2027: Abia State must not slide back to socio-economic malaise

By Okey Nwachukwu

Former governors, Orji Uzor Kalu and Theodore Orji, with the 2027 general elections priming in mind, made a joint appearance on January 9 in Umuahia, to make a case for change of leadership in Abia State. Apart from endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, they vowed to oust Governor Alex Otti from office, and ensure the ruling party captures the state. 

Kalu and Orji are currently serving as Senators, while Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the other former governor of the state, is an ambassadorial nominee. The trio governed Abia State for 24 years, serving eight years apiece; Kalu served from 1999 to 2007, Orji from 2007 to 2015, and Ikpeazu, 2015 to 2023.

Ordinarily, their outing should have denoted a distinguished gathering of eminent personalities of Abia State origin with a mission to steer a better future for the state. Instead, photo-ops and sound bites from the event unconsciously created the impression of an induction into a Hall of Shame. It was like a summit of ramblers and looters. Their stewardship, to most Abians, epitomized a colossal failure of purposeful governance. Contrary to their audacity, they are actually deficient of the influence and respect which the Igbo culture bestows on anyone adjudged to have exemplary accomplishment and integrity.

Kalu, in his trademark loquacity said, “Leadership is a relay race. I finished and handed over to Senator T. A. Orji, and he finished and handed over to Okezie Ikpeazu. So one person cannot come and say we did nothing and that we are not relevant. If we did nothing, where would our people be living now? Our meeting is not to discuss what cannot be said outside. Our main purpose is that one person must go down in 2027.”

He could not outline the specifics of what he and his successors achieved while in office. Excellent leadership is characterized by such yardsticks as rule of law, transparency, responsibility, accountability, participation and responsiveness, amongst others. Which can be attributed to Kalu and his gang? Is it in the area of project development or infrastructure? Zero!

Kalu, always boasting of becoming a millionaire at a young age, brought absolutely nothing to the table. No strategic goals, no signature projects. Claiming that Otti is only whitewashing his projects simply amplifies his tradition of belittling Abians as blind fools, inconsequential and toothless.

Four years ago, I had published an article titled, Abia State and the Cycle of Underdevelopment, which was also published by THISDAY (https://www.thisdaylive.com/2022/06/17/abia-state-and-the-cycle-of-underdevelopment/). Part of it read: “Kalu parades himself as a successful businessman who became rich at a young age. Nobody faults the claim, afterall his parents were successful merchants. Nonetheless, a closer scrutiny of his antecedents reveals a rather opportunistic instinct to exploit the system for self-interest. Traces of this predatory tendency define his whole life. Overall, he never offered strategic or transformative leadership as governor. Instead, he arguably created the retrogressive model that has become the albatross of Abia State.”

Kalu installed Orji as his successor while the latter was in detention over allegations of treasury looting and money laundering. What remarkable legacy did Orji bequeath to Abia State; none. Since both of them have been Senators, can they mention any bill or motion they have sponsored or raised to benefit their constituents or Abians in general? Zero!

On his part,  Ikpeazu’s case was made shoddier by the prefix of Dr attached to his name. The revered preface is symbolic of someone who must have had some education and enlightenment. But how did it reflect on his governance of the state? On a live programme, he was asked about the deplorable condition of roads in the state, and his response was illustrative: residents were destroying the roads by pouring hot water from the skinning of fowls during yuletide. Does this response indicate someone with any idea of governance or leadership?

Citing bigger budgets today than when they were in office is a no-brainer. The economy was much robust then and the currency considerably stronger. As they lacked strategic ideas to drive meaningful development, whatever amount of money given to them would still have been plundered.

Otti wasn’t ‘just a banker’, as Kalu put it; he was a renowned economist and financial expert who rose through the ranks in several reputable banks before being appointed CEO of Diamond Bank Plc, which he nurtured to become one of Nigeria’s most innovative and digital financial institutions. Otti reminds one of the glorious past when Dr. Michael Okpara made transformational development as premier and the eastern region emerged one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

Since the creation of the Abia State in August 1991, the people are for once experiencing focused leadership under the administration of Governor Alex Otti. The military and late Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who was the first civilian governor, may be excused for not having much time to make considerable impact. But since the restoration of democratic governance in 1999, Abia State has had the misfortune of being led by visionless and rudderless fellows until Otti came on board in 2023.

His government has in two years of being elected delivered evident improvements in areas as power grids and electrification, transportation and interchanges, airport, roads and bridges, agriculture, schools, markets, hospitals, deep seaport, railway, industrial park and urban renewal, among others. This is not empty puff, it is self-evident everywhere, including in my village in Ikwuano LGA where a weekly market I met as a kid is being transformed into a sprawling modern marketplace. A befitting government house is currently under construction in Umuahia as Otti operates from his personal residence at no cost to the state.

In the opinion piece earlier referenced, I had appealed to Abians to awaken from their slumber and ask God to instill in them the spirit to fight and ask for accountability and performance from their leaders. They responded and Alex Otti was elected. Now is the time to gear up for another battle for the reelection of Otti. They must not cave in to another season of hollow gimmickry, they deserve a break from the Kalus, including the one in the House of Representatives.

With people like Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu as power brokers, Abia would revert to socio-economic strangulation and multidimensional pauperisation of the people. Having them in the national assembly is already a huge drain on resources and value. Have you seen anyone invite these fellows to any enlightened forum where leadership and effective governance are discussed? No! Governor Alex Chioma Otti must not be distracted by these people.

.Nwachukwu is a Lagos-based communications consultant, (informokeynow@yahoo.com)