Orji And The Senatorial Lilliputs

Click for Full Image Size
Abia State Government, Governor Theodore Orji

The THISDAY Newspaper of Tuesday, January 7th 2014edition, page 14, came out with a mischievous article titled 'Orji's wave of endorsements'. Reading in between the lines, it doesn't need any telling where the salvo was fired from. We are used to such frantic clutching of straws by drowning deserters who get so intimidated by the high profile performance and records of assumed opponents.


Chuks Akamadu, the seeming author, wrote from the sheep's clothing, but behind him are ravenous wolves, frightened by the person of Chief T.A. Orji.


Akamadu, an obscure player made it look like a sympathetic counsel, but it was steeped in negative innuendos aimed only at cajolery and damage to the reputation of the Abia helmsman.


Now, the truth is that Chief T.A. Orji has performed in Abia, raising the level of social indices which are core aspects of governance. Not only that, he strictly delivered in line with his manifesto of 2006 and 2011. As a matter of fact, he has delivered beyond the manifesto in principle and practice.


The Abia senatorial seat is open to all aspirants who no doubt would go through the crucible of party and INEC screening, so why bother with what awaits Ochendo- your weird imagination of phantom booby traps laid on his way to the senate? If you and your sponsors don't have anything to gain from his absence in the senatorial turf, why enumerate the pitfalls ahead as if you're his lawyer. Strangely enough, you admitted that the governor liberated the state from the vice grip of his predecessor, but your veiled bitterness is not hidden as you have no pang of conscience in attacking a whole family on the page of a newspaper, not even sparing a Lady in the age-long gentle man's behavior. Why not face the governor alone, who has the senate component?


Her Excellency, the exemplary and venerated wife of the governor has a defined role which has existed from colonial times ranging from Flora Azikiwe, Victoria Gowon, Mariam Babangida, Mariam Abacha to Patience Jonathan. Since 1960, all the presidential wives and governor's wives play ceremonial roles from Chief Mrs Adanma Okpara, Chinyere Ukpabi Asika, Mrs Ahuikpeghe Mbakwe and others. In recent times, Mrs Stella Obasanjo until her death loomed larger than life and contemporary wives like Unoma Akpabio, Obioma Imoke, and Chioma Ohakim all played or are playing similar roles. Oluremi Tinubu, who is now a serving senator graduated from the threshold of the Lagos first Lady.

Chief Mrs Odochi Orji has engaged herself in such roles, especially raising compassion and charity to the needy and sick to an enviable level, in strict imitation of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Or do you want Ochendo to strike his wife with madness and hide her in the closet like some did in the recent past?


The writer in some way opened his ignorance of the Nigerian history. The name Nigeria, was given to us by Flora Shaws, a mere fiancé of lord Lugard- The colonial officer and 1914 personality, who carried out the historic amalgamation of the North and South protectorates including the colony of Lagos, which is the reason for the centenary celebration that is looming in the air. Has Osinulo dared this much to change a name or add one?

Your choice of words failed you when you called Engineer Chinedu Orji ubiquitous. Where and when did you see Ikuku who has scarcely shown himself except on empowerment programmes? If the children of all Governors and presidents behave like Ikuku, Nigeria will be a better place. Have you not read of the excesses of sons of presidents, governors and upscale politicians who indulge in prodigality of criminal level at home and abroad?

Not too long ago, there was the news of a governor's son on the list of the EFCC. Chinedu Orji is a home boy who schooled in Nigeria and lives in Nigeria and unlike many; he keeps himself busy with his business and has affected many youths through his Ochendo Youth Foundation. In truth, Chinedu Orji has become a role model to youths and other sons of governors who have come consulting him on how to help youths in their cultural milieu. The youths of Abia have not been this happy with numerous empowerment components bequeathed through his foundation. I know you would have been happy with a floundering governor's son who holds all night parties and yacht around with half naked women as to avail you many indiscreet scenes to write about.


In your warped argument, you forgot that in the protocol list of Nigeria, that the senate is higher than the governorship and you see it as a demotion. Not at all! Come to think of it, T.A. Orji won the elections in 2007 and 2011. That of 2011 was so resounding with a landslide, so why worry about the fate of somebody who won elections twice? Like it or not, the strident calls to the senate are genuine or are you suggesting that the Umunne Ato, comprising Ossisioma, Isialangwa North and South are fakes in search of crumbs? Would you think that the Ibeku people and the Old Bende in Aba are thoughtless and idle that they leave the Ozo title ceremony to Iru Agwu ritual? They came out en masse to honor their son in Umuahia and Aba, urging him to go higher. Do you need to change a winning team?


Not too long ago, the ASA of Ukwa, remembering their horrible experiences in the hands of ferocious kidnappers and the fact that they have been long ignored by previous administrations, even with being the source of oil wealth realized that nobody but Ochendo thought it wise to create a commission to assuage their feelings and offer solutions to the lingering environmental degradations, including the appointment of an oil son to supervise such a project. These towering palliatives and indisputable facts of performance and high approval ratings are actually why you are smarting in the political heat.


Your sponsors, the political Lilliput's who are green with envy and the foxy mastermind not too far away from the top seat a few years ago should re-strategize. They cannot stand the high vote magnetic field of Ochendo. No matter what they do, 2015 senatorial quest will be decided by the votes of Abia people in the central zone. Any knowledgeable politician should focus on that and not wallowing in back waters of calumny. What you are doing is trying to shout down one who has already climbed atop the Iroko tree. No, you missed the point! Lies, and damn lies cannot help.


Eddie Onuzuruike

Disclaimer: "The views expressed on this site are those of the contributors or columnists, and do not necessarily reflect TheNigerianVoice’s position. TheNigerianVoice will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here."

Articles by Eddie Onuzuruike