Abia remains a state with huge potentials but has suffered due to poor visionary leadership from bad government.
Abia State is facing hard times. The economy is not doing well. Insecurity is on the rise. Restive activities of the youth have crippled certain segments of the society. There are troubles in the ruling political party. Amid all these, the current Governor, Chief Okezie Ikpeazu is not making it any better for the people of the state. His inadequacies shine through from terrible policies and programmes, insecurity, economic plan, and a host of others.
Although not much of a saint either, but when one weighs the accomplishments of Governor Orji Uzor Kalu who served as governor from 1999 to 2007, against the current happenings, one would shed tears. Beyond his exemplary leadership style, he enshrined the ethics of a noble statesman as the indigenes enjoyed the dividends of good leadership in all sectors: Education, Sports, Health, Labour, Security, etc. Kalu, popularly called OUK, is a foremost businessman who delved into politics to salvage his people and the fortune of the state from decadence after years of military rule.
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His success made it easy for the state to truly earn the appellation – God’s own state! But, with the current happenings in the state, one wonders if the title is still justifiable.
Abia State should be one of the best states in Nigeria, in terms of revenue drive/generation and infrastructural growth, taking its proximity to the ports in Rivers State, but currently the reverse is the case. It is one of the poorest states, South of Nigeria. The current governor, Chief Okezie Ikpeazu, does not know what it means to prioritise needs.
A governor that once wanted to embark on the construction of an airport in the state without standard markets and commercial activities taking place in it. State and local government workers haven’t been equitably paid, and no viable project has been commissioned in the state for many years. One wonders where all the revenue accruing to the state goes. Ikpeazu is one of the governors that squander federal government allocations on frivolities.
In addition to being a bad governor, he is also a terrible recipient to criticism and advise. He was recently awash in the media when a video recording of him threatening to “disappear” a reporter writing about his bad government
As if that wasn’t enough, there are no good roads in the town, no drainage, no light, and no water. The government has also done nothing in salvaging the precarious security situation of the state. Abia State has been plagued with two consecutive bad leaders. They have not mapped out ways in dealing with the insecurity or embarking on massive infrastructural projects in the state.
The only glimmer of hope remains the next general elections where Abians will rise up to say NO to bad governance. It is in this light that the need to review the scorecard of these administrations remains sacrosanct. Every Abian must note that the forthcoming elections can be our moment of rebirth or it can prove to be our swan song depending on those we choose to lead the state. Abia remains a state with huge potentials but has suffered due to poor visionary leadership. We need to rise up and take back our lost glory by installing leaders who have the expertise to lead the state to the Promised Land.
Some years back, the Nigeria Army led by General Tukur Burutai announced its intention to carry out what it termed Operation Python Dance II, having done a similar thing in the South East last year.
The Army said it would be looking for Armed Robbers, Kidnappers, Secessionists, and criminals etc, but before anybody could decode their statement, it invaded the entire Abia State, torturing, killing, and maiming innocent citizens of the state. The video clips of the atrocities of the Nigeria Army in Abia State had gone viral. Many properties were destroyed. Economic activities in Abia were brought down to a near-zero percent by the army.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Citizen Nnamdi Kanu was placed under house arrest. His house in Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia was surrounded with over twelve Armoured tanks by the Army.
Obviously, the Army has the instruction to kill him. His father’s palace was destroyed by the Army, and many people were wounded, while others were confirmed dead. What was Nnamdi Kanu’s offence? Nothing. Except that he talks about Biafra, Wears Biafran clothes, Wears Biafran shoes, Wears Biafran wrist-bands, Speaks Biafran language, Eats Biafran food, and Wants a Biafran Republic. This was not a crime.
One would have expected Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to have ordered (or at least tell) the Army to leave his state. He should have told President Buhari to withdraw the troops from Abia State within 24 hours. If Buhari failed to do so, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu should have formally informed the southeast Governors Forum, the Nigerian Governors Forum, and the National Assembly leadership of the illegal activity in his state by the Presidency through the Army, for necessary action to be taken against President Buhari, Simple.
The criminal invasion of Abia State by President Buhari using the Army to torture, maim and kill innocent citizens was an impeachable offence.
But what did Governor Okezie Ikpeazu do? He sluggishly and cowardly imposed a curfew in Aba, Abia State. He did not condemn the Army of occupation in his state. He did not visit places where the Army committed genocide in his state. He did not visit places to see the destruction of properties by the Army.
He did not visit Afaraukwu in Umuahia to see how the Army surrounded Citizen Nnamdi Kanu’s house with over 12 armored tanks.
Obviously, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu showed huge timidity and pure cowardice. He lost his voice at a crucial time. He lost and forgot to step out to protect his subjects. To add salt to injury, in a press release signed by Brother Okezie Ikpeazu, he described his subjects as “Miscreants,” Mischief makers, and “hoodlums”. He refused to blame the Army for killing his subjects.
Little wonder a lot of people were happy when he came down with the dreaded coronavirus and many wished him death.
“Later, later” prevented the toad from growing a tail. The time to stop protecting the incompetence of this man is now. Okezie Ikpeazu has made a mess of Abia state, it’s high time Abia state rose up and put an end to terrible governance.
Unspoken, blame the mouth; unheard, blame the ear.
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