By Kingsley Maduforo
The unprecedented economic and infrastructural growth being experienced in Abia State today, under the leadership of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia State, has sent the opposition in the State into coma. His successful implementation of the five pillars and its enablers, has made him outstanding in the rating of good governance in Nigerian. Right now, the opposition in Abia in their comatose state is looking for a tool to use as propaganda. Gov. Ikpeazu has shown himself as a leader who believes in longevity and is therefore building a state that will last beyond his time. His superior performance when it comes to infrastructure, education, health, security and trade and commerce has already inscribed his name in gold and this has sent the opposition parties into coma. In Abia State, the opposition is currently bereft of ideas on the strategy for a vibrant propaganda.
The opposition in Abia cannot win over the heart of the people by only exposing the ills and failings of the state government because as human beings, governments do make mistakes sometimes. However, to make a difference, opposition parties should be more interested in proffering better solutions than engaging in destructive criticism. For a party in opposition to be taken seriously, its political capital should be more than its portfolio of destructive criticisms against the government. It should have a history and verifiable record of people-oriented programmes and achievements. It is offensive and a demonstration of arrogance of the worst type for a party in opposition to wait for election season to mount rostrums and make outlandish promises. Such campaign promises must be backed by credible records of ability. It is not enough to promise to bring the moon to the ocean; It is more important to explain the science of achieving that beyond human feat.
Being in opposition is as serious and important as being in government. The quality of opposition defines the quality of governance and democracy. The job description for opposition is an all-round-the-clock affair, in and out of season. However, the opposition in Abia State have turned it into a periodic affair, coming into existence only when INEC has fixed the date for election. The opposition in Abia today has become weak, inept, opportunistic, power hungry and have therefore run into coma. Their insatiable hunger for power has made them to forget their core mandate: articulate, aggregate, hone and communicate the interests, fears, desires and wishes of the people to the government, and not to distract a working government with their poor and cheap propaganda.
However, today in Abia State, with Gov. Ikpeazu’s clear infrastructural development drive and his efforts in pension and salary reforms and many other milestones recorded, there is nothing left for the opposition to fault. The aggressive promotion of Made-in-Aba products by the Governor has launched the youth and artisans in the State to the limelight. Our local products have placed Abia State in a developmental progress which has changed the economic climate for better. His drastic steps to tackle the deteriorating economic activities in the State, by first creating an enabling environment and favourable economic policies that are flexible to the business community has worsen the strategy of the opposition in the State. The opposition have run out of ideas and their game plans have l come to a halt. The opposition in Abia can only be likened to a baby in the wilderness crying for help because of lack of direction and has resolved to go to the dead to ask for direction.
Since assuming office, Gov. Ikpeazu has been working tirelessly in order to develop the State by eradicating poverty, promoting sustainable growth and infrastructural development, accelerating the empowerment of women and youths, and integrating the Abia State economy into the global economy. Indeed, Gov. Ikpeazu has recorded many milestones with his infrastructural revolution in the State. From the construction of the very first flyover in Abia State and reconstruction of roads and bridges across the three senatorial zones of the State to the building and rehabilitation of classrooms and laboratories in our schools; from the facelift in our hospitals to the empowerment of our women and youths, and to the making of favourable economic policies that have helped in promoting Made-in-Aba goods and services, etc, the lore of his achievements is obviously not a fairy tale.
In its most basic form, the anatomy of leadership and good governance is a matter of character and competence. This can be seen in the Governor’s drive for infrastructural development, which is a key catalyst for progress and a critical enabler of productivity and sustainable economic growth. The Governor in one of his speeches said: “My work will speak for me, I am focused on the assignment and will continue to work. We are not election politicians, we are politicians that are concerned with the delivery of democracy dividends. In fact if it were possible to find me on project site on that election day, you will find me on site, let the people judge for themselves”. This a leader with high magnitude of vision and direction.
Finally, with what Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu has achieved so far amidst litigations, the opposition in Abia State cannot rationally justify their claim to govern the State. Right now, there is no opposition in Abia and if any, they have all run into coma.
Kingsley Maduforo, a Media Analyst, writes from Aba.
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