A SPEECH PRESENTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, CHIEF T. A. ORJI (OCHENDO), GOVERNOR ABIA STATE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE SOUTH-EAST EXECUTIVES OF THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE (NACOGG), AND THE INSTALLATION OF HIS EXCELLENCY AS ‘THE PILLAR OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THE NATION’, HOLDING AT THE MICHAEL OKPARA AUDITORIUM, UMUAHIA, ON THE 15TH DAY OF APRIL, 2014
DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
It is my pleasure to be here today to witness this epoch making occasion – the inauguration of the Executives of the South-East Chapter of the National Coalition for Good Governance. You have also decided as a part of this occasion to install me as a ‘Pillar of Good Governance in the Nation’.
I am very grateful for this recognition of our modest efforts to enthrone good governance and institutionalize the ethos of democracy in our State.
I am also confident that you have made the first right choice as you step out to your onerous assignment as warriors for good governance in our Nation.
Almost six years ago when we came into the Executive Governance of Abia State, God’s Own State, we met a situation of governance that was tantamount to the stifling of democracy and good governance. The citizens were groaning in pain, yearning for change, but helpless to fight the impunities of their leaders.
We met a State with low political participation and no broad access to political power which was strictly controlled by godfathers and one family. We met a prevailing, but divided, emasculated and fractionated political elite group, with a babble of voices that never focused on the needs and interests of the ordinary citizens.
We met a State lacking in sustainable institutions and infrastructures that support viable economic, social, political and a strong judicial system. We met a State with a high level of insecurity, especially criminal violence and kidnapping, leading to the desertion of our cities.
And we met a growing unemployment among our active youths, and increasing impoverishment of citizens across our State.
These were what we met in our State on assumption of office, and these are all symptoms of bad governance, leadership and management failures. In the past six years, our government has battled against these ills to restore good governance, restore joy to all Abians, – and suddenly everything is turning around, and you can see the difference we have made in the polity.
Today, it is evident for everyone to see that our Government has united the fractious political elites of our State, – and as someone succinctly put it,- we have given back to our elites their emasculated manhood and united them under a secured consensual and legitimizing big umbrella – the PDP.
We have deepened the democratic process in our State and given voices to the voiceless. We have liberated our citizens and their energies to participate in a free democratic competition to gain power and share resources, and we have put a plank on the wheels of despotism and ‘mamacracy’ in our State.
We have restored political governance based on equity, justice and without interference of godfathers, and we have provided a sustainable foundation for the development of our State through our strategy of legacy projects dotted through-out our State, and focusing on the perceived areas of neglect, especially Health, Legal, Civil Administration, Education, Agriculture etc.
We have established a system of social reforms to create new employments in the commercial sectors, agro sectors and given direct employment to our idle youths through elevating them as vehicle owners and entrepreneur transporters.
And above every other thing else, we have tamed the hydra headed monster of insecurity in our State, fighting kidnapping and other violent crimes to a stand-still, and making Abia State one of the most secured and investment friendly State in the Nation.
I am sure no one will want to return to those old bad- bad days of yore. Our efforts to advance democratic values and good governance in our State has won us the recognition of both local and international audience – as one of the best security conscious States in West Africa, as the ICON of Democracy in Nigeria, 2012; and as the best Health Care friendly State in the Nation.
I am sure that your organization must be aware of these developments in choosing to honor me today. I am equally happy that your Organization the National Coalition for Good Governance has emerged in the Nation at this time, and today as you inaugurate your executives for the South-East Chapter, you have also chosen to encourage me for my efforts in entrenching good governance and democratic values in our State and the Nation.
As you have chosen to honor me as the ‘Pillar of Good Governance in the Nation, our Government will do whatever it takes to also encourage you to pursue your goals of advancing democratic values in the Nation to a logical conclusion.
Our democracy and good governance in this Nation must serve our citizens and improve lives, if it would be rated as effective. It must continue to educate, train and instill the right attitudes and values in our citizens, especially the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.
Our democracy and good governance must be strong to resist the high-jack of self-interested pressure groups and improve the focus of governments. It must build the right checks and balances between governments and the civil society on all governance issues. It must create access to power and opportunities for the poor and the vulnerable to become self reliant.
It must give higher priority to the welfare policies that affect women, children and the youth. It must learn to treat people and citizens as ends in the democratic process and never as fodders to be used and discarded, and it must learn to value the lives of citizens and provide security of lives and property.
These are some of the enduring values of good governance which I would expect the Executives of NACOGG inaugurated today to pursue, if you will be deemed effective.
I believe you can do these for our Nation. And to ensure you succeed, our Government will consider your requests for a Good Governance Secretariat in the South-East to be sited in Abia State, and for an operational bus to be donated to your organization.
