From Umuahia, with tales of hope
By MAURICE ARCHIBONG
Thursday, August 23, 2007

•Gov T. A. Orji of Abia State. Pix: Sun News Publishig

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Welcome to Abia, Nigeria’s famed God’s own state. I spent a few days in Abia State last week but the harvest here presented comes from experiences garnered over decades of knowing Abia. Aba, Abiriba, Arochukwu, Azumini, Igbere, Ohafia, Umuahia (the state capital) and Uzoakoli are among Abia State’s major settlements. Abia occupies a prime of place in many respects.

With regard to soccer, for example, it could be recalled that the Aba-based Enyinba Football Club was the first Nigerian soccer squad to lift the African Cup of Champion Clubs, which had eluded Nigeria for decades. Not only did that Abia State club explode what many had come to see as a jinx, Enyinba FC had gone on to record an encore the following year. Now, you see that it is not sheer coincidence that Abia stands at Number One in alphabetical order of Nigeria’s 36 states and the federal capital Abuja.

In the area of commerce and manufacturing, Abia State is also one of the most important political units in the country, for this is where the famed Ariaria Market is located. However, the name of this emporium situated in Aba, Nigeria’s celebrated Enyinba (Elephant) City, does not immediately convey the contribution of Ariaria to the national economy. Ariaria is not just another market, it is a sprawling mart-cum-manufacturing hub. Traders come from across Nigeria as well as West and Central Africa to buy goods manufactured at Ariaria. This is how "Made-in-Aba" goods came to be sold across Nigeria, West and Central Africa, and even farther afield.

Car registration plates celebrate Abia as God’s own State. However, there’s nothing heavenly in the condition of federal roads leading into or out of this part of Nigeria. It goes without saying that the parlous state of federal highways linking Abia to both oil-rich Rivers State capital and Calabar, two major port cities, pose severe constraints to the freighting of goods and translate as incalculable harm to the nation’s economy.

Aba-Ikot Ekpene, Aba-Port Harcourt, Aba-Enugu are among the most dilapidated of these expressways. In deed, the road linking the manufacturing hub of Aba in Abia to Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom and Calabar in Cross River is so bad that at some spots, passengers must disembark and plod through mud to the other side, while the driver struggles to manipulate the bus through run-off filled craters that have spelt termination to many a motorist’s trip along the narrow two-lane federal highway. In the same vein, the so-called expressway leading from Aba to the Rivers State capital Port Harcourt is no less decrepit. In fact, along this avenue, around Osisioma Junction, the dilapidation was so much that Abia State Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji had to take pity on hapless travellers and commit the state’s resources to rehabilitation of that portion of this federal highway. Surely, Heaven will help those, who help themselves.

From the look of things, one would think the state authorities hadn’t done enough to bring the dire situation of death-traps called roads to the attention of the federal government. However, Governor Orji said the federal authorities "are already aware of the depressing situation of roads in Abia and the entire Southeastern geopolitical zone." Going by the situation of the Benin-Ore Expressway, Calabar-Ikom Highway and Onitsha-Owerri Road, which were left untended for several years, in spite of public hue and cry, it is easy to believe this governor, when he says the federal authorities are aware of the horrendous condition of roads in and around Abia State.

Such is the enormity of the problem that Governor Orji frequently loses sleep, when he thinks of the hardship Nigerians and foreign tourists go through, just moving from one settlement to another within the country. "In fact, if I had the resources, I would repair all the roads and not wait for the federal government because the suffering is too much. As far as the average traveller is concerned, the roads are inside Abia State and very few people care to know, which are federal roads from the ones that are the responsibility of the state government," the governor remarked.

Where to go, what to see
Though still far from harnessed, Abia throws up bounteous tourism prospects. Abia is home of the historic Long Juju Shrine in Arochukwu. The state also boasts other potential tourist sites in Azumini, aside the heritage site called Achichi Uduma Ezema in Ohafia and Lake Usimokoto in Abiriba, among others. With two museums, Abia is one of the states that hold more than one such tourist attraction. What is more, both repositories are specialized museums. Moreover, the two museums in Abia are among the busiest in the country. The state capital Umuahia hosts the National War Museum (NWM), while the commercial nerve centre of Aba boasts a Museum of Colonial History.

Governor Orji revealed he has serious plans to tap into the tourism industry to complement the state’s internally-generated revenue. He agreed money would have to be deployed there to bring that industry to the point, where Abia could reap deserved dividend. "We intend to reap the benefits of having these tourist attractions in Abia. We intend to harness them and fix as many roads as our resources can cope with because Abia is a strategic state linking many other states of Nigeria," the governor said.
Truly, Abia could generate huge resources from tourism but the poor federal road network across the eastern parts of the country continues to pose a problem.

