Socio-Economic and Political Policies, and the Challenges of Governance under Governor Theodore A. Orji of Abia State, Nigeria, 2007-2015

Abstract

By 2007, the people of Abia State Nigeria heralded a new government with anxiety and positivity that normally accompanies the emergence of new administration. The new executive governor of the state, Theodore Orji initiated that would enable the administration fulfill its mandates. Nonetheless, myriad of challenges surfaced and even threatened to make the governor a very unpopular figure in the politics of Abia State. Many people, both within and outside the state who may have developed some contempt for the former governor, may be following a bandwagon effect. However, it is only proper that the efforts (or lack of it) of the administration are put into proper perspective to avoid spuriousness. In the light of the foregoing, this paper adopts the eclectic research method and interpretative style of analysis to discuss aspects of governmental policies of Theodore Orji’s administration within the two terms it piloted the statecraft of Abia State. The paper goes ahead to examine the factors that constituted challenges to the administration within the period. Findings are made on some aspects of Governor T. A. Orji’s policies. His economic policies of public-private partnership, agricultural plan for 10years, and market development among others were rather conceived of sound economic principles. However, the implementation met a number of bottlenecks. Such was also the case of numerous political and social policies initiated by the administration. In the final analysis, Governor Orji’s policies may have been well-crafted but implementation of the policies were basically hindered by numerous factors among which was the phenomenon of godfatherism, a trend which has impeded development in Nigeria since the inception of the Fourth Republic.