Abia State Commissioner for Finance, Dr Phillip Ntoh, in this interview, talks about what the outgoing government of Theodore Orji left behind for his successor and how the incoming Federal Government should treat Ndigbo. Excerpts:

By Dapo Akinrefon

What are some of the things  Governor Theodore Orji is leaving behind as he winds up his administration?

So far so good, it will be a joyful exit because the Ochendo government has fulfilled promises made. This is a government that is leaving behind peace, justice, equity and fair play.

You can see that before, the Ukwa Ngwa bloc was complaining of marginalisation, and this government said no, that they are part of the state; that they cannot be strangers in their own land. Abia North and Central have taken their share, and it is now the turn of the Abia South zone to take their own shot. You can see how some enemies of progress were kicking, but today the people in the state are happy that justice has prevailed.

Aside the happiness and peace fully established, the legacy projects of this government, doted round the entire state, speak volumes.

The government is also leaving behind financial stability. Abia today is a state that is financially stable.

Ntoh-Abia

Some other states went to the bond market, but Abia never went to any money market to borrow money or to sell bond. All that we did was to service loans which we inherited from past administrations. So we are leaving behind a stable government, a state without  godfatherism. If you know Orji, you will know that immediately he hands over, it’s over for him, unless you invite him for any advice. Of course he will be fully engaged in Abuja as a senator, unlike some godfathers with nothing to do unless with state treasury.

When Governor Orji came on board, he inherited so much that in the first one month, you saw a situation that the banks were coming for renegotiation of loans. The in-coming governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, will not face such mess, as he is starting from a very sound footing.

What he only needs to do is to hit the ground running because he is inheriting a very stable state, one that is financially stable. We are leaving behind people that are happy. It is the reason you see everybody celebrating him.

Do you think the in-coming governor has what it takes to sustain Orji’s legacy projects?

Yes, Ikpeazu can sustain the legacy of the Ochendo administration. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that he will do well. Government like you know is a continuum.

His government will not be like the one Orji inherited where the transition was not smooth. But what we will have now is a very smooth transition, it’s just for him to continue to concretise on what is on the ground. Abians made the right choice by voting for him.

 The major opposition in the state, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said it will challenge the result of the governorship election at the tribunal. Do you have any problem with that?

I think it is one of the attributes of politics in under-developed countries. The only person that did something that is western is President Goodluck Jonathan that congratulated his opponent (Buhari) even before the election result was finally declared. So I will call on other Nigerian politicians to emulate him. What he did shows statesmanship, it shows the love he has for his country.

I am not surprised, but one is confident that the tribunal will do its work. There is no doubt that Ikpeazu will win anytime, anywhere. He is equally loved by the people.