Abia recently marked 25 years of its
creation as a state. Emmanuel Ugwu who covered the event, reports that
the silver jubilee was celebrated in low key
In a normal situation Abia State would have rolled out the drums to
celebrate its silver jubilee. It had done so in past years during the
anniversary of the state on August 27, the day it was created in 1991 by
the military administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. But this year
the mood of the time translated that the setting was not conducive
enough for the state to mark its 25 years anniversary with pomp and
pageantry.
The economic vagaries and political
uncertainty have viciously combined to rob Abia the opportunity of
having a loud silver jubilee celebration. In the run up to the
anniversary the deputy chairman of the Abia State Advisory Council, Sir
Bob Ogbuagu had at a press conference hinted of a possible low key 2016
Abia Day, citing the “mood of the state”.
He was alluding to the legal tussle for
the governorship seat, which has lingered for 14 months now since Dr.
Okezie Ikpeazu was sworn in as governor. Those fighting to remove him
from office have caused a cloud of uncertainty to descend on the state.
Then coupled with the biting harsh economic realities it was
understandable why the silver jubilee was largely celebrated as a moment
for sober reflection.
Ogbuagu, who is one the living founding
fathers of Abia, disclosed that the State Advisory Council, which has
the responsibility of organising the anniversary, had planned for a
grand celebration to mark the 25th anniversary only for the legal tussle
to intensify. According to him, it wouldn’t make sense for the state to
roll out the drums when the governor is yet to be allowed to
concentrate on the business of governance for which he was elected.
The low key ceremony was commenced with
an interdenominational thanksgiving divine service and re-dedication of
Abia State. Ogbuagu said that the divine service was intended “to lift
the hearts of our people”. Thanksgiving service has always been a
constant feature of Abia Day no matter the pitch of the celebration. And
it couldn’t have been otherwise for a state that prides itself as God’s
own state “where the Almighty God resides and from there visits other
states” of the federation. Abians from all walks of life filled the
Michael Okpara Auditorium and several canopies mounted outside as they
lifted their voices in songs and praises with two choirs taking turns to
lead the congregation in hymns or praise songs.
It was indeed a soul lifting worship as
the clerics from different denominations interceded for the state,
calling down the blessings of God upon Abia while asking for divine
protection and direction of the state governor and the men and women
working with him to pilot the affairs of the state. The outpouring of
heavenly blessings on God’s Own State and its people was palpable as the
rains, which had heralded the day, poured down to wash away whatever is
slowing the pace of Abia in its developmental stride. The President of
the Eastern Nigeria Union Conference of Seventh day Adventist Church,
Senior Pastor Bassey Udoh, who delivered the sermon frowned at the
activities of those seeking to remove Ikpeazu and assured the embattled
governor that God would continue to make him triumph over his
adversaries. He enjoined him to remain steadfast as he wards off the
evil plans of his political opponents.
At the end of the divine thanksgiving
service it was time for soul searching and appraisal of the distance
Abia has covered in the past 25 years of developmental race. The nagging
question was: to what extent has the dream of the founding fathers been
realised? Ikpeazu, the fourth democratically elected governor of Abia
acknowledged that the founding fathers of the state “had lofty
aspirations for Abia State upon creation (but) while we have not
fulfilled all their aspirations, we have made remarkable progress.”
Since its creation via the fiat of the
military president, Babangida, Abia has been governed by a succession of
military administrators and civilian governors with varying tenure
durations. The military men, five in all, that were sent to preside over
the affairs of Abia at various times, were mainly on military postings
that lasted between six and 24 months. The pioneer military
administrator, Group Captain Frank Ajobena was in office for six months
after which he handed over to Abia’s first democratically elected
governor, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who is currently the Minister of Science
and Technology.
But after taking the reins of power Onu
could only spend 22 months out of his four-year tenure before the
military intervention of late Gen. Sani Abacha ended the Third Republic.
Following Abacha’s ascendancy as Head of State Col. Chinyere Ike Nwosu
was sent to administer Abia in December 1993 and was replaced by Navy
Capt. Temi Ejoor on August 1994, who in turn vacated seat for Col. Moses
Fasanya in August 1996. With the death of Abacha and a new transition
to civilian rule programme initiated by his successor, Gen. Abdulsalam
Abubakar, the fifth military administrator, Col. Anthony Obi was sent to
Abia and after the general election of 1999 he handed over the affairs
of God’s Own State to Chief Orji Uzor Kalu on May 29, 1999. It was the
second opportunity for Abia and other states of its age to enjoy a
period of civilian rule and as the military finally left for good Kalu
completed his four-year tenure and was re-elected for a second term of
another four years. Chief Theodore Orji, who is now a Senator
representing Abia Central at the National Assembly, held sway for two
terms of eight years like his predecessor.
As they came and went each of the past
leaders made their modest contributions in the quest for the development
of Abia within the limits of their vision and duration of tenure.
Recounting the state of affairs after the creation of Abia, Sir Ogbuagu
said: “We did not have the opportunity of having a silver spoon in our
mouth”. But he insisted that as a state “we’ve not done badly”. The
nonagenarian did not hesitate to award a 75 per cent mark to Abia,
saying, “it is a good pass” given what the state has achieved.
