By Ephraim Oseji

Eze Eberechi N. Dick is Eze Udo 1 of Mgboko Mgwa Amaise Autonomous Community, Obingwa L.G.A and the 2nd Deputy Chairman, Abia State Traditional Rulers Council. He is also a member of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), board. He speaks on governance in Abia State.

Abia State appears to be passing through a critical period. What’s going on?

I do not understand what you mean by “critical period” because every time in the life of an administration is very critical, especially to an administration like that of Ochendo, His Excellency, T.A. Orji that is totally committed to service delivery. He is saddled with enormous responsibility of paying salaries with the little allocation from the Federal Government and still embarks on enormous infrastructural development. And if you go around Abia State, you will testify to the massive infrastructural development spread  across  the state.

Eze Eberechi

Only recently, His Excellency flagged off the construction of 10km road network in each of the 17 local government areas of the state. This is an unprecedented feat by any measurement.  It would be unfair to judge him without considering the background of his assumption of office. He almost did not have first term. Most of the first term was spent in litigations but he was courageous to face the challenges of governance. Having said that, when he came on board, he challenged himself on two things based on experience.

First, was to liberate Abia State from the structure that he inherited. And he successfully did this. He  systematically dislodged some of the bad things going on before he came which hindered service delivery. It is not about doing temporary popular projects. When we say that Gov. T.A. Orji is doing legacy projects, projects that will stand the test of time, we know what we are talking about.

This is the time we are practising real democracy in Abia State. It’s not a government of those you know or those that are sponsoring you. It’s the government of the people- grassroots support.  That is what I have seen and that is what makes me feel that we are running a true democracy for the first time in Abia State.

Most importantly, Ochendo has taken us back to the main stream of Nigerian politics and we have started reaping the benefits. All the long abandoned federal roads in Abia State are being either renovated or reconstructed. Take, for instance, the Aba-Enugu–Port Harcourt Express that was a death trap which is now wearing an entire new look, not to talk of the recently flagged off Abiriba-Ohafia-Arochukwu federal road.

Some South-East states are experiencing insecurity while Abia State seems to be at peace. As a traditional ruler, what do you think should be done to stabilize the polity? And what role should  the traditional institution play?

A few years back when kidnappers dislodged from Rivers State relocated to South- Eastern states, Abia became insecure and investors fled. It was one of the most critical periods of this administration and it is through challenges like this that you know great leaders. A leader faced with what T.A was confronted with at that period could have thrown in the towel especially at a point it became clear  that most of the atrocities were targeted at Ochendu, either to tarnish his name or present him as incapable of being governor.

But the foresight of His Excellency in taking us back to the main fold of Nigerian politics was to play another important and positive role to attract the Federal Government which sent troops and other agencies to deal a fatal blow to that scourge. And kidnapping disappeared. What many people do not understand is that if Abia was still in the opposition camp, the Federal Government could not have responded so promptly.

This episode happened just a short while ago, but people seem to have forgotten. Top businesses and industries folded up in Aba. Powerful individuals  went on self-exile. But today life has returned because peace has been restored. And there could be no better legacy than somebody creating enabling environment for the economy to thrive once again. Despite the giant strides you have mentioned, there are criticisms against the leadership style of  Governor Orji.

Ochendu prioritizes his projects. He executes  people-oriented programmes, unlike those leaders who embark on flamboyant projects at the spur of the moment only to abandon them.   I have said that he is courageous and eventful – not moved by chorus actions, and stampeded by political marauders. This is not to say that he is not encouraged by the support of his million admirers. His service delivery trait is what  prompted me to step out to talk.

What is on ground in terms of infrastructural development in the State and is it enough to justify all the positive things you are saying about Governor Orji?

In terms of roads, there’s hardly any part of Abia  that has not felt the impact of Ochendo. People also seem to have forgotten that before Gov. T.A Orji came, Aba had reached a stage where nothing was coming from it because successive governments had failed to address the problem of access roads into Ariaria. It is T.A. Orji’s administration that  addressed that. He has set records in the health sector, as hospitals are upgraded and rebuilt. Diagnostic centres of International Standard for specialist care built, medical personnel trained and equipped.

Tertiary and other institutions of learning are taken care of with their infrastructure rebuilt. Every Abia child and even non Abians go to school free of charge. While agriculture is Ochendo’s priority, loans of billions of naira have been given to farmers.  Farm inputs worth millions of naira have been distributed by Ochendo and his wife, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji (Osinulo).

He built  International Secretariat, International Library that compare with those seen in America. There is hardly any community in Abia that does not have a transformer, courtesy of Ochendo. The Diagnostic centre in Umuahia has reduced the need for our people to go to India and the UK for complex health problems. In addition, the well over 110 health centres scattered in all parts of the State have made health care affordable to the rural populace.

How do you look at the role of the wife of the governor towards the development of the state?

Lady Mercy Odochi Orji is  wonderful. Widows, the indegent and the handicapped have been greatly touched. While Her Excellency’s NGO is involved in the various communities, she has also mounted a  campaign against HIV – AIDS scourge and has distributed relief materials in terms of food, clothings, medications, hospital beds and mattresses to destitute homes and the needy people.

What is relationship with the traditional institution in the state?
Cordial, very cordial. His remunerations and gift of cars have been highly appreciated. The truth of the matter is that we have impeccable relationship with Ochendo that was never before obtainable.

As a royal father, what is your advice for the governor?
Let Ochendo get ahead courageously with his usual humility and cool headedness.