Make no mistake about it. Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji is Nigeria’s number one state house of assembly speaker. Do not forget that Abia, alphabetically, is the numero uno when it comes to ranking of states.
In the same vein, Orji, by the virtue of the fact that he is Abia speaker automatically means he is the number one speaker in Nigeria. This is why, according to those who know him very well, he comports himself to fit into a particular class as the occasion warrants. He identifies with both the rich and the poor. As a result, his name is at the lips of all and sundry. As the number one lawmaker of Abia State, he avoids being caught in the crossfire of crisis.
Therefore on December 25, 2020, the private residence of Orji was filled to brim, with galaxy of dignitaries. It was a day the Speaker celebrated his 50th year birthday. The event, which had in attendance, the leader of the executive arm of Abia, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu and some other members of the current cabinet, also attracted captains of industry as well as groups made up ordinary people. The large crowd that attended Orji’s birthday, according to findings, did not stem from the fact that he leads the legislative arm of the government.
Ikuku as a grassroots builder, stabilizer
Orji, a son of former Governor Abia State and currently a senator, Theodore Orji, before joining politics, had carved a niche for himself by identifying with the ordinary people in the society. He discovered early that electoral victories and stability of a given state are only achieved when the masses, especially as the youths feature prominently in the political calculus of an area, state or country. He equally identified youth illiteracy and unemployment as big challenge to peace and development.
Based on these attributes, the reward for his efforts came in 2015 general elections when he vied for the seat of Umuahia central constituency during which he won the election with a wide margin. He became the majority leader of the house of assembly, a position he held till 2019, before emerging the speaker, after being re-elected to represent Umuahia Central.
Ikuku Direct Touch as game changer
Before the 2015 elections, several groups and individuals benefited from various empowerment programs initiated by Hon Orji, ranging from financial grants, empowerment with vehicles, educational sponsorships, etc. Unfortunately, some of the beneficiaries of the programs were in some cases shortchanged by those appointed to deliver them to the beneficiaries. On realizing the development, Orji swiftly closed the gap. This, he did with the introduction of Ikuku Direct Touch. That outfit carried out direct contact with the masses that then got what belonged to them without much hassles. That was towards the 2019 polls. The direct touch meant direct delivery of democracy dividends as well as close monitoring of their implementation for the benefits of the residents of Umuahia. Construction of inland roads and award of scholarship are also the hallmark of the Ikuku Direct Touch, ensuring that essential needs of the people are first identified before projects are sited.
Among the schools rehabilitated under the Direct Touch program are School Road Primary School, Umuwaya Road Primary School etc. Inland roads in Amuzukwu Ibeku, among some other important roads in the Umuahia metropolis have also been tarred to achieve smooth movement of commuters and enhance economic activities.
Provision of water in every political ward of Umuahia central has seen the residents of Finbers Road, Azikiwe Road, Amuzukwu Ibeku and other dense population to enjoy free water supplies, ending years of water scarcity .
Ikuku the skill workshop
It is of note that whiles the executive and legislative arm of government in some states are engrossed in a fight to the finished, the story is different in Abia State as Governor Okezie Ikpeazu enjoys the best of rapport and support from the Abia State House of Assembly, led by Hon Chinedum Orji. Policy formulations, budget planning and executions by the executive arm in Abia State have continued to receive cognate considerations and approval from the legislative arm, even as the governor himself, has also continued to credit the leadership for the sound progress of his administration in project realizations.
The stability in the house of assembly is also another testimony of the leadership sagacity of the soft-spoken speaker. All issues pertaining to the house are brought to the appropriate committee and effectively discussed. Even when it seems that the house is heading for the rocks, Orji usually uses his sagacity as a man of clout and knowledge to douse tensions and calm frayed nerves. In this way, the house’s constitutional role of lawmaking, representation and playing oversight function are dully adhered to by members.
Future beyond house of assembly
It is not yet known the next step of aspiration that may be taken by the speaker, considering the huge requests from his large coast of supporters and constituents for him to remain in socio-political circles, for more years ahead. As he concentrated on his legislative and philanthropic programs, the speaker has also used his position to rise to the challenges of the day, ranging from the perfect manner the house handled the unfortunate security problems in the state, like the herdsmen attacks in Isukwuato-Uturu axis of the state, burning of police stations and other security matters.
It is on record that the intervention of Ikpeazu and the assembly, Orji brought the entire crises under control and returned hope for the inhabitants of the Fulani herdsmen-infested areas of Isukwuato and environs.
The summoning of heads of security agents to the house of assembly to explain their strategies on the security situations in some parts of the state, by the wouse, went a long way in controlling the Isukwuato security crises.
However, the begging questions in the mouth of some close admirers of the speaker are: Will he go for a third term as a house of assembly member or will he aspire for a higher political office in 2023 general elections. But the speaker has always maintained that his major focus was leading the State’s legislature to make good laws that would benefit Abians, and not about political future. He has also reiterated that the rapport existing between the House and the executive arm had yielded enough dividends for Abians, with many bills passed into law, for the good of Abians.
In a recent interview with newsmen in Umuahia, immediate-past commissioner for lands and survey, Abia State, Barr Suleiman Ukandu, an indigene of Amuzukwu Ibeku, told the press that his community had recorded tremendous turnaround in development, courtesy of quality representation of Orji.
According to him, “You can see that many roads in my area are being reconstructed and rehabilitated. We are grateful to him, though we already knew that he would transform our community that was why we voted for him during elections”. To this end, 2023 elections are still two years ahead, but it will certainly determine the next step of the master strategist, Ikuku.
