Every new day represents a fresh start and another opportunity to get right things which weren’t done at all or done badly. The expectation of a new dawn and the hope it brings creates a vision in the mass mind that a fresh outlook and new possibilities are in the horizon.
So it is with the coming to office of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti as the governor of Abia state with much excitement and fanfare in most quarters as the people rejoiced that the days of evil and wantonness in God’s own state has come to an end. Help finally came to Abians’ in the person of Governor Alex Otti. The rot which lasted for 24 long years had been cut off by the collective mandate of the people overwhelmingly expressed at the polls.
However in the midst of all these positive change in the hitherto negative narrative, a few persons remain who played active and ignoble roles in entrenching the darkness which took over the state lasting well over two decades; who even now have refused to accept that times have changed under the current administration which is determined to dig Abia out of the pits of despair and backwardness.
Such persons in living up to their odious character think it possible that they might remain relevant by spewing up lies and half truths to push a narrative in the media space all in a bid to skew public opinion against the good works of an astute administrator determined and in hurry to significantly improve the lot of Abians.
They also think it possible to sneak into governance through the backdoor of blackmail and mudslinging; a pattern which became their stock in trade over the past two decades in finding a place for themselves in every government that has come to office in the state since the coming of the fourth republic in 1999.
Recognising the need for a paradigm shift in the mindset of Abians, Governor Alex Otti right after he took the oath of office set about to revive the moribund Abia state orientation Agency with the immediate mandate of re-engaging and re-setting the way most Abians think and hitherto perceived government; with little or no expectation of stewardship from leadership by the people.
This in no small measure stems from the many years of almost vision less and fruitless governance with state resources and allocation channeled to settle a few privileged to be in power or close to power. This state of things which prevailed over time practically killed in Abians all hope of enjoying any benefit from governance leading to an unimaginable level of despondency before the coming to office of Governor Otti on the platform of the labour party.
These detractors aforementioned think it possible that they can by hook continue with the old order through subterfuge and blackmail a pattern which stiffled previous administrations in the state making sure they remained unmindful of the yearnings of the people for qualitative governance. However the people saw the light in Dr. Alex Otti hence their unalloyed support for him at the polls with clear and celebrated outcomes.
The call for a new Abia is clear and a clarion call demonstrated in practical terms by the drive of the present administration to move the state forward in a hurry. Already several milestones have been attained in road infrastructure redevelopment, health care delivery, revamping of standards in education sector, reforms in the civil service, payment of salaries and many more verifiable achievements within the first 6months in the life of this government and Abians can testify that truly help has come their way.
But detractors who have made it a duty to appear on public media to tell lies in the most abusive manner about the present administration and the labour party will never see or acknowledge these self evident achievements in Abia attined for the benefit of Abians. Rather the aim and objective for them is to get back to the old ways of doing things because they only find relevance when this negative trajectory is maintained and entrenched.
These very few men and indeed women are incapable of doing good and will rather die than acknowledge and commend one who is doing good. But good has come to Abia and it will be sustained and the narrative that ‘nothing good ever came out of Abia’ will change. One thing is for sure – a good man has come to Abia and he has gathered many good men and women to work with him.
Not a few can say unequivocally that good things have begun to come out of Abia while many more are on the way. May Abia never go back to the old days! May the locust and cankerworm never again feast on the commonwealth of Abia.
Though some have cultured themselves in notoriety and infamy believing it serves them good, people of integrity and honour will always shun such path to leadership positions. Governor Alex Otti is on the path to create wealth and a shared prosperity for all Abians. These detractors are too stone hearted to spare anything good for the people as can be seen by all from their track records but would rather that the enslavement of innocent Abians should continue in perpetuity.
Access to public television does not grant legitimacy to anyone. Any message that is anchored on falsehood falls flat in the court of public consideration and discuss no matter how far it may have been transmitted, remaining only to be swept off into oblivion never to be considered or remembered by those who per chance may have heard such message in the first instance.
The message of Gov. Alex Otti is loud and clear to these detractors in their false sense of entitlement. And the message is “wake up, smell the coffee – this is a new Abia”. Things definitely will be done differently for the good of all Abians and the revolution in governance has started – the ship has left port; it has set sail catching high winds on the path of economic growth and advancement for God’s own state.
By- Elvis Chukwuemeka