Rt Hon Chinedum Orji

by Tony Icheku

 It's axiomatic that excellent performance in ones' present circumstances elevates him/ her to the next rung of responsibility; And so it is for Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Orji. After eight years as a legislator - four as Speaker - the consensus among his throng of followers is progression to  bigger responsibilities. But what responsibility? Should he advance to the centre as a Federal legislator or seek for the  exalted  office of Abia's Chief Executive?

His followers - the youths and youthful at heart were decided: The governorship cap fits him.  He fits their model of Abia's next governor: Charismatic, people-oriented, pragmatic, at the very junction of life - in tune  with  the dynamic energy, desires and vigour of youths and at home  with the reflective, philosophical posture and demands of the middle-aged and elderly .

Thus began a sustained campaign for him to run for governorship of Abia State, the overly ambitious would have been  caught up by their strident  appeals, but at this point, the humility and leadership courage in the Abia Speaker showed up, and  he  yielded to a higher reasoning. It was true leadership at its best - leading the way, even if unpleasant  rather than being dragged along by populist fantasy

Recently, he explained the dynamics that played out: "...nobody’s ambition is worth putting the State in any form of rancour.

"...politics is all about negotiation and aspirants are free to aspire legitimately but all should jettison bitterness, calumny, blackmail and such other actions that could derail the stability of the State" - Food for thought, and wise counsel for power hungry politicians.

Rt Hon Chinedum Orji's words  above sums up his very essence and the driving force of his politics which imbues  him with the  charisma,  courage and strength  that attracts followership like a magnet

The Chinedum Orji school of leadership is one that expouses leadership being an art of making others better and impacting lives...thus the popular saying: 'Ikuku oma Abia efesalam'

He has set his eyes on the next rung of the ladder: The House of Representatives seat for Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency and he is coming prepared for the assignment

Speaking during his consultation visit to Ikwuano LGA Legislative Council, and stake holders, he said:  "I need your votes. I like to get jobs done, I like signature projects with my name displayed on them. What matter is your good name, even my followers believe in a proactive leadership. I may not have done all I wish to do, but I have done well and I hope to do more. When I get to the House of Representative, my focus will not change, it will continue to be on delivering dividends of democracy to my constituency", he affirmed

It will not be a smooth sail to the lower House for him, just like his journey to the 7th Speakership of Abia State House of Assembly was almost a mission impossible. He climbed to the seat demolishing a wall of  cynical public opinion. Many failed to see what difference he would make in an institution regarded as a rubber stamp of the Executive

 As his tenure gradually nears completion, such  critics are now re-appraising their opinion of the youngman.

Abia's 7th Assemby as led by Rt Hon Chinedum Orji has projected itself  as a power house of legislators who are skilled in their vocation. Some of the laws made by the House have caught national attention and acclaim

One of such is the  'Abians in Diaspora Law'

The 'Abians in Diaspora Law' possess the imprint of a people oriented legislation with it's thrust and ambition being to mobilise  the enormous resources of Abians in diaspora for the development of the State.  It stated this in it's narration thus: provide a platform for all Abians irrespective of their location to be part of the developmental narratives of the State.

A Nigerian who could be described as expert on Nigerians in Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was the most excited when the law was passed.

Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) conceptualized and gave life to Nigerians in Diaspora issues when she served as House Committee Chairman on Nigerians in Diaspora.

According to her, passage of the law  makes Abia the first state in Nigeria to set up a diaspora agency for its citizens, just over two years after the National Diaspora Commission started operations.

”... this singular act has already placed Abia State light years ahead of other states and  have invariably set the pace for others to follow”

She described the signing of the Abia State Diaspora Bill into Law “ as indeed historic and the significance of this cannot be overstated as Abia State will in no distant time experience far reaching positive effects from its diaspora

” The signing of the Abia State Diaspora Bill will witness further increase in Diaspora participation in Abia State”, She affirmed.

Another bill passed by the House, 'Abia Water and Sewage Development Law' is one also expected to have widespread impact on the socio-economic wellbeing of Abians

The subject matter of 'Abia Water and Sewage Development Law' - potable water and sanitation - is one that raises  worldwide concerns.  As a matter of fact, Water and Sanitation is 6th among the 17 goals of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDG.

Abia State, like others lack basic public water supply and sanitation services, schools, markets and motor parks, and hosts of other public places  lack access to basic water supply and sanitation services.

The effects of lack of access to potable water and sanitation services nationwide - spread of water-borne diseases- forced the Federal Government in 2018 to declare a state of emergency on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH

The Abia Water and Sanitation Development Law could be likened, if you choose,  to domestication of the UN's 6th SDG goal as it provides a legal framework to guide the actions and mandate of Abia government to provide affordable water to all households.

Ambitious legislations, such as these, to have the expected impact must be matched by implementation with lion-hearted courage and focus it deserves.
On a positive note, this law has potentials to attract funding, resources and expertise from development partners and donor agencies

The import of these two laws lies in their potentials to create significant, impactful turnaround in the socio-economic fortunes of Abia State, if zealously implemented

As Rt Hon  Orji journeys to the Centre as a legislator, his job is cut out for him: to propose laws with potentials to attract funding, resources and expertise from development partners and donor agencies which have capacity to create significant, impactful turnaround in the socio-economic fortunes of first,  his immediate constituency and to the nation at large.

From his interactions with party leaders and stakeholders so far, the Abia Speaker appears fully conscious that much is expected from him, even as the stakeholders pledge 100% support and solidarity to him