Unknown to many Sen. Orji made egalitarianism possible in Abia State - Aide

Senator T A Orji  (CON)

Media Adviser to former governor of Abia State and senator representing Abia Central, Theodore Orji, Mr. Don Norman Obinna, reveals why Orji and his son became lawmakers at the same time. He also states the disposition of his boss on the pending corruption charges against former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, whom he once served as Chief of Staff, and other issues. 

STEVE OKO brings the excerpts:

What were the key inputs of your boss in terms of capital projects for his district in the 2016 budget?

 We all know the controversy the 2016 budget generated and how often the NASS and the Presidency bicker over the budget before it was finally approved. However, Senator Theodore Orji went to the NASS with the burden of Abia State, especially his constituency; Abia Central embedded in his heart. Do not forget that before his emergence as the governor, Abia State has never been so lucky with leadership and that lacuna to a considerable extent circumscribed the development of the state. So having done a lot to set Abia State in the right direction politically, he was pressurized by his people to represent them at the NASS because they trusted him based on his monumental achievements while governor to provide them with qualitative representation. In other words, putting the people’s needs first as well as attracting federal projects to his senatorial district is his priority. For instance, Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Express Road, though a federal road has some economic importance to Abia State because of the inter-trading between Akwa-Ibom and Abia State. Senator Orji has since called the attention of the federal government on the need to rehabilitate the road to ease the problem of transporting both people and goods to and fro the two sister states. Of course it is no longer news that the Federal Government put on hold virtually some road constructions awarded by the last administration but not withstanding, the call to rehabilitate federal roads in Abia State especially in Abia central has gathered momentum since the emergence of Senator Orji as one of the three senators representing Abia State. And hopefully, his influence as a former governor who commands respect among his colleagues in the Red Chambers of the NASS coupled with President Muhammadu Buhari’s love for the South-East geo-political zone, construction work will soon begin on the road very soon.

Can you boldly say the people of Abia Central are proud of your boss at the senate in terms of his performances in the last eight months; if yes, what are the evidences?

proud is an understatement, the people of Abia central senatorial district revered Ochendo just the way the English people revered Queen Elizabeth of England or how the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa was celebrated and respected even in death. The name Ochendo represents so many things to so many people, for instance, to the Ngwa Man, Ochendo represents, Justice, equity, fairness and sincerity. To the Umuahia man, it represents deliverance from obscurity and poverty and represents, liberation to the people of Abia north. You talked about evidences, well I will not want to take you down the memory lane, but will only call your attention to the recent event of Monday, March, 28 where the Ngwa people in their thousands came to appreciate Senator Orji for standing out of the crowd for them even when his decision to make possible the political equation of Abia State by handing over power to Ukwa-Ngwa man (Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu), in the midst of deadly gang-ups by some political hawks in Abia State could have cost him his life. In that epoch making event, Senator Orji was honoured before the entire traditional rulers from Isialangwa north and south and Osisioma with unprecedented title of Opuruiche 1 of Igbo land for his good works. In fact I want to quote verbatim the words of Engr Loe Ogbonna, the general manager, Abia water board who was the chairman of the occasion. “Posterity will ever remember you Ochendo for your good works to humanity. You have left your foot prints in the sands of time. These good deeds will remain indelible in the minds of every true son of Ukwa-Ngwa land.” As an Ibeku man myself, I can authoritatively tell you that we will forever be indebted to Sen. Orji for the egalitarianism he championed in our kingdom which saw the making of over 5000 millionaires among youths only.

At a time, a group started campaigning for his recall, alleging he was sleeping at the chambers. Has he stopped sleeping?

If you must know, in less than eight months as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Orji has seven bills to his credit. We are talking about a man who belongs to five different committees in the NASS. In other words, Ochendo has enormous responsibilities. If Ochendo has seven bills to his credit in less than one year while sleeping according to the mischief makers, then the NASS will be at his feet if he is awake. But thank God he is awake, facts do not lie, Ochendo’s action in the 18th NASS is too massive for his detractors, and they are afraid that they will soon go oblivion with the speed with which Ochendo is etching his name in the political history of Abia State, South-East geo-political zone and Nigeria as a whole. Let me use this medium to tell the detractors that Ochendo has moved very relevant motion on the issue of plane crashes, which forced the Board of Accident Investigation Bureau to go back and look into these things taken for granted. The airlines and air users will benefit from it, because the cogent issues which were omitted leading to some of the crashes in the past have been sorted out and you must agree with me that it is significant to the growth of our aviation industry. The detractors should also note that Senator Orji is the person who moved motion on the public procurement council. Do I need to say more? Of course they are too numerous to mention considering the news hole.

Some people still believed he was the actual force that stopped the senatorial ambition of his predecessor, Orji Kalu even though they are not from the same zone. Do you think he has been fair to Kalu believed to have nurtured him politically?

