Chikwe Udensi Reacts To The Scuffle Between Ikpeazu, TA Orji; Ranks Their Administrations
A Chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Sir Chikwe Udensi has dived into the war of words between the incumbent governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his predecessor, Senator T.A. Orji, the current senator representing Abia Central on whose administration gave Abians a better life.
While rating the administrations of Ikpeazu and Orji on Wednesday, Udensi stated that though the duo’s administrations are best described as failures and tragedy, the current administration of Ikpeazu is a lot better than what Abians had between 2007 and 2015 when TA Orji was governor.
Udensi noted that the expectations of Abians from TA Orji were all disappointed adding that Orji cannot exonerate himself from the failures of Ikpeazu as he (Orji) laid a bad foundation and also chose an “incompetent man without capacity” to succeed him as governor.
Opining further, Udensi said though Ikpeazu’s government inherited debts, he is supposed to have performed better than his predecessor with the available resources and revenues at his disposal.
He however scored Ikpeazu high in terms of infrastructure and salary payment noting that Orji left a huge vacuum in payment of salaries while Ikpeazu is owing Local Government workers 3 to 4 months arrears, among others.
In his words;
“The three governments from 1999 till date is a tragedy. Their tragedies is at various stages.
“Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration is an improvement on T.A. Orji’s government. If you look at all senses, immediately TA Orji took over, our expectations were very high, we thought maybe a Daniel has come but we were very disappointed. It was during his time that one of our brothers, Arthur Eze said that Abia stinks. The deterioration started from him (TA Orji).
“Am not saying that Okezie Ikpeazu’s government is not a failure too, am saying that Okezie Ikpeazu’s government from our expectation, ought to be better than what it is right now given the revenues of the state and also what our neighbours have done with less revenue.
“Though Okezie Ikpeazu inherited a lot, it required a man of courage and competence to overwhelm them .
“Okezie Ikpeazu’s performance is a lot better than T.A. Orji. if you look at payment of local government salaries; some of them are being owed in arrears of 3 or 4 months look at what TA Orji left, a huge vacuum; that vacuum that was left by TA Orji could not be properly covered by Okezie Ikpeazu that’s why I consider the two governments as failures.
“The two governments are very pathetic and am happy that Abians have taken the right decision. Abians are happy that these two governments are behind us”.
“Ikpeazu did not do much because he lacked capacity. Ikpeazu is an improvement on Orji in terms of infrastructure. TA Orji can not exonerate himself because he laid a very wrong foundation for an incompetent man, a man without capacity; both of them are all culpable, we cannot exonerate any of them” Chikwe Udensi said while speaking on Love FM Programme “Open Parliament” monitored by ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER.
ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER had reported that senator TA Orji in a statement released by his chief liaison officer, Ifeanyi Umere, advised governor Ikpeazu not to bring his administration into the scuffle he has with the striking Abia workers, noting that as at May 29, 2015, he owed two to four months salaries to workers in parastatals alone, however, Ikpeazu allowed the debt to skyrocket to 35 to 40 months.
Meanwhile, Abia state civil servants are still on strike as at the time of filing this report.