Encounter with Ochendo
Our visit to Umuahia offered a golden opportunity to meet Governor Orji but it was an energy-sapping encounter, for Ochendo runs a tight schedule. Within the first eight hours of our visit to Government House Umuahia, His Excellency attended three public functions, aside taking care of other state matters. Between 10am and 11am, the governor emerged from his office to handover keys to mint-fresh cars procured for commissioners in the new cabinet. Less than than an hour later, he was at another meeting with wives of Abia traditional rulers inside Okpara Auditorium at Government House Umuahia. Within an hour, the governor was back behind his desk in his office. By 7.30pm, Chief Orji was out again attending a dinner-cum-reconciliation meeting with select professionals.

He couldn’t have gone to bed early, for we had gathered a number of dignateries were waiting for the opportunity of seeing him, as soon as he was through with dinner. After this hectic schedule, we were naturally taken aback, when the governor’s affable Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ukoha Kalu, on taking our telephone call the next morning, revealed: "I had to travel with Oga to Enugu. That’s where we are now." Such is this governor’s stamina for you. Ochendo is a power-house. You can tell from his gait and the infectious enthusiasm that he brings to bear on each public assignment.

Governor Orji is an epitome of tightly-packed dynamite. Don’t be fooled by his physical frame, for in terms of vision, he could well pass for a Colossus. When it come to hope, His Excellency doles it out aplenty. Interestingly, his promises are usually not taken with skepticism, like another empty vow from some desperate politician. When Ochendo says he’ll provide an amenity, his people believe, for they see him as a man of his word, which explains how Chief Orji came by the title of Ekwueme (One that does what he says), in the first place. Should he continue the way he has begun, Governor Theodore Orji would have lived up to his Igbo first-name, Ahamefule, which could be likened to preservation of one’s name and integrity.

A detribalized Nigerian, there are some words Gov Orji does not like to hear. One of them is "non-indigene." "I have no place for indigene or non-indigene in my vocabulary," the man fondly called "Ochendo" told us. With that, you can understand why everyone in Abia is an Abian to this governor. "For me, there’s no discrimination, no division. As Governor, I see everyone as fellow citizen," Chief Orji remarked.

A charitable personality, Chief Orji is not carried away by his inauguration as governor. Even as chief executive of Abia, he remains a concilatory figure because he abhors the strategy of divide and rule. To be candid, this governor has paid his due. Armed with a balanced view of the bimanous experience called life, Chief Orji has seen some good times and been through some bad times, too. He recalled how he once hurt terribly because people he trusted and took for friends and loved ones, deserted him in his moment of tribulation.

Hear his rue: "I was not the cause of this predicament. But at that point, when I thought I would get steadfast support from my friends, the majority of them deserted me, for no just cause." The chief however revealed that during those trying days, he found solace in God, who stood by him at all times.
Ochendo again: "If God wanted to abandon me, He would have done so, while I was in detention. But through God’s intervention, I was released. Not only that: After I regained my freedom, I got my party’s ticket to run for governor.

Suddenly, the next rumour from my detractors was that I would not be put on the ballot paper. When I got on the ballot sheet, these antagonists said I would not win. Interestingly, after the people of Abia voted overwhelmingly for me and I won the governorship polls, some dreamers went on to say that I would not be sworn-in. But on May 29, 2007 I was sworn-in as the new Governor of Abia State. I strongly believe there’s the hand of God in all these. Despite all the obstacles, I still emerged Governor of Abia State. So, as Governor I shall do my best. I cannot fail because God will not abandon me now."

A peace-loving man, Ochendo subsequently stretched an olive branch to his antagonists, saying that he had forgiven all those that stood against his election as governor. He also implored the opposition to bury the hatchet and join hands with other progressive Abians in developing the state. "All that happened in the past is now behind us. To me, the future is more important because yesterday is gone," he mused.

Urban Renewal and other Programmes
Although heading to or out of Abia comes with some headache because of bad roads, once inside, it is however easy to tour this state and its capital city of Umuahia. Interestingly, many roads are undergoing upgrading and dualization as part of Governor Orji’s Urban Renewal Programme (URP). Aside improving the quality of roads, street lights are also rising across Umuahia in line with the ongoing URP. Furthermore, the governor has ensured that salaries have been paid promptly since he assumed office and has donated patrol vans to security operatives in Abia, even as he procured a factory-fresh vehicle for each of the 24 members of Abia State House of Assembly and commissioners in the new cabinet as well as key traditional rulers. With these achievements and others being proposed, one could understand why Governor Orji is very popular across the state, according to Chief Mrs. Nwabiaraje, Deputy Chairperson of Ugo-eze, a body of spouses of traditional rulers of Abia.

