It was very refreshing and heartwarming reading the text of the address of the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Oti, to the people of Abia on the occasion of the 32^nd anniversary of the creation of the State. The message was very remarkable in its depth and breadth as it frankly reviews the fortunes of the State from inception to date. The speech marked a radical departure from the norm of the past where the incumbents always indulged in the hollow rituals of self-glorification and adulation.

For once, we saw an address that did not just acknowledge the fact that the State was created by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida in August 1991, but also appreciated the efforts, sacrifices and struggles of the founding fathers who championed the cause. This is very commendable as it reminded the present generation of the exploits of great sons of Abia whose agitations crystallized into the Movement for the Creation of Abia State. It is this Movement led by the ebullient former Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, that successfully championed the clamour for the creation of Abia which was christened ‘God`s Own State’.

In the words of Dr. Oti: “I must express my deepest gratitude for the efforts, commitment and immense sacrifices of the founding fathers of this great state, the individuals who tasked themselves and contributed in different ways to the creation of the state we know today as Abia, God`s own state. We cannot thank these celebrated heroes of the struggle enough for leveraging on everything at their disposal to ensure that Abia was created. I also thank them for their vision and for insisting that justice and fairness must be the basic conditions of our existence as a people.”

In the well thought out address, Governor Oti embarked on a veritable stock-taking exercise and was able to identify the level of progress that has been made in the last 32 years, and also the challenges and prospects of birthing a new and prosperous Abia that works for all citizens and residents. Remarkably, the Governor did not engage in any unhelpful sophistry as to why the State, under successive administrations, has not been able to deliver tangible developments to the people. He neither bemoaned the past failures nor allowed himself to be held back by petty political prejudices. Rather, he seems resolved to take Abia to higher grounds.

In that speech, Governor Oti seeks to inspire the people of Abia State to look beyond the lamentable state of affairs of the immediate past to a brighter and better future that beckons. In the words of the Governor:

“Going further, I am obliged to salute the courage and resilience of ordinary Abians. The Abia we are celebrating today could have been entirely different but for your efforts and commitments to doing you honest day`s work in dignity. Thank you for being cheerful and optimistic even in the darkest nights, for believing that a brighter day would come. You have done great things and generations unborn shall continue to celebrate you.”

From what we can glean from the report card of the Governor in the last three months, we see a man who has shown incredible capacity to give Abia a momentous leadership; away from the mediocre and pedestrian leadership that has been its lot in the last 24 years. Going by his account and what we can see on ground, Abia is breaking new grounds and witnessing organized governance that is anchored on the principle of due process.

This is evident in the coordinated response to the infrastructural challenge in Aba, the automation of revenue collection in the State, institutionalization of single treasury account to ensure transparency and accountability, the renewed efforts to clean up Aba and Umuahia, declaration of state of emergency in the health and education sectors, expansion of the main approach road to the State capital into six lanes amongst many other ongoing initiatives to recover Abia from the doldrums and reposition it for greater developments.

It Is also heartwarming to note that the Governor has also declared a state of emergency in the area of crime fighting. He followed it up with the setting up of a Joint-Security Taskforce codenamed “Operation Crush”. The outfit has been equipped with brand new patrol trucks and communication gadgets to flush out criminal elements from their hideouts and bring them to justice. This will certainly provide the enabling environment for investors to make Abia a choice of destination.

Going by the current momentum of development in the State, the people are optimistic that Abia, under the watch of Dr. Oti, would sooner than later experience a new dawn. The ongoing developmental strides, therefore, need to be sustained and deepened. It is against this background that that the Governor and his crack team of high flyers deserve commendation for the ongoing efforts at breathing life into Aba and Umuahia. The administration deserves the collective support and cooperation of the people to ensure that Abia becomes truly God`s own State.

We expect Umuahia, the State capital, to be opened up with new residential estates and industrial layouts. This will go a long way in decongesting the crowded city which currently wears a provincial look, 32 years after. With careful planning and prudent management of available resources, Umuahia with its strategic location at the heart of the Igbo nation and as the entry point into the oil-rich States of the Niger Delta, can become a major hub of development activities which would definitely rub off on the economic fortunes of the State.

One thing that was missing in the speech, however, was the names of the key leaders of the Abia State Movement whose vision and sacrifices paved the way for what we have today as Abia State. It was not just enough to make a general acknowledgement of the founding leaders without mentioning the names. We need to identify those leaders at least for the benefit of the younger generation of Abia people.

They included Dr. Michael Okpara from Ohuhu as National Leader, Dr. Moses Agbara from Isiala Ngwa as Secretary, and Chief Nnanna Kalu from Abiriba as the Chief Financier. Others were Chief Henry K. Ofonry and Eze Ezo Ukandu from Isuikwuato, Dr. Anagha Ezikpe from Abiriba, Chief Bob Ogbuagu and Dr. Anthony Ndubueze Nzeako (now Professor) both from Ohuhu. It is important to note that Chief Ofonry and Prof. Nzeako served as Chairman and Secretary of the Abia Charter of Equity Committee. They drafted the famous charter which was to ensure equitable administration of the proposed State. Almost all of these leaders are gone to be with their maker with the exception of Professor Nzeako who is in his late 80s and lecturing at a University in Abuja. These leaders deserved to be acknowledged and immortalized.

The cheering news is that their efforts and sacrifices were not in vain. Some of them lived to see their dream State of Abia come true. Others did not witness it. But wherever they are today, they would be happy that Governor Oti is doing well to reposition the State for greater possibilities.

On this occasion of the 32^nd anniversary of the creation of Abia State, we salute all Abians for their resilience and efforts in enthroning a new political order which is expected to usher in the much awaited transformation of our beleaguered State. We also salute Governor Oti for redefining the parameters of governance and ensuring that sanity returns to the State. Congratulations Ndi Abia.

•Emeka Nwosu, PhD, is an Abia indigene.

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