|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and immediate past commissioner for Industry, Science and Technology, Abia State, has flayed the increasing discussions on who should take over from Chief Theodore Ahamefula Orji, a senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, saying that it is too early in the day for such idle talk which is capable of engendering confusion and distracting those who are exercising the mandate given to them.
Ikoh said such discussions are uncalled for, particularly when there are still close to two years to the end of the four-year term the elected senator, and all other elected political officers for that matter, should serve.
In a statement he personally signed, Ikoh said: “The people who massively voted Senator T.A. Orji in 2015 did so because he performed creditably as a governor by launching Abia State to full national space through people-oriented programmes, policies and politics of inclusion.
“Before he came on board, Abia State was a mere glorified village but he transformed the state into a modern state as a governor through provision of massive infrastructural facilities. He actually brought Abia State back to God when he stopped idolatry and all kinds of satanic activities that were going on under the cover of politics. Senator Orji ushered in the peace in Abia when he implemented the ‘Abia Charter of Equity’ by handing over power to an Ukwa/Ngwa indigene, a people that had not held the position of chief executive officer of Abia since its creation,” he said.
Ikoh said that Senator Orji has etched his name in gold as a “performed governor and distinguished senator.”
According to him, “In this context, no law limits any eligible person to any length of tenure; the popular will of the electorates shall prevail again.”
The former commissioner was reacting to a publication in a national newspaper on August 10, 2017 authored by one Festus Egbulefu, where it was alleged that Senator Orji, was “misrepresenting the people” and that there was the need for a change.
Ikoh said that the publication was false and attempt to denigrate the person of Senator Orji, who has distinguished himself on the floor of the upper legislative chamber though robust contributions and motions.
“Let me state unequivocally that Chief Egbulefu misfired. Senator Orji is a rare breed of senator, exemplified by the quality of his zonal programmes and activities on the Senate chamber. He consistently impact positively on the people he is representing through human capital development programmes, provision of social amenities and infrastructure, the most recent is the mega Solar-powered pipe-borne water to Oboro community of Ikwuano LGA. Many people from indigent families are now happy graduates through the scholarship scheme of Senator T.A. Orji which is rated the most massive in the country,” he said.
“The Senator has sponsored many bills on the floor of the Senate which have impacted positively on his zone in particular and the country in general. He also holds meetings with the people of his senatorial district on a regular basis where he interacts with them and the constituents are encouraged to air their views on areas they want their representative to focus attention on, on their behalf,” Ikoh further said.
