Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Orji Felicitates with Abians, Nigerians on New Month, Urges Unity and Progress..

Former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, has extended warm greetings to the good people of Abia State and Nigerians at large as they step into a new month filled with fresh opportunities and renewed hope.

In his goodwill message on Monday, July 1st, Rt. Hon. Orji encouraged citizens to remain steadfast in faith, united in purpose, and hopeful for better days ahead. He described each new month as "a divine reminder that our dreams are valid and achievable when we remain committed to collective progress and peaceful coexistence."

The former lawmaker, fondly known as "Ikuku Oma Abia," praised the resilience of Abians, especially in the face of economic and social challenges, urging them to remain optimistic and supportive of good governance at all levels.

"May this new month bring healing to our land, strength to our leaders, and blessings to every home. I join hands with every Abian and indeed all Nigerians to pray for peace, progress, and prosperity in this new chapter," he added.

Rt. Hon. Orji further reaffirmed his continuous commitment to the development of Abia State and called on the people to keep supporting initiatives that unite and uplift the state.

He concluded his message by wishing every Abian a joyful, fruitful, and peaceful new month.

Ohuhu Youth President Congratulates Governor Alex Otti, Calls for Youth Empowerment and Inclusive Development

The President of Ohuhu Youths, Mr. Uchenna Iheanacho, has extended warm congratulations to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, on the celebration of his second anniversary in office. In a goodwill message, Mr. Iheanacho commended the governor’s exemplary leadership and dedication to the advancement of the state.

He lauded the administration’s developmental strides and emphasized the urgent need for the inclusion and empowerment of young people in the governance and economic transformation of Abia State. According to him, “The full involvement of youths in decision-making and development initiatives is vital for building a prosperous and equitable society.”

Mr. Iheanacho urged Governor Otti to continue investing in policies and programs that promote youth development, education, entrepreneurship, and community participation. “You cannot tell the youths to stay away from fraud and crime without presenting viable alternatives,” he noted. “It is essential to engage them with meaningful opportunities that channel their energy and creativity positively.”

As part of their contribution to youth empowerment, the Ohuhu Youth Wing of the Ohuhu Welfare Union recently launched the “Go Back to Farm” initiative — a strategic agricultural project aimed at curbing unemployment and promoting self-reliance among youths. The group has secured approximately 50 plots of farmland along the Ofeme expressway, targeting the direct empowerment of 20 to 30 young people in the community.

Mr. Iheanacho appealed to the state government for support in scaling the initiative, stressing that community efforts alone are not sufficient to achieve long-term success. “We are fully committed to building a better future for our youth, but we cannot do it in isolation. We need strategic partnerships with the government to create sustainable livelihoods for our people,” he said.

His message underscores the importance of government-community collaboration in fostering youth development and ensuring that the future of Abia State is driven by empowered, engaged, and visionary young citizens.

Ohuhu Youth President Congratulates Governor Alex Otti, Calls for Youth Empowerment and Inclusive Development

The President of Ohuhu Youths, Mr. Uchenna Iheanacho, has extended warm congratulations to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, on the celebration of his second anniversary in office. In a goodwill message, Mr. Iheanacho commended the governor’s exemplary leadership and dedication to the advancement of the state.

He lauded the administration’s developmental strides and emphasized the urgent need for the inclusion and empowerment of young people in the governance and economic transformation of Abia State. According to him, “The full involvement of youths in decision-making and development initiatives is vital for building a prosperous and equitable society.”

Mr. Iheanacho urged Governor Otti to continue investing in policies and programs that promote youth development, education, entrepreneurship, and community participation. “You cannot tell the youths to stay away from fraud and crime without presenting viable alternatives,” he noted. “It is essential to engage them with meaningful opportunities that channel their energy and creativity positively.”

As part of their contribution to youth empowerment, the Ohuhu Youth Wing of the Ohuhu Welfare Union recently launched the “Go Back to Farm” initiative — a strategic agricultural project aimed at curbing unemployment and promoting self-reliance among youths. The group has secured approximately 50 plots of farmland along the Ofeme expressway, targeting the direct empowerment of 20 to 30 young people in the community.

