HALTING THE RISING TEMPO OF POLITICAL DISSONANCE IN ABIA STATE
By Emeka Nwosu, PhD.
As the country gradually approaches the conduct of the 2027 General Elections, tempers have begun to flare up across the length and breadth of Abia State. Political operatives on different sides of the political spectrum have resorted to campaigns of calumny and character assassination just to hoodwink the voters and win their support. The inflammatory rhetoric being deployed by the politicians and their supporters is presently heating up the system and causing a rise in the political temperature of the State.
The trend is unhealthy and portends danger to the existing peace and tranquility in the land, if not quickly apprehended. Again, it calls to question the peace accords that are signed by the various candidates and their political parties in the run-up to the elections. What this indicates is that the so-called peace accords are nothing but mere rituals which neither the political parties nor their candidates are willing to honour.
Political parties and their candidates, going by the provisions of the accords signed at both federal and sub-national levels, are supposed to refrain from name calling, personal attacks, issuing of threats and hurling of abuses. Rather, they are expected to run issues-driven campaigns with focus on their manifestoes, if they have any; but not to resort to use of vitriolic and intemperate sophistry that is capable of causing violence and breakdown of public peace.
In recent times, a particular political chieftain in Umuahia has resorted to pouring libations and chanting dangerous incantations against the person of the governor of the State, Dr. Alex Otti, charging the gods of the land to move against Otti. This is a very grave development that may elicit unpleasant reactions. The actions of this disgruntled political chieftain run counter to the norms of civilized conduct. He is getting away with such prohibitive behavior because Otti has shown himself as a well-bred and decent political leader who is not given to political perfidy. Otherwise, what we would have had on our hand is the full manifestation of Isaac Newton`s third law of motion which states that “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”.
No single person has the monopoly of rascality. But when rascality is matched with rascality, what you get is a state of nature. And in the words of Thomas Hobbes, one of the social contract philosophers of old, in a state of nature, “life is short, nasty and brutish”.
We commend Otti and his administration for the restraint, maturity and tolerance he has continued to show even in the face of unbridled provocations. Other politicians and their rabid supporters should take a cue from Otti and put their excesses in check. They must bear in mind that politics is a game. You can win or lose. If you lose today, you can still win tomorrow. Elections will come and go, Abia State will remain. So, politicians who wish to throw the State into crisis through inflammatory tantrums and vituperations should wean themselves of such undemocratic behavior.
It is against this background that I align myself with the political appointees of Otti from Ukwa-Ngwa who recently addressed a press conference warning political mischief makers and disgruntled elements against using clannish sentiments to malign the governor and people of the zone to desist. The Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Prince Uzo Nwachukwu who read a prepared statement, said that 85 political appointees of the government and nine mayors from the Ukwa-Ngwa bloc including the entire people of the area are in agreement that Otti should be re-elected and encouraged to complete the good work he is doing in Abia State.
He dismissed the claims circulating in the social media to the effect that Ukwa-Ngwa was opposed to the return of Otti, and warned politicians against denigrating the people of the bloc for political gains, insisting that the appointees fully identified with the governor`s vision, policies and development agenda. It is not in doubt that Otti has done remarkably well in his stewardship of the State in the last three and half years. His works speak for him. He has earned the confidence and support of the majority of the people of the State. He is expected to run his re-election campaign on the basis of his sterling performance.
Those seeking to upstage him should similarly demonstrate to Abians how they intend to better his records if given the mandate. What do they intend to do differently? What are the measurable timelines and outcomes? Beyond earnings from FAAC, what is their fiscal agenda to bolster the finances of the State? These are the issues we expect to pre-occupy the opposition. Let the rhetoric be played down.
May Abia continue to prevail!
Dr. Nwosu, a Public Policy Analyst, writes from Umuahia.
Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com