While Nigerians were recently celebrating Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the undisputed leader of the Yoruba, two things were running through my mind. One was that the well deserved pan-Nigerian acknowledgment of Tinubu and by extension the entire Yoruba collective, was coming at a time when a section of my people, the Igbo, had began a debate over who would replace the Late Chief Chukwuemaka Ojukwu, who had just been similarly celebrated by Nigerians a few weeks earlier. For me, the two developments, coming close to each other the way they did, was quite significant.
While the Igbo were worrying over who would emerge as their new rallying point, as many of us saw Ojukwu, the Yoruba were consolidating on the fact that not only had they found a new leader in Tinubu but also, indeed, one that they can proudly and present before the rest of Nigeria. To be sure, this uncommon flair among the Yoruba to effortlessly throw up a leader is not entirely new but it is reasonable to argue that Tinubu’s ascendancy to a pan Nigerian prominence is the first time Yoruba’s are presenting another widely acknowledged leader after the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
The other thing that ran through my mind was that Tinubu became what he is today after serving only for eight years as Governor of Lagos State. Agreed, his stint as Senator during the days of diarchy, coupled with his involvement in pro-democracy activism gave him the initial exposure but by far what finally sold Tinubu to Nigerians was his gubernatorial outing. I am not reluctant, at all, to admit that while I am very happy for Senator Tinubu and his Yoruba kinsmen for what God has used him to accomplish for them, I have been agonizing over the fact that though Tinubu’s contemporaries of Igbo extraction where among the few that showed early signs of pan-Nigerian acceptance at the beginning of the current Republic, my people are today wallowing in another wild guess or search of a rallying point, let alone one to export to the rest of Nigeria.
Whereas the Yoruba are making another Tinubu in Babatunde Fashola by contrast my people, Ndi Igbo, are routing each other. The crab (Nshikor) mentality is growing by the day. The Igbo bungled theirs between 1999 and 2007 when they failed to exploit the innate qualities of a few of those that served as governors during that period, like Tinubu. Yet, the opportunity that offered itself again in 2007 is being mismanaged. That year, both Ikedi Ohakim, former governor of Imo State and T. A. Orji, the incumbent governor of Abia State, were elected governors under circumstances that instantly made them the cynosure of keen watchers of the Nigerian political terrain.
But it wasn’t long when both their people and the rest of Nigeria discovered that the two gentlemen had qualities that were suggestive of some unseen hands that were out to inevitably ensure that the collective destiny of the Igbo remained in their hands and not subject to the caprices of outsiders whose only political expertise is on how to turn every Igbo politician into a “Yes” man.
Soon after, however, these Igbo traducers discovered in Ohakim the bad boy of this new consciousness. And he was marked out and shoved aside in a style that was methodically executed in active collaboration and connivance of Igbo elements themselves.
With Ohakim out, T. A. Orji is naturally the next target, what with the vibrancy and profound sense of purpose that he has manifested since 2007. And as usual, his own people, our own people, are the foot soldiers in yet another attempt to ensure that the Igbo remain the proverbial colony of crabs which remains in a basket from where none of them could ever climb out until their captor returns. This article is not about who is doing what among serving governors in the South East geo-political zone. But one would not shy away from acknowledging that Governor T. A Orji of Abia State has accomplished things that set him aside as a man of uncommon courage who is ready to do his best for his people even if it means standing entirely alone.
I was not opportune to comment on the non-indigene saga in Abia State some time ago but I was quite amazed at the choreographed condemnations that greeted that policy which, I make bold to say, was well thought out, given the circumstances the good people of Abia State found or find themselves. What amazed me most was that Abians allowed outsiders to dictate the tone of the ensuing debate on that issue that, in all intents and purposes, neither went against any democratic norm nor made other sister states a haven for their own indigenes who were being displaced from the Abia Civil Service by that policy. Here was a man who came to the stark reality that among what was needed to bring sanity to the state was to reduce a bloated civil service. And he took a simple, scientific rule of the thumb approach. Disengage non-indigenes. And some people were quarrelling with that? So, what would he have done? Sack Abians and leave non-indigenes in the state civil service?
Now, if T. A. Orji did the unthinkable, what of his colleague in Imo State who sacked 10 thousand civil servants, indigenes of the state, from the civil service the moment he took over as governor? Did Abians see that or not?
That was the same question many Nigerians asked the day some hired miscreants attempted to shout down the governor during the funeral of the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu at the Aba Stadium. The same Aba residents who once fled the city after kidnappers had made life hell on earth for them? The story is well known all over the country that Aba or indeed Abia state was at a point seen as the major headache of Nigeria, as it was trying to grapple with the problem of criminals. If nothing else, Abians should beat their chests to say that they were able to repudiate the characterization of their state as a den of criminals. That happened under T. A. Orji and it was not a tea party.
It is a well known fact that Governor Orji confronted the biggest challenge over insecurity so far in the current dispensation. It was in his domain that six journalists were kidnapped some time in 2009. That incident put him and Abia State at the center of world attention because of the caliber of the people involved. For over one week or so, Orji and Abia state were the only news in the land and beyond. But it is to his eternal credit that all the journalists were rescued without any of them having a scratch. Were that feat accomplished elsewhere, we would still be reading about it in the news papers today. That was an opportunity for the rest of the south east to rout kidnappers by borrowing the Orji formula. But that did not happen because of the crab mentality.
In my view, Abia citizens have a duty to take advantage of the uncommon qualities of their Governor to restore dignity unto themselves. There was a time when the mere mention of the fact that one comes from that part of the country conferred on one instant prestige and recognition. The reason was simply that Aba was then seen as the home of geniuses of sorts who perfected copy technology to make goods that were comparable to those made in any other part of the world. That was how and why Aba got the sobriquet, “Japan of Africa”. Such a characterization of a part of Igbo land was a pride for every Igbo but what else are we known for today, after the fall of Aba as a citadel of indigenous technology?
http://thejuristlaws..com/2012/05/ta-orji-and-igbo-dilemma.html

Na wa o! T.A Orji kwa? Hmm,if only the writer of this useless article stays in Aba,he won't have the guts to say this,since i came to Aba,i have never heard of a single road being constructed by T.A. Thunder ga agbagbu onye dee this article,nonsense.

