By Oby Christie Ndukwe
& Enyi Ejike-Umunnabuike Jr
Emerging from the remnants of the old Imo State in 1991, Abia State once
bore the illustrious moniker of "God's Own State." Yet, the passage
of time witnessed a gradual erosion of its splendor, courtesy of a legacy of
lackluster governance.
Despite a heritage steeped in the legacies recorded by eminent past leaders
and distinguished indigenes of Abia State, such as the pioneer premier of the
defunct Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, inaugural civilian
governor, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Sir Alvan and S.G. Ikoku, Commodore Ebitu
Ukiwe, Major-Gen Omar Sanda Ike Nwachukwu, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi
Kanu, Lt-Gen Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika, Maj-Gen Chijioke Kaja, Air
Commodore Samson Emeka Omerua, Commander Amadi Ikwecheghi, Prof.
Joe Irukwu, Prof. Awa Kalu, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,
High Chief Nnanna Kalu, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Dr. Sam Ohuabunwa, Dr. Paul
Agbai Ogwuma, Dr. Adolphus Wabara and Sir Marc Wabara, Ms
Arunmma Oteh, Prof. Nnenna Oti, Mazi Nnamdi Kalu, Chioma Ajunwa, Prof Ndubuisi
Ekekwe and numerous others, who had excelled in different sectors, yet, Abia
State found itself grappling with the burden of unfulfilled promises and dreams
of it's founding fathers.
Envisioned by its founding architects as a bastion of prosperity and
progress, Abia State, languished amidst a landscape of unmet expectations
under successive administrations.
The erstwhile vibrant Umuahia, the state's capital, stood as a mere shadow
of a capital city, devastated by war and until now, had remained a
glorified Local Government, while the bustling commercial hub of Aba teetered
on the precipice of decayed infrastructure, hoisting the flag of the dirtiest
city of Nigeria.
Palpable disillusionment pervaded the populace, leading many to question the
veracity of the federal government's monthly disbursements to the state as well
as the huge Internally generated revenue through multiple taxation and levies
on the productive and trade sectors. The image of the state became battered
even beyond the shores of Nigeria. To be a citizen or resident of Abia State was
to be an anathema!
The cumulative effect of those years, precisely, 24 years, of negligence in
governance, ineptitude, lack of political will and crass
irresponsibility in driving the political leadership led to a
systemic failure in providing modern infrastructure and services and that
ushered in the era of kidnapping for ransome epitomised by the then notorious
criminal gang led by "Osisi ka Nkwu" who was eventually crushed by
the military might under the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt..Gen. Onyeabor
Ihejirika.
Prior to his arrest and death, he had established a culture of kidnapping as
a burgeoning venture with other small scale actors alike. The result a period
of dark years during the tenure of Gov. T.A. Orji. It was a season of
profiliation of debts despite the efforts of Okonjo-Iweala in helping the
state write off the already accumulated local and foreign debts.
The poor Federal Allocation to the State which is also endowed with Crude
Oil was barely enough to pay a bloated Civil Service and service the avaricious
thirsts of the political class, no thanks to the indebtedness to almost all the
commercial banks in the state, who would deduct monies at source to service the
debts of the state.
The entrance of Orji's protege and manfriday, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu further
diminished the already bad situation.
In a watershed moment in 2023, a coalition comprising the clergy,
traditional Rulers, and ordinary citizens convened with a resolute resolve
through prayers to vanquish the specter of bad governance that had long haunted
Abia State.
Galvanized by a collective sense of purpose, they harnessed the power of
political engagement to effect transformative change.
This was the beginning of the People's journey to ending bad and ineffective
leadership in the state. It was a masses movement beyond party lines.
In a pivotal electoral decision on March 23, 2023, the people of Abia
entrusted their mandate to Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, an experienced banker, a
steward renowned for his acumen in organizational leadership and commitment to
sustainable development, with a background in financial and human resource
management.
The triumph of the Abia electorate was underpinned by a series of decisive
actions:
- Setting aside political, ethnic, and religious divides in pursuit of a
common aspiration for progress
- Leveraging peaceful demonstrations and communal supplications to spotlight
their grievances on a national stage
- Displaying unwavering perseverance in the face of formidable challenges
- Selecting a leader distinguished by a proven record of principled
governance and holistic progress.
Today, Abia State stands as a testament to the transformative potency of
effective governance.
The erstwhile beleaguered Aba now revels in uninterrupted power supply,
while Umuahia metamorphoses into a contemporary citadel of governance.
Infrastructure projects proliferate, and the state's economic vitality burgeons
autonomously, emancipated from a reliance on federal largesse.
In less than one year, Abia State was placed back on the comity of
states and the Governor became the face of true leadership while his government
became the symbol of good governance.
The collective decision of the people of the state including those in the
Diaspora, to end bad governance and restore the image of the state was a
practical protest that yielded results.
It was not surprising that in the recent protests that characterized the
push for the end of bad governance which has plagued the nation for decades and
causing untold hardship for the masses, the people of Abia preferred to sustain
the winning streaks of a Governor chosen by the people.
The state has had a good share of bad governance but that ended with the
election and inauguration of Alex Otti and his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu.
It was a protest through the ballots which was considered the most popular
election so far.
While the citizens of Nigeria deserve the right to express their
disillusionment with the worsening state of insecurity and food prices amongst
others, it is expedient to have a blueprint such as the case of Abia
State.
There should be no room for violence or the invitation to the Military
either to disperse protesters or to take over the reins of power.
In a democracy, where there is a will to elect the right people, there could
be a change of power and an end to bad governance through the ballots.
The end of an era is the beginning of a new one!
___
The
writers, Oby Christie Ndukwe & Enyi Ejike-Umunnabuike Jr, are seasoned
journalists
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