OCHENDO'S POLITICAL ELASTICITY

BY Chief (Dr.) Eze Chikamnayo

Abia State Commissioner for Information & Strategy

 (Excerpts culled from: The National Ambassador Newspaper of July 2012)

Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji is truly an exceptional leader. The way he effortlessly achieves lofty objectives hitherto considered impossible by critics stand him out in every sphere. His unique style and candour will constitute a major research topic for public affairs analysts desirous of unmasking how to build consensus amongst divergent elements and interest groups. Come to think of it, he has within a space of few years redefined and renewed the Abia environment in a tactful and responsible manner. While giving honour to whom honour is due, he has remained focused without being forceful. He has been loving and firm. He has made so many changes without raising so much dust. He has skilfully meandered through the murky waters of the political terrain without a single slip of the feet. Today, the unassuming and amiable governor of Abia state has become a personification of what is genuinely required to serve in public office through his legendary display of rare political elasticity. In just five years, he has surmounted political mountains, crossed legal bridges and covered reasonable developmental milestones. Quietly but steadily, he is leaving one salient legacy after the other to the admiration of perceptive progressives conversant with the realities of the Abia community.

First, in what has been widely acclaimed as an everlasting legacy, he dismantled the structure of satanic godfathers and entrenched the practice of true democracy. Most mischief makers deliberately oblivious of the workings of the state between 1999 and 2010 often prefer to subdue this serious democratization project in the secluded recess of their blighted memory. But the well meaning majority of Abians do not agree with their selfish tantrums and would continue to give due credit to the man who gave them liberty and opportunity to have a say in the destiny and future of their God-given State and affairs. This is because democratization is the bedrock of accelerated development.

Without taking ownership of the development process, the citizens of any society feel justifiably detached and denigrated by the antics of despots who muscle their way through the governance process and arrogate to themselves the sole prerogative of prioritizing for the entire society. This was the unfortunate and sordid scenario in Abia that drove away the elite, middle class and enlightened patriots whose thoughts and contributions are dearly needed for the growth of a nascent State such as ours.

Given the stark realities of the Nigerian political space, the best efforts of various individuals and groups to dislodge the desperate demagogues that despoiled Abia for almost a decade ended up a epileptic. But when T.A. Orji came to the scene, he made the sumptuous omelette without breaking an egg. He liberated Abia without bloodshed. He waved goodbye to Mamacracy without witch hunting even those in that system that were after his jugular. That is why I vehemently disagree with those revisionists who wittingly wish away this epoch while recording the chronicle of the Abia experience.

It took Governor T.A. Orji a mere four years to wade through all the legal booby traps and political tsunamis to liberate Abians while in other climes it would take decades and deaths of several compatriots. So we should celebrate our Ochendo as South Africans celebrate their Madiba, Mandela.

After giving us liberation, Ochendo is now building anew all the structures of modern statehood. He has completely overwhelmed kidnappers and criminals that once held Abia hostage without showmanship. This he was able to achieve through sensible and effective politicking.

In Nigeria today, the idea of state police under the control of Governors is still a fantasy. Thus any governor who for one reason or the other fails to collaborate with federal agencies will do a lot of harm to his citizens especially in the area of security. That was the bane of Abians before the advent of the T.A. Orji phenomenal political engineering.

The former administration confronted the federal government on purely egoistic grounds propelled by the unbridled ambition of the then governor. In the absence of this functional rapport, a quasi militia group made up of street urchins and marabouts invaded our cities like ravenous locusts and impulsively dispensed extra judicial vendetta on perceived criminals and opponents of the despotic dynasty.

Today, however, sanity and decorum has been restored by Chief T.A. Orji in our justice system. Having normalized and elevated our relationship with the central government in Abuja to a point of symbiosis, our creative governor now enjoys the confidence of all security agencies whom he supports without reservation in the discharge of their duties.

Abia State under Ochendo now ranks amongst the safest and most conducive states for tourism and enterprise. Contractors are now back and are vigorously engaged in so many development projects in all sectors. Film actors and actresses, musicians, national and international organisations now frequent our cities for one project or the other.

Abia is enjoying unprecedented patronage all because of the resilience and political elasticity of our hero and visionary governor whom God is using to rewrite the history of our dear state for good. 

Ochendo T.A. Orji is dramatically changing the silhouette of Umuahia without bragging. He is assiduously tackling the ruins which Aba has become as a result of over ten years of uncoordinated intervention. With the new Aba masterplan carefully being implemented in phases, there would soon be a sustainable renewal of that important city.

All these footprints and uncommon achievements quietly being made of the Abia society is made possible by the character and competence of Governor T.A. Orji, the unassuming leader and man of history whose loyalty to God, large heartedness, forgiving spirit, sense of accommodation and unwavering devotion to the common good is the driving force behind the new wave of peace, unity and prosperity pervading Abia milieu today.