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Picture: Ehere road (before and after construction)
I belong to a school of thought that believes that some things are better experienced than told and it has always worked for me. My adventure in Abuja couple of days ago was rather an eye opener to the fact that there is an information breach between the government and it citizens, the cause being that the people no longer have confidence in what their government can do for them but rather are more interested in how much money those occupying positions in government can give them thus whatever information emanating from government isn’t taken seriously. They believe the system is rigged, and the people aren’t going to take it anymore. But the irony is, they’ve accepted the logic that the solution to failed government is more of it — or perhaps a new kind of government altogether.
Those few days in Abuja availed me the opportunity to explore many business areas of the capital city, rather, an unbecoming experience it was, as I intentionally did so in search of people from Abia for an interaction on what information they have on the activities of their State government – whether they were satisfied or not, and to know what solutions they may proffer to enhance development in Abia.
After visits to several business spots, I succeeded in meeting many people from Abia, especially at Bannex Plaza (inside “Nwanyi Afikpo’s” restaurant), where our interaction lasted for more than an hour, capturing discussions on all sectors of Abia government activities in comparison with what is obtainable in other states. At the end a good number of them accepted that Governor Ikpeazu’s administration has done quite well considering the height infrastructural decay it met at inception. But my disappointed was of the fact that majority were not informed and never cared to, the peak of my disappointment was when a man from Abia, who claimed his family lives at Ehere road, Orgbo-Hills Aba, boldly acclaimed that Governor Ikpeazu has not constructed the Ehere road, but he met his undoing when I produced the picture which did not just capture the state of the road before and after construction but also captured a church building on that road for which he claimed to be a member. When I asked him to put a call across to his family to confirm the authenticity of the picture I showed them, he refused, and this only posits he knew the truth but for whatever reason, refused to believe it. Be warned, there are several other cases like this.
This crisis on lack of confidence, depicting distrust, disaffection or rather, total indifference about the activities of the government of the day, encompasses not just the government but also the media, whereas a good number of persons applaud the developmental footprints of this administration in their vicinity and the State at large. Some through sheer antagonism and parochial interests unduly berate the government, in as much as there’s still work yet undone, of course it’s not yet uhuru, as such there’s no record in history that a government tackled all her socioeconomic challenges in one fell swoop. Evidently we are not where we use to be, landmark achievements has been recorded so far. A cursory survey reveals that these fellows have one project completed or ongoing in their domain. So where is the smoking firewood?
Anyway, this erupts from the yesteryears of inept and callous leadership, when business minded and uneducated men were in charge of Abia government, hence the doubts that crept into the hearts of our people about any government that comes on board. It left some as doubting Thomases with natural disenchantment, some cases totally disinterested about issues pertaining party politics, promises and all that. I understand their plight, but thank God for Senator T. A. Orji, former Governor of Abia State, who laid a solid foundation and carefully support a suitable successor in the person of Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D to pedal from where he stopped.
Another exceptional but rather abnormal case, are those ones who thought that governance in a democratic society allows freedom of speech and expression, hence it is misunderstood in some quarters as a ticket to post/publish anything from the pigment of their imagination, without verifiable facts and figures.
Isn’t it irrational to continue towing that lane? When the narratives are fast changing in God’s Own State; it’s incontestable that Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has shown stellar performance in governance and no contradiction that he has won the hearts of majority of Abians with uncommon transformational leadership that permeates all strata of the Abia space.
With an unrivalled infrastructural revolution, kick started immediately he assumed office, Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has laid solid and unshakeable foundation for a prosperous Abia State, it is a common knowledge that well over 48 roads has been completed across the State, with many other roads under construction, what is more, even in the this period of harsh economic realities, this administration has fast-tracked infrastructural upgrades; it is no longer business as usual, government is now devoted and committed to the common good of the larger society; its thus high time the wailing wailers come to terms with this.
Frugality in State’s finances has been institutionalized in Abia, gone are those days when top government functionaries engage in uncontrolled spending spree, to the utter detriment of the growth and development of Abia State.
Presently, Governor Ikpeazu is now the apostle of transparency, cutting cost in the business of governance. Apart from willfully reducing his monthly salary, Governor Ikpeazu has pruned down the number of his traveling entourage. Even the Abia at 26 celebrations was a low-key event, instead of a lavishly spent occasion that characterized such State events in the past. The opposition hardliners should acknowledge this as well.
What about our exploits in the Agricultural sector, today Abia is trailblazing and reckoned for her feats in Agricultural innovation and development, our high yielding palm nursery, mushroom and fish production just to mention a few. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration has repositioned the ministry of Agriculture to become self sustaining and efficient through reforms and innovativeness. That’s what purposeful and visionary leadership entails.
Abia through the commitment of the present administration has made enviable success in Education, today our students are synonymous to stellar performance, these are fruits of good and responsive leadership.
The intent of this write-up is not to reel out the achievements Governor Ikpeazu’s administration, but rather to encourage realignment and restoration of the citizens’ trust and confidence in government policies and projects. Without trust, policy making becomes risk-averse. And, a fall in political trust can reduce social cohesion. Low levels of trust are particularly problematic when reforms involve difficult and unpopular choices, and when the confidence of citizens is critical to enhance development.
Let us support our Governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D, say positive things concerning our State, rather than propagating a negative and battered image of our government.
Let me end this piece with this defining quote from the Governor himself; We live, breathe and think Abia, and take full responsibility all the time – Ikpeazu.
TOGETHER WE CAN!
UNU
02/09/2017
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