“These are very uncertain times and one must call for caution – lest that which had been intended to remedy a bad situation becomes the spark that causes an inferno that may consume the innocent, the weak and the vulnerable.”
Famous American-born author and humorist, Arnold Henry Glasow, once said, “One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.”
Perhaps, it was for this reason that the wise one of Abia, Gov. Alex Otti, on Monday, July 29, 2024, addressed the good people of the state in a special statewide broadcast ahead of the Thursday, August 1, 2024 commencement of the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.
The tone of the governor’s speech, entitled “A call to reason”, was strictly persuasive rather than coercive and intended to help guide the people in taking a decision to join or not join the action.
Gov. Otti highlighted some “important national issues, how they affect us here in the state, and the best path for us as a people in an earnest push for progress and genuine development”.
He recalled the various signs and expressions of dissatisfaction from Nigerians across board, which eventually gravitated toward the threats of a 10-day protest to show the people’s resentment for the Federal Government’s harsh economic policies that have unleashed greater poverty and hunger on Nigerians.
Prominent amongst the policies were the sudden and unplanned removal of the petroleum subsidy and floating of the naira against other stronger currencies across the globe.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the two major policies caused a 360-degree turnaround in the country’s fragile economy, with huge negative consequences on the lives and businesses of the Nigerian people.
Indeed, the economic condition of every struggling Nigerian took a dive for the worst in the history of a country that is not at war.
The governor aptly captured the mood in the nation, when he said: “Clearly, there is evidence that all is not well in the polity as it would be uncharitable to dismiss the genuine angst of millions of our compatriots who have been caught up in the rising wave of economic troubles, such that despite their best efforts, they still struggle to meet their daily needs.
“We have to acknowledge that some of the measures taken by the central government to stop the haemorrhaging of our economy have brought severe hardship to many individuals, families and organisations.
“Uncertainty has become rife and there is widespread fear about what tomorrow may bring as biting inflation continues to frustrate the plans of individuals and businesses.”
Gov. Otti, however, made effort to place the distress in the country in proper perspective, and speaking retrospectively, he emphasised that the pains that people were passing through in today’s Nigeria were a “culmination of years of poor judgment in the management of the national economy.
“The ill-advised policy decisions of the past, recklessness in the use of Ways and Means instrument of the Central Bank, and a certain inability to address rampant acts of economic sabotage, all contributed to the distress now affecting millions of Nigerians”. This is absolutely correct and incontrovertible.
He made further attempts to explain the economic rationale behind some of the policy initiatives of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the petroleum subsidy removal.
He said: “Much of the steps taken by the Federal Government, including the removal of petrol subsidy, are aimed at ending years of abuses and cronyism, and ultimately redirect national resources to areas of genuine needs, especially infrastructural development, and other initiatives that can improve the economy through job creation and holistic reset of the real sector to drive long term growth.
“It was clear from the get-go that these corrective measures will come with pain and inconveniences. Even then, the expectation was that the pain will be short-lived, while the gains will ultimately set the national economy free to soar.
“So far, the expectations have not materialized and our compatriots are losing patience. This explains what now seems like a resort to protests for many who apparently have lost hope in the promises of economic rejuvenation.”
And as the cloud gathered and the threat for a nationwide protest seemed irreversible, with the fear of its uncertain scope and outcomes, both the national and sub-national governments got panicked and began to engage Nigerians, particularly the groups behind the movement, calling for the alternate path of dialogue in finding solutions to the myriads of the country’s economic woes.
In Abia, the governor via the broadcast expressed true understanding of the pains the people are going through and their inalienable right to voice their grievances through a peaceful and non-disruptive means.
He said: “Again, I would like to acknowledge that the right to protest is a democratic one which adds to the appeal of democracy. We are a democratic nation, and citizens to whom the leaders are all accountable to, are free to always express their dissatisfaction, especially when their basic needs are not met.
“At any rate, the subject of the protest, which has become very popular in Nigeria at the moment, must be understood broadly.
“While street protests appear to have gained ascendency over the years, when citizens want their governments to take a different course on an issue, one must also look at the downside, including the destruction and carnage, sabotage by fifth columnists working for various interest groups, infiltration by thugs and criminal gangs, leading to unexpected new realities, and the impact on those on the lower rungs of the economic ladder, who rely on each day’s earning to survive.
“So, while the intentions of the promoters of the protest may be genuine and wholesome, we have also seen many instances where similar initiatives were a by other interest groups in pursuit of an agenda that may be unknown to the original promoters.
“These are very uncertain times and one must call for caution – lest that which had been intended to remedy a bad situation becomes the spark that causes an inferno that may consume the innocent, the weak and the vulnerable.”
That, of course, was the kernel of the governor’s passionate admonition to the good and peace-loving Abia people, who have not only embraced the present administration as their own, but shown unprecedented love, understanding and support to ensure the success of its policies and programmes that are people-oriented, whole and entire.
The highly cerebral, First Class graduate of Economics, renowned financial expert and former bank chief, certainly appreciates what could become the negative implication on the economy, should a street protest, with the high potential of becoming violent and uncontrollable, be allowed to go on, particularly in Abia, where bad governance actually ended on May 29, 2023 with his inauguration as governor.
