Ochendo: The Philosophy leading Abia State to Eldorado (Photos)

Senator T A Orji

By  Don Norman Obinna

Despondency has suddenly given way to optimism, covert feudalism; a subtle political weapon for the few rich to enslave ad infinitum the masses into doing their biddings has completely been eroded by egalitarianism. Like the biblical Israelites, the people of Abia State central senatorial district are within a touching distance to their long anticipated land of Eldorado, thanks to Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji’s visionary style of leadership.

For the people of Isialangwa North and South, Osisioma, Ikwuano, Umuahia North and South; the six local government areas that constitute Abia Central Senatorial District, their choice of the man best described as the sage of our generation and as Ochendo by his teeming fans to represent them at the Red chambers of the National Assembly was not just a perfect one but one divinely orchestrated to put them at the forefront of unprecedented opulence.  Hence the conferment on him with the unique traditional title, Opuru Iche 1 of Igbo land by Abia traditional rulers in the presence of large crowd of grateful Abians.

Of course, if not Ochendo who during his era as the Governor of Abia State made scores of Abia indigenes millionaires through genuine empowerment and in less than seven months as a senator awarded scholarship to 60 indigent intelligent undergraduate students through a scholarship scheme designed to produce 240 students in four years and the distribution of 600 bags of rice to the aged ones, indigent widows and the less privileged, the cap would certainly fits no one else in Abia State.

If that benevolence was a jaw breaking blow to his critics, then the breathtaking event of Saturday 9th April 2016 which witnessed the distribution of 20 2.5 KVA generators, 20 sewing machines, 14 motor cycles, 8 tricycles, 15 wheel chairs, 20 grinding machines, two 18-Seater buses and 100 fertilizers to various artisans and farmers who were in dire need of them to aid their vocation and farm produce in less than his one years in NASS, has surely made nonsense of the vituperations against him by disgruntled individuals. Little wonder his critics have become restless.

Honestly the moment would not be captured well without the emotion laden speech of one of the beneficiaries Mr. Samuel Enyeribe from Isialangwa who described the occasion as the restoration of limbs and arms to the physically challenged and given of flesh to the dry bones by a man whose commitment is to the service of God and humanity.

while thanking God for given the people of Abia Central the wisdom to chose Senator Orji as their representative in the NASS, Mr. Enyeribe noted that with his actions Ochendo has once again proven to his critics that he is not in government for business rather for the well being of his people who he has continually shown love since 2007.

In his opening remark at the event which was hosted in Ochendo’s constituency office at Ojike Street, Umuahia, the Abia State capital, the Deputy Chairman, Abia State Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP) Chief Allen Nwachukwu who bequeathed Sen. Orji with various traditional titles said that his good works to humanity will always locate him. He recalled with excitement how Sen. Orji stood out from the crowd by refusing to undermine the Abia charter of equity in the face of pressure and intimidation by some political hawks in the state even when such decision would have taken his life.

He said that coupled with this and other outstanding achievements of sen. Orji, the Ngwa people were spurred to collectively conferred on him the traditional title of Opuru Iche 1 of Igbo land on Monday March 29, 2016 in the presence of Ngwa traditional rulers.
In his assessment however the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal constituency at the lower chambers of the NASS, Hon. Sam Onuigbo recalled how fortunate the people of Abia Central were in collectively voting Ochendo as their Senator.  According to Onuigbo, Ochendo’s representation will usher in a lot of positive impact on the people of Abia central.

“Ochendo represents everything one desires in a leader. His love for the unity of Abia State and his selfless style of leadership will surely take Abia State to the greater height,” Onuigbo said.
Hon. Onuigbo further said that the name, Ochendo means stability, equity and fairness to Abia state indigenes, because he has done a lot for the state by stabilizing a lot of things with the construction of many new infrastructures such as the new Government House, International Conference Center, the twin Secretariat and many more too innumerous to mention.

Onuigbo also said that Sen. Orji deserves whatever title given to him considering his unparalleled performance adding that his achievements are outstanding and therefore the title of Opuru Iche 1 of Igbo land wouldn’t have fit anyone else but him.
In his own observation, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Charles Ogbonna, descried Sen. Orji as a man of history.

His words, “I call him man of history because we took it as a joke when he said he is going to rewrite the wrong in Abia politics. We never took him serious, but he maintained that Abia is a three legged senatorial zone and that it’s wrong for a particular people to continue producing governor thereby marginalizing others, leaving them to agitate which to some extent gave birth to the shooting and other notorious act we witnessed in the state.”

He said that despite some of these challenges, Ochendo was able to galvanize all to believe and agreed towards his vision which was what brought about the celebration taken place. On the constant youth empowerment which has become one of Ochendo’s trademarks, Ogbonna said Ochendo came to limelight when he was the Executive Secretary of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He recalled a Special Adviser whose life was transformed by Ochendo while in secondary school at Ibeku High School selling akara (Bean cake).
“Ochendo stopped him one day and questioned him on why he should be selling akara with his school uniform, when he told Ochendo his life story there and then he paid his school fees gave him money for his WEAC and JAMB.”

Ogbonna said Sen. Orji’s strength was his ability to carried everybody along adding that he looks at one and try to solve ones need which according to him has never happened in Abia State before.
“Before Ochendo’s emergence, it was wheel barrow, cutlasses and shovels that were used to empower youths, but ochendo came and stopped it saying we have graduates even in America that drives taxi it will also be fair if we make people especially our youths car owners and with this cars they can take care of themselves, I know a lot of people in town who are doing well through the instrumentality of ochendo,” he added.
Hon Darlington Nwokocha, House of Rep member for Isialangwa North and South however summoned it this way.

“T.A Orji means a lot to us and to be more specific he is an icon of democracy. When he visited Ghana and was given the award, he quickly translated it into action by making sure that equity and fairness become the order of the day in Abia politics.”
“This is a man who never took anybody anywhere to swear an oath of allegiance for him for whatsoever reason and he never asked for a dime from anyone before appointing one. You can see that the crowd here was not a rented one. They came out voluntarily to support him and that tells you how much Abians love him, we love and cherish him.” He added.

Don Norman Obinna is the media adviser to Sen. Theodore Orji