I don't think Tinubu is that widely accepted in the west but you can't ignore his clout.

This topic isn't good for the egos of your brothers on NL expect it to die.
In fact are you new here? Cos your mates have been fighting for months to create certain perception and have employed all sorts of tactics and you just showed up trying to rubbish their effort,mtcheew go and sit down jor!.(:
Lolest!

@ OP, look, Yoruba people and Igbos can never have the same style of doing things, while the Yoruba are more inclined to gravitate towards people or someone identified in a position of authority, Igbos don't do that...and they never will, Look at history, Awo had more hold on the Yorubas Than Zik had on the Igbos...
Yoruba's then to be more clannish and Igloos are individualistic and republican, independent minded and tend to pursue their goals without bounds...


Now I can understand how you would persieve this behavior by the Igbos to be a bad thing, but I tend to see it as something Nigeria needs to become an emerging economic giant.

Surely the Yoruba kind of behaviors suits the present Nigerian environment, but asking the Igbos to behave in that same nature is like admiting Nigeria will never grow... so guy just leave that matter first..

Brilliant response by dalover. This article is ignorant and seems to believe follow follow is the end of poverty. What does tinubus popularity do for the average yoruba man or woman? Has it emded poverty in the soithe southweest? The sheeplike nature of the yoruba and hausa are nothimg to be emulated. Igbos are doing better on average than these people, if anything relying on one man to speak for a nation of millions is how yorubas allowed obasanjos to amass more personal wealth than their entire tribe combined.

I almost stepped over this thread but decided to add my voice early enough here. My first thought after reading the OP was to think of certain known "otimkpus" from certain Nigerian states which I won't mention, because they all know themselves.
Since this is about Igbo leadership, it became one on which I can comment.

Pointblank, the OP is insulting the intelligence of the good people of Abia state, and even more the Igbo people. Since I came to Nairaland, I've learned A WHOLE LOT about different Igbo groups and states, and based on my personal experience through interaction with Ndigbo in the Eze Ndigbo council, Abians are BY FAR the most active, intelligent, purpose driven, tenacious, patriotic and committed to the Igbo emancipation and public service. I am not saying this to massage anyone's ego or ridicule anyone, just stating the facts!
So, having come to have a deeper acquaintance and interaction with Abians, I mourn almost daily, that a character like T.A Orji is the governor of Abia state. T.A, Orji, almost destroyed YEARS OF IGBO PATRIOTIC LEGACY grown by such GREAT Abia sons as Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara. In Igbo national politics, apart from the Ikemba, no other Igbo is accorded more accolade and dignity than Dr M.I Okpara. FACT.
So, for someone to come here to lament the so called absence of Igbo leadership, and indirectly suggest a character -a man who set Igbo patriotism backwards by many years - as a possible candidate for that leadership, is deeply irresponsible.

OP, you rightly noted that Ohakim laid off tens of thousands of people ; do you think he never thought about laying off ONLY non-indigenes? Let me tell you, any Igbo state governor who cannot see Igbo as one first BEFORE any state executive action, is dangerous to Igbo survival, and a prototype of the type of leadership we don't need in Igboland.

IMHO, T.A Orji is damaged goods! He may end up being the "best" governor of Abia state before leaving office, but I assure you that he would never be accepted to play any Igbo leadership role for the rest of his natural life. He may perhaps be an Abia delegate or representative to such a leadership position (assuming Abians so much love him, which I doubt! ), but that is where his political life will likely end.
His will be a warning to other clanish Igbo leaders, that we Ndigbo love ourselves (as Ndigbo) far more than we love xenophobic and recidivist leaders even if they deliver heavens at the end of the day.

On this issue of Igbo taking time in choosing leaders, I believe that it is a mark of strength in our style and method of leadership, rather than a weakness. In one of the meetings I attended over the weekend, one of my friends observed that we Igbo are always in meetings! Alas he said we are always in meetings, but I had to remind him that other groups are jealous of that style of community activism in Igbo culture. No one leads us by the nose, and we are not jealous of others because our method of leadership deliver more community participation. It is a bottom- up approached rather than a top-down approached which is more vulnerable.

When our leader emerges, there is usually no question about his legitimacy or public support. I am proud of that as nwa afo Igbo!

So, take note, we are fine. Our leader will emerge one of these days. Our last leader was given an INTERNATIONAL class burial when he died: the whole world knew that THE Igbo leader died. Our next leader will equal or surpass that measure of love and followership.
That is why I am a very proud Igboman!

Here I stand!

Signed,

Onlytruth, Ndu Di N'eziokwu 1 of Igboland, Eze Ndigbo Nairaland.

A man as daft and bereft of idea on governance as a candidates for igbo leadership. What an insult. May 'kamalu' and 'ibini-ukpabi' strike you down.

A nihilistic rabble rouser is what i've chosen to call this dishonest, selfish, warped, sycophantic, and disrespectful writer. To him, a commedian of cruelty and philospher of hatred like T.A. Orji should be an Igbo leader, yes, a man who has raped the conscience of unity of Ndi Igbo should be our leader, a man who has suffocated democracy and arrested the economic growth of Ndi Abia should be our leader, a man who's out of tune with the reality of governance shoul preside over the leadership of Ndi Igbo, indeed, this writer is an Efulefu and doesn't deserve a response!

