By Chimezie Mac Sunny Anyagu
The journey of a thousand miles is said to begin with a single step. On Saturday, August 27 Abians rolled out the drums to celebrate 25th anniversary of the creation of Abia State.
As has been the practice, the event was characterised by pomp and ceremony, hallmarking an indelible chapter in our state’s annals. While the celebrations were going on across the state, I was engrossed, as usual in quiet meditation on the state of affairs in our state. I am certain Governor Okezie Ikpeazu would share in my meditation, because I know that it has not been easy for him piloting the affairs of the complex state. I have always said it openly that I do not envy the governor. He assumed the leadership of the state at the most critical time in our history. I wonder what his scorecard would look like. Certainly, it will contain some challenging cases, which have defied any immediate solutions. Nevertheless, there will be solution ultimately. It is just a matter of time.
The first thought that came to my mind as I was writing this piece was in the form of a question: do we really have any reason to celebrate? This question will definitely elicit a variety of responses if it were to be brought to the public domain. Nevertheless, I am certain the majority of the responses will be in the negative.
I wish to state without any equivocation that the state of affairs in Abia does not warrant any elaborate celebrations. Despite the realities on ground, I am sure the state government will still go ahead with the celebration. What I would expect those planning to celebrate to do would be to devote the period for self-examination and introspection. This approach will offer them a better opportunity to do a thorough reappraisal of their performance in the past years and seek divine guidance on what to do in the years ahead.
As far as I am concerned, I do not have any cogent reason to embark on the futile effort to assess the performance of the arrent government The focus of this piece would rather be on the past 25 years. The whole idea is to reflect on the past in order to look into the future which belongs to the realms of uncertainty.
In any case, the last 25 years have been most traumatic for Abia and Abians. It is a clear manifestation of God’s favour and grace that we are able to pass through these years unscathed. The buffeting and bashing from wicked forces bent on destroying the fabric of our unity almost torpedoed the essence of our collective existence as a state and as a people. The most visible problem is youth unemployment which has made them willing tools in the crime industry
In every human society, governments are expected to work in accordance with laid down procedures and principles guided by the expectations of the people. Painfully, this is not the case with Abia. What guides the actions of leaders here are self-consideration and adulation. I think something is fundamentally wrong with our service delivery mechanism.
Two things are involved here: the first is the attitude of an average Abian to citizenship, and the second is the attitude of government to the governed. Both determine to what extent a democratic journey can go.
Generally speaking, the past 25 years had been a mixed grill –a buffet of sad and joyous tales. On social infrastructure, the government has not fared well. There is no social amenity in which the state has attained sufficiency since 1991. Worst hit is electricity generation. This sector has remained a failure in spite of the millions of Naira government had over the past 25 years spent on it.
This piece has endeavored to establish the fact that since the creation of Abia State on August 27, 1991 by General Ibrahim Babangida out of old Imo State, Abia State has been grappling with the problems of faulty foundation, promises fulfilled in the breach and heavy burden of low infrastructural development.
I, therefore, urge Abians both at home and in diaspora to look beyond political differences and join hands to build the state in the interest of Abia people and those living in the state.
Also, Abians should not just adopt the acronym of “God’s Own state” but practise it in truth and reality. Abia needs God and ceaseless prayers to tackle various social, political and economic challenges it. the state. Also no state can survive without peace, equity, justice and fair play. Abians and Abia need peace.
The verdict is that it is not yet Uhuru for our democracy and that our governments should work very hard to deliver on their electoral promises so that the people will be saved from the agony they have been subjected to.
We must collaborate with one another to foster good governance, honesty in leadership, inter-ethnic harmony, religious peace and economic\political prosperity. Without these, our effort in building an egalitarian and progressive state will remain a mirage.
Anyagu writes from Suleja, Niger State