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There are many uncertain situations in Abia State. About the only certain situation is that a new governor will take over governance from May 29, as the incumbent has had the maximum eight years of two tenures permitted by the constitution.
Whoever would take over must embrace the truth that there is so much job to be done, and with very limited resources available. I am not one of those who say no progress has been made in the state since creation about 31 years ago. Taking that position is fallacious. There is no truth in it. Abia State of 2023 is not exactly Abia of the 80s and 90s; saw both ends and can tell a lot has indeed happened, in terms of development wise. Communities now have electricity supply and potable water is more available than was the case in the preceding era, even though we have this argument about water supply systems and direct reticulation to homes, road networks have expanded and are far better than what we had in the 90s.
We may not have gotten to where we ought to be; this is the truth and that is where the challenge hinges. The transition to modernity is one that stares all the people in the face, almost all minute throwing up convulsions here and there. If truth be told, it is one challenge the people must understand in its very clear forms, and which they must rise up collectively to solve and permanently overcome. This is where leadership comes into play. No society grows beyond the vision and capacity of the leader and his team. Mind you, I didn’t say leadership class emphasis remains with the leader in this case, whosoever is the governor. If this is the case, then whoever is coming should know the buck stops with him. The new epoch is in dire need of a philosopher “king” who would set the grand vision and provide the push.
The people yearn for positive transition to modern era. It is the cry everywhere. It is a right desire. Like Dr Franz Fanon rightly postulated, “for generation there is a mission, they either discover it and pursue or fail thereby betray it.” The people have found the mission, and expectation is that the new vision is seen from their prism. If there is an area of Nigeria that should be very bothered about modern development, it should be the South East region. The agitations for separate country and massive migration of her population has its root cause in high level underdevelopment that hallmarks the region. The entire region is hostile to decent living, the roads are nothing to write home about, for a people long acknowledged for their ingenuity, electricity supply is so horrible, very epileptic and many times unavailable for days, sometimes running into weeks. There is just little sign of industrialisation giving way to economic suffocation and unacceptable high level of youth unemployment.
The reason Abia State is strategic in the turnaround vision for the region is simple: it has a population very rich in knowledge. Modern society today is knowledge-driven, towers in commerce and farming industry. It has Aba city, which is famous for its economic buoyancy. Aba is a replica of Lagos if her endowments are wisely harnessed. Aba and Onitsha have represented the centre of Igbo economic strength and they still do even today. Abia too is closest to the ocean sea route. Get Abia into the 21st century model and task of changing the fortunes of Ndigbo for good would have started in earnest.
Given recent events, a lot has happened in the state to make so many groups and individuals bitter, with social relations at the lowest ebb. Given all these, the natural tendency would be for the victorious to take revenge. It is a natural tendency and fancy for lesser minds but it is not the noble way to go by any sane leader, definitely not the kind the hour is beckoning to have. When an old order gives way, many things cave and are buried or hidden things pop themselves out. I have no problem with discovery and disclosure, they serve positive purposes. People are aware of the state of things, dictates of accountability is made a sine qua non in democracy, then the objective of deterrent measure against repeating same mistakes in future is pushed in way the people and larger society is not hurt. Deliberate efforts at revenge shouldn’t be part of the process for glorious dawn, none at all.
Revenge bids usually foul the atmosphere, pitch people and groups against each other and blur whatever great efforts that may be in operation per time. Legendary Socrates, the great philosopher may have had this in mind when he told the world that, the “secret of change (reference to positive change) is to focus all energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.” Socrates may have spoken thousands of years ago but his admonition rests on solid ground and makes so much sense even today.
There are those baying for blood and it is their expectation the new governor should lead this unholy crusade. The irony in all of this is that many of these advisers are part of the reasons the fortunes of the state took a nosedive. Many of them were not only kleptomaniacs while around and in power, their stock in trade included deadly intrigues and propositions that kept the people and state at the receiving end. Some of them sat just three persons to effect leadership choices; now they turnaround to cry wolf. The new governor must understand this trend and have a resolve to walk past them. Very important to let him be aware in case he doesn’t already know – these turncoats and latter day change agents can be very crafty and restless. They stop at nothing to wreste control of the mind of the leader who is in charge. We have said this much because truth is, a war foretold doesn’t take the cripple by surprise.
Stephen Hawking tickled minds when he said, «greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge.» Grandeur of illusion is pervasive in the state. There are enough attitudinal bents in Abia State to show validity of Hawking’s position. Sycophancy has grown so much it has become an industry. Most dangerous aspect to this is that the big, mighty, dislodged and lowly are into this dubious business. Most persons that meet leaders are like the mythical Janus, they have two faces: there is the real one which they keep to themselves to serve their personal survival interest, then the public one which speaks to what the leaders want to hear rather than the truth they ought to hear. There is a rich and thriving rumour and propaganda mill. This industry can unearth anything including the whole society. People deploy this in struggle for “gains.”
Now that we have very strong opposition parties, this sector will experience exponential growth from now going forward. Those who doubt will soon see. Struggles for public positions would remain crass, people tear and pull others into the mud just to establish an advantage. Many times they will use fake groupings to hoodwink the chief executive into hasty and hurting decisions. Appointees often join the charade once they discover the chief executive is administratively very weak or ignorant of what should be done. This is why the “hands-on task” system whereby the governor keeps an eye on virtually every assignment is recommended.” This brand of administrative style keeps subordinates perpetually under firm control.
Abia State needs a leap. It is begging for transition into modernity as already observed earlier. Roy T. Bennett helps us to have a guide on the possible path to follow. He said: “It is only after you have stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow and transform.” The new governor must tell himself over and over again that he must run above primordial factors and nasty political culture if he must record high achievements. He must run out of the circle. He must fashion out new paradigms, hold them very dear and tight and run with them daily. In doing this, very overlooked matters like arriving events on time and closing on time may add to making a difference.
Let merit and sense of verifiable achievements drive appointments, rounds pegs in round holes should be the vogue; youth for leadership mantra is sweet song but the best option drawing from experience is admixture of youthful energy and experience. In America, the Young America party won presidential office but found it hard to run a successful first tenure simply because exuberance created so much disorder.
The people have seen a bit of this in the state in recent times. Not many like the experience. Recently too, there have been signs suggestive of a walk across the comfort zone. It is an welcome development. There is nothing more to add only to urge that the tempo be sustained. Whatsoever works in Abuja, Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Rivers to mention but a few can work in Abia State and indeed should be put in motion to start working.
Will Abia experience a quantum leap into modernity this time? It will. The people have seen the need, nothing propels positive changes like a people ready for it. They people are yearning for it and it showed in the voting pattern in the last governorship poll held in March. One thing is very clear, the huge challenge posed by godfatherism is broken. Every indication suggests the next helmsman would have the freedom to flow. Wastages arising from the mentioned anormaly would be curbed meaning that more funds for human and physical development will he available.
It is important to state this as we move towards conclusion. The bane of Abia State is not funds, it is visionlessness, by which it is meant the grand kind of vision and of course pilfering of public patrimony mindlessly and on a very huge scale. Once this is reversed things, including great achievements and good life, will flow in a dimension everyone would be surprised this could happen. It will happen.
Part two of this discourse will deal with handling of specific matters from general administration to sectoral expectations. Keep a date with us next week.