AS I WAS SAYING.....This guy EMINDU will soon be butted out soonest from this nonsensical approach to defence. It has become obvious that T.A led government is insensitive to the feelings of the people judging from the time frame for such INSULT to NDIGBO. This is a man that went to a function in Igbo controlled states and was booed for non performance and you turn around to present him as their leader. If i were to be your teacher in image making , i would have asked them to down you with 50lashes of koboko.You are the most ignoble human being on earth. Even a blind Abian will not go for T.A. You guys are rather dragging him deeper into political and governance grave. He is the man the cap fits in Abia courtesy the state radio station and now the man to fit into Ojukwu's shoes and cap.HABA! I Think well meaning Igbos should come out and bare their minds in this matter. It is even inconceivable for T.A and his advisers to test any ground in this matter.When a man creates a monster which in no time consumes him.How can such cry for help. T.A created Kidnapping in a way in his domain because he never put up policies to take care of the teeming youths of Abia arising out of his deficiency in ideas.You give out what you have and when you are empty.. of course the best recourse is empty noise making. Emindu is actually trying to steer us out of the issues of accountability in governance which is the people's immediate concern.To redirect governance while the government lasts because time waits for no one.Tinubu in question performed creditably well while in office and you are equating and individual that passed through Awolowo's tutellage, detained for the cause of his people. You equate him with T.A and OHAKIM who never had platforms before ascending to the positions they found themselves. As for T.A his former boss ORJI KALU must have regretted putting him there.A core civil servant who never won any ward of excellence or other credential found himself from KIRIKIRI TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE.CHEI ! Judge by his public statements and you realize who has been misgoverning Abia in the last 5 years.You rightly told us you are a JJC and how can you rightly judge nor defend the most horrendous and embarrassing policy of THE STATE LED BY governor T.A against sister Igbo states.Threw caution to the wind and sacke thousands. This time around, it will be more than PURE WATER.Something more painful than that will surface. I am aware of a husband and wife that died simultaneously and left their children helpless and hopeless only for a good Samaritan to grant them scholarship. A government that asked people that gave their lifetime energy and asked them to go EMPTY HANDED without QUALMS. Is it not callous? This is the style of T.A government and it is a great concern to Abians. You ask people out before thinking of what to do with them if ever you remember them and even the actions you took.EMINDU, Did you read your boss comment on the journalist's kidnap saga in his interview with Guardian newspapers recently? while you agree here that the incident took place in Abia, your T.A is ang[b][/b]ry with the press for that reportage. Reconcile your stand but the whole world knew where it happened. As for Aba, the return to JAPAN OF AFRICA cannot be realized with Governor T.A ORJI'S style of PATCH-PATCH GOVERNANCE IN ABIA until someone with better dreams for his people is enthroned in that seat he is occupying. See the UKWU MANGO portion of Ariaria he is celebrating. A snake will give birth to it's kind. No amount of Carry Go on radio and all that stuff will suffice. CHIKENA !

the op should be shot dead, during those days people like him will be dragged around the village square and flogged several times.

Pointblank, the OP is insulting the intelligence of the good people of Abia state, and even more the Igbo people. Since I came to Nairaland, I've learned A WHOLE LOT about different Igbo groups and states, and based on my personal experience through interaction with Ndigbo in the Eze Ndigbo council, Abians are BY FAR the most active, intelligent, purpose driven, tenacious, patriotic and committed to the Igbo emancipation and public service. I am not saying this to massage anyone's ego or ridicule anyone, just stating the facts!

Onlytruth, Ndu Di N'eziokwu 1 of Igboland, Eze Ndigbo Nairaland. [/quote]


lies man..pure diluted lies...ANAMBRA STATE indigenes..Light of the entire black nation are the most intelligent,purpose driven,articulate and most committed to the plight and advancement of the entire igbo nay black race...we have consistently upheld and churned out both human and material resources to the advancement of the igbo race...you guys should give us credit for that...

ABIA and Ebonyi states are the bane of everything good in ala Igbo...hardly educated and bereft of any meaningful development..sad but true...from the era of the bakassi boys down to inter tribal wars of the ezillo people..pray tell..which village fights itself these days??its really appalling..my job as a geologist have taken me to most parts of abia and ebonyi and believe me man..that place na die..its only in abia i see a governor of an oil producing state...with all the FAAC allocation,13%derivation celebrating a metal pedestrian bridge... ..the port-harcourt aba rd is littered with mountains of refuse...infact aba is the headquarters of dirt,unbelievable roads and jungle justice...the governor has literally mismanaged anything in sight including the beloved enyimba football club..its really sad man...go to neighboring akwa-ibom state and you will indeed weep for abia state....Goodswill akpabio has transformed that state..all t.a does is pay mediocre like this infidel poster to launder his image...

May amadioha and sango collabo and strike this poster and all those that test our sensibilities by supporting t.a with everything bad..idiotasssssssssss

deshclones:
Pointblank, the OP is insulting the intelligence of the good people of Abia state, and even more the Igbo people. Since I came to Nairaland, I've learned A WHOLE LOT about different Igbo groups and states, and based on my personal experience through interaction with Ndigbo in the Eze Ndigbo council, Abians are BY FAR the most active, intelligent, purpose driven, tenacious, patriotic and committed to the Igbo emancipation and public service. I am not saying this to massage anyone's ego or ridicule anyone, just stating the facts!

Onlytruth, Ndu Di N'eziokwu 1 of Igboland, Eze Ndigbo Nairaland.


lies man..pure diluted lies...ANAMBRA STATE indigenes..Light of the entire black nation are the most intelligent,purpose driven,articulate and most committed to the plight and advancement of the entire igbo nay black race...we have consistently upheld and churned out both human and material resources to the advancement of the igbo race...you guys should give us credit for that...

ABIA and Ebonyi states are the bane of everything good in ala Igbo...hardly educated and bereft of any meaningful development..sad but true...from the era of the bakassi boys down to inter tribal wars of the ezillo people..pray tell..which village fights itself these days??its really appalling..my job as a geologist have taken me to most parts of abia and ebonyi and believe me man..that place na die..its only in abia i see a governor of an oil producing state...with all the FAAC allocation,13%derivation celebrating a metal pedestrian bridge... ..the port-harcourt aba rd is littered with mountains of refuse...infact aba is the headquarters of dirt,unbelievable roads and jungle justice...the governor has literally mismanaged anything in sight including the beloved enyimba football club..its really sad man...go to neighboring akwa-ibom state and you will indeed weep for abia state....Goodswill akpabio has transformed that state..all t.a does is pay mediocre like this infidel poster to launder his image...

May amadioha and sango collabo and strike this poster and all those that test our sensibilities by supporting t.a with everything bad..idiotasssssssssss

you are a nut case man
you are not even responding to what you quoted
which kain mental case be dis?

