Sen. T.A Orji Laid Foundation For Abia Development, COSEYL Replies Ukasanya

The apex sociopolitical youth group in the Southeast, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has taken a swipe at former chairman of PDP in Abia State, Hon. Ukasanya for alleging that previous administrations, including that of Sen. T.A Orji, did not lay foundation for the current government to build on.

COSEYL says Ukasanya has lost record of facts under the administration of T.A Orji as governor of the state, adding that as a father he has failed to provide an example for young generations to follow.

In a statement on Sunday, COSEYL said Sen. T.A Orji, representing Abia Central during his tenure as governor in the state made it the safest state for investors both local and international.

It further insisted that Ukasanya’s assertion that the current governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is building the state from scratch due to poor or no foundation by past administrations is untrue.

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The statement partly reads, “We do not know for whom Ukasanya was speaking or whom he was representing – be they or it a group or an agency. But such assertion coming from a man from whom much is expected is quite unfortunate. Let it be stated that governance is continuum and does not run in vacuum. It is our belief as a Coalition that had it not been for the foundation laid by His Excellency Senator Theodore A. Orji, Governor Ikpeazu wouldn’t have reached the mile and recorded the track record he has now.

“Let it be stated and for the record too that when Okezie Ikpeazu was, during the 2014/15 electioneering, asked what he wished to bring to governance if and when elected, that the governor, then a PDP flag bearer, had said he wished, as it were, to continue from where his predecessor stopped. At this point, what does that tell men like Ukasanya? It is simply this: That from sitting at his feet, Okezie took double blessings and governance experience from Theodore A. Orji aka Ochendo Global, and that were it not for Ochendo Global, Abia State wouldn’t be having today as governor a man like Okezie Ikpeazu.

“As a state party stakeholder and chairman in 1999, what did Ukasanya do to influence or constructively shape governance using his good offices?

“May we remind Ukasanya that it was under Ochendo that Abia became the most secure place and destination for investors – foreign and local – with quadruple growth in the state GDP and internal revenue (independent revenues). Aside other works, Theodore Orji, in all fairness, decided to have a rotation of power that favours the Ngwaland, a people who since the days of the old Imo State have been agitating to govern but were each time denied same. This was done in the spirit of equity. Again, massive youth empowerment which reduced unemployment and ensured productive engagement of the Abia youth was launched during Ochendo’s tenure. Also, during the said tenure which lasted from 2007 to 2015, scholarships were given to indigent Abians across all seventeen local government councils in the state under the auspices of the state scholarship programme initiated by Ochendo and issued to recepients by His Lordship Bishop Lucious Ugorji, Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese.

“In the health sector, Ochendo Global’s administration built health centers in all the autonomous communities in the state, rehabilitated and built new general hospitals across the state, built an ultra-modern diagnostic center in Umuahia to handle special health challenges and equipped the hospitals to enable them deliver better health services to the people.

“On infrastructure, Ochendo gave the state a facelift via massive construction of roads across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state. It will be difficult to elucidate the transformational achievements of Distinguish Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji in one piece.

“What Tony Ukasanya means by saying there was no structure before the coming of Ikpeazu is not clear. Maybe he wants some relevance or to appear important being a spent force. Whatever Ukasanya wishes to gain, we are convinced, will definitely be made public someday, but for now, let us remind him that Ikpeazu is standing on high shoulders and is following after the footsteps – like he swore to – of his predecessor, His Excellency Senator Theodore A. Orji. This is not any apologia but a public record.”