochendo Global as he is fondly called deserves credit and respect from his people.