T.A orji should be stoned
he is a disgrace to nidgbo

deshclones:
Pointblank, the OP is insulting the intelligence of the good people of Abia state, and even more the Igbo people. Since I came to Nairaland, I've learned A WHOLE LOT about different Igbo groups and states, and based on my personal experience through interaction with Ndigbo in the Eze Ndigbo council, Abians are BY FAR the most active, intelligent, purpose driven, tenacious, patriotic and committed to the Igbo emancipation and public service. I am not saying this to massage anyone's ego or ridicule anyone, just stating the facts!

Onlytruth, Ndu Di N'eziokwu 1 of Igboland, Eze Ndigbo Nairaland.


lies man..pure diluted lies...ANAMBRA STATE indigenes..Light of the entire black nation are the most intelligent,purpose driven,articulate and most committed to the plight and advancement of the entire igbo nay black race...we have consistently upheld and churned out both human and material resources to the advancement of the igbo race...you guys should give us credit for that...

ABIA and Ebonyi states are the bane of everything good in ala Igbo...hardly educated and bereft of any meaningful development..sad but true...from the era of the bakassi boys down to inter tribal wars of the ezillo people..pray tell..which village fights itself these days??its really appalling..my job as a geologist have taken me to most parts of abia and ebonyi and believe me man..that place na die..its only in abia i see a governor of an oil producing state...with all the FAAC allocation,13%derivation celebrating a metal pedestrian bridge... ..the port-harcourt aba rd is littered with mountains of refuse...infact aba is the headquarters of dirt,unbelievable roads and jungle justice...the governor has literally mismanaged anything in sight including the beloved enyimba football club..its really sad man...go to neighboring akwa-ibom state and you will indeed weep for abia state....Goodswill akpabio has transformed that state..all t.a does is pay mediocre like this infidel poster to launder his image...

May amadioha and sango collabo and strike this poster and all those that test our sensibilities by supporting t.a with everything bad..idiotasssssssssss

I found myself sighing and shaking my head reading this. Enyi, i wukwa onye Igbo?

I never knew any Easterner could say some of those things that you said, not to talk of a whole son of Anambra like you.

Let me respond...

It's true that Abia and Ebonyi are the smallest Igbo states (in terms of population) but that doesn't mean anything. Anambra is the most populous Igbo state so I guess most people think of Anambra as the primary/leading Igbo state. From what you wrote, it doesn't sound like you know much about Ebonyi or Abia. Did you even bother to find out the history behind conflict between the Ezza/Ezilo people or their political relationship and relations?

The Bakassi incident wasn't centered in Abia. It affected southern Abia, an parts of Rivers. You probably didn't bother to find out the reasons behind that incident. Anambra isn't apart of the Niger Delta so the political clime there isn't necessarily the same as that in Abia.

I am also sure you're unaware of the strides that Abians and Ebonyese have made in education, agriculture, commerce, and development for the benefit of the greater Igbo people. Anambra is not the only state in Igboland. Every state, community, clan, LGA, city, town, and village in ali Igbo serves a purpose. We are nothing without each other, let me just remind you so stop this nonsense that you're saying. If this is the way that you're acting around fellow Igbo people (umunne gi) how much more will you act around foreigners?

Chegaria onwe gi. Maka anyi bu otu. Ezi na ulo obula na ekewa onwe ya na egwu ili ya.

Ndi Igbo, biko na unu egbukwa onwe unu.

odumchi:

I found myself sighing and shaking my head reading this. Enyi, i wukwa onye Igbo?

I never knew any Easterner could say some of those things that you said, not to talk of a whole son of Anambra like you.

Let me respond...

It's true that Abia and Ebonyi are the smallest Igbo states (in terms of population) but that doesn't mean anything. Anambra is the most populous Igbo state so I guess most people think of Anambra as the primary/leading Igbo state. From what you wrote, it doesn't sound like you know much about Ebonyi or Abia. Did you even bother to find out the history behind conflict between the Ezza/Ezilo people or their political relationship and relations?

The Bakassi incident wasn't centered in Abia. It affected southern Abia, an parts of Rivers. You probably didn't bother to find out the reasons behind that incident. Anambra isn't apart of the Niger Delta so the political clime there isn't necessarily the same as that in Abia.

I am also sure you're unaware of the strides that Abians and Ebonyese have made in education, agriculture, commerce, and development for the benefit of the greater Igbo people. Anambra is not the only state in Igboland. Every state, community, clan, LGA, city, town, and village in ali Igbo serves a purpose. We are nothing without each other, let me just remind you so stop this nonsense that you're saying. If this is the way that you're acting around fellow Igbo people (umunne gi) how much more will you act around foreigners?

Chegaria onwe gi. Maka anyi bu otu. Ezi na ulo obula na ekewa onwe ya na egwu ili ya.

Ndi Igbo, biko na unu egbukwa onwe unu.

don't mind that guy
i think he is no other than chino11

Together we make Abia a great State....lets join hands to support ever administrative governor,lets give our support to his aides,lets profer first class ideas that will help move Abia forward...T.A Orji can not do it alone,he ca't oversee the affairs of this state without our collective effort..

This write up would have made sense if former governor of Abia state, in the person of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu was the subject matter or the focal point.The current governor, to the best of his knowledge might be carrying out his responsibilities as a governor but lacks what it takes to be people's leader like Tinubu or Orji Uzor kalu .Like Achigbu Marcel pointed out, let the work of our igbo leaders speak for them. We know the people the cap fits not the current governor never the less, i wish Abia state governor the best.