Nonetheless it was during the tenure of
Senator Orji that the state made a significant leap. The man popularly
called Ochendo by his admirers actually gave the state capital a new
face lift, transforming it from a glorified village to a befitting
capital city. It was during his tenure that a modern secretariat was
built for Abia, along with many other infrastructures, including the
international conference centre, judiciary complex, e-library. Most
significantly Orji summoned the political will to relocate three major
markets from the city centre to the outskirts thereby expanding the
development of the capital city.
The relocation of Umuahia Main Market to a
modern market built at Ubani-Ibeku thereby catalysing the emergence of a
satellite settlement as a housing estate has already sprang up in the
area. The relocation of the industrial market to Ahieke Ndume and spare
parts market to Ohia as well as the modern motor park cited away from
the city centre have all helped in giving Umuahia its best look since it
was made a capital city 25 years ago. It was also only Ochendo out of
all the past governors that saw the need for the Government House to
move out from a rented property to a befitting permanent edifice. He
gave life to his dream by commencing the construction of new Government
House at the Ogurube layout section of the capital city and had
completed the governor’s lodge before the end of his final tenure as
governor.
In retrospect Governor Ikpeazu stated
that the 25th anniversary represented a milestone in the existence of
the geographical area known as Abia State within the Nigerian
federation. “At 25, it is time for us to take stock and review where we
are coming from while setting a clear agenda for where we are going to,”
he said. Ikpeazu disagreed with the naysayers who have refused to
credit Abia with any achievement since its creation, saying, “While we
have not fulfilled all of their (Abia founding fathers’) aspirations, we
have made remarkable progress”. He assured that the prospect for
greatness remains very high for the state given that “Abia State has all
it takes to succeed under any circumstance”.
According to him, “my confidence stems
from the indomitable spirit of our people, the resilient blood that runs
in our veins and the resolute determination of our administration to
succeed even in the face of stiff challenges”. The governor, while
acknowledging the contributions of his predecessors, noted that his
administration has started with a commitment to further drive the wheel
of development in Abia and was already recording good results. “From
road construction to our intervention in health, education housing,
agriculture, environment and other critical sectors, this administration
has defied the negative economic indices to march resolutely forward,”
he said in his anniversary broadcast to the people of Abia.
In the political realm Ikpeazu said that
Abia has attained a “major milestone” by electing a governor from the
Ukwa/Ngwa axis of the state, adding that the founding fathers of the
state would be glad that this has become a reality. He said: “I consider
it a major milestone because by this singular action, every Abian from
all the quarters of the state can confidently aspire to the leadership
of this state in the full knowledge that they enjoy the full rights and
benefits of an egalitarian state united by a shared history and
confidently marching towards a shared future.”
Stretching from the old Imo State, the
aspiration of the Ukwa/Ngwa to produce a governor has been emotive laced
with rancour and cries of marginalisation. But at the silver jubilee
celebration Ikpeazu declared that “Today the circle of Abia unity is
complete and the only thing left for us is to march on”, adding that
“Abia will rise and shine” and take its leading role as the hub of small
and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the South-east and Nigeria in general.
The enthronement of equity in Abia politics was yet another of the
legacies of Senator Orji as governor of Abia.
Though the 2016 Abia Day was devoid of
the various categories of awards usually given to Abians who have
distinguished themselves in their chosen fields of endeavour, it didn’t
just pass off without memorable features. Ikpeazu unveiled the Abia
State anthem and the official logo of the state, both of which represent
the expression of Abia’s distinct identity and the new spirit of an
industrious people raring to soar beyond the skies. Special Adviser to
the governor on Public Communications, Mr. Sam Hart, who gave the
concise details of the Abia heraldry design, explained that the black
and gold eagle at the helm of the logo signifies strength and grace. The
silver shield quartered in blue, gold, earth and green signifies labour
and enterprise (blue), sun and abundance of warmth (Gold), welcoming
and hospitable nature of Abians (earth) and fertility (green).
According to him, the elephant (Enyi)
standing majestically at the centre of the logo is the traditional image
of Abia while the open book signifies education, scholarship and the
Holy Bible, a symbolism of Abia’s sobriquet as God’s Own State. The logo
which is rather congested symbolic images also contains four ordinaries
– artisan, the Abia Tower, industry and two hands gripped in a
handshake. The base of marigold field on which the shield stands and
supported by four palm trees further signify fertility and abundance
while the base theme of the flag design centred black and gold, which
are the “nationally allotted colours of Abia State.” The flag
incorporates the Abia coat of arms and a green forward facing pennant
indicative of life and progress whereas the background of the logo is
predominantly white signifying peace.
As Abia looks ahead after its 25th
anniversary, Ikpeazu is optimistic that whatever remains of the
aspirations that the founding fathers had for Abia would eventually be
realised. “We will do all within our powers to ensure that Abia State is
not only the first in alphabetical order in the comity of states (in
Nigeria) but in deed the first in all positive ramifications,” he said.
The aspiration is already becoming real
in the field of education where Abia has placed first for two
consecutive years in the May/June West African Senior School Certificate
Examination. With such positives Abia can after celebrating its silver
jubilee march on assuredly knowing that it would definitely reach the
silver lining behind the dark cloud.
No comments:
Post a Comment