The day was a historic one in the annals of Abia State. People from all walks of life thronged the residence of the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji.
As early as 6am, the Speaker was already awoken by the symphonious sounds of trumpets backed by synchronous drumbeats, mellifluous voices rendering melodious songs of praise to the Almighty in Thanksgiving for the glorious life of the Speaker who turned 50 on the 25th of December, same day the world was agog with the celebration of the joyful birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That opened the floodgate of visitors to the tranquil abode of the Speaker as individuals and groups of people of different status and class came, bearing gifts and goodwill for the celebrant.
From members of the National Assembly and their Abia State House of Assembly counterparts, the Abia State Executive Council, party leaders from both national and state levels, other political heavyweights, captains of industry, TV stars, civil society organisations, sociopolitical groups, leaders of ethnic nationalities, religious leaders, traders and artisans etc, the house was filled beyond capacity.
Even nature was not left out of the celebration as trees could not sleep all through the night, flapping their branches in expectation of the coming ecstacy; the sun kept peeping into the earth even though it was the moon that sat majestically in the sky nodding its head harmoniously to the coming music of the occasion.
Then the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu in his usual simplicity that was the hallmark of the day, walked into an already charged atmosphere that became even more terrific and elecrifying once he showed up.
No sooner had the usual niceties between the Governor, the celebrant’s father, former Governor and Senator representing Abia Central, Senator T.A Orji, and the Rt Honourable Speaker himself, Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, was over, than Governor Ikpeazu started extolling the celebrant in flowery words that Abians have said truly reflect what the Speaker represents.
The Governor further described the Speaker as a “worthy partner in progress in his quest to provide credible and result oriented leadership to the people of Abia State”.
Continuing, he said, “Since his emergence as the Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly, the wheels of cooperation and strategic synergy between the Executive and Legislative arms of our Government have remained consistently well lubricated resulting in a seamless and well coordinated relationship for the good of our State.
“At both official and personal levels, Rt Hon. Chinedum and I enjoy a deliberately robust friendship, built on mutual trust, respect and confidence, which have greatly and positively impacted on the governance of our state.
“Hitting the half century mark in your life’s journey here on earth is by all means a landmark achievement for which you should be deeply thankful to God Almighty and especially for making you a strong rallying point for a great number of our people”, the Governor told the Speaker before wishing him a beautiful birthday and prayed the Almighty God to grant him “good health, excellent spirit and many more years of service to our people”.
