Otti’s Footprints (1)

By Godwin Adindu*

Today, I begin a seminal series on the first anniversary of Gov. Otti in power.

BUILDING OF A NATION STATE.
Many may not have noticed this! One remarkable footprint of the one-year stride of Governor Alex Otti is the death of the Abia dichotomies, the main being the Old Bende and Old Aba Divisions. These two groups presented a consistent pattern of struggle over the years. Other intra-clannish and intra-group bickerings shaped the tempo of politics in Abia State. There was the Ibeku versus Ohuhu superiority contest. There was the Igbere hegemony over the rest of Bende. There was the Ukwa suspicion of dominance by the Ngwas. There was the Isukwuato parade of Generals and their claim of “It’s our turn”. There were struggles for control in the markets and motor parks with non-indigene sentiments flying in the air.

Governor Otti has, perhaps inadvertently, buried these sectional struggles that once decimated Abia. Only discerning minds would have observed the near extinction of any form of sectional or clannish pre-disposition in Abia since the ascension of Otti to the pedestal of power. While we celebrate the physical infrastructure of the construction of roads, street lights, security and rebuilding of public structures, we must also endeavour to appreciate the aspect of social re-engineering and psycho-political re-orientation. We must recognise the rebuilding of Abia into a nation-state. This is indeed a historical progression, change and growth in action.

As Karl Marx noted, societies evolve from one stage to another. Our modern communities have risen from agrarian values to an egalitarian status. A nation also rises from primordial sentiments of clan, tribe, religion, etc, to nationhood. A nation is a community of people united by one aspiration and one destiny, where the diversity of cultures and people becomes a source of strength. A nation is led by a statesman who sees the entire territory as his constituency and the entire citizenry as his subjects.

Governor Otti is standing tall today as a true statesman. He has been intentional in ensuring fair play, equitable distribution of resources and allocation of value. All road construction projects are spread across Abia. One has been earmarked to pass through my Mgboko community. Otti is standing on his feet as a leader without encumbrances and looking at Abia as one territory which must be developed. There are no more dichotomies and silent grumbles about marginalization. Every Abian is now talking about Abia for the good of Abians. I challenge our Governor to remain solidly on this track as history will be fair to him.

Thus, as we celebrate our first anniversary, let us remember to celebrate the rebuilding of Abia into a nation-state. This is a great milestone.