Abia State was created on August 27 1991, during the military dictatorship of Ibrahim Babangida. There was no dramatic development in the state during the short-lived military administration. Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was elected the First Executive Governor of the state. He was on the saddle between January 1992 to November 1993 when he was ousted from power.
The subsequent military administrations in the state could not develop the political and physical infrastructure needed to nurture any meaningful development. No matter the shortness of the first civilian administration, and the years of military administration, the state did not witness open and accountable leadership. These periods also witnessed a titanic struggle to restore democracy in Nigeria. Many Abia indigenes were in the forefront of the struggles that dismantled military rule with resultant return to democratic rule on May 1999. Abia has a rich legacy of outstanding political leaders especially in the first and second republic. Abians still remember prominent indigenes who struggled to have the state created in order to boost development at the grassroots.
Abians have good memories of such political leaders as Dr. Michael Okpara, Dr. Jaja Nwachukwu, Chief O.C. Ememe, Chief Ubani Ukoma, Dr. J.O.J. Okezie, Dr. K.O.K Onyioha, Dr. K.K Ogba, Senator Simon Ojukwu, Dr. Kalu Ezera, Chief Aguocha, Dr. Alvan Ikoku, Mazi S.G. Ikoku, Chief Smart Ndem Okpi, Dr. O.O. Oreh, etc.
Dr. Michael Okpara
When democratic rule was restored in 1999, it was assumed and taken for granted that the new civilian democratic leaders who inherited power from the departing military will continue the past tradition of good leadership that was established by Igbo nationalists and first republic political lgbo leaders. At the dawn of democratic rule in 1999, it was generally hoped that the new civilian democratic rulers will dismantle the bad governance structure entrenched in the state as a result of military rule in favour of a good governance structure that will enhance the rapid development of the state. Such positive expectation did not materialize; rather the bad governance structure inherited from the departing military was expanded and perpetuated. Most of the democratic norms were observed and practiced mostly in breach.
The consequence was that Abia State from the start 1999 recorded a new round of decline in its development indices such decline reached a crescendo during the eight years of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration. It has to be mentioned that the antidemocratic culture and the perpetuation of a bad governance structure which the practice of democracy presented had itself generated an anti-thesis in a struggle for good governance which has taken decades to achieve. Political theorists have not quite agreed on the origins of this struggle for change in Abia.
However, there is a near consensus that it is traceable to Chief Enyinnaya Abaribe’s “Otu Onu Movement” which struggled to gain power in the 2003 Governorship Election with Chief Enyinnaya Abaribe as its governorship candidate. They also contend that their insular philosophy as well as their limited political base constrained this early movement from gaining power in 2003.
The struggle for change was to gain further boost amongst many conscientious Abians when they converged around the political aspiration of Chief Onyema Ugochukwu in another big push to bring change to Abia between 2006 to 2007. The defeat of Chief Onyema Ugochukwu in the 2007 Governorship Election by Chief T. A. Orji, who contested the 2007 governorship election under the banner of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), while still being incarcerated in Kirikiri Prison on corruption allegations, dampened the enthusiasm of the early agitators for change. The situation was made worse when the political crises that occurred within the ruling PPA, led to the defection of then incumbent Governor T.A Orji back to the People’s Democratic Party.
Map of Abia State
Such defection had the unintended consequences of neutralizing the bludgeoning opposition that had for years opposed the bad governance system in the state and held banner of hope for millions of Abians who remained fervent in their positive hope for their future.
On the other hand, the bad governance system was given added impetus after the merger with the PPA elements in the now new PDP. The PPA leaders emerged as senior partners of the alliance, while the former PDP opposition members of the alliance were muscled to become junior partners in the alliance whose motive was sharing of the spoils of office.
Under this circumstance of the politics of sharing of the spoils of office, not much thought was given to the fundamental essence of politics, which is to improve governance and engender development.
The consequence was that while the political leaders enjoyed the spoils of office, most of the state’s development indices nose-dived. It was these scenarios that attracted the attention of another group of Abians that made them to take more than a passing interest in the political developments in their state. Such groups included the Abians in diaspora, the business group, the professionals and the intellectual group.
These groups seemed to be worst bit by the negative development indices that continually oozed out of their state. They were mostly affected by the lack of an enabling environment that could enable them bring or attract investments to their home state.
They were affected by the insecurity that the bad governance structure bred. They felt the pressure of the high poverty rate as they spent more money subsidizing the cost of living of their many dependents. They felt the pressure of the high unemployment figures as their dependents could not secure jobs at home.
They experienced first-hand the poor roads, electricity as they returned home. It was these reasons that informed their joining the political fray with a determination to wrestle out political power from the hands of what they considered to be thieving political elite. These Abians in 2014 organized and queued behind one of their best, Dr. Alex Otti, in a new bid to change the bad governance structure in the state, with a new one that will engage development.
Abia State Tower
Such bid did not succeed in 2015, leading to another round of a titanic political struggle in 2019 which also failed. Such failures were all thanks to a defective electoral system in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the bad governance structure in the state got an added boost under the regime of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu in 2015, which lasted till May 2023. In fact, as at the time of the change of baton on May ’19, 2023, Abia State was rated as the worst managed state in Nigeria. Its unemployment rate was 50%. It was higher than the Nigerian average of 33%.
Most of its roads both urban and rural were in various stages of dilapidation. There was no any functional public water scheme in the state, while most of its cities were enveloped by darkness at night. Mountainous of refuse heaps dotted many streets in the urban areas. There was also no functional healthcare system. In fact, by the time of the change of baton on 29th May 2023, most of the medical personnel in the State Hospital System were on strike as a result of a long drawn industrial dispute. In the same way, all the offices of the MDAs were under lock and key, due to the strike action embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress. In fact, the offices were opened by the Labour unions after May 29 as a mark of goodwill and respect to the new Governor Dr. Alex Otti after his inauguration. It will be trite to say that Abians under the past bad governance structure that reigned supreme, were an unhappy and gloomy lot. It is within this context that the success of the struggle for change which took several years to achieve can be appreciated. The spectacular and unprecedented frenzy of joy and celebrations which greeted the Labour Party’s win in Abia on April 22, 2023 with Dr. Alex Otti emerging as the winner of governorship elections was an indication of a sense of great achievement by Abians. The same could be said about the huge number of people that attended the inauguration and banquet which heralded the change of baton on May 29. It is now three months plus or an equivalent of 100 days since this change of baton occurred. This period roughly coincides with the 32nd anniversary of the creation of Abia State. The state government declared the double event a week long affair.
Taken the above scenario into consideration and the fact of the liberation of the State from the strong arms of a notorious thieving elite vis avis the positive indications that is now coming out of the young regime which has only be in office for an equivalent of 100 days, Abians have all the right reason to roll out the drums.
It is indeed a birthday celebration like no other. It is a new session of hope and Abians have all the right reasons to celebrate the double event.
