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Even the most grudging critics, have long concurred that Governor TA Orji is a lightning rod of development, and an audacious pace setter in more ways than one. As a statesman endowed with a genetic inheritance, that benefits the lower and middle classes, now famously translated into empowerment and legacy programmes, it is no surprise that his attributes when put together evolves into a fitting worksheet that dovetails into the institutional and structural characteristic of the upper chamber.
What Abians are saying is that, OCHENDOMANIA should be replicated again at the centre to maximise the effective representation, we have been enjoying since he came on board. A simple six way check list, indicates that on the scale of 1-100, CHENDO scores over 95% taking into considerations leadership factors such as developmental strides,integrity,empathy, humility, morality, social intelligence.
When you translate his developmental strides into brass tacks, what emanates is the phenomenon of Umuahia, the state capital,Aba,Ohafia, witnessing significant physical development since the creation of the state in 1991.The infrastructural development that has so far taken place within the second tenure of the Governor TA Orji is unparalleled. This amongst others, include the construction of Abia State Diagnostic/Specialist Hospitals in Umuahia and Aba, over 250 healthcare centres. Others are an international conference centre and a new Government House (under construction).
Conventional wisdom, today posits that pork barrel politics is the norm today in Abuja,where the Nigerian largesse is shared on the table. And for us to have our fair share,we need a man of integrity like TA ORJI at the Senate which is the hub and a revered place for elder statesmen, who have done very well in their calling, and paid their dues to communities in various spheres.
Coupled with the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan, is also going to be re-elected, the rapport existing presently between them will be a powerful elixir for the beneficiation of Abia central.
For pundits, some who wager their bets, on the reality of Igbo presidency in 2019,OCHENDO fits the bill. The upper chamber is seen as the grooming ground .It is the belief of the critical mass of the Abia Central that OCHENDO is going to be eminently favoured in the next dispensation given the dazzling track record of work in Abia State and coupled for a shot at Aso rock, when it is time for Ndigbo to occupy the presidential slot.
This prediction is based on the trajectory of a win-win suave public servant, and an excellent manager of men and resources who rose to the pinnacle of public service. He was an archetypical super-permanent secretary and chief of staff for eight years in the state government and eventually rose to be the governor of the state for two terms. And during the period under review,his skills as an efficient manager of men and resources have been marked with transparency. Samplers: the state finance has never been judiciously utilised, the way OCHENDO’s administration has done. Abia debt profile has gone down as revealed, by Central Bank records. Governor Orji has utilised the state’s lean allocations and has not led the state into financial ruination. The state is one the few debt-free states in the federation as a result of the prudent deployment of funds.
Hitherto, Abia state used to be a haven for body snatchers and bandits. A situation,which scared away commerce and entrepreneurs. It was Governor Orji to,who in synergy with the federal authorities, put together a security template that restored normalcy resulting in the recent lifting of the travel ban earlier imposed on the state by the United States Government prohibiting its citizens to visit.
Today, not only Americans but other foreign nationals are currently in the state partnering with government to achieve common goals. A case in point is the signing of an MOU with the State Government by Honeywell Group.In not too distant a time, a notable Cement conglomerate will be turning its sod in the state. Under OCHENDO’s watch Abia has been transformed to an investment destination.
OCHENDO’s uncanny negotiating behaviour will put him in a good stead in the Senate, when it comes to bargaining outcomes that will benefit his constituents in Abia Central. It was his adept concessionary, mediation and politically correct disposition that unified the political class in the state.
As we speak, Abia state has experienced peace and tranquillity among the diverse Abia populace, this has hardly been seen before, because both state and non state partisans of different shades and opinion have converged on the middle ground to articulate their statecraft in a non contentious milieu. This has engendered unity of purpose.
It is axiomatic ,that peace and unity remain the pedestal for social equilibrium and human advancement and having erected the platform for enhanced social cohesion among Abians, OCHENDO elevated human capital developments through various skill acquisition programmes for Abia youths. These are templates, that will strengthen his hands in attracting similar goodies from the centre vide the senate.
The upshot of all these is that Governor TA Orji’s is Abia’s best foot forward,who will hit the ground running in the 2015 senate. By the time he finishes packing his gubernatorial office in 2015, his imprimatur, reputation, clout and deportment will be congruent to the demands of the upper chamber.
The Senator’s motive force is to protect the people of his state, OCHENDO has been doing that,all his public service life. And this is why Abia Central stakeholders across the political divides have over these past months been begging, beseeching and pleading with the governor to take up the gauntlet.
OCHENDO is a bulldozer of determination, patience, focus and guts. He is, friendly, outgoing, charismatic and determined without being abrasive. He is a Classics graduate of Nigeria’s oldest and premier University, and he possesses excellent people and time management skills while imbued with excellent communication and public speaking skills, passion for public service and unblemished reputation. He is proficient in political thought, theory and science and over a period of over three decades built a strong network of influential people
within and outside party affiliations. As a broker of bipartisan compromise, and powerful expert in resolving insurgency matters, he definitely may be the Senator, Nigerians will look forward to peacefully to canvass options for the speedy resolution of the lingering terrorism in the North east.
It therefore, must be in the enlightened self-interest of all Abians to to throw their support behind Governor TA ORJI for the 2015 senate.
Chinyemike Torti
