“We are here to work for the people, Gov Alex Otti said, and where we fail, we will take corrections and let the people be the judge” and not a few disgruntled elements scavenging on the fringes of disorganized and fraudulent political system
As we warm up to the 2nd anniversary celebration of the Otti’s government of the New Abia, a government that has portrayed humanity and economic revitalization in its essence here in ‘God’s own state’, there has been a barrage of discordant voices emanating from individuals who do not see reasons to align with the progress the new government has recorded barely in its 24 months in office.
I have followed up on most social media platforms and I am amazed at the level of disconnect and deception by those who should know better never to continue to hoodwink the ordinary citizenry by dumb platitudes from those we know too well do not mean any good for the citizenry and their society, not now and never will.
More so, should anyone fall for the deception or social media confusion by those who are bent to frustrate and discredit a working and functional government by every standards, the golden Rotarian rule on Service to humanity and the society comes to mind and remains paramount in our test for probity and service to the people.
Fondly referred to as the “Four Way Test” and it states;
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it fair to all Concerned
3. Will it build goodwill and better friendship
4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
The situation in Abia State today from governance to infrastructure development, is it better than what it used to be or worse. Let those who have mounted speed on the campaign of calumny give an answer to this one golden question and whatever answer you give summarily describes the kind of personality you have adopted for yourself and not necessarily because the average Abia State resident or visitors do not know the Truth.
In Abia State today, you cannot manage the truth when it pertains to the reality on infrastructural situations both in human service delivery and the physical environment undertaken by the Labour party led Otti’s government because evidence of what we are doing as a government abounds.
To those running their foul mouth across all the social media platforms, I ask, is the infrastructural development in Abia State today beneficial to you or not.
And to the citizenry and visitors to the New Abia under Gov. Alex Otti, is it the truth that Gov Alex Otti is running a government of propaganda on social media and has not left any structural impact on the people in the state, especially the workers and business owners whom are the primary beneficiaries of a clean, organized and disciplined working government?
Propaganda is built with intent to sway decisions that will naturally do not incline to sound reasoning nevertheless the primary idea is meant to deceive the people to accept what they will naturally not condone with because picture evidence of the New Abia abounds and if we as foot soldiers of this government decides to flood the media space with what we have done as a functional government, many caustic critics of the Otti’s administration will only be living in a Lie they have crafted for self affliction and nothing amusing at all because the people and visitors to the New Abia knows the truth.
Now, is the truth fair to all concerned; This I presume is where the confusion started, but I am comforted in one clear statement, “If you want perfection, you go to the cemetery” Gov Otti in one of his inaugural speeches had stated; “Our government does not lie, we are here to work for the people, we can make mistakes and when we do we admit it because we are humans and human beings are not fallible.”
Nevertheless, the truth remain justiciable, can be relied upon and legitimate, Aba-Port Harcourt road is a clear example of legitimacy, residents literally ran away from this region in Abia State, education collapsed, business packed up and garbage built into mountains, it was such a heartbreaking eyesore, there is another practical example on the road to Ohafia, Arochukwu coming from Umuahia-Bende road, there is a death trap of a bridge named “Omenuko Bridge” a living death trap that has existed for over 3 decades and has defied all political odds and philosophies until the emergence of Otti’s led Labour party government that brought rescue and hope for friends and foe making use of these legitimate landmarks of quality leadership, same stories abound virtually across the 3 senatorial zones in the state.
Therefore, if you must judge the Otti’s government in its first 24 months in office, on fairness and how it affects you, either politically, administratively or otherwise, you must first deny that you do not have any relation, friend or foe or a visitor in Abia State that has not used or benefited from any of those infrastructural development that has, in the past defied all political overtures to build a decent environment for the people and their business to thrive on.
The idea of fairness to all concerned will be hinged on this premise, Truth and Fairness and the infallibility of the human nature. “We are here to work for the people,” Gov Otti said, and “where we fail, we will take corrections and let the people be the judge” and not a few disgruntled elements scavenging on the fringes of erstwhile disorganized and fraudulent political system.
Now, what the Gov Alex Otti’s led Labour party government is doing in the New Abia, will it build goodwill, better friendship and beneficial to all concerned?
Without mincing word, it used to be a very shameful thing to identify with past Abia State political administrations whether they appear on live TV to lie and deceive the people or whether you just choose to identify with your own, it was such an embarrassing experience with the erstwhile dispensation that every resident and former visitor to Abia will not forget in a hurry.
Take for instance, by 7.00pm, in the one-time rural-urban capital city of Umuahia, filled with garbage down to the entrance gate of the government house, business activities would have shut down, there was no functional traffic nor street light and the government house was likened to a motor park tout haven, it was such an eyesore that words will not suffice to describe on paper, the dirt called government house in Umuahia. But today, the presence of the Gov Alex Otti led Labour party government has remodeled entire city infrastructure including this same government house and extended to nearby rural communities to boost transportation of farm produce and add aesthetics to the nearby cities of Aba and Umuahia.
The question is whether the works of this government is beneficial to all concerned and has brought any goodwill to the people in the state.
Gov Otti, during a Thanksgiving anniversary for these 24 months stated that in the next 30 days, he is going to be engaged in multiple commissioning of projects ranging from roads to improve upon the physical infrastructure of the commercial cities including rural communities, about 200 Primary Healthcare Centres spread across the 184 wards, 221 Schools at different stages of rebuilding and so much more”. He said; “Gone are the days when they used to tell us that our State Capital looks like a glorified village.”
Now when critics of the Otti’s government makes frantic efforts to discredit all these achievements even in the first 24 months, the golden question should be drawn to a primary focus; Is it the Truth?, Is the people in Abia State, especially the ordinary citizenry disconnected from the politics of governance crying foul as witnessed under the yoke of a fraudulent federal political infrastructure in today Nigeria?, the Answer is NO! Because the Gov Alex Otti’s government by every indication is in the business of a deliberate act committed to rebuilding Abia from its inglorious past to a liveable region where life and commerce will thrive harmoniously, a centre for leathers and garments, vibrant SMEs Capital in Nigeria, center of technology hub in Nigeria and a leading Agricultural State carefully governed by men of sparkling integrity and sincerity of purpose to build a home for all concerned.
This is the reality on ground, this is the truth and if you’re in doubt, I welcome you to the new Abia.
Njoku Jerry A is a Nigerian Ambassador, State of African Diaspora, he writes from Beijing
