Abia State Current Affairs

Abia State is located in the Southern part of Nigeria. This State was formerly a British colonial government Region. The Habitants are majorly Igbo people (95% of population). It is one of the nine constituent states of the Niger Delta region.

History of Abia State

Abia State was created on the 27^th of august 1991 by General Ibrahim Babangida. The State is located in the southeastern part of Nigerian. Abia state was carved out of Imo state and they share boundaries. It is one of the constituent states of the Niger delta region. The state capital is Umuahia while the commercial city of the state is Aba. It is also referred to as GOD’s OWN STATE.

Abia state has an area of 6,320km2;it is among the smallest states in Nigeria. The state has within its borders seventeen [17] out of 774 local government areas.

Ethnic Group of Abia state

Abia state is mostly populated by the Igbo ethnic group, they are indigenous people of the southeastern part of Nigeria, which is about 95% of the populate. The is an abbreviation of the four densely populated regions of the state namely; ABA, BENDE, ISUIKWATO and AFIKPO.

Local Government Areas of Abia State

There are 17 local government areas in Abia state namely;

Aba north
Aba south
Arochukwu
Bende
Ikwuano
IsialaNgwa north
IsialaNgwa South
Isiukwuato
Obi Ngwa
Ohafia
OsisiomaNgwa
Umu-Nneochi
Ukwa east
Ukwa west
Umuahia North
Umuahia south and
Ugwunagbo

Abia State Local Government Headquarters

The state head quarter is located at okpula – Ngwa in IsialaNgwa north local government area. It has 451 postal code and landmass area of 109 s.qm.

Politics in Abia State

Nigeria became democratization in the year 1999 and Abia State was created 1991, Orji Uzor Kalu contested on the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and won the election in Abia State, he was sworn in, on 29^th May 1999.He contested again in the year 2003 and won. He left the seat of the governor of the state after serving for two tenures as the constitution of Nigeria says.

Theodore Orji (PPA) won Onyema Ugochukwu (PDP) in the year, 2007 to become Abia state next governor. In 2011, he left PPA to PDP and was re-elected to govern for another four years.

April 21^st 2015, Okezie Ikepeazu was voted in as the ninth governor and the 3^rd democratic governor, till date he is still the governor of Abia State on the platform of PDP.

Culture and Tourism in Abia State

This state has various types of cultures, few of these are;

The long juju of Arochukwu which is associated with slave trade.

The Azumini Blue River is a waterside were one can have a good relaxation spot for both the foreign and local people.

The Amakama wooden cave; a nice tree with hollow inside that can accommodate up to twenty people.

The caves: is located in the northern axis, ranging from Umu – Neochi to Arochukwu.

There is a main attractive and famous tradition called “Akwete” cloth weaving located at Ukwu East local government area.

The Abia Logo and What They Represent

1-Black and Gold Eagle signify strength and Grace of Abia people.
2=The Shield has different colours of Blue, Gold, Silver and Green that represent Labour and Enterprise, Welcoming and Hospitable nature of Abia Man, Sun and Abundance and Fertile.
3=Elephant connotes traditional image of Aba and indeed Abia State.
4=Open Book means Education,Tutulege,
Scholarship and Holy Bible.
5=Artisan speaks of artisans hip.
6=Abia Tower indicates the Central figure you see while entering the state capital.
7= Picture represents Industry.
8=Handshake means Abia is open for Business and finally
9=Four palm trees indicate Fertile and abundance

Abia State Anthem Full Lyrics (Igbo)

Ala Agoziri
Obodo Chukwu ka Abia bu
Obodo Ahia na Oruaka
Steeti mbu Ekere
Anyi ga Arusi oru ike, I bu Ndi Mbu
Abia ga adi Ukwu
Egbe bere uog bere,
Igwe bu ike chukwu gozie Abia.

English version of Abia Anthem.
The land of grace and faith,

That’s Abia God’s own state,

The home of trade and enterprise,

Alfa state we hail.

We shall walk the top to tarry on top,

Abia must be great,

On equity we stand, together we can,

God bless Abia!

Festivals in Abia State

Iwaji Festival

The most significant festival in Abia State is the annual New Yam Festival (also known as Iwaji) celebrated in thanksgiving to the gods for a good harvest. It is usually held at the end of the rainy season in early August.

Ugwuabia festival

Ugwuabia (the pride of Abia) festival is a grassroots festival where all the LGAs in the State come to showcase the best of all their culture in a carnival.

Ekpe Festival

This masquerade festival is peculiar to Umuahia people and it’s celebrated in the first month of the new year (January). It is a lively cultural festival that attracts people from in and outside the state. The Ekpe festival has existed for millenniums and which involves so many kinds of Ekpe masquerades performing different kinds of cultural dance. The apex of the cultural festival is when the Ekpe masquerade will use a cutlass and behead a goat at a strike.

Abia Tourist Attraction

THE AZUMINI BLUE RIVER
The Azumini river is known as the blue river, it is located in Abia state close to Akwa Ibom. It is a crystal clear water that got its freshness aqua blue from the nature beauty of the grasses and trees around it. The fishes and water animals could be seen inside the water including the items at the bottom of the rivers. The beauty emanates fully when the sun shines on the river which would leave the viewers marveled. It is also surrounded by the azumini hill which provides a wonderful view to the river. This has been a major tourist attraction for visitors coming to the state.
2. Abia State National War Museum
This was established in 1985 and is located at museum road in ebite amafor in insigwu in Umuahia. This museum was setup to remind people of the aftermath of the civil war that took place in the state. it includes some of the remains of the deadly weapons that were used during the war. it contains war relics, bunkers, etc.
3. The Amakama Wooden Cave
Located in isienyi-ukwu amakama in umuahia. This wooden cave is a must see for every tourists entering abia stae. This is a strategic existence of trees in such a way that it forms a cave that the people of the isienyi-ukwu still lives there till today. the cave has been in existence for a long period of time that no one knows the history which still remains a mystery. The people of the village still believe that the cave protects them from people who try to invade them in the community. They have bags of bees around the cave that they believe protects them during the time of war and attacks their enemies.
4. The Long Juju of Arochukwu
This was a giant shrine that was used to mete out punishment to offenders in the village. the suspect would enter the shrine and swear, if found guilty the person would die immediately and the blood would flow out. Some people believe that it was a ruse as the priest would kill animals and spill the blood out, then take the person through a secret door to be sold as slaves. The shrine was destroyed in 1901 by military personnel.