What Henry Umahi won’t see about Gov. Orji
Henry Umahi of the Daily Sun recently published an article he titled, “Inside Abia: Nigeria's dirtiest state”. In his continued bid to mislead the general public, he wrote that Aba area of Abia State was not a good sight to behold as the rains have started.
It is obvious that this comment is a figment of imagination of Umahi who, it has become palpable that, he is doing the bid of the opposition politicians in the state: to fabricate stories against the shinning government of Governor Theodore Orji and dish out for the consummation of the unsuspecting public.
Umahi continued, saying that epidemic looms, and that his fictitious residents lament. There was no time that people going out or coming into Aba this year has been trapped along the road as a result of rain. Umahi should tell us the hospital where any Aba residents he lied that fell inside gutters as it was raining were taken to. He also lied that at “Osisioma area and parts of Aba – Owerri road were flooded, particularly the Abia Poly gate and St. Paul's junction.”
Those living around Brass axis where the Abia Poly is situated are going about their normal businesses. Anybody can investigate this. The government of Abia State has been doing everything within its reach to build Aba, as against the misleading story by Umahi that the area has deteriorated.
If you read how Umahi presented the case of Aba, you might think that no one is living there. But from Obohia to Ama Mmong, Milverton Avenue, Umu Ule Road, Port Harcourt Road, MCC Roads, Port Harcourt Road, Hospital Road, Ezi Ukwu, Umuocham Road… people are going about their normal businesses in these areas.
Just to misinform the world about Abia State, hear the calumnious statement by Umahi: “Dirt is not peculiar to Aba. Going to Umuahia, the state capital, you easily notice why Abia could be regarded as the dirtiest state in the country. At Umuikaa junction, along the Aba – Enugu expressway, dirt is strewn all over the place. A massive refuse dump site emitting acrid odour and billowing smoke welcome you to the capital city…”
Umahi is a phony! According to the Abia State Government in January, “We have also built many housing estates for our people including the Luxury Apartments on Finbarrs Road, Umuahia, the Isieke, Amaokwe, Amuba, Ohobo and Ubani Ibeku Housing Estates. Our exploits in the housing sector are legendary. Government is also working towards realizing the 300 hectares of land Abia International Industrial City located at Osisioma. This city will help to decongest the commercial city of Aba and also provide industrial clusters with modern machines for manufacturers in the area.”
We do not want to remind Umahi since he has blocked his conscience not to see anything good in the government of Abia State that this government has established Liberation Farms to place Abia tops as a food basket state. It has also distributed One Billion Naira Agricultural Loan and provided agricultural inputs to Abia farmers to boost agriculture. The government had entered into agreement with a foreign firm to manage the oil palm plantation in Ukwa. It is now Shanid-Abia Oil Palm Ltd which immediately employed 1,500 Abia people as workers. The plantation is now being turned around.
The government has built modern court halls in Aba and Umuahia. Others have also been refurbished. This government has continued to provide free education and free school bus services at primary and secondary school levels in the state. This administration has returned some schools to voluntary agencies to enhance discipline and morality in Abia children and improve the standard of education in the state.
This administration has taken steps to revive the moribund Golden Guinea Breweries Ltd, Umuahia. Abia Youth Empowerment Scheme has become a reference point as the government had distributed over 2,000 cars to Abia youths free of charge. It also placed 4,500 youths who are not working on monthly salary. All these have helped to reduce crime and unemployment.
Let me remind Umahi that Governor Orji has been doing his best in Abia State, and this has earned him many laurels. A village of the Umahis can never pull the governor down. As a profound appreciation of Governor Orji's contributions to history and foundational legacy projects to the Abia State, several groups and organizations honoured him with numerous awards. Some of them include: Best Governor on Security Matters by African Security Watch in far away Ghana; Best Governor in Agriculture by all Farmers Association of Nigeria…
Icon of Democracy Award by Champion Newspapers; Man of the year 2012 by Daily Independent Newspapers; Best Governor on Health by Federal Ministry of Health; Housing Governor of the Year 2014 by Nigerian Housing group in Abuja, June 2014; Best Governor in Sports in the South East zone by Sports Writers Association of Nigeria; Governor of the Year 2014 by Nigerian Pilot Newspapers; 2014 Governor of the Year by Champion Newspapers; Won the Federation Cup under my watch through Enyimba three times.
Of course, the governor would not have been honoured severally if he was not doing well in governance.
.Hart writes from Lagos