Leadership continues to be the most herculean task of man, especially where the leader has among his cabinet, people of doubtful integrity; people who equally aspire to unseat him. Abia State is a seemingly typical society with above characteristics. There seem to be many black-legs in the cabinet/leadership machinery, thereby making it almost difficult if not impossible to steer the wheel of governance of the state. The governor, Chief T. A. Orji will unavoidably continue to experience deadlocks in trying to reach the people he governs through equitable provision of amenities and infrastructure.. He will continue to receive negative responses from the society even when he spends the last kobo in the coffer to better the lives of the people. The reason is not far-fetched. The society is perhaps not adequately feeling the impact of the government benefits from the person on top - the Governor. This is because there is blockage somewhere along the continuum. Somebody is not doing his own work properly or not doing anything at all. Unless this human blockage is removed, the governor will certainly continue to receive unwarranted criticism. What the Governor requires is nothing but effective monitoring of projects, contracts, assignments, and most importantly, to ensure that the society is properly intimated, enlightened and educated of the government's projects and the sites of such projects - if need be; announce through the media the names of the contractors handling such projects; to follow the project with adequate implementation program. What is happening to the Abia State Governor today has always been the case with great leaders; and unless the issue is adequately addressed,and the right person put at the right place, the efforts of Gov. T. A. Orji will definitely continue to receive little or no kudos. Let us look at the case of Joseph and Pharaoh in the administration of Egyptian kingdom. Equitable result was achieved when Joseph was kept in charge of planning and implementation which saved Egypt from a devastating drought and famine: Gen. 41: 37 - 41. I am however enjoining Abians to be patient with the Governor while he continues to plan out the best way to better the lives of the people of this state, after all he already has many meaningful projects in process

Since I Came On Board, I Have Not Secured Any Loan Or Taken Any Bond’- Gov. T.A...
Abia State Governor Theodore Orji recently spoke to journalists on allegation of non-performance leveled against his government by the opposition, what his government is doing to uplift the state and other sundry issues. SAMSON EZEA was there and reports.

ABIA State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has accused you of not doing anything in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state. Is your silence not a confirmation of that allegation?

Ideally, I don’t like listening or responding to empty noise-making. I have decided that henceforth, if I do foundation of any project, I will launch it. If I patch anywhere on the road, I will launch it, because the opposition is now feeding the public with a lot of lies, just to score cheap political points, even when the things we are doing are visible and verifiable.

Prominent among the things we are doing are roads and structures that will stand the test of time. I pray that before I leave office, the new Government House we are building will be ready for use.

The new International Conference Centre, where we have a banquet hall, can take more people than the Okpara Auditorium. The underground has been completed and work is still ongoing.

Work is also nearing completion at the new secretariat we are building. One thing you must understand is that I can build a road today and in two year’s time, it will wear off and people will forget it.

So, what is your government doing in Aba?

Aba people, in the next one month, will forget Ukwumango Ariaria road, Dan Fodio/East roads, Old Express/Samek road, Nkata Ataike-Umukabia and Iyienyi-Okwoyi roads in Umuahia North Council, which I commissioned recently.

The late premier of the Eastern Nigeria, Dr. Michael Okpara, didn’t he build roads? Did people remember him today for the roads he built? Instead, they remember him for the Golden Guinea Breweries, the Umuahia Ceramics and the Farm Settlements, and that is the angle I am going, because some people attach a lot of importance to roads.

Umukabia road was non-existent before; there was no road there, it used to be a bush. They refused to remember the Okwuta road we commissioned over one year ago.

At the secretariat, we have two roads yet to be commissioned- Ochendo By-pass, which comes out at Ikot-Ekpene road and the Otuka By-passes through Benaris Hotel that goes straight to B.B. Apugo house through to Amaeke.

I have not commissioned them and other ones, but there are some people who after one single project will make so much noise.

I have told my aides not to lay claim to what I did not do, because what my government has done is clear and verifiable. It is not Abrakatabra; it is not Dubai road.

The Umukabia road is stone-based, with bridges, and right from Umukabia, Ugwu Mkpa through Umuagu villages to Uzuakoli community.

How do you fund the projects, since you claim to receive paltry allocation?

Since I came on board, I have not secured any loan from any bank, neither have I taken any bond from the capital market.

Previously, our salary wage bill was between N1.4 and N1.5 billion, before the N18, 000 minimum wage was introduced. But today, I am paying N20.100 as minimum wage. I am yet to see any other state that pays higher than Abia.

This has brought our salary wage bill to N2.5 billion, out of an allocation of about N3.5billion at the highest. When you remove N2.5 billion from N3.5billion, what remains for me is just N1billion.

The Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is N222 million, which is what I get from my consultants. Add it and compare with what we are doing and you can now assess whether Abia is doing well or not, compared to some other states?

There is no basis for comparison, because if you see their allocation chart, you can understand why some of them are able to build airports.

Unfortunately, when our people see some of these things, they will come back and say nothing is happening here. But you cut your coat according to your cloth.

I cannot bring Julius Berger here because I cannot pay them. But I can pay our own indigenous contractors who are doing very well and they are the people we are using and they are happy about it.

The three contractors I have kept permanently in Abia are all indigenous. The owners of Grand Star and New Idea are from Ana bra. The owner of Kudock is from Imo and there is nobody from Abia that is working on roads now, except GOT, which built Iyienyi-Okwoyi road.

You have seen the number of roads that we are doing, but people will still castigate me by saying nothing is happening in Abia, when things are actually happening.

But why has your government come under stringent criticisms?

Every day, if you open the newspapers, you see all kinds of stories. Edo is (Adams) Oshiomhole’s state, isn’t it? You will read that people were kidnapped and the story will be put inside the newspaper. But here, if a lizard gets missing, my predecessor’s newspaper will make it front-page news. There is somewhere I read that they raped a 26 year-old girl and she died during the crime and there is also a place I read that they have taken one traditional ruler to court for alleged rape related case.

But in Abia State, an allegation that has not been proven till today was made a national and international news story. No person has come out to prove that there was rape in Abia State University. I challenge anyone to come and prove it that there was raped in Abia State University.

Yet, some vested interests went ahead to sponsor bad stories against my government. This is what we are suffering here and we are misrepresented. There is no kidnapping here in Abia. In Imo State, kidnapping is taking place there but who talks about it? I also read in newspapers that some journalists escaped from the hands of kidnappers. It wasn’t made such a big deal but in our own case, an incident happened in the border between Akwa Ibom and Abia states, they shifted it to Abia- that journalists were kidnapped in Abia. You see, when they are maligning me, they are also maligning the good people of Abia State.

How are you then taking this?

I can say confidently that something good is happening in Abia State. You cannot compare what obtains now with what used to be.

I gave you some instances. My predecessor called me and told me to sell the Abia State Guest House in Victoria Island, Lagos to him, but I refused. I asked why he didn’t buy it when he was in office.