 Who are these people? The electorate or who? Well, I will simply say that the name Ochendo has become an institution in Abia State, so for simple political reason, people will always want to attach their political failure or that of anyone to the apron of Ochendo. Don’t you think that it will sound dignified and also pitiful for these people to attribute their political rejection to Ochendo than the voters? Senator Orji is too preoccupied with legislative matters than mundane issue of who emerges senator in a senatorial district that is not his. Those saying that are not even calculative enough. I thought they said that Ochendo is not popular among Abia electorate, so how come he still influences the same electorate they are busy telling the world hate him? Accusing Ochendo of being behind the predicament of anyone, simply means that they admit that he is popular and also a force to reckon with in Abia State. Ochendo is in the level of the late Obafemi Awolowo, Michael Okpara and recently Bola Tinubu in the political annals of Nigeria. Secondly, you asked if he has been fair to his predecessor. Well, it all depends on the context. The word fair is relative. You need to come close to Ochendo to know how obliging he is. Ochendo is so obliging that he cannot refuse anyone who needs his assistance even politically. At no time has it been said that his predecessor asked him for any favour and he refused to accede to such demand. Wait until that happens before you can now conclude whether he is fair to his predecessor or not.

He does not seem to be very vocal over the plights of IPOB leader who incidentally come from his zone

Says who? In the recent interview he granted some newsmen in Umuahia recently, I remembered that this issue was raised and Ochendo unequivocally said that NASS members of Igbo extraction have been doing some underground work for the possible political solution to the matter considering its sensitive nature. Do not forget that the matter is in court at the moment and one should be careful in what one says in order not to preempt the court. Ochendo is a senator of the Federal Republic, issue of national interest and things that will engender peace and unity are his priority. The issue of IPOB is one of such issues and to the best of my knowledge, he is doing what needs to be done to ensure that it is resolved and hopefully it will be resolved because President Buhari has a listening ear and also a promoter of peace.

While he was Governor, he did a lot of youth empowerment programmes. How far now as a senator?

God in his wisdom has ensured that every generation must have a sage who will complement its history. Senator Orji is a sage in this our generation. Why did I say so? Ochendo understands that education is the pivot through which all developmental activities revolve. Because he has his projection of where he wants Abia State to be in the next 10 years having in mind that the youths are the future of any state, in less than seven months as a senator, he gave out scholarship to 60 undergraduates from the six local government areas that made up his senatorial district, 10 indigent students were selected from each of the local government. This annual programme will produce 240 graduates in four years and you know what that means in a contemporary society that places a premium on education. Ochendo also understands that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation and as such come next week artisans who could not start their vocation will be empowered. The physically challenged in their large numbers will be provided with wheel chairs, fertilizers will be distributed to farmers, while buses, tricycles and motorcycles will be given out to the indigents. The aim is to eradicate poverty in the state in line with the global objective.

Some of his critics still fault his going to the Senate at a time his son is in the Abia State House of Assembly accusing the family of greed. How wrong are they?

 The last time I checked, Nigeria still practices democracy as a system of government. Democracy supports capitalism, individualism, competition and freedom. It is a system of government that provides one with equal opportunity provided one is qualified. His son has every right just like his father and any other qualified individual to seek for elective positions. His son was not imposed on the people or selected. He went through electoral processes, contested against other qualified candidates and defeated them according to the wish of the electorate and the Appeal court also affirmed his victory when the defeated candidates of other political parties who contested against him went to court. On the part of Ochendo, you will agree with me that the job of legislating is not for rabble rousers; it’s a job of the witty. The electorate understands this and voted a person who they believed possesses the intellectual capacity to represent them. In other words, the act of going to the Senate was not Ochendo’s but the masses.

Some say ex-governors are using senate as their retirement benefit; do you think otherwise?

 I disagree with that notion. How many former governors are in the senate presently? Even in past, how many of them were senators? Have we had 36 ex-governors as senators before? Certainly no! You see, leaders are not imposed on the people rather they emerge from them. The act of choosing who represents the people is solely the masses through election. One’s good deeds will always fetch one out. If you serve your people well of course they will trust you to give you another opportunity to do so knowing well that you will deliver. All former governors who performed to the expectations of their people are the ones given the privilege to serve further.

The Supreme Court has just cleared the way for the trial of former governor, Orji Kalu over corruption charges. How comfortable is your boss over this development in view of the fact he was his Chief of Staff and had earlier been to Kirikiri Maximum Prison over the same matter?

The anti graft agency knows who it is looking for and I don’t think that Senator Orji’s name is part of the case of corruption charge it filed against his predecessor close to 10 years now. And I also have to make it clear here that at no time was senator Orji convicted for corruption rather he was invited just like any public office holder to answer to some issues that need clarification being that immunity covered his principal then and having found nothing against him of course he was allowed to go.  He governed Abia State for eight years and was not found culpable of any corrupt practice. He left the state in healthy condition and you can see that through the speed with which his successor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is developing the state. Senator Theodore Orji is a noble man and as such has no reason to feel uncomfortable in a matter that has absolutely nothing to do with him.  Thank you.