Moreso, unlike the previous administrations, his government has evidently been working round the clock to deliver the positives of democracy, which good governance ultimately entails.
Hence his passionate appeal to the people to soft pedal and moderate their plan, while offering them an equally potent and harmless, non-violent alternative line of action.
According to the governor, although there were “genuine reasons for disaffection with what has been, and possibly what is”, there could be better ways to deal with a nagging wife, without pulling down the house.
He said: “But then, how about we consider what could be, especially if we explore other equally important forms of protest, apart from taking to the streets in anger?
“What if, as citizens, we immediately begin to engage our elected leaders and representatives across the various levels of government, presenting them with a charter of demands with realistic timelines for the attainment of important milestones?
“In addition to engaging the leaders through town hall meetings and regular in-person gatherings initiated by the citizens, we can also use written traditional and electronic correspondences to channel our disagreements and frustrations with government policies and programmes.
“We may be tempted to downplay the importance of a simple correspondence but history has repeatedly demonstrated that the pen is mightier than the sword.
“In this age and time when the pen, ink, paper, envelop, and postal channels have been merged into a tiny electronic device in our pockets, we must never underestimate the immense privileges, possibilities, and power technology has brought to the tip of our fingers – to force the attention of our leaders in the direction we seek.
“I am, therefore, appealing to my compatriots, especially the millions of disaffected young people, to explore the extensive resources at their disposal to drive the change that we seek, instead of setting our nation on an uncertain path.
“As someone, who has fought injustice using non-disruptive channels, especially modern technology and the traditional and new media, I can assure you, my dear young Nigerians, that we can achieve a lot more by measured restraint and order, than we can ever do through chaos and unrest. “Starting in 2014, young Abians, artisans, civil servants, traders, and community leaders led a mass movement to reclaim our State from the ruins caused by unaccountable leadership. Using the very same tools I am advocating today; they disrupted the political dynamics in the State and installed a government that answers to them.
“Even in the face of injustice and extreme provocation, there was never a time violence became an option.
“Fourteen months after assumption of office, even those who saw our cause as a lost one now agree that indeed, nothing can beat the determined action of a group of sincere people motivated by the desire to make a change in their social and economic conditions.
“Abia, since May 29 last year, has seen unprecedented infrastructure development, and things we were told could not be done have now become routine activities. Hope is returning and all that could have been imperilled by violence have now been attained by patience, firmness and non-threatening disposition.”
The governor, therefore, appealed to residents of the state, especially the youths “to adopt the principle of self-restraint in the wake of the widespread calls for street protests”.
His fear was that what his administration had laboured to attain one year after its inception could be destroyed by hoodlums, who may hijack the protest to achieve their sinister objectives that were at variance with the good intentions of the promoters of the action.
He pleaded: “The New Abia is your baby and must be protected from whatever could present a threat to its continuous development, especially in the urban centres of Aba and Umuahia, where we are investing massively in impact-driven infrastructural projects.
“It took so much sacrifice, tears and blood to arrive at our present destination. We are therefore invited to resist any temptation to engage in acts that could unsettle our progress and return us to the better-forgotten days of arson, destruction and disruption.
“What every part of Abia needs presently is a high sense of order and peace so that citizens can go about their lawful businesses while we continue to push for the stabilisation of the economy using less-disruptive means, including regular engagement with our leaders and representatives at the various levels of government.”
Gov. Otti, therefore, solicited the support of parents, religious and traditional rulers, youth leaders and persons of influence, in appealing and restraining the distraught and agitated youths from availing themselves to any activities that could ruffle the peaceful ambience that presently prevails in the state.
He gave assurance that his administration shall continue to execute policies and programmes “to improve the living conditions of our people.
“We recently gave out N1 billion interest-free loans to 10,000 nano and micro entrepreneurs across all the communities in the state.
“Workers in the state have just been paid a part of the combined N45,000 wage award promised them earlier in the month.
“These payments shall continue as we also seek new ways of ensuring that every group is catered for in the State’s economic stimulus and support programme.
“All I ask from you as your leader, brother, and friend is that you continue to have faith in the Government and avoid whatever could derail our attention, confident that we are running a different race, and shall continue to meet the expectations of our people as available resources permit.”
It was the lengthy, passionate and heart-melting appeal from the people’s governor that penetrated the hearts of the people and propelled a last minute rethink by the youths in a manner that showed their resolve to redirect their energies from engaging in a disruptive street protest to a non-disruptive, scientific mode of passing their agitation for good governance to their representatives as advised by the governor.
Little wonder, therefore, that Abia has been very calm and peaceful since August 1, as residents, in what appeared as a consensus, chose to remain indoors, not that they no longer belong to the entity called Nigeria, but in absolute deference to the strong appeals of Gov. Otti, a leader after their heart, who envisaged a possible break down of law and order and took steps to nip it in the bud, thus averting an emergency in Abia, God’s Own State.
Thus, from Umuahia to Arochukwu, Umunneochi, and moving up to Aba and Ukwa, there was absolute heed to the leader’s clarion call for restraint.
And this is to fulfil what the scripture says in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Indeed, new things are beginning to happen in Abia, to God be the glory!
– Eagle Okoro is a Public Affairs analyst and writes from Umuahia