He also told me to lease Umuneato General Hospital to him for 50 years for use as part of the university he is building, but I also refused and told him that it was Abia property, if I cannot develop it or don’t do anything with it, it will be like that so that any other person coming after me can do anything about it. But for me to sell any Abia property, I told him I wouldn’t do that.

What held us back for many years is greed. The same old school that messed up the state wants to come back and continue, but we are saying no, that Abia people have suffered enough.

Apart from a forum like this, what other ways are you employing to project the achievements of your administration?

From now on, I have vowed that I will start to launch all the projects started and completed by my government. I am going to instruct my commissioners and aides to start publicising what is taking place in every sector in the state, because a lot is actually taking place.

Since I came on board, Abia has always come out tops in the education sector. Check out the best students in the Law School, you will see an Abia State University graduate. In medicine, Abia is also doing well, all these because we don’t play with subventions.

We are running a free education from the primary to secondary school level and have renovated about 250 schools.

In SUBEB, we have come second twice and came first once and they gave us a cash prize of N70 million.

I am not the commissioner for Information, but if people refuse to market me, I will market myself.

We have a reservoir of funds in the United States (US), which was recovered and kept there, out of which we have been giving our boys and girls overseas scholarships.

We gave unemployed youths jobs to do in business, agricultural sector, commerce and industry and sanitation.

After the Easter celebrations, we started another empowerment of unemployed youths and there is no sector you go that you will not see what we are doing.

We are doing so much in the health sector, especially in the area of counterpart funding. About 250 health centres are scattered all over Abia State, because we bring our own counterpart funding of N1billion and merge it with federal allocation and work goes on.

This time around, we want to face purchase of ambulances and hospital equipment, and we are sourcing for our own funds.
TAO

a state by his excellency gov. t.a orji From now on, I have vowed that I will start to launch all the projects started and completed by my government. I am going to instruct my commissioners and aides to start publicising what is taking place in every sector in the state, because a lot is actually taking place.

stupid topic.
yoruba people as a collective do not have a single leader. tinubu is just a former governor of lagos. who cares about him.
I care more for Fashola at this moment, as a lagosian.

but yea we are generally more socially organized. while ibos are more independent minded.

The guys are so organized that they are the only people in the world where you have robbery gangs of up to 50 people....now who can beat that.. lol

emindu: a state by his excellency gov. t.a orji From now on, I have vowed that I will start to launch all the projects started and completed by my government. I am going to instruct my commissioners and aides to start publicising what is taking place in every sector in the state, because a lot is actually taking place.

nna mehn..so its only two shabbily constructed roads that your governor has achieved in almost 5years??/

o boy these abians are really very patient and docile guys...whatever happened to the aba riot folks??...or did the rivers/akwa-ibomites peeps father the present crop of spineless abians....please i need answers

Ulonnaya21, i say FAFAFA FOUL! As i read through your appeal, i felt you were driving the right lane but you suddenly deviated. How long would you give a leader to make an impact. T.A ORJI has been there for 5years. Initially it was ORJI UZOR KALU and his mother, then it moved to INSECURITY. Man, a dog cannot give birth to a lion. You are asking us to give him another opportunity to advance another reason…NO,NO,NO. You are not fair to Abians. On projects and implementation you are referring to a situation where the intentions are right not when projects are inflated and AKANAZU is the order of the day, how can even the leader have the guts to query? Again you are aware of present appointments in the state which gives you the opportunity to judge. All T.C chairmen sacked are almost back to their seats, etc. T.A is a misfit to be assigned the role as a governor and because Abians preferred peanut to good governance, IFE ONYE CHORO KA OGA AFU.See the real UKWU MANGO IN ARIARIA here.Visit that place after the rains of yesterday thursday. Ulonnaya21 this is the crux of the matter. The present government's middle name is DECEIT !

AS I WAS SAYING.... I helped EMINDU TO UPLOAD HIS MASTER'S INTERVIEW WITH GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS for Abians to see.I will as well want the Governor to explain more on the issues he raised.
I would want Governor T.A ORJI to realise that when the people comment on issues of governance, it does not amount to " EMPTY NOISE MAKING" . The state is not a one man's property. It is a joint project that should bear public interest.I would like the governor not to hasten to as he puts it, "LAUNCH EVERY PROJECT" and i am sure he is refering to even uncompleted ones.A performer need not launch projects to be seen. Mimiko that won last year's Best Governor award did visible jobs than the deceit going on in Abia.The problem with your governance is that Abians are victims of sub-standard road construction, less quality, and standards not welcomed here.Roads are built without drainages and when they are done, a pinch line of water passage way is constructed thereby making mess of a project. Your roads do not and cannot STAND THE TEST OT TIME as you adduced. For example, in Aba, close to the railway line at Aba Owerri road, that portion alone is rehabilitated almost twice a year talkless of major road projects.You wittingly acknowledged this when you stated and i quote "...I can build a road today and in two year’s time, it will wear off" ... The list is endless. Every living soul in Aba and other parts of the state know the ill of this government - DECEIT.The UKWU MANGO syndrome is lying flat with this picture here. Visit that place after thursday rains in Aba. Dr Michael Okpara of blessed memory and his like embarked on projects with great zeal and commitment that today there legacies still stand tall if not for the corruption bedeviling governance in the state.It is also a lie for T.A to think that roads don't stand the test of time. Major roads in Aba and other places in the then IMO STATE are projects ONUNAKA MBAKWE built are still there for people to see and remembered him for .The insensitive nature of governance in Abia where Boreholes drilled with private money in the absence of public water, attract astronomical levies. Why on earth wouldn't the people be angry. You abandon them to care for themselves and you turn around to levy them, WHAO! OCHICHI ABIA - INA ABIAGIDE NDI GI. Beyond the levy is the question of ACCOUNTABILITY. All the infrastructural and all kinds of levies flow into private pockets and this is the reason why Abia can generate only N222 million according to your account. Targets are not set right because the right people do not find themselves there.I challenge the government to show the caliber of T.C Chairmen.Why can't local government elections be conducted in Abia state?A governor that has innumerable special assistants carted for with tax payer's money that he attached one to ENYIMBA FOOTBALL CLUB. Very unserious.Ariaria market , New market will soon have theirs to oversee tomato sales etc.So overbearing that the SSA recently began to announce and sign for radio announcement of a football match for ENYIMBA football club. Where has the club chairman and their press officer gone? Governor T.A orji, HABA! There was non when ORJI UZOR KALU won laurels for the state and the country.Government of AGBATA EKEE.Abians deserve the best out of this democratic dispensation. You defended your actions for using indeginous contractors but at whose gain or loss? You can pay Julius Berger if other states are engaging them and not the WURUWURU that you approve. When a company like JB undertake any project , they put their seal after the project which marks standard.Abia people desire projects that will attract investment, create employment and boost tourism in the state and less of OCHENDOISM. Your state radio station is awash with the slogan that you are THE MAN THE CAP FITS. Ha, we are living witnesses to ABACHA and if care is not taken , you toe same line.I pray that you live to see a better Abian steer this ship that is moving at SNAIL SPEED in development. Ask your aides to drop you at the level you are for now.. There is this recent campaign EMINDU started which is more dangerous for you.Some of us will help him upload it for the whole world to see and judge...presently from the reactions he has gotten , i am sure he is full of regret for his action.Meanwhile, to douse these NOISE AND THEIR MAKERS, please invite journalists to a tour of the " GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN ABIA " as you claimed.CHIKENA !EMINDU, answer me.