I wish the Organization and your Executives of the South-East Zone, the best in your onerous assignment of uplifting good governance in our Nation. I believe our Nation will be better if you succeed, and you will!
Thank you and God bless you.
DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
It is my pleasure to be here today to witness this epoch making occasion – the inauguration of the Executives of the South-East Chapter of the National Coalition for Good Governance. You have also decided as a part of this occasion to install me as a ‘Pillar of Good Governance in the Nation’.
I am very grateful for this recognition of our modest efforts to enthrone good governance and institutionalize the ethos of democracy in our State.
I am also confident that you have made the first right choice as you step out to your onerous assignment as warriors for good governance in our Nation.
Almost six years ago when we came into the Executive Governance of Abia State, God’s Own State, we met a situation of governance that was tantamount to the stifling of democracy and good governance. The citizens were groaning in pain, yearning for change, but helpless to fight the impunities of their leaders.
We met a State with low political participation and no broad access to political power which was strictly controlled by godfathers and one family. We met a prevailing, but divided, emasculated and fractionated political elite group, with a babble of voices that never focused on the needs and interests of the ordinary citizens.
We met a State lacking in sustainable institutions and infrastructures that support viable economic, social, political and a strong judicial system. We met a State with a high level of insecurity, especially criminal violence and kidnapping, leading to the desertion of our cities.
And we met a growing unemployment among our active youths, and increasing impoverishment of citizens across our State.
These were what we met in our State on assumption of office, and these are all symptoms of bad governance, leadership and management failures. In the past six years, our government has battled against these ills to restore good governance, restore joy to all Abians, – and suddenly everything is turning around, and you can see the difference we have made in the polity.
Today, it is evident for everyone to see that our Government has united the fractious political elites of our State, – and as someone succinctly put it,- we have given back to our elites their emasculated manhood and united them under a secured consensual and legitimizing big umbrella – the PDP.
We have deepened the democratic process in our State and given voices to the voiceless. We have liberated our citizens and their energies to participate in a free democratic competition to gain power and share resources, and we have put a plank on the wheels of despotism and ‘mamacracy’ in our State.
We have restored political governance based on equity, justice and without interference of godfathers, and we have provided a sustainable foundation for the development of our State through our strategy of legacy projects dotted through-out our State, and focusing on the perceived areas of neglect, especially Health, Legal, Civil Administration, Education, Agriculture etc.
We have established a system of social reforms to create new employments in the commercial sectors, agro sectors and given direct employment to our idle youths through elevating them as vehicle owners and entrepreneur transporters.
And above every other thing else, we have tamed the hydra headed monster of insecurity in our State, fighting kidnapping and other violent crimes to a stand-still, and making Abia State one of the most secured and investment friendly State in the Nation.
I am sure no one will want to return to those old bad- bad days of yore. Our efforts to advance democratic values and good governance in our State has won us the recognition of both local and international audience – as one of the best security conscious States in West Africa, as the ICON of Democracy in Nigeria, 2012; and as the best Health Care friendly State in the Nation.
I am sure that your organization must be aware of these developments in choosing to honor me today. I am equally happy that your Organization the National Coalition for Good Governance has emerged in the Nation at this time, and today as you inaugurate your executives for the South-East Chapter, you have also chosen to encourage me for my efforts in entrenching good governance and democratic values in our State and the Nation.
As you have chosen to honor me as the ‘Pillar of Good Governance in the Nation, our Government will do whatever it takes to also encourage you to pursue your goals of advancing democratic values in the Nation to a logical conclusion.
Our democracy and good governance in this Nation must serve our citizens and improve lives, if it would be rated as effective. It must continue to educate, train and instill the right attitudes and values in our citizens, especially the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.
Our democracy and good governance must be strong to resist the high-jack of self-interested pressure groups and improve the focus of governments. It must build the right checks and balances between governments and the civil society on all governance issues. It must create access to power and opportunities for the poor and the vulnerable to become self reliant.
It must give higher priority to the welfare policies that affect women, children and the youth. It must learn to treat people and citizens as ends in the democratic process and never as fodders to be used and discarded, and it must learn to value the lives of citizens and provide security of lives and property.
These are some of the enduring values of good governance which I would expect the Executives of NACOGG inaugurated today to pursue, if you will be deemed effective.
I believe you can do these for our Nation. And to ensure you succeed, our Government will consider your requests for a Good Governance Secretariat in the South-East to be sited in Abia State, and for an operational bus to be donated to your organization.
I wish the Organization and your Executives of the South-East Zone, the best in your onerous assignment of uplifting good governance in our Nation. I believe our Nation will be better if you succeed, and you will!
Thank you and God bless you.