Prior to the presentation of the cars to his commissioners, penultimate Wednesday, Gov Orji had remarked: "We have given each of you a vehicle to serve you, so that you can serve the state. I know that some of you have bigger and more expensive cars, even jeeps, but the ones the state government has chosen for you is rugged. It may not be as expensive as what some of you have, but it is brand-new and that is what government has for you right now." The governor further explained that it was necessary to give out the vehicles, "Because if you invite someone to come and work for you, you must equip the person with requisite tools."

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Mrs. Ori Obasi, Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture, said, "I know that some commissioners in other states are also given official cars, but in many instances, the vehicles are used ones." This was the reason behind the lady’s declaration that "Abia commissioners are the lucky of the luckiest because the cars are what is often called ‘Tear rubber.’" Thus encouraged by the governor’s kind gesture, Mrs. Obasi promised she and her colleagues would do their best and always deploy the automobile to the optimal service to Abia State. Barely a month earlier, Governor Orji had enlarged the fleet of patrol vehicles and other automobiles used by security operatives in the state by numerous brand-new Hilux jeeps.

Around Umuahia
Like the commercial hub of Aba, Umuahia also boasts numerous banks, but they are concentrated around Umuwaya, Club Road, Eze Akanu Ibiam Avenue and Commercial Layout area, where Okpara Square is located. At some point, Factory Road leads off Eze Akanu Ibiam Avenue into the Government Reservation Area (GRA), where the former Biafran State House now called National War Museum Annex (also known as Ojukwu Bunker) stands. Once the tourist masters Abia Tower Roundabout, where Bende Road runs into the meeting point of Aba Road and Umuwaya Road, the rest is easy.

Shopping shouldn’t present any problem as virtually all the leading marts and malls can be found along the major avenues, such as Awolowo Way, Lagos Street, across which Uwalaka Road runs near Garki Station of Abia Line; Umuwaya Road, Club Avenue, Market Road, Eze Akanu Ibiam Avenue, Library Avenue, Warri Street, Ohafia Street, where the office of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) stands at number 1; and so on. Other important roads in Umuahia include Oboro, which lead to Umuokpara, on the way to National War Museum through Ugwunchara and Uzoakoli Road.
Abia and education
The people of Abia realized the importance of education a long time ago, which is why this state has abundant skilled manpower for any entrepreneur wishing to invest there. Abia boasts various tertiary institutions and hosts at least two of Nigeria’s famous colleges. One of them is Methodist High School Uzoakoli, founded by the Weslyan Mission. Aside this mission school, Abia State also boasts one of the earliest public high schools in Nigeria. Founded in 1929, that institution, Government College Umuahia (GCU), was one of three opened by the British colonial government, 20 years after the establishment of Kings College, the first government-owned high school.

The other two secondary schools were Government College Ibadan and Government College Zaria (Berewa College). The founding principal of GCU was Mr. Robert Fisher (deceased), and in one generation the school produced the largest number of celebrated Nigerian writers. Roll call: Chinua Achebe, Chukwuemeka Ike, Elechi Amadi, INC Aniebo, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Christopher Okigbo, and Gabriel Okara. Master artist Ben Enwonwu, Jaja Wachukwu, Okoi Arikpo, N.U. Akpan, Victor Mukete, Dr. Endley (former premier of Southern Cameroon), Dr. J.O.J Okezie (first republic Minister of Health), Prof. Bede Okigbo, Kelsey-Harison, Wilfred Chukudebelu, E.J. Allagoa, Donald Ekong, Laz Ekwueme, and Dagogo- Fubara are among other outstanding GCU alumni.

Getting there
Directly, the tourist can only hit Umuahia by road. The air traveller may fly to the Imo State capital of Owerri, which holds the nearest airport to Umuahia and continue by road. An alternative is to take a flight to Enugu Airport. Enugu Airport, like Port Harcourt Airport or Calabar International Airport is barely three hours’ drive away. However, rehabilitation work work at Port Harcourt International means that flying to the Rivers State capital is out of the question, for now. The route via Owerri Airport offers glimpses of Mbaise country, among other roadside blurs. Via Enugu, the road trip will take the tourist through Okigwe. You know you’re there, upon hitting Okigwe Road. Within the next few minutes, the bus or taxi should pull up at the motor park on Mission Hill in Umuahia.

If the tourist was moving on from Calabar, some three hours’ drive will bring the traveller to the Abia State capital. Coming in from Calabar, the wayfarer will pass through Aba, and may wish to look in at the Museum of Colonial History there. The fare from Aba to Umuahia varies between N200 and N400. The upper limit holds sway at night, say from 9pm. Welcome to Abia, God’s own state.