As Ochendo rewrites Abia Central's story - By Norman

Leaning on the legislative dimension to democratic transformation, Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, representing Abia Central Senatorial Zone of Abia State has made significant developmental statements in his two-year sojourn at the national parliament, writes DON NORMAN OBINNA.

Soft-spoken and often un­derstated, he brings sur­prising insight, uncom­mon commitment and fetching panache to the critical business of national lawmaking – gain­ing the respect of his peers and grudging kudos of many de­tractors. Back to his senatorial constituency of Abia Central, everyone is yearning for a glass of chilled wine to commemo­rate the phenomenal 24-month representation of their ebullient Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Ochendo, (CON). This is notwithstanding the fact that by the time he was sworn-in in June 2015, the 2015 Budget was already being implemented leaving him with no input what­soever to make.

Instead of using this as an ex­cuse however, Sen. Orji put to good use this inescapable situ­ation with an inventive legisla­tive footing never witnessed in his constituency in the past 16 years. The result is the multiplic­ity of constituency projects that permeate the entire Abia central senatorial district.

Firstly, he got off the ground with the introduction of SEN T.A ORJI ANNUAL SCHOL­ARSHIP PROGRAMME in De­cember 2015; a scheme designed to produce 480 graduates in two phases. Already the first and second batch have 120 indigent students including the physical­ly challenged as recipients. The third batch is slated for Decem­ber 2017.

Excited by this gesture which certainly will place the Abia Central youths at the command­ing height of their chosen ca­reers in Nigeria and beyond in the next two decades. The Abia Central Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Youth Leader, En­gineer Kingsley Asuoha opined that Nigerians are going to wit­ness another era akin to the first republic.”

His words, “With the prior­ity Sen. Orji placed on human capital development, we are go­ing to witness another era of academic and political bulldoz­ers of 1963. In the next foresee­able future, Abia State especially, Abia Central Senatorial District will produce another (Nnamdi) Azikiwes, (Abubakar) Tafawa Balewas, (Obafemi) Awolowos, (Samuel) Akintolas, (Michael) Okparas and (Dennis) Osade­beys of this world who made Nigeria’s politics and economy thick.”

“When you look at some rea­sons why he is referred to as the father of modern Abia State, you cannot just agree less. Ochendo is honestly the sage of our time,” he added.

A perfunctory look however at the current rate of children out of school and literacy in Ni­geria will suffice to appreciate the considerable ingenuity ex­hibited by Sen. Orji in placing a premium on topicalities such as education and youths’ empow­erment in his constituency.

The 2016 UNESCO survey re­sult revealed by its National Pro­gramme Advisor on Education, Dr. Mohammed Alkali showed that 65 million Nigerians are il­literates while 10 million Nige­rian children are out of school. Give and take, critical examina­tion of this record shows that about 35 to 40 million Nigerian adults are illiterates.

Socialization begins at home and parents are duty-bound to impact knowledge and promote learning among their children. But with the UNESCO survey revelation, such responsibil­ity has become a tall order in Nigeria because it is absolutely impossible for illiterate parents to activate the love for western education in their children.

In other words, children from illiterate homes are likely to be illiterates. These are enough information to encourage edu­cation programmes that target students from poor background; hence the reason Sen. Orji An­nual Scholarship Programme is sine qua non.

It can never be seen as for­tuitous or providential stroke of serendipity when today’s Abia central youths will in the foreseeable future flaunt their coruscant aptitude, impeccable knowledge and airbrushed self-reliance in the economic and political realms with the best of their contemporaries around the globe.

This prognostication is aug­mented by the position of the state in West Africa Exami­nation Council (WAEC) as it moved from second in previous years to first in 2016. This feat however suggests that the very good foundation led by Sen. Orji in youth development is begin­ning to yield positively.

On infrastructure, he master­minded the rehabilitation of the untraversable Umuahia-Ikot-Ekpene Expressway; a Federal Government road. While prais­ing his persuasiveness to ensur­ing that work commenced on that road, the representative of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Mr. Abraham Akange who represented the F.G at the flag-off ceremony said:

“Government’s decision to fix the highway was due to the pres­sure from the National Assem­bly members from Abia State, especially Sen. Orji and Sam Onuigbo.

“Their pressure on FERMA and the Federal Ministry of Works for the rehabilitation of the road was so tense that an emergency meeting had to be convened by the minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, in Abuja where the plan for the palliative work was unveiled and ratified.”

Furthermore, in line with the three major functions of a Leg­islator namely, law making, rep­resentation and oversight, Sen. Orji has performed creditably well with the delivery of ample democracy dividends to the people of Abia Central. Within 24 months of his stay at the Senate, he has made nonsense of the conventional filibuster approach of the past with the provision of some exceptional projects. These include:

1. Electrification of Umuhute Azueke Autonomous Community, Umuahia North L.G.A.

2. Electrification of Ahiaba/Okpuala Community, Isiala Ngwa North L.G.A.
3. Electrification of Nvo­si I, Amaku Community in Isi­ala Ngwa South L.G.A. of Abia State. These projects are almost completed.

4. Delivery of 500/11/KVA Transformer to residents of Uwalaka Street, Enugu road, Awkuzu Street, Awolowo Street, Chidiebere Nwoke Street, Amu­zukwu layout, etc. Umuahia North L. G. A.

5. Delivery of 500/11/KVA Transformer to the peo­ple of Okpu ancient kingdom in Osisioma – Ngwa L.G.A. of Abia State.

6. Delivery of 500/11/KVA Transformers to the peo­ple of Aloma community in Isi­ala Ngwa South L.G.A.

7. Delivery of 500/11/KVA to Afouguri community in Umuahia North L.G.A.

8. Delivery of 500/11/KVA to Umuobia Housing Es­tate, Umuahia South L.G.A

9. Solar powered motor­ized borehole drilled at Amuzu Community, Umunneise in Osisioma – Ngwa L.G.A and Umundara – Ahuwa Oboro, Ik­wuano L.G.A of Abia State.

10. Umuakanu to Umuagu road with a big Bridge, in Emede Ibeku Autonomous Community, is also being con­structed as part of the constitu­ency projects of Sen. Orji. Peo­ple are urged to visit these sites to ascertain the verity of these claims if in doubt.

As the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Sen. Orji was able to attract some other mouthwatering projects through the Ministry of Agri­culture. These include:

(a) One motorized bore­hole drilled and already func­tioning at Ezuna Erim Autono­mous Community, Nsirimo in Umuahia South L.G.A.
(b) Construction of Attah – Emede Nkpuru – Umuakanu Road, Emede Ibeku Autono­mous Community, Umuahia North L.G.A. Work seriously ongoing.

(c) Reconstruction/re­habilitation of Umuire – Udide – Umuodudu – Agbo Road, Emede Autonomous Commu­nity. Work also ongoing and readers are free to visit the sites to confirm.

On the law-making aspect, Sen. Orji has acquitted himself so well. He has sponsored three viable motions which resulted in Resolutions of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nige­ria. One of the Resolutions is the one mandating the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) to publish reports of its investiga­tions into the causes of Air acci­dents in Nigeria over the years. The Resolution was made on 28th January 2016.

Also on 13th January 2016, as a result of Sen. Orji’s motion, the Senate passed a Resolution calling on the Federal Govern­ment to immediately set up the Public Procurement Council in accordance with the Public Pro­curement Act, 2008.

The Resolution of Senate made on 4th October 2016 on the need to check indiscrimi­nate rock blasting in the FCT and other parts of Nigeria in accordance with International best practices. This followed a motion sponsored by Sen. Orji.