Mr. Iheanacho appealed to the state government for support in scaling the initiative, stressing that community efforts alone are not sufficient to achieve long-term success. “We are fully committed to building a better future for our youth, but we cannot do it in isolation. We need strategic partnerships with the government to create sustainable livelihoods for our people,” he said.

His message underscores the importance of government-community collaboration in fostering youth development and ensuring that the future of Abia State is driven by empowered, engaged, and visionary young citizens.

Sunday Reflections by Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya OrjiDate: Sunday, May 18, 2025Title: Leadership Beyond Power

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Sunday Reflections by Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji

Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025

Title: Leadership Beyond Power

Dear compatriots and fellow Nigerians,

As we rise to greet this beautiful Sunday, I bring you greetings of peace, reflection, and purpose. Sundays are not just for worship; they are also for deep introspection — a time to examine our walk, our words, and our weight in society.

Today, I wish to speak on a subject that lies at the heart of our national recovery and growth: “Leadership Beyond Power.”

In our land, the word “leader” often evokes images of influence, wealth, and control. But true leadership, as I have come to learn through years of service, is not about holding power — it is about bearing responsibility.

Power can open doors, but only character can keep them open. Power can buy loyalty, but only empathy can win trust. Power can change laws, but only vision can change lives.

As a former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, I have come face to face with the weight of expectations. Every decision made in public office affects the lives of people — families, youth, traders, widows, students. Leadership must be guided by the constant question: “How does this help my people?”

Our people are not asking for miracles. They are asking for fairness. They are asking for safety, opportunity, and dignity. To lead beyond power is to serve with a conscience.

What does leadership beyond power look like?

1. It is staying connected to your roots — Never forget where you started, no matter how high you rise.

2. It is placing people before politics — Serve with your heart, not just your strategy.

3. It is building successors, not just followers — Greatness is not in how many people clap for you, but how many people you empower to rise.

4. It is speaking truth to power, even when you are in power — Silence in the face of injustice is betrayal.

Today, I challenge every young Nigerian with influence, every elected official, every community leader: Rethink your leadership. Are you pursuing legacy or applause? Are you leading with truth or with tactics?

To my beloved Abians, I say this: our journey continues. Our best days are ahead. Let us rebuild our values. Let us encourage one another. Let us hold our leaders accountable, and let us each be leaders in our own spaces — in homes, schools, markets, and mosques, in churches and town halls.

As Scripture reminds us in Proverbs 11:14, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” We must walk together in unity, wisdom, and courage.

Leadership is not a sprint. It is a relay. And what matters most is not the baton you carry, but how well you pass it.

May God bless our land. May He guide our hearts. And may He raise for us leaders who will lead not just with power — but with purpose.

Enjoy your Sunday, and remain steadfast.

– Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji
Former Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly
Bridge Builder | Public Servant | Advocate for the People
#SundayVine #LeadershipBeyondPower #PeopleFirst  #NigeriaWillGrow

ARTICLE: Ethnicity Divide: Cancerous to the Nation Nigeria By Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, FNSE

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and one of its most resource-rich, has for decades struggled with the twin challenges of unity and nationhood. Despite our diversity, or perhaps because of it, Nigeria has continued to grapple with deep ethnic divisions that have often undermined our progress and development. Ethnicity, in its negative manifestation, has become a device so cancerous that it threatens the very soul of our nation.

Ethnicity in itself is not inherently evil. In fact, our ethnic diversity should be a source of pride and strength. The multiplicity of languages, cultures, and traditions should offer Nigeria a rich tapestry from which to weave a powerful national identity. However, when ethnicity becomes a tool for exclusion, favoritism, marginalization, and political manipulation, it turns from a benign cultural identity into a malignant national crisis.

This cancerous form of ethnicity manifests in various ways: unequal distribution of resources, nepotism in political appointments, ethnic profiling, and even violence. Time and again, we've seen how ethnic bias in governance fosters resentment, breaks down trust in public institutions, and stokes disunity among citizens. The civil war of the 1960s, the perennial agitation for secession, and recurrent communal clashes are all symptoms of a deeper ethnic wound that Nigeria has failed to heal.

