Ex- commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Abia state, Barr. Okey Ogbonna says Gov. Theodore Orji’s achievements have made the difference in the governance of the state since its creation in 1991.
Ogbonna who was speaking on the 22nd anniversary of the creation of the state said that looking at the nature of projects embarked upon by the governor, he has placed the state on a sound footing.
“Gov. Orji’s legacies will endure in Abia state. He has taken Abia to the next level of development. His vision transcends all sectors. When you consider the state of development in Abia before he took over in 2007, Abia state was nowhere in the area of development.Almost all government ministries, departments and Agencies were operating on rented apartments. He has elevated Abia to a level where one can say that he is proud to be an Abian.
“He built the International Conference centre, New Workers’ Secretariat, New high court complexes in Aba and Umuahia, restoration of master plan of Aba, Dialysis and ophthalmology centres, new health centres across the council areas, new BCA office complex, numerous housing estates, youth and women empowerment programmes.
“The governor has also embarked on a revamp of the agricultural sector with his Liberation farms and the resuscitation of the Palm and rubber estates as well as the distribution of improved seedling and fertilizers to farmers in the state. In the area of roads, Gov. Orji has blazed the trail by embarking on massive rehabilitation of roads in Aba and Umuahia. The Obikabia, Azikiwe, Umuola, Ehere, Brass, Geometric Access, Umuoba roads and many others in Umuahia have been given facelift. His action tells the calibre of a governor on mission to change the face of Abia state.”
“When you consider that these projects have just been built in a state created 22 years ago, then you will appreciate the vision of the governor. He is determined to leave Abia state better than he met it”
The ex commissioner stated that the governor has lived the ideals of the founding fathers of the state and returned the Abia to the mainstream of national politics.
“To have united all the various stakeholders in the state is no mean achievement. Through this, he has been able to work in synergy with the federal government to the benefit of the state. Gov Orji is a man of history. He has become a statesman. I predict that he would play a role in our national life beyond 2015.”
