Justice For Abians: Let Our Votes Count For Once!

By Nnaemeka Oruh

The Independent National Electoral Commission's decision to declare the Abia State gubernatorial elections inconclusive comes as temporary respite to many aggrieved Abians. These are people who are well aware that their choice was being taken away from them, and thus were amazed at the report that the PDP's Okezie Ikpeazu was leading APGA's Alex Otti in the elections. 

*Gov Orji

Abians, as is evident from the comments made and actions being taken by them are tired of the ignominious hegemony Governor Theodore Orji and his family were inflicting on Abians. Here is a family, whose son allegedly prances around the state as the “Executive Governor,” intimidating people. This was a man whom Abians elected believing that as one of their own (he was actually projected as almost as indigent as the people), he would bring them a breath of fresh air. But contrary to all the high hopes he gave Abians, T.A Orji saw the state as a personal investment and went ahead to allegedly shamelessly and openly enrich himself to the detriment of the state.

How else would one explain the idea of a sitting governor building an estate for himself along Azikiwe Road in Umuahia? His lowly beginning ironically became a spur for him to drive for personal aggrandizement, with Abians helplessly watching as the state deteriorated instead of moving forward. It has been so bad that even external observers call him the 'Billboard Governor' in reference to his penchant for mounting billboards celebrating himself at places where he did nothing.

*Alex Otti

Actually, apart from his brief cameo as an intellectual during the launch of the Dokpesi biography in 2007, my only memory of the man was of him travelling out of the country in support of wrestling matches  and ecstatically shouting when his preferred contestant won, while Abia was abandoned. As an Abian, I have been forced several times to feel like changing my state of origin because of the decay in the state. It is so bad that even visitors to the state pitifully tell Abians; 'You guys need a saviour!'

The decay in Umuahia and Aba, the two most important cities in the state speak volumes of a failed governor who has no reason whatsoever to contest for any other post or anoint a successor. Yet, he is fighting with all he has to ensure that both his son and his puppet, Okezie Ikpeazu, are rigged into office.

Perhaps, Abians have no real problem with Okezie Ikpeazu. However, the fact that he has a similar background with his principal and given the belief of many Abians  that the same government of impunity will continue are some of the reasons why the people agitated for a change. They have been deprived of any sense of genuine governance for eight years while the man they elected and his cronies enjoy new and unlimited wealth. Before now, Abians would lay still and face their personal businesses with the belief that whatever the government is doing is the ‘government’s business’.

*Prof Jega

But that is no longer the case. Abians have woken up! Jolted by the fact that the media can help salvage them, they are beginning to cry out and demand to be saved. No longer is it business as usual. And this is why we all have to come together to impress it upon the international community, independent observers, the federal government, and most especially INEC to allow the people of Abia choose who will lead them.

Abia deserves to be among the states in Nigeria who are witnessing an improvement in the lives of its citizens. Abians are not asking that Alex Otti be automatically installed as the governor of the state. They are only asking that INEC and all others involved allow the votes of ordinary Abians to count. Until they allow the votes of Abians to count, this call for justice will continue until the voices of Abians are heard.

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Mr. Oruh contributed this piece to SCRUPLES from Port Harcourt