Our politics today is often less about competence and vision, and more about "where do you come from?" or "what religion do you practice?" This mindset has robbed Nigeria of great leaders whose only disqualification is their ethnicity. It has entrenched mediocrity and made the pursuit of national cohesion a difficult task.

As a nation, we must reject the weaponization of ethnicity. Leaders must rise above parochial interests and embrace the ideal of one Nigeria—where every citizen, regardless of tribe or tongue, is given equal opportunity to thrive. Our constitution guarantees equality, but in practice, we have failed to live up to this promise.

The time has come to reconstruct our national thinking. The Nigerian child in Sokoto should see his counterpart in Abia as a brother, not a stranger. We must reform our educational curricula to teach unity, empathy, and patriotism. We must encourage inter-ethnic dialogue and celebrate stories of unity, not division.

Nigeria can never reach her full potential while she remains divided along ethnic lines. Ethnicity, when misused, is a cancer that eats away at the core of nationhood. But just like cancer, it can be diagnosed, treated, and ultimately defeated—if we are willing to confront it with sincerity, political will, and a deep love for this country.

Let us rise, not as Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw, Tiv, or Fulani, but as Nigerians—one people with one destiny.

Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, FNSE
Former Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly
National Unity Advocate

Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Orji Celebrates Deputy Speaker Hon. Ben Kalu at 54

The former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, has extended warm felicitations to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, as he marks his 54th birthday today.

In a heartfelt congratulatory message made available to the press, Rt. Hon. Orji described Hon. Kalu as a "distinguished lawmaker, visionary leader, and patriotic son of Abia State" whose contributions to national development and commitment to democratic ideals are worthy of emulation.

“Your leadership at the national level has brought pride not only to Abia State but to the entire South East region. 

He also commended Hon. Kalu for his dedication to youth empowerment, national unity, and legislative excellence, adding that the his humility and approachability remain his greatest strengths.

“As you celebrate this special milestone, I join your family, friends, and well-wishers across the country in wishing you more years of sound health, divine grace, and greater service to our dear nation,” the statement concluded.

Hon. Obi Aguocha Condemns Uncivil Arrest of VeryDarkMan, Demands Respect for Rule of Law

Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, has strongly condemned the recent arrest of social media activist Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), describing it as an affront to Nigeria’s democracy and a dangerous precedent for civil liberties.

In a press statement released from his media office, Hon. Aguocha decried the forceful and opaque manner in which VDM was apprehended, likening it to an abduction rather than a lawful arrest. He expressed grave concern that such displays of excessive power undermine public trust in law enforcement and further erode the nation’s fragile democratic institutions.

“The method of arrest deployed against Mr. Vincent Otse was not only unnecessary but also uncivil and undemocratic,” Aguocha stated. “When the rule of law is bypassed in favor of intimidation, we begin to tread on a path that leads to tyranny.”

The federal lawmaker questioned why the authorities could not have extended a civil and transparent invitation to VDM rather than staging what many have described as a dramatic and intimidating clampdown. He warned that the implications of such actions go beyond individual liberties, as they damage the country’s international image and public confidence in justice systems.

Hon. Aguocha noted that a society that suppresses dissent and manipulates young leaders is one at war with its future.

“Our youth must not be made to live in fear of expressing their views,” he said. “We must encourage constructive criticism and protect the right to free speech as enshrined in our Constitution. Silencing voices through fear and force is not the way forward.”

Hon. Aguocha concluded by calling on the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding VDM’s arrest, ensure accountability where laws were broken, and uphold the values of democracy, justice, and human dignity.

“This is not just about VDM,” he said. “It is about the kind of nation we are building. We must resist the normalization of impunity and restore confidence in lawful, transparent governance.”

The lawmaker’s statement has sparked renewed debate over policing, freedom of expression, and the state of Nigeria’s democracy.

Hon. Obi Aguocha Set to Disburse Educational Support to 284 Students Across 32 Wards

Umuahia, April 13, 2025 — In a bid to further promote education and human capital development, the Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, has called on all notified prospective recipients of his Educational Support Program to be present at the official disbursement ceremony.

