SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS

Sen. Orji presenting a wheelchair to one of the beneficiaries

By Solomon Elusoji

 On a recent soggy afternoon, tears of gratitude flowed freely as
hundreds of businesses and individuals were empowered at
Abia’s Central Senatorial Zone,
Emmanuel Uche, a partially disabled 10-year-old boy from
Eziama-Nsulu community in Abia Central Senatorial zone, is
seated patiently in the stands, his mother by his side. His limp
hands are folded on his laps, and his eyes roam flittingly, waiting
for the empowerment to begin. A supervisory councillor in his
community, Ikechukwu Adieze, had brought him and his mother
to the open field in Umuahia. Today, he hopes to get a new
wheelchair, so he can continue to go to school, where he’s in
Primary Three.

Uche is not alone. There are hundreds of other people gathered
on the field, their eyes sparkling with hope. Today is the day
when Abia Central’s representative in the Senate arm of the
National Assembly, Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, is set to
empower those who voted for him in his constituency, through
the distribution of certain empowering gift items. The gift items
include 20 units of 2.5 megawatts generator, 20 units of home
grinding machines, 20 units of sewing machines, 100 bags of
fertilizer, 14 units of motorcycles, 10 units of tricycles, 15 units of
wheelchairs, amongst other things.

“I want to emphasise that only those that voted for me will
receive these items and anywhere it stops, we continue until the
items get to those that cast their votes for me,” Orji had said in
March.
The mood at the open field is upbeat. There had been a heavy
downpour earlier, which had trickled down to showers. Since the
people at the field were also expecting to be showered with good
things, the rain was like a message from God.

“Today, the senator is having his constituency empowerment
programme,” one of the coordinators of the programme, Engineer
Emma Nwabuko, says. “And this empowerment covers the six
local government zones in Abia Central. And to be fair, the
committee that selected those who received the items were
selected from the six zones.”
However, for Nwabuko, “the most attractive item being given out
today is the liquid fertiliser, which we have not used before, and
which we are now trying to introduce. In the next six months, we
want people to come up and attest to the effectiveness of the
fertiliser.”

“It is magnificent and wonderful to see this kind of thing,” a
former Deputy Speaker of the Abia State Assembly, Hon.
Chidiebere Nwoke, tells THISDAY, just before the programme
kicks off. “Of all the 109 senators you have in the federal republic
of Nigeria today, it’s only Senator T.A. Orji that has done this,
within eight months of assuming office. We had something like
this happen in Aba recently, but the magnitude was much less
than what is happening today. So, it’s a thing of joy, and I believe
that more are going to come, and the people are going to enjoy
the dividends of democracy.”

Soon, Senator Orji marches into the venue and ecstatic cries and
chants fill the air. He is the man everyone had been waiting for.
After serving as the Executive Governor of Abia for eight years,
Ochendo, as Orji is fondly referred to, is widely loved by his
people. This love, apparently, stems from the fact that Orji,
throughout his political career, has been a leader who chose to
mingle with the people and understand their problems. Today, his
decision to empower hundreds, unleashing diverse creative
entrepreneurs in the process, is another example pointing to the
reason he is loved by all and sundry.

“Ochendo has done what nobody has done before,” a Deputy
Chairman of the PDP in Abia, Chief Allen Nwachukwu, says, as he
gives a short remark, describing Orji’s indelible efforts, both as
Governor, and now as senator. “He has done what nobody has
done.”
Before long, Orji himself is called to give a short speech and
officially kick-start the empowerment process. “Today’s rain is a
shower of blessings,” he says. “I want these items to get to
everybody. But those that don’t get now should be patient; it will
eventually get to you.”

Then the empowerment began, and it turns out to be a carnival
of joy as men and women leap, whirl, dance, and sing songs of
thanksgiving.
“The senator has tried,” Samuel Emeribe from Isiala Ngwa South
Local Government, who got a wheelchair, says. “He has the
goodwill of his people in mind, and that shows that he’s
representing us well. Also, he’s putting smiles on the faces of the
less privileged. I ask God to continue to strengthen, guide and
protect him.”

Chuks Robert Onuigbo, who got a tricycle, tells THISDAY: “The
senator is a man of God, a man of destiny; he is a man who
likes to empower people, a man who likes the growth of people;
I thank him, and may God bless him. I will use this to earn a
living. I used to be a farmer, and this tricycle would be used to
supplement my income.”

Victor Onyebuchi, from Osisioma Local Government, who got a
generator, enthuses: “As you can see, I am very happy. I have a
provision store, and this generator will help me to power it.
Ochendo is a good man, I say thank you to him.”
“I am not surprised; it is his nature; he has been doing it before
now,” a member of Ochendo Women, Lady Doris Iboku, tells
THISDAY. “And for him to have done this in less than a year of
being senator, it means that he knows what he’s doing and why
we sent him there. Even when he was governor of Abia State, he
was awesome, so we are not surprised. We pray that God will
increase him more.”

“The former governor, now senator, who is much loved by the
people of Abia, is continuing his good works by empowering his
people,” a former PDP Chairman in Abia State and Chairman of
the Day, Chief Uzodinma Okpara, tells THISDAY. “It’s a great thing
for the people of Abia Central.”
The state chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with
Disability, Abia State chapter, Stanley Onyebuchi, was equally
delighted at the empowerment programme. He says: “Ochendo,
the former governor, has been a friend to persons with disability,
so he’s a man that always thinks about us. That’s why you are
seeing wheelchairs; besides, some of us will be given other
items. In fact, this is the first time a senator or a honourable
member is doing an empowerment programme in this state and
you see items for persons with disability. So, that shows that he
is a friend to us.”

A resident of Abia Central, Ugochukwu Emezue, tells THISDAY
that the empowerment programme was a great way of boosting
Abia’s economic fortunes. “It is a good development, because
what he’s doing is to give back to the people for supporting him,”
he says. “He did an education empowerment three months ago,
and today, he’s investing in entrepreneurial empowerment. It’s
also a way of supporting Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor
of the state, because this will definitely have a positive impact on
the economy of Abia State. The senator has done well. Of
course, like Oliver Twist, we expect more from him, but I know
he’s equal to the task.”

A former Commissioner of Housing under T.A.Orji, Prince K.O.
Mgbeahuru, who could not hide his joy said: “This is ‘jara’ for me.
We are very proud of him. Within a short time, he has sponsored
a lot of bills. He’s doing very well.”

“I think this is wonderful,” says a former Commissioner for
Works, Hon. Longman Nwachukwu on the empowerment
programme, adding “It is an epitome of responsible
representation. We have never had it this good before now. This
is the first time a senator is doing something like this in Abia
Central. The senator is rewriting what representation is all about.
He is a leader par excellence and a game changer.”

~Thisday