AS I WAS SAYING.... I helped EMINDU TO UPLOAD HIS MASTER'S INTERVIEW WITH GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS for Abians to see.I will as well want the Governor to explain more on the issues he raised.
I would want Governor T.A ORJI to realise that when the people comment on issues of governance, it does not amount to " EMPTY NOISE MAKING" . The state is not a one man's property. It is a joint project that should bear public interest.I would like the governor not to hasten to as he puts it, "LAUNCH EVERY PROJECT" and i am sure he is refering to even uncompleted ones.A performer need not launch projects to be seen. Mimiko that won last year's Best Governor award did visible jobs than the deceit going on in Abia.The problem with your governance is that Abians are victims of sub-standard road construction, less quality, and standards not welcomed here.Roads are built without drainages and when they are done, a pinch line of water passage way is constructed thereby making mess of a project. Your roads do not and cannot STAND THE TEST OT TIME as you adduced. For example, in Aba, close to the railway line at Aba Owerri road, that portion alone is rehabilitated almost twice a year talkless of major road projects.You wittingly acknowledged this when you stated and i quote "...I can build a road today and in two year’s time, it will wear off" ... The list is endless. Every living soul in Aba and other parts of the state know the ill of this government - DECEIT.The UKWU MANGO syndrome is lying flat with this picture here. Visit that place after thursday rains in Aba. Dr Michael Okpara of blessed memory and his like embarked on projects with great zeal and commitment that today there legacies still stand tall if not for the corruption bedeviling governance in the state.It is also a lie for T.A to think that roads don't stand the test of time. Major roads in Aba and other places in the then IMO STATE are projects ONUNAKA MBAKWE built are still there for people to see and remembered him for .The insensitive nature of governance in Abia where Boreholes drilled with private money in the absence of public water, attract astronomical levies. Why on earth wouldn't the people be angry. You abandon them to care for themselves and you turn around to levy them, WHAO! OCHICHI ABIA - INA ABIAGIDE NDI GI. Beyond the levy is the question of ACCOUNTABILITY. All the infrastructural and all kinds of levies flow into private pockets and this is the reason why Abia can generate only N222 million according to your account. Targets are not set right because the right people do not find themselves there.I challenge the government to show the caliber of T.C Chairmen.Why can't local government elections be conducted in Abia state?A governor that has innumerable special assistants carted for with tax payer's money that he attached one to ENYIMBA FOOTBALL CLUB. Very unserious.Ariaria market , New market will soon have theirs to oversee tomato sales etc.So overbearing that the SSA recently began to announce and sign for radio announcement of a football match for ENYIMBA football club. Where has the club chairman and their press officer gone? Governor T.A orji, HABA! There was non when ORJI UZOR KALU won laurels for the state and the country.Government of AGBATA EKEE.Abians deserve the best out of this democratic dispensation. You defended your actions for using indeginous contractors but at whose gain or loss? You can pay Julius Berger if other states are engaging them and not the WURUWURU that you approve. When a company like JB undertake any project , they put their seal after the project which marks standard.Abia people desire projects that will attract investment, create employment and boost tourism in the state and less of OCHENDOISM. Your state radio station is awash with the slogan that you are THE MAN THE CAP FITS. Ha, we are living witnesses to ABACHA and if care is not taken , you toe same line.I pray that you live to see a better Abian steer this ship that is moving at SNAIL SPEED in development. Ask your aides to drop you at the level you are for now.. There is this recent campaign EMINDU started which is more dangerous for you.Some of us will help him upload it for the whole world to see and judge...presently from the reactions he has gotten , i am sure he is full of regret for his action.Meanwhile, to douse these NOISE AND THEIR MAKERS, please invite journalists to a tour of the " GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN ABIA " as you claimed.CHIKENA !EMINDU, answer me.

Our Mission Statement
Our Vision
Our Objectives
Our Values
Our worldwide contacts.

Mission Statement:

To ensure that leaders at all levels of government in Abia State deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Vision:

To engage Abia indigenes and residents in enlightenment programmes that focus on qualities of good governance and service delivery by all levels of government.

Objectives:

1. To demand good governance from the leaders of Abia State by approved legal means and through regular and periodic town-hall meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, rallies, legal actions, investigative journalism and other acceptable pressure group gimmicks and methods.

2. To increase and sustain political education and public awareness of the activities and or failures of public office holders through the above-stated means.

3. To ensure adequate protection of the civil rights and freedom of Abia State citizens.

4. To serve as the alternative mouth piece of the citizens of Abia State.

5. To act as a catalyst for achieving enduring unity, peace and integration among component bodies of Abia State.

6. To encourage the state and local governments of Abia State to embark on serious and visible educational, health, agricultural and infrastructural developmental programmes.

7. To hold both the state and local governments accountable and responsible to the people of the state.

8. To fashion out and employ benchmarks for periodic assessment of the performance of elected and appointed leaders in Abia State.