The event is scheduled to hold on Thursday, 17th April 2025 at Ochendo Hall, Umuahia North LGA Headquarters, beginning at 9:00 am prompt.

According to a statement from the lawmaker’s office, the 2025 edition of the program will see a total of 284 students benefiting from the scholarship scheme. The breakdown includes 160 students in tertiary institutions, 64 in secondary schools, and 60 in primary schools.

The distribution follows a well-structured and equitable formula that guarantees representation for all 32 wards in the constituency. Each ward will benefit from approximately eight slots — four for tertiary level, two for secondary, and two for primary education.

Hon. Obi Aguocha continues to stand out as a beacon of responsive and responsible leadership. His educational support initiative is a true reflection of his belief in the power of knowledge and the role it plays in transforming lives and communities. His tireless efforts to uplift the youth through strategic empowerment programs have earned him widespread admiration and respect.

As a true representative of the people, Hon. Aguocha has consistently prioritized the needs of his constituents, particularly in the area of education. His vision, integrity, and passion for service remain a shining example for others in public office to emulate. The Ikwuano/Umuahia constituency is indeed fortunate to have a leader so deeply committed to its growth and development.

Hon. Obi Aguocha Set to Disburse Educational Support to 284 Students Across 32 Wards

Umuahia, April 13, 2025 — In a bid to further promote education and human capital development, the Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, has called on all notified prospective recipients of his Educational Support Program to be present at the official disbursement ceremony.

The event is scheduled to hold on Thursday, 17th April 2025 at Ochendo Hall, Umuahia North LGA Headquarters, beginning at 9:00 am prompt.

According to a statement from the lawmaker’s office, the 2025 edition of the program will see a total of 284 students benefiting from the scholarship scheme. The breakdown includes 160 students in tertiary institutions, 64 in secondary schools, and 60 in primary schools.

The distribution follows a well-structured and equitable formula that guarantees representation for all 32 wards in the constituency. Each ward will benefit from approximately eight slots — four for tertiary level, two for secondary, and two for primary education.

Hon. Obi Aguocha continues to stand out as a beacon of responsive and responsible leadership. His educational support initiative is a true reflection of his belief in the power of knowledge and the role it plays in transforming lives and communities. His tireless efforts to uplift the youth through strategic empowerment programs have earned him widespread admiration and respect.

As a true representative of the people, Hon. Aguocha has consistently prioritized the needs of his constituents, particularly in the area of education. His vision, integrity, and passion for service remain a shining example for others in public office to emulate. The Ikwuano/Umuahia constituency is indeed fortunate to have a leader so deeply committed to its growth and development.

Abia NUT Issues 14-Day Ultimatum Over Welfare Demands

Umuahia, March 7, 2025 — The Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has handed a 14-day ultimatum to the state government, demanding urgent action on the welfare of its members or risk a breakdown in the state’s educational system.

The ultimatum was issued in a communiqué released after an emergency meeting of the State Standing Committee, held at the Teachers’ House Secretariat, Umuahia. The document has since been formally submitted to the government.

According to the Union, the state government has failed to respond to an earlier communiqué dated March 5, 2025, which outlined several critical issues affecting teachers. The NUT expressed frustration over the government’s silence and inaction.

Top among the Union’s concerns are the non-implementation of the national minimum wage and the Teachers Salary Structure (TSS) in the March 2025 salary payments. They also condemned the continued retirement of teachers by the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), despite Governor Alex Otti’s approval of a new retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service.

Other grievances include irregular promotion exercises and the non-payment of salary arrears to teachers in Basic Schools. The Union decried the disparity in treatment between Basic School teachers and those under the State Education Management Board (SEMB), who have begun receiving partial arrears.

The communiqué, signed by NUT State Chairman, Comrade Madu Friday C., and State Secretary, Comrade Mrs. Nnenna Okonkwo, emphasized that the Union may no longer guarantee uninterrupted teaching services if the government fails to meet their demands within the 14-day window, starting from March 28, 2025.

Despite the stern warning, the Union expressed hope that Governor Alex Otti—described as "ebullient and indefatigable"—will take swift action to resolve the issues and avert an educational crisis.

All eyes are now on the government as the countdown begins.