Godwin Adindu
My people, this is an emotional letter, a kind of love letter. Though I
have not set out to woo a bride, I have set out to woo your hearts, to win
your convictions in the fact that, in the present circumstances, what
matters more is our community and our state. I have set out, in this
letter, to convince the Ukwa Ngwa on the need for us to run a united race,
keep a united faith and win a united crown. Having followed the trajectory
of the political metamorphosis in our dear state for over two decades, I
stand on a vantage position to share some valuable insight.
I share in the zeal and enthusiasm of all the gubernatorial aspirants to
offer themselves for service to our dear state. Some of them have given a
lot to the Ukwa Ngwa cause. I will single Distinguished Senator Abaribe
out as one man who raised the political consciousness of our people. At a
critical hour of history, God raised an Abaribe who stood tall and
courageous and restored the pride of the Ukwa Ngwa. Nobody can erase this
history. All the other aspirants have also paid their dues for our people.
But, today, I speak to their hearts with every sense of patriotism and
loyalty, delivering the message that there will only be one governor at a
time.
If the future and destiny of the Ukwa Ngwa people and our dear state are
the driving persuasion, then our aspirants must go the extra mile in
making sacrifices by collapsing their ambition to the moving train. This
will be the most noble act and the most altruistic in the face of the
current realities. It will give a very dangerous signal for any Ukwa Ngwa
to be seen to be standing on the way of the moving train.
For the Ukwa Ngwa , I say that this is an age of reason and common sense.
It is no more an age of sheepish and captive loyalty. The Ukwa Ngwa have
grown in political wisdom, nurtured by experience and tutored by history,
to know that loyalty and patronage are only beneficial when it is given
to the right source of power. And, in the present circumstance, the right
source of power remains the incumbent governor of Abia State. The Ukwa
Ngwa must realize the awesome power of our incumbent governor, the only
power after God in Abia today. The Ukwa Ngwa cannot and will not run
contrary to that power.
The Ukwa Ngwa have also risen above clannish sentiments to see Abia as one
large and unified spectrum of people with a common aspiration. This is the
standard that Ochendo has set. Thus, when the Ukwa Ngwa rose to endorse
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, as the chosen candidate, they did so with the full
consideration of his universal appeal and acceptability within the broad
spectrum of Abia State. Abians must appreciate the pains it has taken
Governor Theodore Orji to worry about a successor, knowing full well the
complexities of that office.
This is why I must commend the frontline Ukwa Ngwa groups like the Theo
Nkire-led Ukwa Ngwa Professionals, the Elder Emman Adaelu-led Nsuko
Ohanaeze Nde-Ngwa La Ukwa and many other groups who have boldly keyed into
the vision of the great Ochendo of Abia. These groups hold all the
aspirants in high esteem but their plea is that there can only be one at a
time. There is no wisdom in causing trouble. The aspirants must realize
that the struggle was not a misadventure for them. They have benefited.
They have held the peoples mandate and have enjoyed all the goodies
associated with the offices. For them, this must be the time to give back
to the people by divorcing self and making hard sacrifices of their
ambition.
Indeed, my letter is a plea and pacification to the aspirants. History
will forever remember them and the Ukwa Ngwa nation will forever
appreciate them for their contributions and individual sacrifices in
raising the bar of the agitation for the empowerment of the people. Yet,
as in the case of Moses, history has also taught us that it is not in all
cases that the pioneers of a struggle remain the final anointed leader.
But, their spirit and vision are always kept aflame in the heart of the
people and their name remain permanently placed in the hall of fame.
I make bold to inform the Ngwa that our brothers in Abia North and Central
are watching to see how we articulate our position and how united we could
be in the face of the offer that has been made to us by the state PDP and
the governor. They are watching to see how well we could make use of the
chance in our hand. I therefore, call on all Ukwa Ngwa to work with the
state in delivering Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the popular candidate that has
been endorsed and accepted by the generality of all Abians.
Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu, the street sweeper of Aba demonstrated a high capacity
for service as the helmsman of the state environmental maintenance agency
in Aba. He followed the counsels of Martin Lurther King Jnr and swept Aba
so well that the host of heavens had to say, “Here was a street sweeper”.
He had earlier repeated the feat as the TC Chairman of Obingwa and as the
manager of the Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety
Scheme( ASPIMSS). A thorough bred intellectual and an unassuming fellow,
he has everything it takes to mount the saddle, so let’s give him our
co-operation.
Pardon me, the aspirants that I have to send this letter through the
media. I had wanted to deliver it personally but I do not have your
mailing addresses. I do hope that my letter reaches you in good faith.
Mine is a sermon of peace and an appeal. I know what ambition is. I know
it is not easy to quench the raging fire from within. But, sleep over
it. Chew upon it and realize that what is ahead of us is far greater than
what is behind us. You are all men of substance who cannot be ignored.
Yet, the greatest service you must give to Ukwa Ngwa now is the sacrifice
of your ambition for the common goal.
I remain
Yours affectionately.