August 27 every year brings up great fanfare in Abia State in celebration of its creation from Imo State in 1991 by the Ibrahim Babangida military regime.
From left: Abia State House of Assembly Speaker, Udeh Okochukwu; Mrs Ezikpe; Abia State Advisory Council Chairman, Anagha Ezikpe; Governor Theodore Orji; his wife, Mercy; Deputy Governor, Emeka Ananaba; and his wife, Nene; at the Michael
Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.
Abia clocked 23 years of existence on Wednesday, August 27 and, expectedly, a special celebration was laid out by the administration of Governor Theodore Orji, who presided for the last time as helmsman.
Festive mood statewide
When penultimate Saturday TheNiche visited Umuahia, the state capital, all was set, with the city in a festive mood.
Major roads as well as houses were festooned with bill boards of the razzmatazz expected at the occasion.
The activities were kicked-off Sunday, August 24 when Orji led other government functionaries to a commemorative service at the Assemblies of God Church, Nkporo Street, Umuahia.
He said there was every reason to celebrate, given the peace and giant developmental strides taken over the years.
“Today is a day set aside to present the state to God, it is a date worth celebrating,” he noted, recalling that the thing about this year’s celebration is that it would be his last as governor.
Orji urged the people to emulate the life of Jesus Christ, in line with the Abia slogan, “God’s Own State”, and admonished residents to show interest in the way the state is governed and be committed to its development.
The Superintendent of Jerusalem District, Umuahia North, James Ndukwe, also urged the people to join hands with the government to develop the state.
“My prayer is that God will raise men who will appreciate what the government is doing at any point in time and lend their support to state development,” Ndukwe said.
He cautioned politicians to shun evil and cult practices and embrace God so that His glory would reign in the state.
Those who attended the service also included members of the State Executive Council, politicians, as well as former Nigerian Consul-General to South Africa, Okey Amuchay; Anagha Ezeikpe; and State Advisory Council Chairman, Bob Ogbuagu; and Council of Traditional Rulers Chairman, Eberechi Dick.
Demand for successor with same mindset
On Tuesday, August 26, Abia Day anniversary lecture was delivered by Professor Obasi Igwe of the Department of Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
His paper, titled “Contemporary Development Strategy in Nigeria: The Abia State Perspective’’, which he delivered at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, reflected on governance since the creation of the state.
Igwe zeroed on the challenges, inherited and imposed, facing the state, achievements of the Orji administration, future development strategies, and global development paradigms.
He said the 23rd anniversary was worth celebrating and that Orji is a man to be celebrated given his efforts at transforming the state.
He told Orji that if he wants his legacy projects to be sustained, he should show interest in who succeeds him.
Igwe praised his efforts at ensuring security of lives and property and for his strides in infrastructure development and policy direction.
He added that if Orji “indeed loves Abia State, as we know he exceedingly does, he should have a 100 per cent interest in and commitment to leaving behind a patriotic and serious-minded successor that truly knows the problems of this state, and dedicated to solving them.
“Everyone is measured against the circumstances of his life, but the genius in him lies in overcoming them and confounding his adversaries.
“We had recounted how our distinguished governor inherited a state in an extremely bad shape, and how, before he could start to re-shape it, more of the bad shape was added unto the already dire straits.
“That was not bad luck, but a test of stamina, a test of will. No one can fail to credit this great man with the restoration of security and peace in Abia State, and we have narrated how.
“The factories, mines, banks, skyscrapers, shops, and whatever else, would be absolutely meaningless if the owners, entrepreneurs, and users are either kidnapped, murdered, or in any other forms demobilised from optimal utility.
“When people say that our distinguished governor is a consensus builder, they, indeed, are correct. It is not a small feat for all the great minds alive in Abia State to truly accept one man and believe in him.
“There must be something they have seen, and a lot of facts with them, which make everyone come unto such a common understanding. The net result is that Abia State is at peace, and we need to sustain that peace in order to be ready to meet the challenges not only of 2015, but also the years beyond.
“If everything goes well, as we hope it should, our distinguished governor is already nine months into the peaceful end of his dynamic administration of Abia State.
“And given that what has not been accomplished in Abia since the last 23 years, are not likely to be conceived, started and finished in nine months, we are looking towards a creative transition agenda that would continue with the revolution already started by the Ochendo administration.’’
After the lecture, there were cultural displays by different councils, witnessed by some illustrious men and women of the state.
The grand finale was on Wednesday, August 27 at the Michael Okpara Auditorium with a display of traditional dances and values.
Work in progress
Earlier in the day, Orji made public broadcast where he admitted that despite all what his administration has achieved, Abia is still a work in progress which requires the commitment of good leadership and cooperating followership to build.
He told Abians that there is still enormous work to do, as well as many new hurdles to scale to realise the dream of a new Abia the founding fathers and the people have yearned for over the years.
He cited the need for more infrastructure and human capacity development, saying his administration has laid the foundation for the institutional and infrastructural growth which in-coming administrations can easily build on.
His words: “We have certainly tackled the hard task of laying the foundation stone for the sustainable development of Abia State through our legacy projects that address the myriads of problems that confront our state.”
Orji noted that building and strengthening institutions that support statehood has engendered a viable democracy.
“Our administration was not deterred by the challenges we faced and what we inherited, instead we sought every opportunity to overcome our challenges and have created enduring legacies that we will be remembered for.
“This is the challenge of leadership which future administrations of Abia State and our citizens need to embrace.”
He explained that there is a lot for his administration and the people of the state to roll out the drums for, especially being the last celebration in the life of his administration.
“The achievements and struggles were not a figment of the imagination but a reality that starred all and sundry in the face. Our administration continues to do its part in deepening the sustainable foundation of the socio-economic and political development of our state in all ramifications.
“But Abia State remains a major work in progress and whatever we have become in the past 23 years is the result of committed efforts and progress made by various governments and the indomitable spirit of Abia citizens in all walks of life.”
There were displays by the state’s cultural troupe and different communities that came from far and near. And there was enough to eat and drink, provided by the government.
Many applauded Orji for his efforts and noted that he has raised the leadership bar in the state which his successor should build on.