Abia Central: Orji, Nwaogu, Ajaegbu battle for Senate

Former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji is seeking re-election as senator in Abia Central District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His challengers are Senator Nkechi Nwaogu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chief Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

Orji, fondly called Ochendo by admirers, hails from Ibeku, in Umuahia North Local Government Area. His opponents are from Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area. During the 2015 elections, Orji won in five local governments. He lost  in Umuahia South Local Council where voters revolted over empowerment programmes that were allegedly hijacked by few political stakeholders.

Orji was Chief of staff to the former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu between 1999-2007. He succeeded his boss in 2007. He was re-elected as governor in 2011. He was the first governor to go to the Senate in the state. The question is: can he retain his seat in the Upper Chamber?

Nwaogu is an experienced politician. The Amazon has spent 16 years in the National Assembly. She was a member of the House of Representatives for eight years between 1999 and 2007. She represented Osisioma/Ugwunagbo/Obingwa Constituency. She was also in the Senate for eight years.  before ascending to the senate for another eight years where she represented the people of Abia central senatorial zone of the state.

The third contender, Ajaegbu, is a former president of the Institute of Charted Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He has helped many politicians in the state. But, this is the first time he is contesting.

Many stakeholders believe that Orji has a better chance. But, he cannot afford to sleep on guard. The Abia Central slot is being rotated between Umuahia and Ngwa, which make up the zone. Each bloc has three councils each.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is from Ngwa land. Thus, many feel that there is just no political or moral justification for an Ngwa man to seek re-election as governor and another person from the area to vie for the Senate at the same time. The calculation is that Umuahia should fill the slot to foster equity and sense of belonging.

According to Umuahia leaders, if an Ngwa person becomes a senator now, it smacks of greed. Also, they believe that they should retain the senatorial seat, considering their contributions to the victory of the governor on 2015, and their avowed commitment to his second term bid. The people of Umuahia people are politically conscious. In their view, since Ngwa cannot surrender the governorship, it is logical that they should produce the senator.

In 1999, Senator Bob Nwanunnu from Ngwa represented the zone at the Senate. He spent a term. He was succeeded by  Senator Chris Adigje from Umuahia, who also spent a term.  In 2007, Nwaogu from Osisioma, Ngwa became a senator. He broke the second term jinx. That followed defection of Governor Orji Kalu to the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA). It was the consensus of opinion that Nwaogu should be re-elected. In 2015, Umuahia filled the slot. Orji, who is from Ibeku, became the beneficiary.

Orji handed over to Governor Ikpeazu, thus allowing Ngwa to produce the governor for the first time, in accordance with the Charter of Equity subscribed to by the founding fathers of the state over 20 years ago. The founding fathers believe that there will be peace, unity and cohesion, if the number one seat is rotated among the three senatorial districts. But, what are the achievements of Ochendo in the Senate? To his opponents, he is not fit for second term. But, his supporters disagree, saying that he has an intimidating scorecard. A lawyer, Chief Mike Mbah, alluded to Bill Gate’s remarks, saying: “ As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”

Orji has set up a scholarship scheme under which he gives 10 students from each of the six local governments yearly. No fewer than 180 university students have benefitted. He also established an eye clinic in Umuahia where over 670 successful eye surgeries have been performed for glaucoma and cataract patients. It is free of charge. In Osisioma Ngwa, where his opponents come from, Orji has provided six functional bore holes and transformer. He has sponsored a skill acquisition programme, where beneficiaries got N87 million for trading.

The senator has also renovated many primary and secondary schools in his district. He constructed roads in Ikwuano Local Council and Ameke in Umuahia North Council. He has facilitated electricity projects in Umuahia North, Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South councils.

The senator has sponsored a bill to make Abia State Polytechnic a federal polytechnic . That bill has been passed at the Senate and is just waiting for the assent of the president.

Many constituents are rooting for Nwaogu. They believe that she has experience and she understands the procedures at the National Assembly. But, Comrade John Nwachukwu, a political activist from  Isiala Ngwa said: “ Senator Nkechi Nwaogu has no business seeking to be in the Senate again after spending 16 years in the National Assembly. I am an Ngwa man from this zone. Nkechi Nwaogu of the APC and Chief Chidi Ajaegbu of the APGA know the political arrangement of the zone and cannot truncate it.”

A medical practitioner, Dr. Adamma Igwe, who hails from Umuahia South Local Government Area, said “our people have always shared a common, fair and healthy political relationship with our brothers and sisters. We have allowed them to have the governor and equity demands that an Umuahia goes to the Senate.  Senator Nkechi Nwaogu has to tell the people what she did with the 16 years she spent in the Senate. Until then, she has no business there. How many Nigerians have had such opportunity?”