Engineer Chyka Ibeku, founder and former President of Abia Youth Forum, AYF, Deputy President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Abia State chapter and a chieftain of the Labour Party, shares his perspectives on the country’s current state, Governor Alex Otti’s transformative initiatives in Abia State, and potential solutions to Nigeria’s pressing issues. Excerpt:

 

When you say you have done well the citizens, Nigerians must feel the positive impact. Doing well is not a theorical matter rather something with undeniable proof. You can’t say you have done well and Nige­rians are crying that they are hungry. In fact we have never had it as bad as this. The hard­ship in the land has taken an unimaginable dimension that the country is at crossroad. There is palpable fear. Look at the state of insecurity, eco­nomic miasma, high cost of food stuffs, exorbitant health­care and lack of access, disrup­tions in education sector, poor power management etc. In fact, in all sectors there is danger. So, I don’t share such opinion that the Tinubu-led govern­ment has done well. These are sycophants who are out there to praise him, recruited praise singers. His mid-term report so far is scary, non-encouraging, worrisome. We are experienc­ing more killings now in Nige­ria, more hunger. The economy has gone down beyond repairs with this present government. So what are the achievements that they are boasting about? Nigerians’ at the moment are passing through the worst of pain. We are just happy and consoled in my State Abia that we have a leader that is turn­ing things around for the good of the people.

This is laughable. Thank God you call them critics. And you know that majority of them, the so called critics are never objective. The truth is that as I speak Abia State is a construction site. There are no areas that projects are no going on. Go to the State and feel the pulse of the peo­ple. In fact, Abians will tell you that Dr Otti is the Messi­ah that the people have been waiting to come and change the leadership narrative. In fact Otti has exceeded the expectations of the people of Abia within his two years in office. Many people both from Abia and outside Abia even the majority of the op­position now describe him as a magician . To God be all the glory that Governor Otti came in as our political Messiah. He has performed creditably well ,he has touched all the sectors of our economy both Roads ,Hospitals ,renovation of all the schools both primary ,sec­ondary and tertiary. He has renovated all the government offices and buildings and built more new ones ,Otti has changed all the old furniture’s in all the government offices , improved health care .In Abia state now we have free education where every school age child must be in school. Abia IGR has increased tre­mendously. Workers are being paid every 28 day of the month and pensioners receive theirs as at when due. Workers and pensioners are not being owed again and everybody is happy. Each passing day Abians are commending Dr. Alex Otti for his remarkable achievements in various sectors within a short time, demonstrating his genuine commitment to good governance.

The unique thing about Dr. Otti’s administration/leader­ship is that he Carries his peo­ple along, it’s people-oriented leadership. All-inclusive. He responds to the yearnings and aspirations of his people. Both his appointments reflect the seventeen local govern­ment of the state . There is no local government that is left behind. Most important­ly the State House of Assem­bly members work in very good relationship and that has enabled the government to function well in the state without any interference in their various functions .There is that very cordial working relationship with the govern­ment and the people of the state. These days the Gover­nor goes to places like Aba un­announced because the people will come out and take over the streets. There has been drastically calm in the state in terms of security and with the Operation Crush in every part of the state it has helped the city bring down the rate of kidnappings especially along Enugu-Okigwe Umuahia axis. Farmers can now go to their various farms unmolested. Many people who has not been visiting their villages are coming home . Abia now is been described as the neat­est state in Nigeria. ,What a magic from a man of the peo­ple. Governor Otti is a huge blessing to Abians.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has over stayed in detention and should be released uncondi­tionally. His counterpart in Yoruba has been set free and what is still holding Mazi Nnamdi Kanu? .Let us not al­low sentiments and emotion to becloud our sense of rea­son. I am also appealing to President Tinubu to release him unconditionally and al­low peace to reign. If Tinubu wants Mazi Nnamdi Kanu out today from prison it will be effected. We need political solution to Mazi Kanu’s case. I remember that President Tinubu also during his cam­paign made a promise that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be freed if voted into office. But today, he is looking the other way. It is a dent on his leader­ship. Nigeria is sinking under President Tinubu.

The problem with Nige­ria is primarily the amalga­mation of this country in a very quick manner, hurried­ly. I think we have problem of amalgamation mistake. Another major issue is trib­al sentiments, religious and intolerance to different cul­tures. Nigerians are yet to understand that we are not one nation and until we re­alize that then this country will move forward. Sadly, too, we have not been blessed with outstanding leadership with the vision of building the country into a nation that will serve the interest of all.