9. To encourage and reward policies, achievements and excellence which positively impact the citizens or residents Abia State.



VALUES:

. Integrity

. Respect of rule of law

. Good leadership

. Equality

. Accountability

. Innovation.


Recognition:

The Abia Awakening is getting stronger by the day and millions of Abians are catching the vision worldwide.

The Abia Awakening (TAA) is committed to work with other organizations in the Diaspora and Abia state that are dedicated to good governance and the rule of law in Abia state.

We are committed to collaboration, transparency and volunteerism in the pursuit of our goals for a better Abia state.


MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION: Open to all Abians and those living in Abia state.

HOW TO JOIN "THE ABIA AWAKENING" Facebook group page: JOIN US TODAY BY CLICK ON THE BELOW LINK. GO TO THE TOP RIGHT SIDE OF PAGE AND "CLICK ASK TO JOIN" MAY GOD BLESS US.

http://www./theabiaawakening/
HOW TO ADD YOUR FRIENDS ON THIS FORUM.
-Go to the Abia Awakening page.
- Click on the Members.
-Check on top right side of the page and click on the box +ADD FRIENDS.
-And start adding you friends, you can add up to 20 friends and clicks add.
- Start adding now.


Official webpage: http://theabiaawakening.com/

Facebook group page:http://www./theabiaawakening/309058845799384/


1. That TAA is owned by an individual:
Answer: No. TAA was initiated by some persons who came together for the purpose of demanding good leadership.

2. That TAA is being sponsored by Politicians or Groups of people.
Answer: False. TAA is sponsored by it members and has no plans for seeking sponsorship from any politicians other than its members.

3. That TAA is a Political Party:
Answer: Wrong Assumption: TAA is a non-partisan group that advocates for good governance of our Abia indigenes.

4. That TAA was initiated by hungry/political office holders for relevance:
Answer: No. Most initiators are young professionals in different endavours and are doing very well. Besides, they are fulfilled and need no political recognition from the government.

5. That TAA hates opposing views on its discussion:
Answer: No. TAA allows everyone to air their views on any issues being discussed as long as such does not abuse or insult any commentator.

6. That TAA will soon be bought over:
Answer: Wrong Perception. TAA is solid and most decisions are taken by a Board and not one person.

7. That TAA is anti government and particularly hates T.A. ORJI.
Answer: TAA is not anti-government and doesn’t hate T.A. Orji; rather, TAA only hates & abhors bad governance.

8. That TAA is a group for a particular zone:
Answer: This is erroneous view. TAA is not tribalistic. Infact, TAA is a group of Abians who have their state at heart and for the good of all Abians.

9. That TAA is autocratic in her operations:
Answer: TAA has basic Rules and Terms guiding comments and contributions on its wall; ignorance of them wont be an excuse for being penalized to ensure credibility of the group.

TAA ADMIN
PRODUCT OF THE ABIA AWAKENING (TAA) 2012
Email: joinus@theabiaawakening.com

EMINDU, SEE WHAT LEADERS ARE DREAMING FOR THEIR PEOPLE IN CONTRAST TO T. A ORJI'S IMPASSABLE UKWU MANGO AFTER TWO DAYS RAIN....NOW YOU HAVE EYES TO SEE...

Update On The 10-lane Lagos-badagry Expressway (pictures) by london2lasgidi(m): 12:37pm
The road passes several Local Government and Development Areas which include: Amuwo Odofin, Ojo, Okoko and others. The contract was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc who originally constructed the road.
Update On The 10-lane Lagos-badagry Expressway (pictures) by london2lasgidi(m): 12:37pm




EMINDU , SEE WHAT OTHER STATE GOVERNORS ARE DREAMING FOR THEIR PEOLE AND CONTRAST WITH YOUR MUCH TOUTED UKWU MANGO THAT CAVED IN AFTER TWO DAYS RAIN...NOW YOU HAVE EYES TO SEE..

@ OLUBIA YOU SPEAK LIKE SOME ONE WHO IS NOT EDUCATED ,YOU LACK ORIENTATION HOW CAN YOU EVER IN THIS LIFE COMPARE LAGOS WITH ABIA STATE.
LAGOS STATE HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE BEFORE THE CREATION OF ABIA STATE
LAGOS IS ONE TIME THE CAPITAL OF NIGERIA
LAGOS IS AN INDUSTRIAL LAY OUT
LAGOS IS AMONG THE STATE IN NIGERIA WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF POPULATION.
LAGOS STATE RECEIVE REVENUE ALLOCATION THAN ABIA STATE.
LAGOS STATE PAY HIGH TAX RATIO THAN ABIA STATE. .
THIS ARE SOME OF THE PICTURE OF THE PROJECT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS WORKED ON

Newly commissioned Faulks road...

ukwu mango...

[quote author=emindu]@ OLUBIA YOU SPEAK LIKE SOME ONE WHO IS NOT EDUCATED ,YOU LACK ORIENTATION HOW CAN YOU EVER IN THIS LIFE COMPARE LAGOS WITH ABIA STATE.
LAGOS STATE HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE BEFORE THE CREATION OF ABIA STATE
LAGOS IS ONE TIME THE CAPITAL OF NIGERIA
LAGOS IS AN INDUSTRIAL LAY OUT
LAGOS IS AMONG THE STATE IN NIGERIA WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF POPULATION.
LAGOS STATE RECEIVE REVENUE ALLOCATION THAN ABIA STATE.
LAGOS STATE PAY HIGH TAX RATIO THAN ABIA STATE. .
THIS ARE SOME OF THE PICTURE OF THE PROJECT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS WORKED ON

AS I WAS SAYING... EMINDU,Beyond education and orientation, Abians are fed up with your master's volume of excuses. The people want democratic dividends. By now your mouth must have been stuck with UKWU MANGO celebration. Less money or not, we are talking about vision for the people which Governor T.A Lack.With all you enumerated that distinguished lagos state, it would have been a problem for T.A.If possible , we would have asked for transfer for T.A to switch to govern Lagos for a period of one monh and see if he will not grow grey hairs instanta! Well, the yourubas will go beyond PURE WATER .