Theodore Orji

Theodore Ahamefule Orji CON (born in 1950 in Umuahia North, Abia State)[1] is a Nigerian politician. He served as the Governor of Abia State from 2007 to 2015.[2] He was formerly a career civil servant, and served as the Chief of Staff to the former Abia Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.[3]

Theodore Ahamefule Orji CON
8th Governor of Abia State
In office
29 May 2007 – 29 May 2015
Preceded byOrji Uzor Kalu
Succeeded byOkezie Ikpeazu
Personal details
Born1950 (age 72–73)
Umuahia Ibeku Abia State, Nigeria
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party (PDP)

Early life and career

Orji before becoming the governor of Abia State was formerly a career civil servant where he served at the Abia State Government House as a Principal Secretary. He was later appointed Chief of Staff to the then Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu.[4]

He served as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he Chaired the Senate Committee on Privatization and was the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture.[5][6]

Public service

After completing the National Youth Service Corps Scheme, he began working as an Administrative Officer in the old Imo State Civil Service Commission in 1979. When Abia State was created in 1991, Orji returned to Umuahia, where he served in several administrative positions, including the Government House, Umuahia, Bureau of Budget and Planning and Ministry of Agriculture.[7]

In March 1996, he was seconded to the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), now INEC, Abia State, as the Administrative Secretary.[8] He was later reassigned to Enugu State in 1997 to supervise the elections that ushered in the current democratic dispensation in Nigeria. After the polls, Orji returned to Abia State, where he subsequently served in various capacities in the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Lands and Survey, Ministry of Agriculture, and Abia State Government House.[9]

Political career

In December 2006, Senator Orji won the gubernatorial primaries of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to contest the 2007 governorship elections in Abia State. On April 14, 2007, he was elected Governor of Abia State, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. He was sworn in on May 29, 2007 as the third Executive Governor of Abia State.[10][11] In 2011, he re-contested and won a second term.[2]

In 2021, Senator Orji announced his retirement from active politics after completing his second tenure as Senator, representing Abia Central Senatorial District.[12]

Tenure

Legacy projects

While in office, Orji constructed and completed the 10,000 International Conference Center in Umuahia.[13] In 2015, Orji commissioned several Federal High Court complexes in Abia State.[14] He is also responsible for the Reconstruction of the Abia State House of Assembly as well as the construction of 28 constituency offices at the complex for members of parliaments. In 2012 The Nation, described the construction of the Ministry of Justice in Abia State as a "legacy ".[15]

  • High Court Aba
  • Old High Court & Old Magistrates Court
  • Construction of ASEPA Complex[16]
  • Worker’s Secretariat & Dialysis Centre[17]

Personal life

Chief T.A. Orji has been recognised and conferred many traditional titles, including Ochendo Ibeku, Utuagbaigwe of Ngwaland, and Ohazurume of Abia South. He is married to Mercy Odochi Orji, and they have five children.[18]

See also

References
  1. "Theodore Orji: Growing up as the Only Child of My Mother Remains an Indelible Experience - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  2. Sulaimon Olanrewaju and Olayinka Olukoya (28 April 2011). "GOV ELECTION: The winners are Ajimobi, Fashola, Amaechi, Amosun, Abdulfatah, Akpabio, Aliyu, Dakingari, Orji, Chime, Kwankwaso..." Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
  3. Emeruwa, Chijindu (2021-03-09). "Abia bye election: Orji Kalu's brother, Mascot emerges APC candidate". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
  4. "Abia State Governor – The Abia State Government – Official Website". www.abiastate.gov.ng. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  5. "Chief Theodore Orji | Nigeria Governors' Forum". Archived from the original on 2015-06-20.
  6. "CITATION: HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR THEODORE AHAMEFULA ORJI OON, BEST SENATOR 2017". ABIA FACTS NEWS. 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  7. Babah, Chinedu (March 7, 2017). "ORJI, Chief Theodore Ahamefule". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation.
  8. BusinessDay (2021-11-17). "Ochendo at 71: Trajectory of a humble background". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2022-10-04. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  9. "Former Abia Governor,T. A. ORJI's N4 billion Umuahia mansion raises dust". Encomium. 2015-08-09. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  10. "Abia: one year after". The Nation. 2008-06-01. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  11. Iriekpen, Davidson. "Nigeria: Orji - From Detention to Government House?". All Africa. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  12. Online, Tribune (2022-01-08). "I will quit politics in 2023 —Ex-Abia governor, Senator Theodore Orji". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  13. TheMail (2023-06-13). "Theodore Orji's Remarkable Achievement: The Completion of the ICC Umuahia Construction Project - The Mail Newspaper". Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  14. Staff, Daily Post (2015-05-05). "Gov Orji commissions Umuahia, Aba High Court Complexes". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  15. "'Orji is building enduring legacy for Abia judiciary'". The Nation (Nigeria).
  16. Staff, Daily Post (2013-09-06). "Governor Orji donates bus to ASEPA, visits first facility user of Abia State Dialysis Centre". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  17. "The Abia Dialysis Centre: Outstanding Legacy of T.A. Orji". Pointblank News. 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  18. Ndukwe, Jude (9 November 2018). "TA Orji: Celebrating Ochendo, Abia's Father of Equity at 68". Vanhuard. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
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