L-R, Ikpeazu, Governor Orji during the campaign

Elected eight years ago, even when he was under incarceration, his predecessor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, tried to pull the strings from outside. Conflict ensued and then came the parting of ways.

Now leaving a protege in charge of the state, like Orji Uzor kalu did to him, Theodore Orji, said he would not follow Orji Uzor’s acts.

He has publicly vowed not to attempt to teleguide his successor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, but rather allow him use his discretion to run the state.

Governor Orji who stated this at the Government House, Umuahia, when he received in audience a delegation of the Ukwa Peoples Assembly, said that once his tenure ends on the 29th of May of this month, he would quit the state and only return when invited.

Abia governor elect, Okezie Ikpeazu

Orji is one of the three senators who would be representing the state in the Senate at Abuja, the Federal capital.

He stressed that he would not want to be seen as tele-guiding anybody and that he would want his successor to enjoy a free hand to govern the state.

He pleaded with the people to cooperate with the governor-elect Okezie Ikpeazu for the rapid development of the state.

Governor Orji who said that he ran an inclusive government in the state, stated that it was his belief that the next Governor should also follow in the same vein and have a listening ear.

“As the first Ukwa Ngwa Governor, he knows the enormous expectation of the people on him”.

The leader of the delegation and former Senate President, Senator Adolf Wabara said their visit was to thank the Governor for supporting fully the Ukwa Ngwa cause, noting that without him the governor of Ukwa Ngwa extraction would have been a mirage and urged him not to forget Ukwa people.

The Deputy Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Asiforo Okere and Dame Victoria Akanwa, thanked the Governor for giving Ukwa people a sense of belonging and pleaded that they should be carried along in the new government.